Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, 50th wedding anniversary and Sunday Stills #poetry #photography #Brussels

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You can join in Esther’s writing challenge with a post featuring a card of some sort here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/09/24/writing-prompts-84/

Homemade Christmas

When I was thirteen going on fourteen, I got the grand idea of making Mom a Christmas card with contributions from each of her children. Naturally, I was the mastermind of this undertaking, and I used my pocket money to purchase cardboard, glue, glitter, crayons, and chocolates. The two large pieces of cardboard were halved, and I allotted each of us two pages to decorate. Hayley and Laura were still very little girls aged five and four, respectively. I helped them decorate their pages with prints of their hands and feet. This had to be done without Mom knowing so I covered the floor of the upstairs playroom with black plastic garbage bags and managed the painting of their small hands and feet with coloured poster paint. They then either stepped, or pressed down, on their page to make patterns. This was a lot of work for me as I also had to wash their messy hands and feet with soapy warm water to remove the excess paint and discretely get rid of the paint splashed protective bags.

I drew and coloured a Christmas tree, decorating it with cotton wool for snow, gold and silver glitter glued on in stripes, and Christmas shaped chocolates bought from a local shop. I had to walk to and from the shops, a four kilometre round trip, to acquire these goodies but when I had an idea I was always very determined to get it done regardless of the obstacles. Cath produced her own colourful Christmas scene using red and green glitter and crayons.

Our gift was well received and Mom kept it for years until it all fell apart. When my sons and my sister, Hayley’s, sons were little, we did a similar exercise with the four boys. We made two pillowcases decorated with their little hands and feet dipped in fabric paint. I used newspaper to cover the floor and remember sitting each boy in a baby bath full of warm soapy water to get them clean. Boys are ever so much messier than girls. They even had paint in their hair. My mom still has these pillowcases.

tiny hands and feet

memorialised in paint

red, yellow and blue

50th wedding anniversary

Last week I wrote that my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary yesterday. Sadly, my sister, Hayley, was ill and couldn’t come but my youngest sister, Laura, and her family were there as well as my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. These are a few pictures of the day:

Picture caption: Mom and Dad and the cake
Picture caption: Mom and Dad at the front and at the back Laura and me

Sunday Stills – Windows

Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge is to share photographs of windows. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2025/09/28/sunday-stills-every-window-tells-a-story/

These are photographs of windows I took during our recent trip to Brussels.

I like the reflection of the windows across the stree in this window
Picture caption: window cleaners at work on this glass windows
Picture captions: the building above and below are both features of the Grand Place in Brussels. They have many windows and much beautiful decor in gold.

If you are interested, here are my YT shorts of Grand Place in Brussels.

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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101 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, 50th wedding anniversary and Sunday Stills #poetry #photography #Brussels”

  1. Robbie, I love how you went from glittery handprints to pillowcases to golden Brussels windows all in one post—what a journey! 😄 The anniversary photos made me smile, and that haiku about tiny hands and feet is just TOO sweet.

    Much love,
    David

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  19. Congratulations to your parents in honor of 50 years of marriage, Robbie! How special! I loved reading the glimpse into your younger creative self as you helped your family decorate for Christmas! You were determined indeed! I love all your window choices you shared. The crane supporting the window washers is huge! I really enjoyed reading your post!

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  31. I love how you involved your younger sisters in the making of the Christmas card and that you got the idea. It shows creativity, inclusion and a good heart. I loved your pictures and videos too. And Happy 50th anniversary to your parents.

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  32. Robbie, that is a wonderful story about you helping your sisters make Christmas cards. Congratulations to your parents on their 50th Anniversary! Everyone looks happy in the photo. What a lovely cake. Your pictures of Brussels are great. 🥰

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  33. I love the pillowcase idea, Robbie. I wish I had thought of that when my kids were little. I used to do a lot of t-shirt, sweatshirt, and t-shirt dress painting for them. I still have those in a box. Too precious to let go of. Happy 50th to your parents! Wonderful photos and a milestone to surely celebrate! Loved the photos too! 💝

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  37. Belated best wishes to your folks on their 50th. My in-laws made it to 54 – I made them a counted cross stitch to celebrate their 50 golden years. Now that piece resides in my home in loving memory of both of them.

    Lovely windows and memories.

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