38 years young....

Yesterday morning I turned 38, ~clinging on to those 30's now~ I was woken to the sound of my gorgeous little daughter singing happy birthday, and jumping on my bed, handing me my birthday cards.I had a lovely day, didn't do any thing special, as husband is taking me up to London on Wednesday for a lovely lunch, and then on to see Wicked,  am really looking foward to that!



Blossom lights



Funky chilli lights

Presents recieved~ Red cherry blossom lights, and perfume bought by me (as husband is crap at buying me presents (usually a kitchen gadget)  Nigella~ kitchen book and chocolates from mum, red chilli pepper lights, from nan.These all look so fab in my kitchen, which is starting to resemble a grotto!  Also gratefully recieved,  a decent red wine from elder brother, and  Hugh Fearnley- Whittinstall book River cottage everyday book from younger brother, I feel truly honoured as neither usually remember, let alone buy me pressies!

Named sieve

My eldest son got me zilch, as claims he has no money as he is jobless, well that's his excuse ( he never saves, spends as soon as its in his hand) younger gave me his gifts on Sunday afternoon, as was going back to his dads, and wouldn't be seeing me on my actual birthday.As we say goodbye he opened the  boot of car, and hands me a sieve, yes a sieve, with price tag attached. He must have spent 2 hrs in TK Max on Saturday looking for a mum appropiate present, when I asked why he bought me it, he said 'well your old one hasn't got a handle has it?'  To which I replied 'yes but it still functions!'  he then said 'well I did get you something else, but its in my drawer in our room,' I asked 'why?' and he said 'beacuse I stood on it, and broke it, have a look when you get home'.

Once I got home,  I recovered a  beautiful glass blue flower with a broken stem, from sons drawer, it's not something I would have chosen myself, but it is nonetheless lovely, so he did put some thought into it after all! The stem was far too long anyway, but the main part was still intact so I have popped it in a pot next to my cactus, in front of my window so I can look at it when im washing up.







Blue flower

So after a nice lunch with mum and brothers, the biggest suprise ever, doorbell rings, my Christmas tree turned up! YAY! I was so pleased, as I always put my tree up in time for my birthday, so mum and I set it all up, and little one helped decorate it whilst listening to Carols.

I am really pleased with the tree, as have always had a real one, and was dubious about ordering a fake one online, as they never look like they do in the the pictures, but it actually looks better in real life, its hard to tell its a fake, it has a very natural shape, so hurrah, No needles and limp tree this year! It is rather large though, takes over my lounge, that's ok, I will move to a bigger house to accomadate it!

Had a scrummy lunch of melty cheese and bacon ciabattas and homemade chunky coleslaw,and as no one else was going to make me a cake, I made a pavlova, always a fave.

Pav

Finished the day with a few glasses of wine supplied by friends K and P;) with hubby, in candlelight, adoring my tree.

❄Snowed in..eagerly awaiting Christmas❄





I haven't been out since Monday morning, apart from in the garden, to watch childrens snowfights, and snowman making, its been quite blissful, all cosy and warm, have done lots of baking, and kept busy planning for Christmas.

Little daughter has written, and posted her first letter to |Father Christmas, well with help from mummy....




Letter to St Nic





Snow star yucca



This morning the children played, or should I say  wound each up,violently pelted each other with snowballs, then elder son stuffed snow down younger sons back, nearly making him cry, resulting in me nearly banging there heads together. They did  kindly make little sister a snowman, of which she is terrified to wake in the morning, and find melted (no chance) She actually cried when she watched Raymond Brigg's Snowman animation the other day, bless her, a chip off the old block, still gets me every time...

We have put some decorations up, I favour very natural looking decorations,  I HATE tinsel with a vengance, I like to 'see' my tree, so don't smother it in decorations. The red berry wreath and garland were a bargain at half price, from Argos last year. I have lots,and I mean LOTS of fairy lights around my house, my kitchen is starting to resemble Nigella's, I love them and leave them up all year round.

Festive fireplace

All of my chidren have spent hours playing with these delightful little dolls, over the years, they always end up rolling under the couch, so am forever trying to find them.

Russian Santas and penguins

                                                                     

 Nearer to Christmas day, I will go to the local park and cut holly, and  any type of attractive foliage with berries to decorate the table. We are waiting for our 'realisic' Xmas tree to arrive, I  have aways had a real tree, but have decided to invest in one that looks real, because im fed up with it dying on me after a week, no matter how much I keep it away from heat source, and water it, it looks droopy, and feels crispy by Christmas day. The snow has held up the delivery, so probably won't arrive until next weeek now, which is dissapointing, I like to have my tree up in time for my birthday on the 6th.

 I like to listen to traditional carols sung by the Cambridge choir, 'Christmas at Kings' whilst im decorating the tree, and have glass of port, with all the candles on, this makes me soo happy, and takes me right back to being a child.  My dad used to love Christmas, sadly he died at  a very young age, 14 years ago, and this time of year is when I miss his presence the most,  we always sat and watched Scrooge together,and Its a Wonderful life, I do this every year now with my boys, we always have special food, nibbles, they really enjoy it this too, they just know its the 'done 'thing with mum.I try and  keep all the traditions going, its a  special magical  time, and I hope my children will too.Everbody else in my family hates Xmas,  namely mum and brothers,which deeply saddens me, how can anyone 'hate' it? There are such simple pleasures to be had from the holiday, its not all about commercialism,  I'm not religious, and am certainly not an athesist either. I lean more towards its Pagan origins. Oh well 'Bah humbug'! to them, they will not dampen my spirits! Thankfully my husband , my children, and my friends love it.

 I will post pics of the new tree when its up, your opinions on whether it has a 'real' look to it, will be very  welcome please;)  



To celebrate our  Christmassy mood ,we made our first batch of mince pies today, they were so buttery and yummy, and a welcome treat coming in from the cold. I followed this recipe here


* Bear in mind, too add a little liquid, milk or water to your mix, to make the mix roll easier, or it will be too dry, and crumbly*

Rolling and cutting



'I want to put the snow on them' little one say's.

I'm really looking foward to next week  and hope the snow clears a bit, as im going up to London to see Wicked, for my birthday treat.As you may have guessed from previous posts, and my ' Dorothy painting on my header I Love TheWizard of Oz, should be great!

❄Happy cosy snowtime everbody!!☃
{Although I am rather looking foward to being able to venture out now}