Witzend I've just caught up with this thread, your mincemeat looks delicious!
You've kick started me so, Ive stewed the apples from our trees, and put it in the freezer.
Ready for the base of the mincemeat (which is suitable for vegans as my kids are now).
And I've made 6 sticky date puddings (Delia Smiths recipe) we like in place of xmas pud.
They are also in the freezer.
Not that we shall be seeing anyone, but it's nice to keep up traditions isnt it?
Love all of your Christmas makes, you've been very busy over lockdown! 
Hope you enjoy back reading the thread FannyCornforth
I'm going to do that too. So I can get into the Christmas crafting spirit!
Faye17 ... Lovely knitted Mr and Mrs Claus, but completely out shone by your beautiful darling GS
So glad your son is doing well too!
Gransnet forums
Christmas
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. ----------------------------------------------------------
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.
6 lbs of mincemeat!
That should keep me and dh in mince pies for a week or two.??
Oooh Witzend... that wreath is soooo cute
You are one talented girlie 
Also made this one for a dd - the actual wreath pattern is brilliant, v easy, 2 strands of DK on big fat needles. I’ve used it 5 times now!
Thankyou both very much.
Witzend you are going to make many people very happy with your treasures, they'll be so lucky to get such gorgeous Christmas gifts.
Like you I started thinking of Christmas once we went into lockdown and I've lots of goodies stashed away now, I knit, make candles, soap, scented wax roomscenters, decorate glass with paints & beads - kept me well-occupied and I'm delighted to be so well organized for Christmas especially this year
Good luck Witzend... I knit these two when my eldest son was very small
They have stood either side of the fireplace every Christmas since
My son was diagnosed with cancer at 24 years of age but has made a complete recovery & we had a small family only celebration in the garden last month to mark 10 years all- clear.
We never dared hope that he would have children but here we are thankfully with his 2year-old son looking forward to Christmas- my favourite time of the year.
The photo is my grandsons first Christmas surrounded by my HANDKNIT Mr & Mrs Claus
Oopsadaisy3 
And I love the decoration!
In addition to the other C-word things I’m making, last night I started this, too. 36 cm tall! About a third of one foot done so far. I have plenty of black to use up - that’s my excuse, anyway, never mind that I had to order more red and white. ?
Oh heck, Is it too late for cooking the sprouts for this Christmas? I like to make sure they are cooked well.
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