The Family Christmas - What We Do On Christmas Day

"Christmas...
John Falter
Buy This at Allposters.com

It's only 5 days until Christmas Day, when you wake up to the squeals of delight and excitement from the rest of the house, as younger members of the family eagerly open their stockings. And then it's breakfast. What do you eat when you have, what will probably be the biggest meal ahead of you that you will eat all year? Thank God for satsumas. They are seasonal, colourful, quick to grab and light to eat. They won't spoil your appetite. Although if you don't eat a little more than that, you know what will happen! You will be constantly asking when dinner is ready if you don't succumb to that box of chocolates that you know is in that chocolate-box-shaped present under the tree! If that's the case, with appeptite suppressed and dinner ready earlier than expected, you will be heading up the dinner conversation with remarks that they have made too much, gone overboard and no- you won't be wanting christmas pudding thank you!

Before that though, the relatives will all arrive with the same smiles on their faces that they had last year, except this time they will be tempered with full traffic and weather reports, knowing that of course, you will have been cooped up in the kitchen all morning (and probably most of the previous night too) to not possibly be able to know what has been happening in the outside world in the meantime. With their presents suitably placed under the tree, behind yours of course, everyone sits down for a peaceful cup of coffee, amidst excited children asking for the tenth time when they can open the presents and the cook hopping in and out (more out than in) to see to the food, that is threatening to burn if left unattended. Everyone politely asks the other what they have been getting up to since last they met, hoping and praying that they don't talk for too long. If this does occur, the host is all too ready to jump up and offer everyone an apparatif, hoping that they have finished their coffee at this point. After a few sips of sherry you decide to try and curb the conversation that has now turned to an awkward stance and you put on the good old Christmas CD to the groans of all the teenagers (and young adults) in the room. The children quickly make an exit and pester the cook again to ask when dinner is ready. They duly return with the task of setting the table, wishing that they had stuck with Plan A and not disturbed the delicate balance in the kitchen!

Don't miss Part 2 - The Christmas Dinner.....to follow!

What To Do On Christmas Day- 10 Great Ideas

7 Days Until Christmas

Christmas Cookies

We are now well into the swing of carol concerts, christmas parties and all the shopping and baking that goes into making Christmas a good time. Last night I completed the last of singing in the choir for the carol concerts, being rewarded with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards and feeling somewhat relieved that I now have more time for the other preparations.

Last week gifts were posted abroad to Korea and Germany, so it just leaves some to buy that will be given on the day. Yesterday the duck was bought and some more goodies for the festive food. Yes, we've decided to have duck this year for the first time for a change from the usual turkey, so hopefully it will turn out ok!

The christmas cards have been written along with a family newsletter, as I always like to include some news with the cards. Just need to get them all delivered.

The planning is happening step-by-step, but generally we will be trying to keep things simpler this year. Well, I'm off to bake some cookies and mince pies. Here are my favorite christmas cookies, great recipes for the season!:
Delicious Orange And Cinnamon Shortbread
Easy Homemade Walnut Cookies

23 Days Until Christmas

Christmas Music

This weekend is First Advent, so the Christmas season is officially beginning! There are only 23 days until christmas! So here is my personal countdown to Christmas in the SE of England, where we have our own traditions. Lights are going on both in towns and in homes, where candles are lit to lighten up the darker days.

Today the Christmas cake was made, with a good mix of dried fruit and almonds. After 3-4 hours it is baked and the week before Christmas the marzipan will be added, followed a few days later by the royal icing, which will be allowed to harden for a few days before eating. The cake will be decorated with marzipan decorations (coloured and shaped into bells, candles, Father Christmas or similar characters.

The Christmas pudding was made a week ago. In the days of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert it was called plum pudding, made from similar ingredients to the cake. Quite rich and served after the Christmas day roast with brandy sauce.

