New Year's Eve 2016 -

Have a fabulous evening.............and may 2016 be the

 best year ever for each of you.

Mince Pies forever!

One of life's little winter pleasures.

Each year in the run up to Christmas, part of my traditional baking for the

 holiday season revolves around getting the mince pies made.

These little individual sweet treats, never missing from the British home in

 December, are offered to all and sundry who pop by city lofts, suburban 

houses and cozy country cottages. 

I made several dozen this year knowing we would have many people at the

 open house on Christmas Eve - and I whipped up the Cumberland Rum Butter 

to serve with them. Many disappeared with compliments to the baker,

however we still have plenty remaining for teatime, dessert. . . . . . and come 

New Year's Eve, a warming midnight snack to accompany the bubbly!

If you like my Rough Linen 'pinny' (pinafore apron), and would love one of your very own,

be sure to go HERE and read how to get one, as well as beautiful bed linens etc. 

Of all the holiday leftovers these are my favorites - I'm scoffing my share

 because it will be another twelve long months before I bake them again!

Antarctic memories and FIONA!

Three years ago, at this time, with Christmas celebrations over, Boxing Day a memory,

and winter settled upon us here in the southeast, I was busy packing up to leave on

 the trip of a lifetime to ANTARCTICA to celebrate the 50 year friendship with my 

dear friend Paula. She had visited twice previously and this time invited me as her

 very grateful guest. Fortunately her bravery rubbed off on me and I had no

 qualms despite the distance, remoteness, and sailing on a small expedition

 ship - I was raring to go 'to the ends of the earth' also!

Antarctica, and the entire Southern Ocean, is the most amazing place on this 

planet. Go HERE and HERE to look back at some of the places we visited in 2013. 

Fiona came for Christmas - and is staying!

I was surprised when a large box was delivered and left on the front porch early

 evening a few days before Christmas. Nothing was ordered. Nothing was 

expected. Something exciting was up though!

You may recall my recent post about a fabulous shop we discovered when at 

the coast in late November. 

BAROUKE Exotic Woods Etc.

Perhaps you remember me falling in love with Fiona, a sweet carved wooden
 penguin - go read the story for the details. Seeing Fiona on display, I recalled
 my time among literally a million or more penguins on the Antarctic 
expedition - and one particular young penguin on South Georgia Island
 (Paula and I named her Georgia) who followed us about, chewed on our rubber
 wellies, and became our little friend for several hours whilst ashore.

I kicked myself for not buying Fiona while at Barouke - click on my sidebar - that

 day in Wilmington, and shared that fact in my subsequent post where I wrote

 about the great shop, its fabulous offerings, and its lovely owner Jannett.

I realized later that Fiona could almost be Georgia, without her fluffy 

juvenile coat, all grown up, and that I should have brought her home.

Imagine my surprise and joy when on opening the unexpected box,

wrapped so beautifully and tucked into a bed of white foam (snow?) was

Fiona, along with a lovely Christmas card from Jannett and her husband.

What kind, thoughtful, very generous people - I was overwhelmed!

So, you must admit this is a lovely story - but this is only part of it.

Deeper down in the large box were other new winged friends - yes Fiona traveled 

with companions! There will be another story as soon as they calm down, dry off, and 

allow me to photograph them.

They have been testing the waters in our garden (we had a lot of rain after they arrived)

and their boots are still waterlogged LOL!!!

Boxing Day 2015. . . . . . . . .

We were good to each other over Christmas.

SHE decorated, wrote greetings, mailed cards and invitations, cooked, baked,

 cleaned, wrapped. . . . and of course shopped a bit.

HE shopped, shopped, shopped. . . . . . . blew away the leaves, uncorked the wine,

 filled the glasses, made the Christmas Eve toast for all 22 of us squeezed into the

 cottage, pulled the Christmas crackers, and washed all the glassware and dishes 

at midnight after the party was over.

We opened our gifts Christmas morning. . . . . oh my, Santa was generous.

I must have been good all year after all!

How about that awesome Christmas Night full moon!

I tried to get photos but none were very good.

The previous one was in 1977 - our first Christmas here in Raleigh.

The next one doesn't arrive until 19 years from now, 2034.

This makes one think, a lot, and wonder even more!

Today is Boxing Day, my favorite day of the year.

A time to take things easy.

Looking through my presents and taking photos.

Organizing leftovers - ham and split pea soup will be simmering soon.

'Bubble and squeak' will be frying in the pan.

Just enough Christmas Pudding left for supper.

