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Christmas

Christmas prep

(284 Posts)
Namsnanny Fri 11-Oct-19 19:58:50

I'm going to keep a kind of diary of some of the things I make and do for Christmas.

If anyone wants to join in they are welcome.

Maybe we can swap ideas. smile

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First of all I collected up the pruned tendrils from my Wisteria, and wound them around each other to make a wreath.
Still needs a few more strands to plump it out, but when finished I will decorate it.
Not sure whether to go for the trad. Christmas red and green with bits of glitter, or maybe skandi type with natural fir cones cinnamon sticks etc., finished off with a velvet vanilla coloured bow!
I'll have to take a look in the Christmas craft box(es!) to see what is looking the nicest.

Next persuaded my husband to bring down the many boxes of trimmings etc., down for me to check through, and they are now stuffed under the dining table until I get to decorate the house later on.
I cant ask him to trudge them back upstairs, too much stress on the knees!
It gives me the chance to look through and see what is looking a bit jaded and decide if I should buy new.

Found the outside lights and tested some to see if still working. Yes, so arranged them strategically in the back garden.

We had cut back a large tree a couple of weeks ago, which left the view from the window a bit empty, and I didn't like it.
So we dug out a large pot, heaved it (well he heaved I steadied it) onto the sack truck and wheeled it into position.
Then stood the largest pruned branch (about 3ft) into it and filled the pot with earth to hold it in place.

The branch is nicely twisted so I spent a couple of days on and off winding lights around it to emphasise its lovely shape. Fiddly but the effect is very pretty.
Then I filled the top of the pot with some trailing variegated ivy, (being sold off at 50p a pot).

Now I've left the lights off for now, as it is a little bit early!
But I'm looking forward to seeing them everyday from my window over the Christmas period.
It's the one thing that perks me up when the clocks change and windy wet winter seems to stretch out before us.

Callistemon Fri 20-Dec-19 09:44:37

Thanks Namsnanny
It will be both of them, hope all is calm!

Namsnanny Fri 20-Dec-19 00:58:21

I hope you enjoy her company Callistemon … that's what Christmas is all about. [tchsmile[

Callistemon Fri 20-Dec-19 00:29:30

Not with anything alcoholic, I should add hastily!

Callistemon Fri 20-Dec-19 00:28:46

Oh, you can have all the vodka, I'll just sample all the rest!!

I have been out and haven't done much at all.
I'll set the DGD to work after they break up.

Namsnanny Fri 20-Dec-19 00:23:28

No Callistemon … you have to get in the queue, I bag first dibs on MawB's Blackberry vodka!! tchgrin

How are you keeping?

Namsnanny Fri 20-Dec-19 00:19:40

Craftyone … you sound content and ready for anything Christmas can throw at you …...can I come for a visit????grin

Callistemon Fri 20-Dec-19 00:07:48

MawB wow!

You can 'away here' if you like tchsmile

Namsnanny Fri 20-Dec-19 00:04:41

Made Delia's Sticky Puddings, and guess what? They've risen a little too much, so I will have to cut of the tops (which become the bottoms, if you understand) to level them, and what to do with the trimmings???

Well I'm scoffing them with a well earned cup of tea!! grin

They're for Christmas day, served with marmalade sauce or Christmas pudding flavoured ice cream.

Still without a phone so I can't post any photos at the moment, but I've finished off a wreath with sprouts and fir cones!
Also a knitted hat in green and red strips which goes with a Christmas jumper. I've put little bells on the jumper so I shall do the same for the hat!

Witzend … Did you find the Father Christmas duvet cover for you gds?
Not that it really matters, I'm sure they love a sleepover with their Gran and Grandad!!
Enjoy their company tomorrow smile

I'm sure all will be well for the newby and Mum but I would be like you in your situation. Not daft at all.

Namsnanny Thu 19-Dec-19 15:09:25

Witzend ...sounds like a lovely Christmassy break for you and your family. smile

Namsnanny Thu 19-Dec-19 15:07:50

B9exchange ...Just wondering how you're getting on with the nativity creations?

Witzend Thu 12-Dec-19 18:50:58

Not exactly prep, but have just returned from the annual meet up with Up North family - 6 hour drive each way, but we did stay 2 nights - for a catch up and present swap. They came to us last year so our turn this time.

Sister phoned earlier to say that it snowed after we left! I'd have loved to see that! Instead we had a very wet and very grey and dismal drive all the way home - and stopped to vote, to save going out again later.

There was a stack of Christmas cards on the mat when we got back, which made me remember that there are still a few U.K. ones to write and send tomorrow.

Since we got back dh has scoffed at least 4 of the mince pies I made before we left!
Tonight while watching the results come in I shall be making a batch of my very very cheesy cheese straws for him to take to his French conversation group Christmas party tomorrow.

Little Gdcs coming to stay next Thursday night with dd, so must try to remember where on earth I put the Father Christmas duvet cover set I bought last year, for the double sofa bed they share.

Dying to order a particular thing for no. 3 Gdc due early Jan, but don't dare tempt fate until baby has arrived safely and all well. Daft I know but I'm sure I'm not the only one!

