Thursday, 23 December 2021

All Wrapped Up

 

I've only just gone and done it! After spending a half hour locked away in my bedroom, all the presents  are finally wrapped. Now I can rest easy knowing the hardest part is over with. With a little one in the house, keeping the magic alive for as long as possible isn't always easy, but it will be worth it to see Lily's eyes light up on Christmas morning.

I woke earlier than usual this morning. Something disturbed my sleep shortly after 4am and then my mind started to wander to what I needed from the supermarket, what else needs to be done before Saturday, and what do I need to remember to take out of the freezer. There was nothing else for it, other than to get out of bed and write myself a list. Fortunately, an early start also meant I could get to the supermarket before the rush, and so I was back home with everything on my list by nine o'clock. What a relief, I really don't enjoy shopping, even less so when it is busy. And better still, I managed to fit everything I needed into the fridge freezer. It took a bit of rearranging, but I should now have enough in there to last me until next week.

After my second coffee of the morning, I set about clearing the huge pile of ironing, before topping up the bird feeder and cleaning our walking boots, which was quite a job in itself - somehow they had gotten filthy with mud yesterday. 

This afternoon I baked some mince pies. This is a sure sign we are getting closer to the big day. Mincemeat shortbread is my preferred choice and it is so much easier for taking with us when we go walking, but on Christmas Eve only a proper mince pie will do. 

And of course, I had to try one, just to make sure they tasted delicious. 

J. X



34 comments:

  1. It's a good feeling once all the presents are wrapped, you can properly relax then.
    Your mince pies look yummy

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    1. Next year, I will try and stick with my original plan :)

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  2. Well done on being so organised ...
    Your mince pies look delicious.

    Happy Christmas Wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I suppose it's slightly better than wrapping on Christmas Eve.
      Merry Christmas, Jan. X

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  3. Well done on getting everything wrapped up! One year, I hid the presents in the trunk (boot) of the car and my daughter saw them! Another year, I hid them in the dryer and forgot them until after Christmas! :D

    Yummy looking mince pies! Have one for me, too, please! :D

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    1. Hiding the presenets is difficult enough in itself!
      I'll have several for you, Bless. You're very welcome ;)

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  4. I too got my present wrapping done today too. I was more organised this year and sat down to do it last weekend only to realise that I did not have very much paper left so it had to wait until I could get out to get some more!

    Like you I did an early morning shop, I too was back home by 9am and it was lovely and quiet in the supermarket.

    I have a huge pile of ironing to tackle tomorrow and more mince pies to make as the first batch I made seem to have disappeared already.

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    1. I've promised myself to start the wrapping earlier next year. We'll see :)
      Fortunately, I didn't need to get much from the supermarket, but I was glad when I'd finished my shopping. It was definitely getting busier. X

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  5. You beat me by half-an-hour - I was home by 9:30 and only have two small errands to take care of tomorrow. Your mincemeat tarts look delicious and so Christmassy!

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    1. I couldn't imagine just how busy it would have been later in the day. I just hope I haven't forgotten anything :)

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  6. Sadly I now resort to Tesco's Finest but must say yours look better. Enjoy.

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  7. I have not eaten a mince pie since I was a girl. My grandmother, nine aunts and my mother made them for the holidays. We live in Texas. LOL. I don't think anyone baked them from my teen years onward. I have never made them but am tempted to this year. Tempted does not make it a done deal in a family of two for the holidays.

    Your pies look absolutely delicious.

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    1. Thank you. I would never have eaten mince pies as a child, it's only been in recent years that I've come to love them. X

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  8. Of course you did!!! It's part of the recipe, in the very small print - it's compulsory!
    They look wonderful. I like mince pies, all the more so for only having them for a few weeks in the year.

    It's lovely to feel on top of things, isn't it. It makes things so much more fun without any underlying sense of panic.

    Happy Christmas!
    xx

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    1. I couldn't imagine eating mince pies at any other time of year :)

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  9. It’s a lovely feeling as jobs get ticked off. I was like that too yesterday. Just cooking for me today and a quick visit to my local quiet supermarket for bread and milk. Hope you all have a very special Christmas. B x

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    1. Yes even my simple celebrations take some organising. It feels good to see things getting ticked off my list. X

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  10. Well done on getting those presents wrapped. Yes, it's all about the magic with children in the house, it's not quite the same now that mine are grown up.

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    1. I always forget just how long the wrapping can take. X

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  11. You're all sorted now and I'm sure Lily's joy tomorrow will be wonderful to see.
    One Christmas when our two children were small we actually moved house during Christmas week. On Christmas Eve we thought we had lest presents behind in the loft of our old house and made a mad dash to see the new owner. It turned out they weren't there but in one of the unopened packing cases. That was our nightmare before Christmas :)

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    1. Oh my! That was a brave move. Thank goodness the presents turned up in the end. X

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  12. All my wrapping is done too. I don't have to worry about young children and hiding things any more but I do remember that time. I also remember Santas footsteps across the hallway which my children were totally wowed by. (Thank you hubby with your wellies in the flour!!)
    Happy Christmas Jules x

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    1. Your children must have been amazed to see Santa's footprints.
      Thank you, Beverley. X

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  13. It's always a relief when you know you have everything you need and all the presents are wrapped, the look on Lily's face when she opens her gifts will make all the work worthwhile, children are what make Christmas special. I always look back and reflect on Christmases past when my four were small, magic memories, the years go so fast enjoy each and every one. I haven't had the time to bake a thing your mince pies look amazing I'm afraid I would have to try more than one just to make sure haha.

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    1. It's then, that I begin to worry that I've forgotten something.
      Luckily, I've had the chance to test many more mince pies since and I can confirm they are delicious :)

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  14. Ahhhhhh...

    Presents wrapped, and larder stocked, and Mince Pies made!

    You are ready! -smile-

    Hugs, and Love, and Happy, Happy Christmas!

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    1. Thank you. And to you and your family. X

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  15. Gosh your mince pies look good. I'm just making some Jamaican patties for friends who are popping round. We'll also be having some smoked salmon blinis to start some spicy chicken thighs and a wondrous cheese board. Washed down with some complementary wines.

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    1. That all sounds delicious. I've already eaten far too much cheese. X

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  16. All of my gifts are now wrapped - thank goodness! Merry Christmas to you and your family! The mince pies look delicious.

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  17. The mince pies look lovely Jules, I don't imagine they'll stay around for long :)

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