Nearly ready for Christmas

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The family have started to arrive.  First came elder daughter, her husband and two year old son, arriving late on Tuesday night with J asleep in the car.  They are installed in the holiday cottage.  Then came younger daughter with her dog, a young and beautiful red fox labrador and then younger son and his wife and their dog, an equally beautiful black labrador and yesterday younger daughter's boyfriend.

So now we are all here until Christmas Day when we hope to see older son.  The house is full.  When we sit down to eat we are eight or nine at the table.  The tree has been dug up from the field and brought inside in a pot.  It looks way bigger inside than it did out there!


We don't go in for tasteful Christmas trees here.  Christmas is not Christmas without too many sets of lights, decorations of all colours and all the old favourites on the tree.


The slightly squiffy snowman has to have his place and a new favourite to add to the old ones is the Christmas sheep.


The Christmas cake, made by elder daughter and decorated by her, younger daughter and younger daughter's boyfriend, has a Frozen Planet theme this year.  Frozen Planet for non UK readers is a new series narrated by David Attenborough which has been shown on the TV this autumn.  Watch out for it, it is truly stunning.


I think they have surpassed themselves this year.  Note particularly the mother and baby seal joining in the fun and the horizontally sliding penguin on his way to collide with the mystery tree.

Mincepies have been made in quantity along with mulled wine by younger son.  Black dog and yellow dog have behaved pretty well and two year grandson has contributed by running around, laughing a lot and crying "Wassat?"  Daughter in law's contributions to the festive scene are hanging from the hooks in the beams where they used to cure the hams, and her Christmas dog is on the tree.




And now we have reached that bit of Christmas Eve when there is nothing more to be done.  Nothing else to be made or bought, only the big meal to come tomorrow. 

So I am off for a glass of wine and a look at how my baked ham is coming along and to enjoy the company of my family.  I wish you all a very happy Christmas, wherever you are and however you are celebrating.

Comments

  1. Diana Studer24 December 2011 at 20:30

    Happy Christmas! I love the - add a new handmade decoration each year idea.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dartford Warbler24 December 2011 at 20:45

    How lovely to have your family together again for Christmas, Have a wonderful time!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rowan24 December 2011 at 21:39

    Hope you have a lovely Christmas with all your family there.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Irene25 December 2011 at 02:28

    Have a Merry Christmas with your family, Elizabeth.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fennie25 December 2011 at 19:51

    Happy Christmas, Elizabeth. Theo is now in the bath, having exhausted the washing up liquid he has been busy washing plates in hand cream. (What parents of two year olds need to guard against No 201)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Helen/patientgardener25 December 2011 at 20:13

    Happy Christmas Elizabeth - it all sounds wonderful. I do hope your eldest son managed to join you too

    ReplyDelete
  7. The bike shed25 December 2011 at 21:11

    Just dropping by to say Merry Christmas. I've been away this month (needed a blogging break) but normal service to resume in January. Thanks for following and commenting so regularly this year.

    Hope your Christmas is all you wished for.

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  8. Maggie May26 December 2011 at 23:16

    Hoping you had a Happy Christmas.
    Lovely snaps of the tree.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

    ReplyDelete
  9. Marcheline27 December 2011 at 03:12

    As I said to all the English/Scottish/Irish pilots I spoke to on the radio Christmas day, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS!"

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lou Archer28 December 2011 at 08:23

    Love the christmas cake. What a talented bunch..... our tree looks very similar.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Elizabeth Musgrave28 December 2011 at 21:12

    Amazingly turkey now eaten and most of the children gone (and both dogs). Stll have daughter and sonic law and two year old here. What a lovely wind down from a lovely Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Elizabeth Musgrave28 December 2011 at 21:32

    Not sure how son in law would feel about being sonic mind you!

    ReplyDelete

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