Hi friends!
Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas with people that you love. I spent mine with family and was my first family Christmas for a couple of years (I stayed home due to all the Covid stuff) so it was really nice to get back to normal. My sister made the traditional Christmas dessert – Trifle – and we played a game called Confident, you can just see the pens and boards in the trifle photo below. It was a really good game and I recommend it! I was told the trifle was delicious but I didn’t have any because of all the cream. My nephew also made a Sticky Toffee Pudding but I forgot to take a photo. The weather was horrendous, wind and heavy rain and flooded roads and I started to regret my decision to drive myself there instead of getting a lift from my BIL. Let’s just say I was really glad to make it home last night.
I made a Christmas cake (fruit cake, marzipan, royal icing) and decorated it with Tim Holtz/Sizzix diecut metallic card and some tartan ribbon. I was wondering how to decorate the cake as I forgot to buy something and then I remembered I had Christmas dies! Royal Icing is usually made with egg whites but I made it with bean juice (aqua faba) and everyone said it was delicious and no different to the egg white version.
I also made Scottish Tablet, similar to a firmer, grainy fudge, that might sound weird but it is really delicious. I packaged it up for gifting to my sister and my niece.
I supposed I should mention the main meal and not just all the sweet stuff lol. The family had the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, lots of veg, my sister’s handmade cranberry sauce, roast potatoes etc. I had all the veg and the cranberry sauce and I’d also made a Chestnut and Leek pie using a vegan recipe from here. I never follow a recipe exactly so in addition to what was supposed to be in it, I also added green beans, mushrooms and tarragon. It’s a very tasty pie, I recommend it.
Today’s Art . . .
For today’s art I am sharing two styles of Christmas card I made this year. If I have your address then you may have received one or other of them OR since I messed up my list, you might have received TWO cards from me while other people might have received NONE! *bangs head on desk*
I made a list, I made exactly enough cards for the list, I printed the labels, then I printed a second page of labels which I thought would be useful for other things later, and that’s where it all went wrong. The list went absent, so I started working my way through the labels and somehow managed to mess it up. I had labels left and no cards! *head explodes*
I am also sharing some gift tags I made using Alison Bomber’s new mini stamps from Paperartsy. These are small, very detailed, approximately credit card sized rubber stamps. It’s not visible in the photos but these are all stamped and heat embossed.
T Stands For . . .
Well of course I had to buy one of the cat mugs I mentioned last week! Here’s my Christmas breakfast from yesterday – cinnamon buns and black decaf coffee – but I added cinnamon to it for a festive touch.
The kitties got their Christmas cracker presents – one each – yesterday morning.
Inside the cracker was a packet of lickelix turkey and cranberry flavour, a packet of tasty sticks with the same flavour, a mouse toy and a ball.
We are waiting…
Miss P enjoyed her Christmas breakfast of 1x tasty stick and 1x lickelix (cat yogurt).
Currently Reading
And finally, since this is the last Tuesday of 2023, here’s a complete (but will be updated on 31st) list of all the books I have read this year. It’s too long to put in this post. I have discovered a new (to me) urban fantasy series that I’m enjoying, so I will be working my way through that for the rest of the year. Details in the above link.
And here’s an update on my evening crochet project. It’s grown quite a bit since the photo I posted on 28th November. I haven’t weighed it but I think I’m about 2/3rds through the ball of yarn – there’s about 3-4 colours left. In the bottom right corner, is my second ticket for Tea, a giant mug of decaf coffee.
Let me know what you think in the comments. As always, thanks for reading and Happy Boxing Day!
Ingredients
Paperartsy stamps, versafine clair, embossing powder, pitt pens, paint pens, white gel pen,
Challenges
I know I left you a comment last week, but it never appeared. I hope you got it, or this one might not make sense. This latest comment begins with another copy and paste. The appointment I referred to in my last comment was for my eye doctor (ophthalmologist). I was sure I was going to learn if my retina was torn and if I needed an operation. Instead, I was taken to seven different rooms by seven little helpers and never once saw the doctor. Each “helper” gave me a different test. Each time they did, they put either one, two, or three different types of drops from different bottles in my eye. I got so tired of hearing the words “blink, blink, blink” after each drop was inserted.
At the end of the day, I couldn’t see a thing. I was given an eye patch to wear over my “good” eye. I must remove it when I shower and wash my face because it cannot get wet. It has put a strain on my “weak” eye and I can barely see anything. However, the little helpers don’t believe I have a retinal tear because I apparently exhibit none of the symptoms which I won’t go into, except I had a flash of light once. Since I can barely see, I will give a half-hearted attempt to leave you a decent comment.
It sounds like you had a lovely Christmas with your family, regardless of the rain and high wind. And I am impressed you went totally vegan. I can’t give up my dairy or I would, too.
Your Christmas cake looks beautiful. I like how you used die cuts to decorate it.
The kitties look like they are ready for their treats. They have such shiny fur, too.
I really love that new mug. I also like cats better than MOST people. Thanks for sharing your Christmas meal, your cards you made (I didn’t get one), the awesome gift tags, and your cake with us for T last week. Happy belated Christmas and Boxing Day.
Just stopped by to wish you a very Happy New Year! All the best for 2024, may it be full of peace, good health and happiness ??. Hugs, Jo x
I was in the process of leaving Erika a comment when I head a loud BOOM and the room shook. Then I was in total darkness. It was an outage on my side of the street. The street light and houses/porch lights on the other side of the street were on. Since it was about midnight, I was hoping Sally was awake and would call the electric company, but that was obviously not the case. The first eight hours of darkness were tolerable enough, but after that, all I could do was dig out four warm blankets and add them to my bed. For nearly two days I was without electricity and heat. Even my hot water heater has an electric start. I had just enough hot water to make coffee, something I can’t live without. When I woke yesterday, I saw the light on my electric clock was on, but it was still too cold to leave my bed. Just using the toilet was bone chilling. I have an appointment at 12:40 today, so this is a copy and paste message. I will be back after I shower and keep my appointment. Just wanted everyone to know your TSFT host has not forgotten you.
Christmas dinner sounded delightful. I would have been happy with the tablet and the cinnamon buns. You cake is spectacular. How clever to use die cuts for the decorations. The kitties are adorable and I love your new mug. Happy T Day
Sounds like a wonderful, Christmas.
Both Hubby and I got our covid shot. But I understand here in United States, not even 20% of the population been vaccinated. I’m guessing not even 10% here in Idaho received their Covid shot.
I had to laugh about how you messed up your Christmas cards and labels! That is something that could happen to me, so I’m glad I’m not the only one. The trifle looks delicious – I sometimes had trifle when I was staying with my friend Fiona in England, she always would make delicious food and desserts. Too bad we don’t live closer to each other. I always enjoy seeing your kitties, and that mug is just perfect. I also like the shape of it. All the best for 2024, Elle. Happy T day and lots of hugs – Carola
I love your cards and tags! I love traditional Christmas food, although I think I enjoy Christmas pudding a little bit more than someone with diabetes should! Loving that you bought the mug and that your kitties got Christmas treats! Happy T Day, Chrisx
Your dinner must have been delicious! And your decorated cake is very impressive.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Elle! Thanks so much for the wonderful Christmas card, such a lovely surprise. This year I never made or sent any cards as I was ill,ar I hope I will be able to make and send some next year. The food looks and sounds wonderful – cake, trifle, sticky toffee pudding, yummy! This year I had neither cake now mincemeat tarts, nada! Sad but true. Have a great week, take care, hugs, Valerie
Elle, it looks like you had a wonderful day with framily. Looks like everyone had a good time including the cats. Have a nice day today.