Once the dawdling leaves finally fell, I noticed what looked like green Christmas baubles on the naked Bramley apple tree. I thought the squirrels had pinched them all. They'd been hiding all this time. Just right for apple cake. I decided to make two, so that I could take one next door. The good thing when you bake two, is that you can pick the one that looks best to give, and taste the other to make sure it's ok.
Busy week, busy weekend. We did as much of the pre-Christmas grocery shop as we possibly could before the first set of visitors arrive. Shopped at supper time to avoid the crowds. Not such a good strategy, we were so hungry that we bought ten times more food than we really need.
Happily my little shop is running away. It's getting a bit empty, so on Sunday we did some vintage shopping. We found two gorgeous little old suitcases. One was full of albums of black and white photographs from the 1930's. We spent ages when we got home, drinking cups of coffee, looking at the photographs and imagining lives of people we don't know, and who probably don't exist any more. They all looked very happy. I think we may keep them...at least for a bit, before they go in the shop.
linking with amanda for weekending...
what a beautiful set of festive photo's
ReplyDeleteOh thanks Dom. They are all red and green.
Deleteoh have fun with your company! I need to go get some of the shopping done this week. My son is home and my daughter arrives on Tuesday. I love visiting your blog and seeing what you are eating, all of your dishes are foods that I love :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have fun with the busy!
I'm so excited for everyone coming. Enjoy your time with yours. Still a lot to do, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I baked three cakes last night...not sure how long they'll last though.
DeleteThe anticipation of the time ahead makes it fun thanks Karen.
debx
Sounds like a wonderful pre-Christmas weekend - even though it involved organising too. And I so enjoyed looking at those photos - some very stylish, and happy, looking people. Juliex
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie. They were an amazing find.
Deletedebx
what a find! those old albums. :)
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful week.
Thank you. I know I keep sneaking peeps at them. I can't wait for other family members to come and share them with.
DeleteI hope yours is wonderful too.
debx
love all those old photographs! and the string dispenser - the cuteness kills me.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks Amada...I know they are awesome.
ReplyDeletedebx
Hi debby! Haven't been here in a while but am makign my rounds now saying merry christmas to all those lovely people whose blogs I have been reading all this while :) The roasted chestnuts and smores sound gorgeous! I love your weekends. They always sound so wonderfully idylllic. And it's nice to know someone also likes to stare at old photos and imagine stories out of them heh.
ReplyDeleteHi Shu Han. Nice to hear from you. The roasted chestnuts were yummy. I'm obsessed with old photos. I just like imagining who they were and what adventures they had.
ReplyDeleteHave an awesome Christmas.
Merry Merry
debx
Hello Deb and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family! I imagine you are busily shopping and preparing ahead for a memorable feast full of good humour and bonhomie (and of course delicious food).
ReplyDeleteI'm going to add my voice to the chorus of oohs and ahhs about those photo albums. They really are wonderful - joy seems to radiate from them doesn't it? Summer, good friends, happy days. I'd never be able to part with them. We used to have a lot of albums like these donated to the museum but the supply seems to be drying up. Hopefully that means family members are more likely to keep them. It always seems so sad to see things like this end up in a charity shop but at least you have saved this one!
I meant to comment on your last post about the River Cottage Veg book too. I've had it since last Christmas (or birthday?) and have cooked a few things from it and often return to it for inspiration. I love the Carrot Hummus and Herby, Peanutty, Noodly Salad. The jury was out on the Porotos Granados but I think that was just because not everyone liked the smoked paprika flavour. Going to give the Tahini-Dressed Courgette and Green Bean Salad a go next. I'd love to hear how you get on with any of the other recipes.
Thanks for your company again this year and the very best of wishes to you and yours for the coming one.
Hi Caz, It's good to hear from you. We've said goodbye to the first of our visitors. One of my sisters and husband have just left. We looked at the photo's again with them and then went and rooted out some of our old family ones and checked the family tree I've been working on. We agreed too that it's sad that they hadn't been passed to other family members. But I'll hang on to them for a while before I find a good home for them to go to.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the RIver Cottage recommendations, I hope to try out lots of the recipes over the holidays and will definitely let you know how I get on with them.
All the best to you and family too, I hope this proves to be the best year ever for you all.
debx