Getting Together With Friends in The Country

 

 

This morning ( which didn't start as early as the last two thankfully) was about getting as many preparations done as possible.

I had been tasked with making some salads for Christmas tea at Grandma's

I made an avocado and tomato salad, a butterbean and pepper salad, and mozzarella and tomato salad.

I didn't add any dressing as not everyone ( hubby being one) likes vinegar.

Teen One and I spotted these adorable bottles in Tiger the other day..perfect for such an occasion.

I had seen similar ones on Nigella's TV programme, where she put caramel sauce in little bottles, one for each guest...what a nifty idea I thought!

 

 

In the afternoon, we drove out of town...to the country.

A friend had invited us to lunch, and as she has four adult children herself, plus a foster child, daughter in law and new grandchild....it was always going to be a hive of activity.

They started off by playing a game of Jungle Speed

 

 

 

The girls then went on to make bath bombs

 

 

it certainly made the room smell luscious!

 

 

Teen One now has a lovely collection to add to her baths over the next few weeks.

 

 

For the lads...it was a game of snooker. My friend had been given a snooker table, but needed muscle power to install it in the loft....so we all pitched in and got it up there.

Hubby and Teen Two enjoyed the game that's for sure.

 

 

The highlight of the day for me, was meeting their first granddaughter. What a pleasure she was. I had plenty of cuddles that's for sure.

 

 

 

Another highlight of visiting my friend...silly though it may sound...is seeing The Teens old swing.

It was actually a double swing and many happy hours were spent on this piece of play equipment.

I was sad when they were too big to use it safely and didn't want to just throw it away....then my friend took up fostering, and was happy to have something extra for the kids to play on.

Seeing it always brings back such happy memories.

 

 

 I also love to see this bench.

It was bought for my friend's mum.

They have a lovely photo on their wall, taken from behind...with my friend, her daughter and her mum...three generations, and of course it still reads "MUM" from the back.

My friends mum died a  couple of years ago... whenever I see this bench I always picture her sitting on it.

She was Grandma to whoever came to visit and is greatly missed.

 

 

 

Today is of course Christmas Eve...so to all my readers I wish you a Happy and Healthy Christmas.

Our dear Grandma down south is sadly not at all well...so it's not going to be a Happy and Healthy Christmas for her and those holding the fort down there...but we pray the antibiotics will start to do their job pretty quickly and a belated Christmas celebrated once Grandma is back on her feet.

 

A Trip Down Memory Lane

 

 

Well it seems my body clock is set for  4.30ish at the moment...for the second day running I awoke around that time and couldn't get back to sleep.

So, some time after 5.30am I decided to get up with Hubby and get cracking with some quiet chores.

 

 

I made a fat free Christmas pud for one of my Recycled Teenager's who is coming to dinner Christmas day.

I soaked the fruit and peel in orange juice for a couple of days, added some festive spices, then mixed it into Be-Ro's sponge mixture.

I have popped it in the freezer as fatless sponges dry up very quickly.

 

 

Once the sun was up, it was a beautiful day, blue skies and sunshine.

I decided it was worth hanging the washing out...and was pleased I did as a robin came to sing me a beautiful song!

I rushed in to get my camera to take a picture, but he was camera shy...so I have snagged this one...its hard to believe with the weather we have, its only two days to Christmas!

My Teens are longing for it to snow on Christmas day!

 

Eventually 8am came round, time for me to check on my Recycled Teenager next door, and also do his cleaning for him...with tomorrow being Christmas Eve, I want to have the day free from responsibility and just enjoy it with the Teens.

 

 

It was then time to hit the shops...for what I hoped would be the last time this side of Christmas!

The house is now loaded with fresh veg and aside from forgetting one item, which I have since bought...we are all set for the big day...food wise anyway!

 

 

 

Teen Two was down first, so he decorated half of the cake....

 

 

 

...and Teen One finished it off.

We have been using these little figures for all their lives and I shall be rather sad if they ever go off snow storm cakes and want something more sophisticated!

 

This afternoon has been a hive of activity...some cracker making....blue challenge making (you will have to wait a while to see those) and some present wrapping.

