« Spindle socks | Main | Error »
December 15, 2006
'Tis the season
To feel completely overwhelmed. I can't bring myself to write a 'to do' list as I fear it would bring me to tears. At the weekend, I'll show you some Christmas knitting but in the meme-time... where Mary goes, I follow:
Egg nog or hot chocolate? I've never quite been able to face egg-nog since it curdled on me once. So hot chocolate - with a slug of something in.
Does Father Christmas wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Father Christmas stopped filling my stockings some years ago, I must not be a very good girl these days. Other presents are under the tree, and they are very definitely wrapped.
Coloured lights on tree/house or white? White.
Do you hang mistletoe? No - I don't need an excuse to kiss Mr Raitte.
When do you put up your decorations? Late - around the 22nd or 23rd. But they stay up until twelfth night.
What's your favourite Christmas dish? I love a homemade mince pie.
Favourite Christmas memory as a child? I was six. On Christmas morning I came downstairs to see that the largest present under the tree was for me! A wooden dollhouse, made by my own sweet Mum, despite her burgeoning pregnancy. Such a thrill. Even better, my little sister had been born on Christmas Eve and they came home on Christmas Day. The dollhouse was forgotten for a little while. I spent most of the day gazing in love and awe at my new tiny baby sister, swaddled in a lacy white shawl, while the rest of Christmas went on around us.
When and how did you learn the truth about Father Christmas? I don't recall - probably at school. I do remember believing fervently that I HAD seen Father Christmas. I probably dreamt it, or maybe Dad dressed up, but I was sharing my bedroom with a visiting cousin and woke up to see none other than Father Christmas in the room, pushing presents into our hanging stockings. I knew that if he saw me he would disappear, so I turned over and pretended to go back to sleep.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Never. Christmas Eve (as previously noted) is my sister's birthday, and two days after my other sister and brother (twins) birthday, and two days before my step-dad's birthday, so we usually do a joint birthday celebration for all four of them on Xmas Eve.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights, upholstery tassle which looks like icicles, an angel with fluffy wings at the top, and various glass baubles.
Snow! Love it or dread it? Wish for it. It's been years since we've had snow in London, and even then it didn't stick around for long. Mr Raitte, being from Canada, gets homesick for snow.
Can you ice skate? In a comedic fashion.
Do you remember your favourite gift? My sister. After that, my dollshouse. It's looking very much the worse for wear: one of these days I'll renovate it and maybe it will be a favourite present for a new generation. My sister on the other hand is in no need of renovation.
What's the most important thing about Christmas for you? Marking the end of a year. Remembering how much I love and am grateful for my family. Counting my blessings.
What's your favourite Christmas dessert? Mince pies (see above). I'm not a big fan of Christmas pudding, this year I think I'm going to make a non-traditional pavlova as alternative for the non-figgy-pudding eaters.
What's your favourite Christmas tradition? As a child, I loved loved loved writing a note to Father Christmas and sending it up the chimney on the updraft. And of course leaving him a mince pie and whisky and carrots for the reindeers and finding them gone in the morning. And waking up at silly o'clock in the morning and finding the stocking all lumpy and heavy on the end of the bed, and dragging it into Mum and Dad's room to sit in their bed and open them.
What tops your tree? An angel with fluffy white wings.
Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving. I'm usually too extravagent at Christmas, especially with all those birthdays around the same time. This year I've reined it in quite successfully - gifts to charity, and a small handknitted gift, seem to strike the right balance between showing my love, while not contributing too much to the endless piles of stuff accumulating in all our homes.
What's your favourite Christmas song? For carols, In the Bleak Mid Winter. For other songs, Elvis's Blue Christmas, and maybe for the traditionalist in me, Bing singing Home for Christmas.
Candy canes? Thanks, don't mind if I do.
Posted by Anna at December 15, 2006 08:16 AM
Comments
I'm glad to see we weren't the only family who felt quite strongly that Santa might need a whiskey!
Posted by: Ashley at December 15, 2006 02:26 PM
Father Christmas definitely needs a whiskey in our house too, although I think he preferred sherry when we were children.
Posted by: Mary at December 15, 2006 03:18 PM
Those are the best memories ever. I was just there with you. Thank you for sharing. See you in the New Year! Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Kelly at December 15, 2006 05:26 PM
Oooh, curdled egg nog. I didn't even know that could happen, but of course it can. Awful!
Sending a note to Father Christmas on the updraft sounds so very romantic and fun!
Posted by: Mary-Heather at December 15, 2006 05:30 PM
Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself. Lovely to know.
Posted by: Gina at December 15, 2006 05:32 PM
Happy Christmas to you and yours, Ms. Raitte. I do hear you about accumulating stuff that is only destined for landfill. Kudos to you trying to live ethically.
All the best for you and yours in 2007. May your needles be busy, your inspiration and ethusiasm undimmed, and your depression a distant memory of 2006.
I think I've met someone in Notts who knows you from your dressage days, I've directed her to your blog (she's a knitter too).
God bless.
X
Posted by: dodgy at December 15, 2006 08:56 PM
ah. I'm catching up. what a lovely bunch of posts I've missed.
xox
Posted by: Daphne at December 16, 2006 11:36 PM
I just wanted to wish you Happy Holidays. I look forward to your words and pictures. There is something so peaceful about your blog that I don't feel many places. thank you
Posted by: debbie at December 19, 2006 02:02 PM
Re: curdled Egg Nog you have my sympathies there - I saw what Baileys drunk with Lime Juice did to my husband one year.... not pretty .....
Posted by: cazzie at December 21, 2006 09:54 AM
Hi, I really like blog entries and the photos are really well shot. I noticed from one that you've got a little label - was that customised? Could you let me know where I could get some done? I'd be most grateful! Happy holidays
Posted by: Ting at December 21, 2006 04:03 PM