Not much to report this Christmas Eve. Or Hakuna Matata or Festivus or Midwinter Pagan Day or whatever else you’re supposed to say this time of year to avoid a kerfuffle. As if I’ve ever been politically correct.
The weather is unseasonably warm, around +5C, so much of the snow is gone and it’s raining a steady stream this evening. I skipped kidnapping a miniature Christmas tree from the thousands sprouting up on the farm this year but my batch of orchids on the windowsill are loving the odd ray of sun that manages to sneak through the clouds as you can see from the specimen above. Nabbed it for myself as a throwaway from a big box store after Christmas two years ago for (I think) a whopping 50p. I love when plants surprise everyone.
The girls found their Christmas patches of cat grass early on a hunting expedition to the spare room when I wouldn’t let them eat the pretty flowers and I didn’t have the heart to take it away from them so they’re happy as, well, cats in cat grass. I’ll likely head out to the farm in the morning to poke about in the bushes and put more hay atop the garlic patch for insulation. This weather won’t last the whole winter.
I made some spiced cranberry relish (aka “sauce”) with the two bags of berries from the farmer up the road and then got inspired to work some of it into mince pies with raisins and booze for little tarts in the traditional vein. A batch of eggnog and a glass of port and I couldn’t be more Dickens. I’ve saved watching all the BBC Bleak Old Shop of Stuff episodes from last year until tonight as a bit of a comedic treat. I hope they’re as funny as the promos.
I think after my brief encounter with the masses this afternoon shopping in a frenzy that I’ve reached that time of life when boring is the new fun. It’s interesting to watch from afar for an hour but soon enough I just wanted to come home, make some tea, and read my book about apple orchards. I’m such a wild man these days. My plans for the next two days as the rest of the Province is well and truly shut down otherwise is to experiment with forming some chocolate truffles, make a batch of my favourite Supreme Peas with Mushroom & Bacon (perhaps I’ll write up the recipe for you), and generally enjoy the comedy of a couch full of cats trying to stick their noses in my tallest eggnog glass.
So there is perhaps the dullest holiday report ever filed. I hope all you kind readers are doing whatever it is you wish across the full spectrum of calm serenity to holiday mayhem. Happy Christmas one and all.