Far too many mince pies and rum butter remaining. . . . . the diet

will have to wait. . . . . because as cute as they are, MY mince pies

they cannot have.

via Internet

Off to fill in my 2016 calendar - wonder where I'll go in this wide world in the new year!

Tonight, a movie at home. . . . . .but still much too warm for a fire.

 Tomorrow I'll work on a post about my lovely Christmas gifts,

and soon I'll tell you a story about some new, very special, 

winged friends who have taken up residence at the cottage!

Hope you all enjoyed a beautiful, peaceful and blessed Christmas.

On Christmas Day . . . . . . . .

Christmas Eve 2015. . . . . . . . . . . .

Believe

Children sleeping, snow is softly falling

Dreams are calling like bells in the distance

We were dreamers not so long ago

But one by one we all had to grow up

When it seems the magic slipped away

We find it all again on Christmas Day

Believe in what your heart is saying

Hear the melody that's playing

There's no time to waste

There's so much to celebrate

Believe in what you feel inside

And give your dreams the wings to fly

You have everything you need

If you just believe

Trains move quickly to their journeys end

Destinations are where we begin again

Ships go sailing far across the sea

Trusting starlight to get where they need to be

When it seems that we have lost our way

We find ourselves again on Christmas Day

Believe in what in your heart is saying

Hear the melody that's playing

There's no time to waste

There's so much to celebrate

Believe in what you feel inside

And give your dreams the wings to fly

You have everything you need

If you just believe
IF YOU JUST BELIEVE

The beautiful song from The Polar Express movie.

December weather - a wet Christmas. . . . . . . .

Around North Carolina we've not had the usual weather the 

month of December brings. . . . . no bitter cold, no snow or icy

 conditions, no roaring winds, but quite a lot of rain falling heavily

 like grey sheets of gloom, such as we're getting today. It's

currently "pelting down cats and dogs" as we said in England when

 I was growing up. Do they still say that - maybe my UK readers can

oblige with info - thanks.

We've also had very warm weather and some lovely

sunny days. . . . . .to rake leaves, hang decorations outside, go 

shopping, walk for a little exercise now and then, even sit on the 

front porch with a refreshing drink in hand, in between the pre-holiday

 hustle and bustle of errands and chores December always brings. 

This has always been one of my favorite depictions of December

as Christmas approaches - snow, wind, a red dress and warm wrap, and a huge

 bunch of mistletoe.

Christmas love to you all.

Décembre

Eugene Samuel Grasset (Swiss, 1845-1917)

Color wood graving from his portfolio Les Mois - 1895

Enjoying the Christmas preparations. . . . . . . . .

Phew! I feel a bit like this today after so much weekend baking.

Bob propped me up by staying out of my hair all those hours in the kitchen.

 I like to get on with my baking with Christmas music, no conversation,

 and a nice glass of Harvey's Bristol Cream sherry nearby!

 Memories of childhood Christmas baking days with

 my mother fill my thoughts and make me happy.

The kitchen is now a mess with a layer flour everywhere, bits of pastry

 dough stuck on the floor, a raisin or two rolling under the island,

 and sticky handles on the refrigerator. I hate a grubby kitchen

so you know what I'll be doing today.

BTW, I love my pair of woolly mice - bought in Asheville, NC last year -

they came out of the storage box again for Christmas. I think they'll be 

staying around from now on, not going back into hiding. I can see them

 depicting happenings in our daily life through all the months ahead - so

 keep an eye out for them when I post in the new year.

Their names you may ask? Why Bob and Mary of course!

Yes, today I start some house cleaning now the messy bits of making 

the cottage festive are completed. 

With an open house on Christmas Eve - come and gobble

 up the goodies if you're nearby - I do like the house to sparkle in the candlelight.

 We still have not started burning our wood due to continued warm weather so

 the dust is not bad - but a fire in the hearth will be enjoyed over Christmas

 even if we have to keep the doors open! 

Getting to look a lot. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . like CHRISTMAS!

When today's date - the 20th - popped up as I opened 

the laptop, I realized I need to get moving with the remaining 

holiday baking for the Christmas Eve open house. 

Shopping is done, cards mailed, wrapping is completed, 

decorating done - although I'm always titivating the holiday

 vignettes, and added a lot more candles yesterday.

I'll be using fresh greenery on the mantel soon - it's ready

 on the porch, in water, because it's just really warm and sunny

 and needs to quench its thirst before coming into the cottage!

Brilliant sunshine this morning - the beautiful light meant

 'take more photos' of course.

 I'll soon be heading to the kitchen to make traditional little English mince pies.

