Monday 14 December 2015

A Wonderful Time Of Year

The Christmas preparations continue, once again bringing back some wonderful memories of gifts received and trips when another trinket was added.  Family and friends are upmost in our minds at this time of year so our thoughts are full of joy, appropriate for the third week of Advent.  We have started to organize the  dining and kitchen crockery.  Each piece handled with care and the story of its origin remembered.  Everything is a mismatch which adds to the charm.




 
Only another 6 boxes to go...  The treasured tea trolley which my son in law bought for me will be used for casual afternoon teas whilst we have visitors. 
 
The hot chocolate station is ready to go, with the addition of a white chocolate mix that I brought back from America from Ghirardelli's, a rare treat!
 

 
The chocolate spoons are still on my list to do.
 
More baking has been done with some more mince pies been made.  I had my sister and niece visit over the weekend so they didn't last long.
 
 
This year I bought the holly leaf cutter, which adds a certain charm.  A Jane Asher gadget for £1, can't be bad!
 
The Christmas cake is ready, a gift from our youngest daughter with a little help from Lily and Daisy, a cake filled with love.
 

 
The whole house is filled with the smell of Christmas, taking us back to bygone Christmas's.  A beautiful aroma of citrus and spices.
 
I half filled an old pan with water, added some lemon juice that was out of date and lurking at the back of the cupboard, a couple of pine cones, a cinnamon stick and some mixed spice.  Let it simmer on the stove and the smell will permeate around the house.  A quick, easy and cheap way of getting the Christmas aroma.  Give it a try you won't be disappointed.
 

 
It works just as well doing it on the cooker, I used the stove to save on the electricity.  With the Christmas music on most of the time in the background all of the senses are heightened...sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.  It truly is a wonderful time of year.
 
Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments and your well wishes for my parents anniversary.  I showed them all of the comments over the weekend and they were thrilled and humbled by your kindness. 
 
Wishing you all well and safe from all the unpredictable weather that is causing havoc worldwide.
 
See you soon.
 
 
 
 

26 comments:

  1. Love, love your christmas things! enjoy the seasonxx

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  2. OH my, I can feel the Christmas in your home all the way over here!!!
    Everything is lovely, and so festive.
    I will give your idea a try...I imagine it smells just like Christmas!!!
    Enjoy the next few weeks, I'm sure they will pass quickly!

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  3. Make way, I am on the way. It all looks so beautiful and I can smell Christmas from here.

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  4. You are well prepared for this wonderful time of the year !
    Have a great week !
    Anna

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  5. Love the Christmas air freshener and I 'fess up to my intention of copying the cake. I was not going to bother but that is so cute.

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  6. I'll bet your house smells like heaven. Love Ghirardelli anything.

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  7. I love Ghirardelli chocolate chips in cookies. Yum and glad u were able to take some home with you. Amazing that your parents have been married 60 years! My daughter made peanut butter cookies for a cookie exchange and now we have yummy cookies for a few days. I like your Christmas plates. Spode Christmas tree one is nice. I have a big mug like that!! Hugs!!

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  8. It's all looking so festive! If you ever get to San Francisco, you can take a tour of the Ghirardelli factory. It's amazing. Even if you just visit the candy store. :) I like your Christmas air freshener, what a nice idea. I've done that with packaged potpourri mixes but never made my own. I bet it smelled great!

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  9. that cake!!!! wow! I haven't started baking yet...and I really should. Lovely dishes that you have.

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  10. Hi Lorraine,
    It looks like you are well prepared!!!
    Ingrid xx
    Myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

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  11. I'm excited for Christmas! Your stove is cool!

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  12. You are beautifully set for Christmas! I love that Christmas scent in a pan and if I had a stove I would have a pot on all the time! Happy Christmas! xx

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  13. I enjoyed your varied collection of Christmas dishes! I have a set I will be using for a holiday luncheon day after tomorrow.. I will take a photo to share with you on my blog.

    ****************************************
    *M*E*R*R*Y* * *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ****************************************
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  14. O my lovely, i love love the snowman cake, snowmen are my favorite thing. I love mix matched china I agree its all the more charming... I think a hot chocolate station is a great idea going to set one up.. Lovely post the feel of Christmas for sure. Happy Monday and thank you kindly for your sweet dear visit with me,.. With love Janice

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  15. Love your tea trolley. I remember staying at a B&B in Scotland with my family when I was a teen, and the proprietor wheeling in a tea trolley in the evening, filled with tea and treats. I thought it was the coolest thing!! Still do, actually.
    Your simmering spices must smell wonderful, and your little tarts look delicious. Oh, and I love the idea of a hot chocolate station. Blessings to you, Deborah

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  16. Your preparations are all so lovely. That tea trolley is great and is there anything more wonderful than a hot chocolate station in the cold of winter?

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  17. Everything looks so beautiful in your house for Christmas.

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  18. Such a cute Christmas cake. Wishing you and your family a safe, but happy Christmas and New Year.

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  19. Oh everything looks absolutely wonderful! Can I come to your house? Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  20. Wow! You have some gorgeous traditions. The hot chocolate station captured my imagination and the notion of chocolate spoons is new to me but makes so much sense! Thank you for the recipe for your 'Christmas aromas'. I look forward to the Christmas spices all year - of course, one can cook with them all year around if so inclined, but I love to keep them until Christmas. Wishing you a lovely Christmas.

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  21. You never cease to inspire me with all your ideas and hard work. I will give the Christmas aroma idea a try, although I don't have a stove so the job will have to do.

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  22. oh your Christmas preparations sound wonderful x

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  23. So many delicious things! Those tarts look wonderful and I'm not surprised they are gone. And what a sweet cake and the fire looks so cozy and warm.

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  24. ME ENCANTA EL MUÑECO DE ÑIEVE!!!
    Y LA COCINA PRECIOSA...
    SALUDITOS Y
    FELIZ NAVIDAD

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  25. Looking amazingly festive and the snowman cake is brilliant x

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  26. Awesome blog, i always enjoy & read the post you are sharing!
    Thank for your very good article.
    អនឡាញ Blackjack​

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