Countdown to Christmas

FriedGreenTomatoes2

At this rate we’ll all be going trick or treating with the grandchildren, back to theirs to light some fireworks and wave a few sparklers then all troop indoors to eat a turkey Christmas dinner.

My grandsons - now in their 20s and indeed one with his own home now were peeved when I suggested that perhaps we wouldn’t bother with bonfire night now.

So out comes the chimnera, menu planning and table decorated for the family get together.
At least I’m not hosting Christmas dinner this year for the 5000!

Decided to make some pickled shallots - so they need a few weeks to mature and be ready for Boxing Day cold meats.

At this rate we’ll all be going trick or treating with the grandchildren, back to theirs to light some fireworks and wave a few sparklers then all troop indoors to eat a turkey Christmas dinner.

Every year Christmas is pushed earlier and earlier! I think I would walk out of any venue that was all dressed up in October or even November until at least say the 20th November and even that’s a month before Christmas.🎅🏼
The only thing I do like are the mince 🥧

I've been buying extra in my tesco order for a few weeks, I hate leaving everything till the last week, not baking a xmas cake this year, will make some apple and red cabbage this week and freeze it

Exactly!

We haven't had Hallowe'en yet!

Allira

Usedtobeblonde

My S works at a garden centre, one of a very large major chain. He told me today the Christmas trees will start to arrive on Monday.
They will be the living ones in pots
When I pointed out it is still October he said they will sell some, not in volume yet but they will be bought.
Madness.

DH went out for brunch today.
The pub was decorated all ready for Christmas and the waitress was wearing a Christmassy headdress.

Depressing. We'll all be fed up with it by 25th December.

We had tea out yesterday on our way home. The place also had a Christmas tree up and the piped music had every third song a Christmas one. Slade in October nooooo 😕

There's a very old Christmas pudding in the cupboard (home-made) 🤔 Should I risk it?

Allira Was it you you said that last year???????? Is it the same one??????? 😆😆

WithNobsOnIt

By far the best Christmases are spent away for 2 or 3 weeks somewhere warm in a nice hotel in the Costa del Sol.

Eat drink and be Merry and waited on.

A Real Proper Christmas.

Felice Navidad

Xxx

Sorry, don't agree with that at all. I've done Christmas in the Canaries, Australia, New Zealand and California and all were nice enough but not really Christmas.

The best Christmas away we ever had was a week in a small village Derbyshire (can't remember exactly where). Had a lovely dinner in the hotel, sang carols and played with children who were staying and brought their presents round for everyone to see, went to midnight Mass in the snow and got snowed in at the hotel. Next day built snowmen with the children and their Dads (Mums were all inside staying warm 😁). Being snowed in was a lovely excuse for doing nothing much, then when it thawed went for walks around the village. Not cheap but a memorable week.

Ha, ha, Oreo. I wish. Kirsty A indeed ☺!Hats are knitted for 2025, 26 and busy with 2027 version. Crazy I know, but it makes me happy. 😉

My Christmas break does depend on weather, I will not be driving in treacherous weather nor will be wanting anyone else to risk their safety. I do keep some goodies for me, just in case

This week I will be making braised red cabbage with apple, prunes and chestnuts, to freeze in single portions. I am also expecting two venison fillets to arrive this week and will be freezing those. My organic veg box will be arriving on the 23rd december

I am well and truly organised for `what if` weather which could put the kibosh on any plans with family. I always come home to my bed and travel in the light

Usedtobeblonde

My S works at a garden centre, one of a very large major chain. He told me today the Christmas trees will start to arrive on Monday.
They will be the living ones in pots
When I pointed out it is still October he said they will sell some, not in volume yet but they will be bought.
Madness.

DH went out for brunch today.
The pub was decorated all ready for Christmas and the waitress was wearing a Christmassy headdress.

Depressing. We'll all be fed up with it by 25th December.

Mind you, crackers are very poor these days aren’t they, so I like your suggestion of refilling ones with your own gifts.

Or Kirsty Allsop?