 My filling of rich dried fruits sat overnight soaking up a nice swig of rum - so

 I'll be off soon to make pastry and get those little gems into the oven to bake.

I also baked most of Friday and then again yesterday afternoon.

This afternoon I'm hoping to grab one of these mugs (CALM looks perfect)

 of hot chocolate, a cookie, and just sit outside in the sunshine for a while.

 Knowing the baking is done, only the house cleaning is left to keep me

busy during the next day or so.

 

Are things are ready around your home? 

These next few days will definitely fly by fast. 

I'm just waiting for the 25th to arrive. 

For us it will be that lovely quiet and peaceful day -------- time to enjoy

 the true meaning of Christmas without all the commercial clutter.

Let it rain. . . . . .

. . . . . . . because we need it sometimes to wash away the dust and grime 

of everyday living, to refresh the gardens and grow the crops.

No sign of Christmas snow around here but we did have some heavy rain

 a day or so ago. It bounced in the bird baths making them

 overflow - robins seemed to love that, washed the leaves off the parked cars and sent

 them floating down the driveway to join the small mountains we'd already raked

to the curb. The camellias sparkled after their much-loved shower, and I even 

noticed a little growth spurt of the lawn.

Growing up in an often rainy country I've had my share of umbrellas, most were 

dowdy and dreary black until those clear vinyl domes became popular - what ever

 happened to them anyway? 

When visiting Claude Monet's beautiful house and gardens in France this year

I saw these - I should have purchased at least one - who would mind

paddling about in the rain under the waterlilies!

Go here to 'visit' Giverny

http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2015/09/claude-monets-giverny.html

Claude Monet's beautiful paintings available on umbrellas - Giverny, France
 September 2015 

This being the last shopping weekend before Christmas, I hope
you have lovely weather to venture out with no need of an 
umbrella. We have lovely sunshine today but it has turned cooler
which is fine with me.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Downtown shines at dusk . . . . . .

A little more from last weekend when we were out and about much of the time

enjoying the fine days during the Christmas rush.

 Saturday was warm, sunny, near to perfect, and downtown called to us.

We headed out to walk late afternoon unencumbered by heavy accessories.

 No jackets or bulky bags, just a scarf in case it turned cooler, comfy walking shoes,

 and my iPhone to snap a few pix along the way as dusk fell gently over the 

bulky city buildings and cheerful shoppers.

Many people, casually dressed, were on their way to restaurants - it was Christmas 

party time. Others, elegant in sparkly high heels and pretty dresses, bow ties

 and tuxedos, were strolling toward the auditorium for an evening concert with the 

North Carolina Symphony.

The blend of old and new architecture strung together by symbols of the season.

 Even commercial buildings, such as these banks, make an effort to warm up

 those big blank spaces at Christmas.

Do you enjoy visiting a bright and bustling downtown area during the holiday season?

Let's go to the cinema. . . . . . . .

We absolutely loved this film. 

Set in the '50's, it's the story of a young woman coming to New York

from a small town in Ireland in search of a better life. There is an 

unusual twist. . . . . . . but I'll not give it away here and spoil it, just go watch it 

for yourself, and take your hanky or lots of tissues!

Bob shed a few tears and held my hand in several scenes (more on that 

another time - but as you may know, I too left my home country for America at

 a young age, therefore so much of this story resonates with me). 

 I cried buckets and was grateful I'd used waterproof mascara that day!

Saoirse Ronan was once again amazing - what a wonderful actress

she has become, and still only 21. One of very few Irish actresses to appear

 in the last fifty years or so, her performance in 'Brooklyn' solidifies her transition

 from child star (in 'Atonement', 'The Lovely Bones' etc.) to major actress.

. . . . . . and don't feel bad if, like most people unfamiliar with the correct 

pronunciation of many Irish names, you have trouble with this one, 

Saoirse is pronounced "SEER-sha" - just so you know, and you will want to be 

talking about this special actress a lot in the future.

This is a just released new movie - you may not find it in your 
area yet, and I doubt on Netflix for some time. Be sure to put it
on your list though.

Dawn to dusk --------------------

We were out on Sunday doing what many of us are doing these busy days.

The morning started here - a quick bite at a newly opened breakfast/lunch 

place. . . . . . . 

. . . . . and by early evening we had ended up here just a few minutes from home.

 It was incredibly warm and balmy, not at all like traditional Christmas weather.

 Strolling about in just light clothing, enjoying blossoms in December.

As always, Anthropologie had great windows, and with snow! Wondering if we'll

 get the real thing some time this Winter.

All pix via my iPhone