MawB Wed 11-Dec-19 14:08:29

I might be opening a pub Namsnanny !
Actually according to the recipes I had, these are meant to be good within the month, unlike my sloe gin (also featuring in the Mitbringsel) which I made back in March with sloes I had had in the freezer since the previous November!
Cheers!

jura2 Wed 11-Dec-19 14:06:17

LOL Namsnanny- we do it so often, it is no hassle- and as we travel by car- we can chuck it all in - we are putting presents unwrapped in a couple of suitcases. Spending one night in Folkestone on way up- then 1 night near Chalon on return- easy peasy- or 'les doigts dans le nez' as we say in French (lol- fingers in the nose' ahah- aren't colloquial expressions great?)

Around here up in t'mountains- lots of snow, and no holly that I know of anywhere.

Namsnanny Wed 11-Dec-19 14:00:02

Gosh! Are you opening a stall Maw grin
If so tell me where it is and I'll pop in and buy some thing, it all sounds lovely!

You must have started early, as most of those things take a while to infuse don't they?

Namsnanny Wed 11-Dec-19 13:54:43

Well jura2 ...packing for Christmas hols is still prep for Christmas in my book wink!!

Got any tips on how to get the most in the case in the shortest time possible?!!

Also, a cleverly packed suitcase with a sprig of holly on it would make a great photo......go on you know you want to!!

jura2 Wed 11-Dec-19 13:12:36

No prep- just pack and go - pheeeeew after so many years of doing everything for everyone.

MawB Wed 11-Dec-19 13:08:43

12 pots of Cranberry and Gin jelly, 3 1/2=litres of Bergamot and Bay gin, a litre each of Dark Cherry vodka and Blackberry vodka, 8 pots of Red Onion, Thyme and Port marmalade ready to pot up. All still to label and intended as presents or what in Germany they call “Mitbringsel” - a little present you take when invited anywhere.
Red cabbage made and frozen, venison ordered (sorry Bambi) and Turkey and Cranberry raised pie ordered.
Away for Christmas - these are contributions for Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

craftyone Wed 11-Dec-19 13:00:32

I am mostly on my own again this year so have been prepping nice things for me. Got 2 more box sets, both comedy, got the box of tonics for the gin, the small bottle of wine and champagne. The crafted chocolates the nice nibbles. My freezer is full to bursting and I have crafts prepped ready to get on with. My decs are up and the house looks bright.

Lakeland green bags at the ready to store the veg for longer in the fridge. Turkey, nice bacon, pigs in blankets, stuffing cut into sections, all ready in the freezer, together with the smoked salmon and baguettes. Lots of long date cheeses in the fridge. Butter bought, milk frozen. I am ready for a seige and will happily stay away from the shops in my calm peaceful home with lots to do and lots to read

B9exchange Wed 11-Dec-19 12:50:03

Gosh you are all so clever and creative, mouth watering at the thought of those biscuits!

I have finished my crib, hoping someone will buy it to enable me to give the money to the local hospice at home service. If there are no takers, then will have to see if one of the GC would like one of my creations! grin Still got a skirt to make for one of them.

JackyB Wed 11-Dec-19 11:27:53

The wreaths are very, very simple. I bound the greenery round the bases then put a minimum of decoration on. Less is more, especially when you are as cack-handed as I am. Also, I was in the middle of doing them when I discovered my purse had been stolen, so had to dash off and spent most of the rest of the week replacing my cards. I had to act quickly as I was leaving the country for most of December. Purse turned up again a few days later. Long story.

The biscuits are mainly nutty. For the above reason I didn't get round to baking any more, which would have been Lebkuchen, gingerbread, and the like.

The absolute musts for a proper German selection are

Vanillekipferl, (crescent-shaped with some ground almond and vanilla-flavoured),

Zimtsterne (cinnamon flavour stars, no fat, mainly egg white, but not macaroons)

Terrassen, three stars of different sizes, stacked on top of each other and fixed with jam.

Namsnanny Tue 10-Dec-19 11:46:25

Love your photos JackyB smile The wreaths look soooo festive.

And those biscuits look delicious!!
To have any left at all shows great restraint wink
Are they flavoured with Christmas spices?

JackyB Tue 10-Dec-19 07:31:52

I meant to post these ages ago:my Advent wreaths for table and front door and a plate of my typical German Advent biscuits. We're all ready on 28 November. Not many biscuits left now.

Namsnanny Mon 09-Dec-19 15:37:50

Well bought a plain fresh wreath and decorated it with things I have at home.

Then finished off the woven wreath I made from Wisteria shoots woven around each other.

Just put some fir cones on it for now. Not sure whether to scandi it, leave it au natural, or zhoosh it up a bit.

No photos I'm afraid until I get a new phone. I dunked it in tea the other day, now its kaput!!

BTW anyone got suggestions on what phone to buy?

I'd like one with a very good camera! smile

Namsnanny Tue 03-Dec-19 00:04:07

Carillion01 … How thoughtful of your gd, and creative too!

I bet it is treasured.
None of mine turned out to be very creative in that way, (mores the pity for me).
I find I really treasure things that have a lot of personal thought attached to them.
The nearest I had to this, was a heart shaped pebble picked up from the beach and given to me when one of my children was on their first holiday away from us.
Its so important to me it would be the thing I saved if the house was (metaphorically) on fire!

Do try to take a photo and post it. I would so love to see it!

In fact if you didn't mind I might have a go at that idea in the new year, ready for next Christmas.
It'll give me something to focus on craft wise between the Christmas hiatus and the first snow drops. smile

Namsnanny Mon 02-Dec-19 23:51:14

Well M0nica …. you deserve a well earned festive tchgrin wine.!!