It’s nearly here! We’re only a few days away now from presents and treats, a feast and, for an alcohol free me for the last five weeks, a much longed for glass of champagne on Christmas Eve. We’re hosting a champagne afternoon tea for our mothers.
I’ve wrapped half of my presents. Every year I vow to wrap as I buy, or at least a few weeks before Christmas. Every year I fail!
During December there have been visits to National Trust properties. Festive markets, beautifully decorated garden centres and treats shared with friends and family. I’m feeling so grateful and appreciative for good health and the opportunity for all of these good things. I’ve put together a little selection of photos to share with you.
This year has been challenging, I’ve lost two close relatives and there have been lots of difficult times. Quiet moments like these; walking up a frosty driveway and finding bright berries on a holly bush to remember and reflect have been good. Christmas is Christmas because of the people around us, not the money spent, the presents, the turkey, or even the glitz and sparkle. It’s being with people we love and who love us. On Christmas Eve we will be raising a glass in remembrance to those who are no longer with us. Join me in spirit, if you would like to?
“To celebrate the Coronation year, we are displaying two works by acclaimed artist Ann Carrington (b.1962).
The Pearly Queen of Shoreditch (2004) was made to mark Queen Elizabeth Il’s 80th birthday and combines an image familiar from postage stamps, with the Pearly Kings and Queens of London’s East End.
The Pearly King (2023) is a new commission for HM King Charles’ Coronation, on display for the first time.” Waddesdon Manor
A Scottish friend shared this recipe with me: Christmas Shortbread I’ve seen her annual photos for years, on Facebook, and as I recently made shortbread I asked if I could please have it. (This is for cooking in an aga, I baked it at 160° fan (180°) for 25 minutes.
I had made some Good Housekeeping mag cranberry mincemeat last year. (Buttery, no suet.) According to the recipe it’s only meant to be kept for a week. Over a year later later I still had three jars. Fortunately it was still smelling and tasting absolutely delicious. I must’ve had a heavy hand with the bottle when I made it, it’s definitely a recipe to keep forever. I’ve got one precious jar left. I’m wondering what to use it for, maybe more mince pies next week?
Have you done any Christmas baking? What are your plans this weekend? 🎄
Poor osteospermum (aka African Daisy, so my friend Jill tells me) nearly drowned in all the rain so came inside to dry off. Poor thing was flourishing and flowering a second time – go me, the deadheading Queen! – but started to look bedraggled and as if it was going to wither. I don’t blame it to be honest. I was starting to feel the same way. 
Tenby – still so light at nine in the evening 
There was lot more besides: more trees, more decorated rooms both upstairs and downstairs, but I make a conscious effort not to take hundreds of photos There has to be a balance between wandering and enjoying the atmosphere and not seeing it all through a screen. I’ve captured the look of the house and gardens, which hopefully gives you a flavour of the property.
Adoring: no-knead sourdough cooked in my charity shop treasure. The moisture in the bread means it cooks in its own steam. You then take the lid off for the last bit to burnish the top. It needs to be just this side of burnt for the flavour and crustiness.
The plan for Sunday was meant to be shopping for an expensive, boring-but-sort-of necessary thing, but I totally subverted that by lobbying for a day out. It was another lovely sunny weekend and Saturday had been spent in the sunshine at a family BBQ. I wanted the good time vibes to continue. Admittedly I didn’t have to try very hard! So we went to 
You can stay in this 
It’s ok Mum, I’m not coming close. I’ll just use my zoom.
Rachel means ewe in Hebrew. There’s a random fact of the day for you.
It continues to be a gorgeous sunny warm Spring here in the South of England. Walking at Cliveden (6.5 miles, now pretty much a breeze apart from really steep bits!) in beautiful sun, seeing abundant wild bluebells and primroses feels like such a treat. You need to catch bluebells while they bloom; it never feels as if they are around for long. I’m sure we usually go to the bluebell woods of my childhood in May, everything seems earlier this year. 
As I wrote this title, following a discussion about farming, wool and the great wealth which came from wool in Yorkshire during decades gone by, it occurs to me that if this were one of those ‘big blogs’ there might be uproar from the wool purists. My Yorkshire cowl is made from 100% acrylic. It’s named because I crocheted it during a week there, and it’s always going to remind me of walks by the sea and the coastal path. The 
Yorkshire Cowl
Some people are good at selfies, some are not; especially when in windswept Derbyshire visiting 
What are you making at the moment?
The Little Room of Rachell 
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