 

 

As it was such a lovely day, I thought we ought to at least poke our heads out of the house...so we set off to the Museum to see the Children's TV exhibition.

They were quite excited to see the real Tubby Toast ( and marvelled at how big it was!)

 

 

 

They had fun on the interactive drawing pad...

 

 

...meeting "Jake"....that really was a thrill!

 

 

And of course the loveable Doodles the Dog.

It was rather unnerving though seeing them completely still and silent...not how we are used to seeing them!

 

 

This room always reminds me of my grandparents  house...

 

 

They had a similar fireplace and also the fake bulrushes...

 

 

...they also had this white plastic basket, which used to get decked out with plastic holly every Christmas!

 

 

Hubby's niece is 21 in a few weeks...beyond buying Christmas presents for...but we always wrap her a little something up so she isn't left out.

This year I put together a "Christmas Survival Kit" which includes a pack of Trail Mix ( in case she gets lost) a chocolate orange ( because its one of her 5 a day) a bag of chocolate coins (emergency money) Santa biscuit decorating kit (incase she feels creative) vegetable crisps (veggies are good for you)...you get the picture!

 

 

All wrapped up in a hessian bag

 

 

 

We have an unexpected guest for Christmas day ( nephew of our Recycled Teen) so I have put together a similar kit for him.

I had wanted to buy him a classic comic such as The Beano or Dandy (incase he gets bored!)

Sadly the Beano is no longer printed...its all online, and there was only a special edition of the Dandy at £4, a bit too much for a token present.

 

 

 

Teen One spent some time constructing her gingerbread house this afternoon...it needs doing in stages and cans of food are handy props!

 

Its hard to believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

With only one or two jobs still left to do...aside from the food prep of course...I can feel myself getting as excited as the Teens!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gingerbread Popcorn and Lattes

 

 

For some reason I woke up at silly o'clock again....4.18am!

I lay there as long as I could, but with sleep still evading me, and so many things to do, I decided to get up.

Having had a cuppa, emptied the dishwasher etc, I looked for another quiet job...putting the marzipan on the cake....

 

 

 

 

...it won't win any prizes for neatness, but once the icing is on who's going to know!

 

 

 

I glanced at the clock, thinking it must be way after 7am....nope....just after 6am!

 

 

I managed to fill in the time until it was time for the shops to open.

I don't know why, but Pandora jewellery shop has had huge queues for the past fortnight and today was no exception...and it wasn't even open!

Are they giving it away I wondered?

Once home I got on with a job I have been trying to get to for ages...a spot of sewing.

However, I wished I hadn't bothered!

What was supposed to be a ten minute job ( at the most) ended up taking eons and even then it was a rubbish job!!

I don't know what is wrong with the machine, but it wasn't feeding the fabric through....I had to pull it through from the back...which resulted in....

 

 

...the wiggliest stitching ever!

Now I know there is a quilting design called the drunkards path, which is very attractive...but there is nothing attractive about this dodgy stitching!

This poor machine is in dire need of a service I think...and this poor sewer is in dire need of some education as to how to use the tension wheel and the like!

 

 

 

Hubby has always been a big Charlie Brown fan, so when we heard there was a film coming out, we eagerly looked forward to a time when we could watch it.

With the end of the year near, Hubby realised he had four hours of leave left, so we decided to meet him at a new cinema near to his work.

The queues to get in to the complex were incredible and we thought we were going to be late...but we only missed the ads thankfully.

It was a heartwarming film, where the hapless Charlie Brown wins over his sweetheart with his compassion, honesty and charm.

 

 

 

I had seen this popcorn in Poundland the other day...and it just had to be tried.

It was very tasty and very gingery.

 

 

 

Having a coffee together is something we rarely do, so to finish off the lovely afternoon we treated ourselves to a Costa.

Hubby and I ordered a gingerbread latte...which the barista omitted to add any syrup to...when I asked a passing member of staff if it was possible to have some syrup added...he came back with two fresh lattes!

Having almost finished the first...we were rather awash with coffee by the end of it!

Good job we had ordered small ones!

 

 

The Teens love Costa's white hot chocolate, it isn't around all year round so is a real treat.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a paper on our table, and as it was near the end of the day, we felt it was ok to do the crossword...and between us we completed it.

