[Buffy the eggs layer]

Oh....erm.....we dont do presents at all 


We toast the solstice as the end / start of the year, decorate the house with greenery and candles, stock up with drinks and goodies and enjoy a fortnight of feasting.


The most extravagant thing I do is feeding everyone and having one of my portraits turned into a christmas card with the edition of photoshopped snowflakes. Here is this years before the face snow was added.

[landroverroy]

Oh....erm.....we dont do presents at all 





The most extravagant thing I do is feeding everyone and having one of my portraits turned into a christmas card with the edition of photoshopped snowflakes. Here is this years before the face snow was added.

That's your portrait?!
Doesn't look much like you from what I remember.

Happy festivities anyway.
 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

What a fat old bird with a saggy neck....? Hmmn yeah thats me. lol!

[doganjo]

Presents are homemade nuno felted scarves for the ladies and diaries for the men and if any nephews/nieces call to visit they will get to take home a piece of lamb from the freezer.  My grand daughter has four presents the cost of which totals less than £20.

I do not do spending unless I have to.

This is how it should be.

Maybe knit socks for the men next year? 

[Buttermilk]

Presents are homemade nuno felted scarves for the ladies and diaries for the men and if any nephews/nieces call to visit they will get to take home a piece of lamb from the freezer.  My grand daughter has four presents the cost of which totals less than £20.

I do not do spending unless I have to.

This is how it should be.

Maybe knit socks for the men next year? 

I have done that in the past and they said they preferred diaries.  Maybe it was the stripey wool that put them off 

[DavidandCollette]

Today's the day!  Get that bonfire lit and happy festivities to you all whatever your belief :excited

[chrismahon]

I'll be saying "Spring is coming" from now until it does D&C.


Noel remains a religious one-day festival here. Some presents for children and a family gathering, but it's nothing like the UK. No Boxing Day, so people usually return to work. Noticed a few places trying to sell trees this year.

[Rosemary]

We had a lovely day yesterday - no bonfire as it was blowing a hoolie and sporadic rain showers but we, our neighbours, some new friends and some old friends ate, drank and were merry.

We shall toast the Solstice and the turning of the year tonight and maybe tomorrow night as well 

Biggest surprise yesterday was going out to gfeed the cows and finding that Rosie and Annie had let themselves out of the barn by knocking down the feed barrier. THIS is when the time spent halter training pays for itself. A few additional screws and they were all in the proper place this morning 

[Fleecewife]

Today's the day!  Get that bonfire lit and happy festivities to you all whatever your belief :excited

We celebrate ours tomorrow, as being the first day of the returning sun.  No bonfire (just as well, it's forecast to hose it down), but a meal made from a selection of our own produce from the past year, plus a log cut from wood we have grown here, touched against last year's log as it burns, for the continuity of life.  Each year's log sits in the fireplace until the next winter solstice (much to my SiL's puzzlement  ) wrapped with a special bit of yarn spun and dyed by me, added to each year, cobbled together after the dog chewed it and generally reflecting the ups and downs of our life.  Nobody seems to understand that bit 

[Cosmore]

Howling a gale with torrential rain today, paddock reduced to mud soup, 2 sows and 21 weaners to look after, been feeling unwell, increased heart rate and temperature, shivering, night sweats and no sleep, saw doc this morning, diagnosed with kidney infection and stones, prescribed antibiotics awaiting blood and other tests. At the moment for me it's humbug!

[Penninehillbilly]

Poor Cosmore
Hope that get you sorted quickly 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Solstice is actually on the 22nd this year guys but I have already begun my feasting festivities. Now to render some pork fat into lard to make pastry and mince and season some saddleback for my home made rare breed pork pies.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/12061231/When-is-the-shortest-day-of-the-year-the-winter-solstice-2015.html

[landroverroy]

Oh wow.
Home made rare breed pork pies!!
Sounds amazing - like pork pies used to be.
Are you having an open day?

[Bionic]

Buffy, I was just talking about making pork pies earlier today. I have never done it but want to try hot crust pastry.
I have my own pork too so there shouldn't be anything stopping me

[Buffy the eggs layer]

I only have some bits of saddleback that my sister fattened so Im improvising. I have rendered some of the fat to shorten the pastry and minced the pork and seasoned it. Will have a stab at Delia's recipe tomorrow I think.


Let us know how you get on Bionic.


LRR, you might want to see how they turn out before committing to an open day [size=78%] [/size]