The Lt's brother flew out to spend Thanksgiving with us, which was just so much fun. One of the things we did over the weekend (one of the few activities that didn't involve eating vast amounts of food) was bring him to one of our favorite local sites, the Mission San Luis Rey.
{happy}
I tried so hard to be ready this year, but wasn't able to find Advent candles at any of the three stores (plus two church gift shops) where I'd looked for them. And really, there are limits to the patience of a squirmy eleven-month-old, even in the search for pink and purple tapers. I finally admitted defeat and started on Sunday with candles I already had. Which were orange.
(Public Service Announcement for anyone who, like me, is a little behind this year: I finally found them yesterday at JoAnn's: they were with the Christmas decorations, not the candles, and they came in a pack. I bought two, in hopes of avoiding the Orange First Sunday of Advent next year…)
Emily says
I used to always have “oh no, it is Advent, I need candles” moments. Every year. Until I discovered that I could buy beautiful beeswax advent candle sets on Etsy.com. Problem solved, and I don't have to drag my three little boys through five stores searching for them! 🙂
mamabearJD says
Yes! I bought great beeswax ones last year and they smell so good, just barely a scent, and they burn so cleanly.
Melanie says
Fresh rosemary, lovely idea! I bet it does smell heavenly.
Kate says
We have been using the same Advent candles for what might be the third year, I wont say. Our wreath uses basically tea lights and the company we got it from stopped selling them so I'm on the search for purple and pink tea lights (without any plastic or metal container.) I love the wreath so I don't want to replace it for easier to find candles but it's getting to be a pain. And we only light it on Sundays to conserve wax ;-/ Why are Advent candles always such a challenge 😉
Sue D. says
“Are you familiar with the liturgical color of orange?” that is so funny…and real, who hasn't been there? Thanks for the laughter this early a.m.
Lori says
I love the overtures-to-make-friends-with-a-toddler pic. I believe it was just that sort of behavior that earned me the nickname, “Crazy Aunt Lori, several years ago. 🙂
Wild Optimist says
Hi,
I loved your pretty pictures- they really are! And I cracked up at your “real.” It is what it is. Thank you for hosting and for posting. It was a nice way to start the day!
Charlotte says
Those mission pictures are beautiful! Thank you for sharing them. Your Advent candles cracked me up. My Advent wreath isn't even green this year or made with anything that even looks like something found in nature. Oh well. It is what it is. Glad you finally found some candles.You were smart to grab an extra set.
momco3 says
Those damp baby curls– love 'em!
Linny says
Ahjahahahaha! Love the brother-in-law trying to win over Pippo! I've bribed my niece and nephews with root beer and treats! (They're much older than Pippo.) Happy that Pippo was able to come around!
Sue says
Ah! I remember my boyfriend, newly turned fiance (now husband, of course), watching me performing antics to win over my little niece. He said that he definitely saw a new side of me that day! He still married me in spite (or, because?) of it. :o)
Rosemary wreath! Brilliant. I have to do that next year! I can almost smell it now.
Breanna says
Ah–white candles with a correct-color ribbon tied 'round them. Ribbon is easier to find…
Ruth says
I actually have pink and purple votive holders that I use with white votive candles. They were a find at our local dollar store. I will make sure that I take a picture when i do my phfr later today. 🙂
Jessica@Life as MOM says
I've been wondering if you were locals. 🙂 I recognize many of these landmarks. Yeah!
Pipppajo says
I'm so ignorant that when you asked if we are familiar with the liturgical color of orange I got a little excited, thinking I was going to learn something new about Advent, haha! I had a wretched time finding purple and pink candles, too! I finally found them at my favorite Amish market (which–am I the only one who finds that amusingly ironic?) and did as you did: bought three years' worth. I believe that is the ONLY reason I actually had my candles ready on Sunday.
It's so strange to see a baby playing in the ocean this time of year, at least for this Jersey girl! It must be even more strange for a New Englander…
Great pics, as always, and I can't wait to see some 1st birthday shots in a few weeks!
theresa says
I love your orange candles, been there done that, though mine were yellow. Don't store your extra set in a hot loft – they'll come out bent next year, that happened after my yellow year when I was feeling smug – always dangerous lol. Pippo is growing fast, the days might sometimes seem long, but the years go far too quickly.
Misty says
I love visiting missions, churches etc… Beautiful photos.
Colleen says
Glad to hear I'm not alone in the advent candle dept. I normally get them from our parish “store”, but must have been late this year. I tried a few other stores and finally (on Tuesday) went with 3 burgundy and one sort of beige. What's really awful is that I truly meant to be on top of it this year. I know that I live in a retail-challenged area, so things like advent-colored candles are tricky. And – wow – rosemary on the side of the road! I've never lived in that sort of climate 🙂
sarah says
That water looks really cold!
