My Christmas card to my parents, which I bought at Salisbury Cathedral this summer. The illustration is very clever - it's new, but is designed to look like an illuminated manuscript page, and it depicts Salisbury Cathedral with a bunch of contemporary figures from 13th-century England ... and cats. So many cats! I think it's one of my favorite Christmas cards ever.
The living room. We took the cover off the couch, prompting our friend to ask, "When are the Obamas getting here?" Sadly they had a prior obligation for this Christmas, but they're hoping to make it to our house for New Year's.
What I wore - I don't exactly dress up for Christmas, but red is festive.
Afternoon: Dinner with friends and family. We had mincemeat tarts from Tea & Sympathy. The Christmas pudding is also from Tea & Sympathy, but between my grandmother, my friends, and us we ended up with so many great desserts that the pudding didn't even get opened! We're saving it for New Year's.
Evening: Caroling, present opening, and watching Christmas movies, including the Snowman and a bunch of hilariously poorly animated cartoons from the mid-twentieth century.
I feel very fortunate to have spent the day (and the day before!) with my family and our truly wonderful friends. I hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season so far and will continue to do so in the days ahead (December 25 is only Christmas Day 0, you know. The first day of Christmas begins on the 26th with St. Stephen's/Boxing Day). Have fun!
4 comments:
All nicely festive, but where are the people? All we have are disembodied hands reaching out of the darkness and a dish floating mid air. Is this a Dickens thing?
And are you sure that Boxing Day is the first day of Christmas? That would finally settle an old argument regarding whether Twelfth Night is the 5th or 6th January.
Merry Christmas! How beautiful your Christmas looks. If you ever fancy making your own Christmas pudding, they are very easy to do although you need to make them a couple of months ahead. This is the recipe we always use. http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/traditional-christmas-pudding.html I put three silver sixpences in this year :-)
Your home is so warm and inviting, especially decked out for the holidays. I like the kitty garland and love the card that you gave to your parents. It is so intricate.
I'm curious about the anteater. Is that a Buri ornament by chance? I have some like that that are of woodland animals and different types of birds. Love 'em.
Have a wonderful New Year's, Madeline.
JJ - The people in my house are shy. If I expose them to the internet too much, they might disappear altogether, like the shrews in "Moomintroll Midwinter." But really it's because I didn't feel like checking with everyone to see if they approved of the pictures.
I read that Dec. 25 is considered Christmas Day 0 in a book on the winter solstice. But apparently there is some controversy (says the internet). I prefer to choose whatever option gives me more Christmas.
Ruskin - Thanks for the recipe! I think my dad has made Christmas pudding before ... maybe? Or was that fruit cake? We've never had sixpences in ours, but we do put a bean in the Twelfth Night cake.
Karen - I think it is a Buri ornament. We also have a cat one.
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