Annapops

I just love Christmas and with a large family I like to prepare well in advance.
The knitted hats I make each year are all ready. Snowman hats this year for 17 family members. We'll wear them on our Christmas outings, Centreparcs last year with our elf hats, Beamish Christmas event this year wearing our snowmen.
I'm in the process of making Christmas stockings from fabric for everyone to save on wrapping paper in the future. Two years ago I made reusable Christmas crackers which we're now using each year. It means I can fill them with something that won't be tossed as rubbish, usually a chocolate or even some wildflower seeds or a small tree decoration. The grandchildren write out some jokes to go inside (they are not allowed to answer their own on the day).
At the moment I am painting wooden nutcracker decorations for the Christmas table helped by GC. Each guest will take one home on Christmas day.
I enjoy crafting and Christmas is a grand excuse to keep me busy during those dark Winter evenings. I enjoy visiting craft fairs for new ideas, maybe Christmas aprons as a project for next year. We'll see.

Are you Mary Berry?

My S works at a garden centre, one of a very large major chain. He told me today the Christmas trees will start to arrive on Monday.
They will be the living ones in pots
When I pointed out it is still October he said they will sell some, not in volume yet but they will be bought.
Madness.

karmalady

I am a capricorn flippinheck and am always organised, for everything and have also never been late for anything

Today I bough the boojabooja chocolate boxes that I want to take when I go visiting, another tick off my list

Yes, I am a Capricorn too! I hadn’t realised this was a Capricornian trait. I like that idea much better than being autistic! Thank you for that.

Bought my first Advent calendar yesterday 🫣

Whitewavemark2

RosieandherMaw

Nooooooooooooo - don’t want to play! 🧑‍🎄 🌲 🎅 🎄 🎁

Well hard cheese - you have to 😄😄😄😄

Shan't, so there!!

My Dad used to do jars of pickled onions, GrannyGravy. They were the best I've tasted.

Yes, I've made chutney years ago and made myself late for an appointment because it took so long.

As for red cabbage - love it braised with apple, etc but ditto! It took ages.

There's a very old Christmas pudding in the cupboard (home-made) 🤔 Should I risk it?

I am a capricorn flippinheck and am always organised, for everything and have also never been late for anything

Today I bough the boojabooja chocolate boxes that I want to take when I go visiting, another tick off my list

Okay, I know this is sad, but I can’t help myself. I am always ultra prepared. I preplan day trips, holidays, even visits to the local shop. I hate surprises. I take ‘be prepared’ to the ultimate level. I have never been late and would rather arrive an hour early than keep someone waiting a single minute.
And I have already finished shopping for Christmas presents, though I have still to buy family Christmas cards. I will do that next week and by the end of the week I will have the cards written and the presents wrapped. And then…….relax.
I am 74 and aged 50 was diagnosed, through occupational health, with autism. Am I autistic? Goodness knows. Did that diagnosis change anything? No. But I suppose it might explain some of my quirks.
Anyway, Happy Christmas.

I just love Christmas and with a large family I like to prepare well in advance.
The knitted hats I make each year are all ready. Snowman hats this year for 17 family members. We'll wear them on our Christmas outings, Centreparcs last year with our elf hats, Beamish Christmas event this year wearing our snowmen.
I'm in the process of making Christmas stockings from fabric for everyone to save on wrapping paper in the future. Two years ago I made reusable Christmas crackers which we're now using each year. It means I can fill them with something that won't be tossed as rubbish, usually a chocolate or even some wildflower seeds or a small tree decoration. The grandchildren write out some jokes to go inside (they are not allowed to answer their own on the day).
At the moment I am painting wooden nutcracker decorations for the Christmas table helped by GC. Each guest will take one home on Christmas day.
I enjoy crafting and Christmas is a grand excuse to keep me busy during those dark Winter evenings. I enjoy visiting craft fairs for new ideas, maybe Christmas aprons as a project for next year. We'll see.

I won’t be making my mince pies (we get through a lot!) until 1st December, or the first day of Advent, whichever is first.
I make them with carols playing, and the first glass of mulled wine on the go!

I’ll be making Delia’s mincemeat very soon (away at the moment) and Christmas puds soon afterwards. I infinitely prefer a homemade pud to any shop version - I use an old GH recipe - always popular, even with people who don’t usually like 🎄pudding. The GH one is considerably less dark, dense and heavy.

I no longer make 🎄cakes - too much used to end up on the bird table!