Shannon says
I love your BIL's attempt at befriending his nephew! How sweet is that, and so real, I know my youngest is very wary of new people! Who am I kidding she only wants mommy and big sissy! Poor daddy.
Camille says
Rosemary! What a terrific idea! We are short on greenery here in Vegas but we have plenty of rosemary in our yard. I'm off to snip some!
Lisa G. says
I would think the box on Uncle's head would scare the child! Well, he obviously succeeded or Pippo wouldn't have shown him the ocean now, would he?
Beautiful church photos!! And I can hardly imagine a place where rosemary grows by the wayside! Wow!
_Rosie says
Well, Lisa, I'm afraid I can't say that he completely won him over. But we decided he now has a good head start for when we see him again in a few weeks at Christmas!
carrien says
My wreath last year was white to start with, and then red. Target was sold out of purple and pink candles way before I got there. So was Joanne's. This year I sort of forgot, so I don't even have a wreath ready yet.
My kids thought they saw the right candle holder at Michael's so we went there tonight, but they had none. Anyone know where I can buy a candle holder for the wreath?
_Rosie says
Carrien, I got mine at our church's little gift shop. Last year I got the candles there, too, but this year they didn't have any. Why must everything be so difficult?
carrien says
Thanks 🙂
Mary says
So weird to me seeing people on the beach in November!! Love the wreath…here's my candle advice: get pillar candles next time. We keep our candle(s) lit all through dinner and by the end of the second week, that first candle (if it's a taper) is almost down to the holder and the first two don't last til Christmas. I couldn't find pink and purple pillars, so I used white and tied the appropriate ribbon around each. (I actually think I like the white better 😉 But, hey, orange is cool, too!
_Rosie says
Bethanne, I like your explanation!
nadja says
Your photos of the mission remind me of San Xavier del Bac in Tucson.
I never get my candles in time! In Germany we always used 4 red candles, so I'm going with that!
_Leila says
Red goes with the decor so much better, sigh.
Elizabeth says
Had to laugh about your orange candles. We celebrate with an Advent LOG, so I need a candle for every. single. day. And I'm normally in Hobby Lobby half-way through the first week, buying every purple candle in sight. And then ordering more, because they never have more than half what I need at that point. Well, this year I finally made it over the day before Advent started (thinking I was doing better than normal because, hey, at least we'd have ONE candle for the first day!!), only to discover that they were COMPLETELY out of purple candles in the size I needed. Ditto JoAnn's. We're using the new liturgical color of Burgundy this year! And I had the whole log set up and ready to go for the first day of Advent. Sometimes, letting go of things being Just Right is a good thing!
Mary says
OK…LOVE the orange candle. Last year I had all white and we pretended they were liturgically correct. Thanks so much for hosting once more. Makes me smile when I take a little tour around blog land checking out everyone's world.
Kathryn says
Great post – we're right there with you on the candles. It's so nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I'll have to check JoAnns – I tried Michael's, Target, and our local Catholic store with no luck.
Habou says
The picture of Ned and Pippo on the beach is awesome. Love the Rosemary wreath. So envious that you find Rosemary on the side of the road. Wish we could grow it here.
justamouse says
I love the candles in the church! whenever I see that church I think of Bugs Bunny and his carrot festival that he missed.
Margo says
I would love to see you stealthily clipping along the roadside! I'm not quite nervy enough – why is that?!
Love to see your big boy at the water.
_Leila says
Haha — she comes from a long line of stealthy clippers!
mamabearjd says
Yay! I actually got a post done!
I love the beach pictures. My little guy fell in love with the ocean, and the rest of us Texans all thought the Pacific was pretty cold even in July, but he was fearless, he loved loved loved it. I bought my candles on Etsy last year, they are beeswax (they have such a soft smell) and I was able to reuse them because we don't keep our candles lit. I think the vendor was called Sunflower Candles.
Joy says
I'll have to try JoAnn's. I resorted to white last year because I couldn't find purple and pink anywhere. This year I didn't have time to even look.
Lorraine says
I love the wreath–also that you gathered it from the side of the road:). I made a makeshift advent wreath for the JJI fellows–it involved red-purple candles and a pink one. I told them I learned it from you!
Mrs. Pickles says
ahahahahahaa! I love your {funny}! And Advent snuck up on me once again (I'm not quite sure how it manages to do this Every. Year.), so we are without Advent candles as well. JoAnn's had no more by the time I checked my store. 🙁
Your Advent wreath is so lovely. In the hopes that I might actually still be able to find purple and pink candles somewhere within the next couple weeks, would you please advise someone fairly lacking in creative skills how you go about making your own wreath? Do you use super-special mystical florist supplies like wire or something? I love the idea of using fresh ingredients each year (instead of the artificial, wax-laden sorry-looking excuse for an evergreen wreath that we normally use).
_Leila says
Mrs. Pickles, look in the Advent archives! there are a couple of \”wreath-making\” posts.
Mrs. Pickles says
Huzzah — found one! Thank you!
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