 

 

 

As we walked back to the car, we saw these adorable bronze deer, they were so life like!

 

 

We were stuck in traffic for absolutely ages coming home, but once home Teen One cracked on with another homemade present.

You will have to wait a few days before you can see what it is.

Tomorrow I hope to buy all the fresh food ready for the big day, and avoid all the shops on Christmas Eve...judging by how busy the shops have been for the past few days I am not looking forward to tomorrow's trip!

 

 

Christmas Is Finally Coming Together!

 

Christmas preparations, to me, are rather like a jigsaw puzzle!

For weeks ( even months!) before hand the house begins to fill with presents and my mind is awash with plans.

I get to a certain stage where it can all seem rather overwhelming...and a bit like wading through treacle...it seems no matter how hard I work, I have nothing to show for it, only worry that I may forget something!

But...today...those pieces of a jigsaw are finally coming together and I am starting to see the picture!

With all the church activities at an end, I have been able to concentrate on family stuff.

My first achievement today, was to finally make the cake!!

 

 

I never stick to the same recipe...this year I thought I would try out an old Be-Ro one.

I did swap the ingredients a little, the recipe called for caster sugar, but I opted for dark brown, it also needed ground almonds...which I didn't have in the house, so I used ground rice ( will add a bit of texture) and some almond essence.

 

 

 

Another thing I couldn't find in my cupboard was mixed spice...I ask you....what a basic ingredient to run out of!

I had every other kind of spice you can imagine....but not bog standard mixed spice!

So...improvisation was the name of the game...I mean...mixed spice is just that isn't it...mixed spice!

So I used this pumpkin pie spice  I was sent from the US.

It maybe slightly heavier on the cinnamon than regular mixed spice...but we like cinnamon so that's no hardship.

My only other deviation from the recipe was cherries...

...I  added extra  as Teen One and I are rather partial to our cherries!

I hope to marzipan it tomorrow and then the Teens will decorate it for me.

Snow scenes have been the order of the day since they were toddlers...and I suspect Teen Two's Playmobil figures will make an appearance as usual.

 

 

Teen One made a start on her gingerbread house...what with the cake in the oven and the lovely aroma from the gingerbread, the house smelt very festive indeed!

In Morrisons today they were selling tubs of green "Spooky Halloween" frosting...for 10p! It was sitting right next to tubs of "Christmas Green" which looked exactly the same shade... but was priced at £1.50!

I hadn't intended buying any frosting...but for 10p I figured it might come in useful...Teen One was delighted with it and added a Christmas tree and some holly to her house.

 

 

Teen Two is still feeling like he has a head cold, had a quiet morning.

I thought he needed to stretch his legs a bit so suggested take time out for some Wii Fit.

 

 

 

The biggest achievement of the day was getting the presents wrapped for the Teens....

I still have family presents to make ( yes, leaving it a bit late aren't I!) but I can finally see the wood from the trees and know there is no need to panic!

 

 

 

 

 

The Teens have been updating the Christmas countdown board every day....excitedly telling me "its only ** days till Christmas!"

Up until today it has made my heart sink " what only **days!"
But today I can look at the "4 days til Christmas" and think "yaaayy....4 days to Christmas!!"

 

The Hills Are Alive....

 

This morning was of course church, followed by a Sunday roast.

As usual, I took my Recycled Teenager next door his dinner.

I know I have shown this handy carrier before...but it has been so useful and something I use every single week, I wanted to show it again...and what it looks like inside...

 

 

...this was a present from FQ2FF  a year or two ago and has been in constant use ever since!

 

 

Last week I was discussing Yorkshire puddings...this week they turned out pretty good....but you can be sure when I make them again on Christmas day for visitors, they will be flat as pancakes!!

 

 

Teen One, as per usual, spent the afternoon doing homework...

 

 

...this doesn't make any sense to me though!

 

 

 

 

Hubby spent the afternoon preparing for preaching tonight....

 

 

...so that left just Grandma and I for Scrabble...and I won!

 

 

Tonight we are watching The Sound Of Music Live and have spotted a few subtle changes to the original...but just as enjoyable, and so funny to see faces we are familiar with from other programmes!