Tuesday 20 December 2011

Scents of the Season



Advent: a time of waiting, and in The Doll House 
a time of watching and waiting for the 
hyacinth and amaryllis 
bulbs to grow.


 Then, to wake one morning and find the whole house 
perfumed with the sweet and slightly spicy scent of 
hyacinth is one of  December's greatest pleasures. 



So, for me, the perfect Advent flowers are  
the very red, attention-seeking amaryllis and 
the glossy, starry-white hyacinth.


The dark, sweet and rich aroma of 
baking gingerbread biscuits wafts out of the kitchen.  
Pepper is included in the Norwegian version and 
they are actually called pepperkaker.  
They taste their best with a glass of wonderfully
aromatic gløgg which is hot, spiced wine.


Indeed, I cannot think of a more appropriate 
way to toast the season and send my best
wishes: here's hoping you have a
magical time. 



Special thanks to 
Rose H (Uk) at secondhandrose
http://secondhrose.blogspot.com/ 
for nominating The Doll House for Liebster Blog award
and to
Annie at Moving on
http://chocolateannie.blogspot.com/
for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger award
I am truly honoured.


God Jul
Anna

31 comments:

  1. Hello Anna:
    What a beautifully presented and very lovely post which it has been an enormous pleasure to look at and to read. We wish you much peace and joy this Christmas and will look forward to being with you again at the start of the New Year.

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  2. Looks beautiful, I love spring forced bulbs for Christmas. Richard from My Old Historic house.

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  3. I do so love your wonderful phtos Anna, what a delightful scene the flowers make.
    Congratulations on your 'other' award too!
    Wishing you and yours a peaceful, happy Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012.
    Rose H
    xx

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  4. White hyacinths are my one of my favourites at this time of year, especially their glorious scent.
    God Jul to you too Anna, love your blog and see you in 2012.
    Julie x

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  5. God Jul to you too, Anna! And best wishes for a wonderful year to follow.

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  6. Beautiful !!!.....

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    Fijne Kerstdagen,
    Merry Christmas,
    Glaedelig Jul,
    Merry Christmas,
    Joyeux Noel,
    God Ju

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  7. Wonderful post! I can smell the Hyacinth! Glædelig Jul!

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  8. Dearest Anna,

    Congratulations with your highly deserved blog awards!
    Your hyacinth and amaryllis are such a lovely Advent touch with all the other gorgeous decorations you use! Right now we have blooming paperwhites as my hyacinths are not yet ready. Could not locate white ones here in the US and had to mail order them. But through February we all need that special touch of new LIFE in our homes. You manage to do so very well.
    Love to you and have a wonderful 4th Advent and a Merry Christmas with your loved ones!

    Mariette

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  9. Your Christmas tree is so beautiful and I can almost smell the Christmas scents that you've described. Have a wonderful Christmas in your Doll's House!

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  10. What a very beautiful home you have. Happy Christmas to you.

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  11. Hyacinths aren't something I'm familiar with, but then I've never been much of a gardener - indoors or out. It's something I've been working on a bit at a time, getting more comfortable with soil, seeds, bulbs, recognising weeds and the lot. I love the idea of scented flowers, but Bill has particular ideas about smells in the house, so will have to go slowly with that. Glad you're back blogging. Happy Christmas!

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  12. Your awards are well deserved as you have the most beautiful blog.
    How lovely your home looks all decorated for Christmas. Hyacinths have the most perfect scent for this time of year, and it really does waft through the whole house.
    I hope you have a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
    Abby xx

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  13. Dear Anna,

    The doll house looks very warm and festive! Your bulbs look beautiful in the terrine and what a huge Christmas tree you have :-)!

    I wish you and your family a Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

    Lieve groet,

    Madelief x

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  14. It all looks so beautiful, Anna and I'm wait for my paperwhites to start blooming too. Just put them in a dark room in hopes they will be ready for the big day. Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!!

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  15. Thank you for sharing with us and wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

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  16. What a truly beautiful post, Anna - as always. I love that hyacinth scent too and as for gingerbread...well, it's very nearly unbeatable. Everything looks so elegant and there's a timeless peacefulness too which is just what I need to compensate for the madhouse we have here. Thank you for sharing - and a very merry Christmas to you. Axxx

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  17. Anna,
    Thank you for following Red Rose Alley. How I love the smell of Ginergerbread at Christmas time. The red balls and star are so pretty. I will be back to visit with you often, and I wish you a Merry Christmas filled with joy and peace.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  18. Your flowers are so beautiful! And your home looks so festive and happy : )

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  19. Anna, wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
    Michela x

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  20. Hello Anna, I do hope that you have had a lovely Christmas. Your home looks so festive and so inviting. I love all your bulbs growing and agree with you about the smell of Hyacinths. I love your elegant gilt mirror and the gorgeous blue and white jars.

    Thankyou for your lovely comments. I had to take the angel out of the oak wreath as I would come down in the mornings to find her on the floor. So I wasn't sure if she didn't like it there, or she partied so much, she couldn't make it back to bed!!Anyway, she's on the mantle now, looking contented. I do apologise for not visiting sooner, I was having computer difficulties before Christmas. I wish you every happiness for the coming year, with much love, Linda x

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  21. Hi Anna,
    It is pretty at your home-I love growing bulbs indoors too.
    Thank you for your sweet comment.

    Happy New Year!
    Carolyn

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  22. Everything looks so pretty..hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright! xo

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  23. I love planting forced bulbs for Christmas. It is a long tradition of mine, just as planting them outside on Halloween is. Love there beauty and smell. Richard from My Old Historic House.

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  24. For some reason I missed this post! What wonderful photos of your home so beautifully decorated for the festive season. Happy New Year:)

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  25. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that your New Year will be one of happiness and peace.

    btw in German there are biscuits called 'Pfefferkuchen' and Pfeffernuesse' for Christmas; they are slightly spicy and aromatically scented and only eaten at this time of year. Much more delicate than mince pies or Christmas cake which I cordially dislike.

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  26. Thank you for visiting my blog 'Relics and Tales'. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Vancouver Island! You have a very interesting and beautiful blog, I love your photos - they are very cheerful. All the best, Michelle.

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  27. Just popped back to thank you for your concern Anna, I'm much better now!
    Wishing you and your family health and happiness in 2012
    Rose H
    x

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  28. Hugs to you my friend.
    Stina

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  29. your christmastree is fantastic! it looks like a sparkeling disney-christmastree...we hope that you had a wonderful christmas and we wish you a great 2012! hugs from sweden.. emelie and elin

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  30. Hello lovely Anna, thankyou for your comments. I have so enjoyed visiting you this past year and geting to know you a little.I wish you a very happy 2012, and look forward to seeing what you have to say and show us this coming year. With much love, Linda x

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  31. Each year, I always wish, too late, that I had grown hyacinths for forcing inside. Now I am feeling super-jealous of yours!!!

    Happy New Year, gorgeous girlie!

    Sarahx

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