In between

 Every year my brother gets lotto tickets for everyone, just a bit of fun on the Christmas draw, we finally checked ours and I got lucky, nice amount to win. I've cashed it in, but not spent it yet.

I got a  couple new birds for the garden, hubby was going to get me a toad, but I asked if I could have the penguin, my sister gave me the duckling. These will be placed when the weather is warmer, for now they are with the rest of my animals in the garage. We have a tiny mouse in our garage, it has been eating my monkey nuts, we don't mind, hubby popped some sunflower seeds down as well.

These were the last two stories in the series, each book is a stand alone with a running theme, the final book closed all the bits off, with the unexpected twist, book 92 and 93 read this year.

This book was purchased by the title alone, when I posted I had purchased it, a few came back with great reviews, it is a brilliant read, I was hooked from the first few pages and could not put it down, a very clever plot, funny as well. Book 94 read this year.

My garden has colour, the hellebores are beginning to bloom, I have 6 plants ranging through dark red almost black, to a white Christmas rose, some are only buds with a promise of more blooms. My cyclamen in pots at the front of the garden are full of colour, most of the pansies I planted have been eaten. 

It's that limbo time, does anyone know what day it is, I have packed away the unopened Christmas treats, they will last for weeks to come, the opened items can be nibbled on, the fridge is full, other than milk we should not require any shopping for ages, then we will shop at our local Co-op as hubby got another £50 voucher through his pension scheme, January should be a very cheap month. I did not open our coin bottle, we only use cash in the village, so less coins go in the pot, so it can stay for another year, our Christmas money will go towards a couple of trips next year, we have a couple of places we want to see. 

Our Christmas

Christmas eve was wonderful, everything just happened, the children were excited as expected, our Chinese meal we booked early as the local popular takeaway was busy, expecting it to be much later than stated, it arrived earlier, so Molly and George sat with us and tried many different dishes. After their bath they posed for the family traditional matching PJ's photo, they were really late going to bed, but fell asleep very quickly.  

Christmas morning we both woke just after 6am to a very quiet house, snuggled in a warm bed, we snoozed until we heard Will talking to mummy much later, we stayed in bed giving them time together. I crept into Molly's room as I heard her stirring, she was more happy to see me than her stocking full of gifts. George woke at the same time, so the day began. They both loved wearing their new snuggly thingy's, they shared playing with all the new toys, Will had more Lego and some army dressing up clothes. 

One group who had the best fun was the kittens, they loved all the presents and discarded wrapping paper to play with and finding places to sleep, here unicorn (not her final name), is in Wills hat. Two of them go to their new homes this week, another early next week, we will then see if Lilly is ready to come home with us. 

Lilly who is the quiet one had fun once the gifts were placed under the tree, Will, George and Molly have three sets of grandparents, loads of uncles and family, this corner was full.

First cut of the cake is always the best, I think I used too much of the good brandy, the cake is very moist, we will enjoy it.

Hubby and daughter made lunch together, Hubby as head chef, another nice meal, Will ate loads, both George and Molly had extra, it great to see them eating so well, both Will and Molly now loves cranberry sauce, or jam as Molly called it.

Daughter invited her soon to be ex husband for a couple of days, which worried both of us, as it could be super awkward, she is such a lovely lady wanting the best for the children, we decided to treat him as normal, even getting him a small gift, as Will would notice if he did not has presents. Ex spent most of his time with Will making Lego kits, we left late afternoon to come home to a quiet house, just the two of us, sat watching TV all evening, had a selection of cheese and crackers for supper. 

Boxing day was dull and cooler, we had no plans, our neighbour behind us had an open day in his bar in the garden, we have decided not to go, no real reason, just wanting to relax. We opened our gifts, just a few, there is very little we wanted, both of us had chosen our own main gift, we did get each other a few small surprises in our stockings, they are getting harder to fill, so we decided this is the last year we will do each other stockings. 

We have enjoyed the Christmas TV, we still have a few missed things to watch, Christmas evening, was brilliant except for Eastenders, which we never watch. Also reading one of my new books, listening to music, for both of us perfection. 

Christmas eve

 George had great fun painting the dog money pot, which he chose himself, he used his brush and then the sponge, his design is mixed colours all of which he asked for, not my best pose, but George was having so much fun.

Will was pleased to have a jet plane to paint, he is still army mad, he wanted it to look true colours, so used loads of grey, I painted a 'M', daughter did a Christmas tree tea light holder. A brilliant few hours together, Molly was at preschool. 

It's Christmas eve, later we will go to daughters, we are sleeping over for the first time together, and hoping Molly is not awake before 6am, my brother is at his daughters house. We are sharing a Chinese meal later, in previous years it's always been a curry, Will is not so keen, so a new tradition is formed. We will be back home teatime on Christmas day, and just the two of us the rest of the break.

The time has come to wish you all a wonderful Christmas, I hope you celebrate in a style which you enjoy. Less than a week and it will be 2025, how quickly did it come around.  

Pre Christmas weekend

 I got myself a couple new books, I have already read the first Rob Rinder book, which I loved, so I'm looking forward to this title, I thought the title of this other book was a good enough reason to purchase it. I can read books through hubby's Kindle apt, but I do find them 'easy reads'.

I decided to get myself a new jumper for christmas day, we are at daughters all day, and her home is always warm, I'm not one to have bits of glittery stuff stuck on jumpers, I can't wear wool as I am allergic to lanolin, this one is acrylic. 

The cakes are finished, the marzipan did not harden as it has done previously, I used a different brand this year, I am sure it will start to show through the icing. I'm pleased with how they look, they should taste good, I use the same recipe every year. Here is ours and daughters, who prefers her top plain, my brothers cake is much the same as ours.

Most everything is done, we got all we needed in Lidl's on Friday, no extras, the meat was a good price so we got a leg of lamb for Sunday lunch, plenty left over for another meal and some cold in sandwiches. It was busy but not mobbed, their Christmas shelves still had loads left, as did the centre isles. Rest of day relaxing, some reading time, and a bit if sewing. Our haberdashery shop recorded over £3,500 collected for charity from their window display, which is fantastic, it was their first year, great result.

Saturday we visited daughter and her three little ones, I took their furry sacks with me, I created their initial using felt and tartan ribbon, they were fiddly and don't look perfect, the children were happy to have them. Molly and George were both very excited, and loved seeing my brother, they played well, Will at 7 has grown up so much, a lovely few hours together. 

Sunday I did a quick clean around the house and finished the cakes, we had a late lamb roast, it was blowing outside all day, bright and not too cold. I am enjoying my Christmas playlist which we created a few years ago on Alexa, my brother is not so keen, he preferrs 70's music, which we listen to for the other 11 months of the year. 

This morning I am meeting daughter, Will and George,  we are going to a cafe where you can paint pottery, Molly is at preschool, she mothers George,  so it will be fun to watch the boys together. No plans for the afternoon, hubby is out, just my brother and myself.