I have signed up to sing in the church Christmas choir to perform some christmas music at the carol service. Many are practising hard for Christmas performances in schools, churches and clubs. The best is always to have live musicians where possible and with a bit of preparation a lovely sound can be achieved, even by those who don't deem themselves to be expert musicians for the rest of the year. Get hold of some good music and start practising. Our son is doing just that to play his guitar on the day. It's giving him a goal to improve his guitar skills. Get started with some good guitar music and enjoy the sounds of Christmas over the next few weeks.

Cliff Richards's book can inspire anyone to pick up their guitar and start performing. Read his story or give it to a budding musician who needs some inspiration.
Cliff Richard- My Life My Way
The Best Guitar Music

Image courtesy of nokhoog_buchachon/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's Red Rose Day

On Tuesday June 12th 2012 it will be Red Rose Day. A day to appreciate these stunning flowers and share them with others. How lovely that we don't have to wait until Valentines Day, but we can share them with anyone we like, not even just a romantic relationship. 12 is a magical number for roses, for it symbolizes completion with the 12 months of the year and 12 hours on the clock. There are even 12 zodiac signs, making a dozen red roses the perfect gift in a special relationship. Red roses can be planted as a stake in the ground for a meaningful relationship, which will bloom each year in the Summer. A red rose can be covered in gold, to make it immortal and symbolise a relationship that will last until "death us do part". However you celebrate Red Rose Day, it's worth remembering the exquisiteness of this delicate flower that faithfully blooms and blossoms every year to leave us with it's fragrance and natural beauty. 
Spread The Love With Red Rose Gifts
 
© Photographer: Vladimir354 | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Can You Say Happy Easter?

Celebrate Easter

If Easter is essentially a religious event, celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ, can we wish someone a Happy Easter? Well it depends. If your faith in Christ's death and resurrection has given you new life and hope for a future, then that it is indeed a good reason to have a happy Easter. If not, then it's just another reason to spend lots of money on chocolates and entertaining family, which the shops certainly take advantage of in getting more business. I wonder how many people allow this religious festival to arouse their curiosity in the realms of "what if". What if they are right and this christian belief is true after all? If so, then many people could be missing out hugely, not only in this life, but in the next as well, i.e.eternity. I would think that based upon their claims, it must be checked out at least once in a lifetime, or else they would be those who pronounce total non-belief in something they have never read, e.g. the Bible. Now that could be a good place to begin....

Happy Easter!

Say It With A Charity Event

What do you believe in that you want to tell the world? I have recently acknowledged that I love cooking fresh, economical meals and inspiring others to cook for their families. Nowadays there are too many people who come home to television and a microwaved ready meal. Many have never learned to cook and may not even know the importance of it. Using fresh, natural products enables us to live healthy lives for longer. Products that haven't been stored for days beforehand and sprayed with substances that ultimately make us ill. Eating together brings families together and teaches children to converse and socialize. So bringing a tasty meal to the table is bringing life to those we love.

I admire what Jamie Oliver is doing in teaching people to cook real food. He also runs several cooking schools and restaurants where young disadvantaged people have an opportunity to build a career and a future in the catering industry. This is why my coffee morning this week will be in aid of the Jamie Oliver Foundation and will include a fun, evening party to view his exclusive homeware products that make cooking easier and more enjoyable for the everyday, busy person. It also happens to be the Jamie At Home 3rd Birthday! Looking forward to a day of celebration!

How To Host A Coffee Morning Charity Event

How To Show Your Love

Give a red rose

We all need to be able to show our love at one time or another. It's just that sometimes we need something extra special and unique when words are not enough. It could be:

• a love note, lovingly tucked into their lunch boxes or coat pocket 
• a surprise candelit meal
• a red rose(or a bunch of them)
• tickets to a show or sporting event
• a box of chocolates
• a surprise party
• a framed and signed photo of a special event and place
• a poem of declaration

Of course, nothing can replace a quiet chat together in a safe place, but giving something extra will add to the weight of what you say. How have you been shown love?

Want to give a red rose with a difference? Go to Red Roses


© Photographer: D2xed | Agency: Dreamstime.com