It’s been a gingerbread baking and hot chocolate kind of week. Nothing like waking up to find the outside world is covered in a heavy frost. Cobwebs turned into fluffy strings, stretched out from hedges to trees, making you realise how many webs there really are in the garden. (Seriously, how many?) A mad scramble to find gloves forgotten since last winter, before heading out for the morning dog walk.
Definite time to break out my gingerbread recipe and make a warming cake. Time to get cosy.
Last weekend, we put away the autumn decorations. Little felt toadstools tucked away among the knitted acorns. The birthday bunting is folded away, ready for the next birthday. It’s left a few bare walls, but I need this before the Christmas decorations go up this weekend. I like the impact of the festive trimmings after a week of calm and clear surfaces. Apart from anything, it gives me a chance to give everywhere a bit more of a clean.
(photo from last year)
The fire has been lit every evening. The cottage is old and despite our best efforts, there are still the inevitable draughts. It is a humble cottage. Built in a time when they didn’t lay foundations, but built walls, worthy of a cathedral, on bare earth. After almost three centuries, nothing quite meets up as it should. Sigh. Time to close the heavy, velvet curtains, throw the flokati rugs on the floor* and bring out the handmade blankets, so everyone snuggles down to watch movies in the evenings.
(Probably should add that the floors are no longer bare earth, but tiled.)
I managed to dig my last flower bed of the year and bury the last of my spring bulbs. If I don’t get a decent display, I’ll be mighty disappointed.
The mincemeat is in the jars. Meant to leave it for a month or two, but I suspect we’ll be cracking into the first one soon.
I dried a new batch of orange slices. They slightly caught at the edges, in the oven. Still good enough to use. I have last years, which I stored in a layer of cinnamon, ready to use in the pot pourri, this time. They smell amazing.
Everything is ready for a festive weekend. I’ve so many plans, that I can’t wait to put into action.
Joining in Anne’s word of the week. Fancy joining in? We’re a friendly bunch. My word is cosy. How about you?
Well I definitely feel cosy after reading this. Enjoy your Christmas decorating, I’m hoping we can do some too this weekend.
I hope your decorating is a time full of fun and laughter!
A gingerbread baking and hot chocolate kind of week sounds like a good one!
You have had so much more frost than us! What beautiful mornings though.
Your evenings sound so cosy. We’ve been snuggling under blankets this week which has made me realise we need a couple of new one’s.
Have a lovely weekend x
Sounds a great excuse to get another blanket or two.
I have also decided to dry some orange slices after seeing the instructions somewhere yesterday. Everything about your life seems cozy, Cheryl. ☺️
The orange slices do make lovely decorations.
Oooh very cosy! I love it 😀 We’ve had a couple of frosty starts here too.
It was so pretty, wasn’t it?
You paint a beautiful wintry picture and your cottage sounds delightful! I love mince pies – your mincemeat looks so good! Mind if I join you when you crack open the first jar? 😉 #MMBC
You would be more than welcome!
Cozy is such a warm word and your world is always so cozy. I too love making dried orange slices for decorations. Enjoy your holiday time with your family and stay well. #MMBC
Thank you and you too.
What beautiful frost photos! I like to clean before decorating for Christmas too and I completely understand your desire for blank spaces between decorations. #MMBC
Thank you. More of a Wow! moment.
I love having the fire on this time of year.
It is lovely.
Well done for getting the last of the spring bulbs in. We’ve had our first snow here so I think I’m too late now!
#MMBC