Starting the Christmas countdown

Well I managed to get the Advent Calendar up on the right day, and to send the girls a little advent card for them to open each day at Uni.

I made this one when the girls were very small and it comes out every year and really starts the countdown to Christmas - concentrating the mind on all the things we need to get done. When the the girls were little they would find a little gift in the pockets each day, but now it just looks festive on the wall and makes me realise how much I still have to organise!

So, without really checking to see if I had everything in the store cupboard I mixed up the Christmas cake (a little late, but never mind) - a slightly modified recipe this year as we didn't have any oranges to zest, so used satsumas instead and had to use a variety of nuts instead of almonds. But it looks OK. I phoned the girls to let them have a virtual wish whilst I was stirring the mix and then tipped it into the tin

Hmm, no parcel paper to tie around the tin to stop the cake burning. A little improvisation - I cut up a paper carrier bag! So now the cake is safely in the oven cooking.

Now, what's next to do? Making cards I think....

Dont forget to drop by and join in my first year of blogging giveaway, it will close on Wednesday 5th.

Birthday boy

Today is our dogs birthday, he is seven years old! To celebrated we had a walk together around the fields this afternoon. Although still very cold here with frost on the ground, there was a beautiful blue sky. This is such a lovely change from the terrible grey, wet days we had over the Christmas and New Year break.

Birthday boy 

Blue sky! even a shadow

and signs of spring!

 Although it is quite a while ago now, just a few photos of Christmas...

We had friends and neighbours around for drinks on Christmas Eve which was a lovely relaxed evening - well, once the rush of getting everything ready was over - mulled wine, lots of nibbles and plenty of chat - set the tone for the rest of the break!

I think apart from taking the dog for a walk we didn't venture outside. On boxing day we all went for a local walk with the dog, and the next day went across to the NE to visit relations.

Over the break M wanted to eat apple pie, so she made a pie which turned out to be a fantastic work of art as well as really yummy. The filling was apple and cinnamon, so very festive. Not sure where she got the recipe from, but hope she can remember as I would like to make it again.