Christmas Day

 

And just like that...

It's been a lovely couple of days. This Christmas was never going to be easy for me, but with some careful consideration and little in the way of expectation, it has turned out to have been one of the most relaxed and stress free years I have known in a long time. Just what I needed, in fact. 

Following a gentle afternoon walk, the annual family Christmas Eve buffet was a huge success, and I think I may have eaten my own body weight in cheese. Baked camembert with homemade cranberry sauce, and some crusty bread for dipping, a cheese board and some of my courgette chutney, followed by some freshly baked chocolate Yule log covered in Baileys buttercream -  delicious! Excitement levels were high, so it was gone 11pm before Lily finally fell asleep, and I wasn't far behind.

I was awake all too soon. Mog had been keen to start the day and expected me to keep her company. I didn't mind really, it was lovely to drink my coffee whilst enjoying the quiet of the early morning, as I knew it wouldn't remain that way for very long.

The usual frenzy passed me by this year and our morning was a calm and unhurried affair. Presents were exchanged - all of them having been thoughtfully chosen - and, along with many others, Lily was thrilled to receive the one gift she had been hoping would be under the tree this Christmas morning. I'm calling it a success! Our roast dinner was cooked in as simple a way as I could manage and it was incredibly tasty. This afternoon, we went out for a lovely, albeit very chilly, walk down by the river, arriving home just as darkness fell and in plenty of time to call in on family and wish them a Merry Christmas. 

This evening has been spent mainly with my feet up and enjoying a glass of wine. Now, I think I might just treat myself to another mince pie - It is Christmas, after all.

J. X

Happy Christmas!

 

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" 

J. X

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

A Short Walk From Settle

I often feel a sense of relief when we pass the winter solstice. Just the knowledge that our daylight hours are now increasing, even though it will be a while before it becomes apparent. That first moment when it becomes noticeable gives me a little boost, as these dark winter days take their toll after some time.

Yesterday, we returned to Settle. We hadn't been back since the end of August, when the Flowerpot Festival was taking place, and I really wanted to walk the short loop from the town over to Sugar  Loaf Hill.  The weather was similar to the previous day. It was chilly and overcast but the air was still and, most importantly, it was forecast to remain dry. Initially, the path climbed sharply from the market square with views overlooking the town and the hills beyond, before levelling out where we reached the dramatic Warrendale Knotts, complete with a small cave to explore.

Being surrounded by hills, Lily discovered the area lent itself well to echoing her voice, therefore the words 'bottom', 'underpants' and 'bogies' could probably be heard from quite some distance away :) Sugar Loaf Hill itself was quite uninspiring - I didn't even take a photograph! But it was a really lovely walk. I'm sure the views would have stretched further on a clear day, and the limestone scenery made a pleasant change from our usual Lake District views.

Before heading back downhill towards the lane into Settle, we stopped at a sheltered spot to enjoy our lunch. It wasn't long before the cold began to set in and I was thankful for my flask of hot chocolate - it seems to be becoming a habit! I had brought some hand warmers with me, but for some reason they didn't work and it was ages before I could feel my fingers again, even with my gloves on. Arriving back in the town again, we had a look around at the many beautiful festive window displays and the delightfully decorated tree in the square, before returning to the car.

Edited to add, I forgot to post this charming 'Twelve Days of Christmas' display in an old telephone box, which we passed by on our way back into town. Although, I think one of the geese may have flown away :)

Finally, late last night, I made a start on my Christmas wrapping. My initial intention of wrapping as I went along didn't quite go to plan. Next year, maybe :)

J. X