It's poncetastic 2019!

[NerosFiddle]

Since no one has started it yet, I thought I would.

Happy Rudolph Day

So come on, show us yours!

The cards are lovely living. Will they be posted, or just handed out? (Wondering about the depth and a standard postage stamp).

Hmmm... Not sure about postage. I'll have to test one. Most will be handed out anyway.

I have 3 gins on the go. Blackcurrant, redcurrant and rhubarb and ginger. Might manage a blackberry one too if not too late. Just need little bottles now.

I'm making mincemeat this weekend, the recipe soaks the fruit in brandy, do you think I could use tea instead??

@dementedma any specific gin?

I love Groot Tea would be alright but fruit juice might be better. I like Saint Delia's recipe for mince meat where she 'cooks' it very gently , because then you don't need the preservative action of the alcohol. It really works , I've got 5 year old mincemeat that is still good I use it and top it up every year, not with alcohol

@princessbear80 good luck! Will you post a pic when you’re done? I just used whatever wool was about. Usually DK. ⛄️

ppeatfruit thanks I'll try fruit juice!

I know I follow a few people from this board over the years on Pinterest. Does anyone have any boards to share? Here are my Christmas ones if anyone is interested...

general Christmas

Christmas crafts

Christmas food

I’d love to browse some others for inspiration if you don’t mind sharing.

What's everyone up to this week?

I think I'm going to try some mince pie vodka tomorrow.

I made stollen yesterday but I'm not sure I did it properly. I halved the recipe and it was quite sticky when it came out of the bread maker so I kneaded in a bit more flour and let it rise again before I baked it. It's now in the freezer and when it comes out it needs to mature for a week. The bit I tasted (just for quality control purposes, honestly) tasted nice.

I'm beyond excited because in December we have 2 festive house parties, something I've always longed for and never achieved!

We downsized and semi-retired/retired in the summer. For the first time ever after 4 kids I have time to be poncetastic!

So far...

*I have made wild blackberry gin which is gently steeping away in the pantry.
*I have got lovely Christmas cushions and throws to go with my white bedding for the spare beds for the afore-mentioned festive house parties: gorgeous white and red skandi cushion with tassels from Ikea!
*Christmas muffin cases from Ikea to house Nigella's Christmas muffins which I will make nearer the time and freeze for my festive guests.
*Making good progress with a mini-makeover for the shower room so I should be clear to redecorate the dining room in November.

Squeeeee!!!

I've also made elderberry liqueur using vodka and lemon peel, but the recipe said it needs to steep for 6 months, so it won't be ready for Christmas :(

starreyeyed thank you for sharing your boards. Lots of lovely things.

I do have some myself but have blocked Pinterest after one DC accessed inappropriate stuff . On Pinterest

My cranberry vodka will be ready next week. And I'm getting back to my cross stitch tomorrow after illness stopped me for 3 weeks.

I've no freezer room to make anything ahead of time, sadly.

@canklesforankles on pinterest ???? Nooo- I didnt mind losing you tube but I cant lose pinterest. Luckily mine are too young to have noticed it, but thanks for the heads up. It wouldn't have occurred to me.

I have followed a couple people who have followed my boards presumably from the links here so hello! Thanks for the ideas.

I'm excited some of you are getting on. I feel a bit behind. Usually I have done most of my Christmas shopping by now (to get it out of the way for poncing), but we have decided to go eco this year and give experiences so it's less fun for me to wrap etc. Its half term next week (thank goodness) and the kids want ri make mince pies so we will try and get that done.

I dont like mince pies myself but I was discussing them with DH who says they are lovely when I put orange zest in the pastry. They certainly smell lovely. So I'd recommend that.

I'm using dh's absence to do some late Spring cleaning and clearing out (I'm going to give a lot of books and things that dh has bought too many of !! to charity). I have to prioritise my time.

I'm going to make and freeze veggie sausage rolls. I like mince pies if they're made with ground almond pastry, otherwise they give me belly ache!

Some more liqueur recipes, for interested parties. Winter spiced liqueur and a coffee liqueur. Both are lovely!

Winter liqueur here

Ref. elderberry, I made a lovely syrup with the berries it's great for colds,coughs etc. I'm not sure about alcoholic drink with them.

I'm working on the cross stitches, taking alot longer than planned. Currently only managed one. Trying to decide if just to use for cards or if to back them and turn into ornaments.

Hello! Just read the whole thread, and popping in although I am really not a Poncetasticker! I do love Christmas, and enjoy doing some decorative things. Usually I make a wreath for the front door, mostly from natural stuff; put out my Nativity scene which is basically those flatfooted bendable little dolls they sell in ELC, dressed by moi, and plastic farm animals; and a winter woodland scene, a nice lump of tree bark with various creatures and fake snow. And there are plenty of ready-made decorative bits and pieces that go up every year, and a tree of course. Probably won't manage anything extra this year - maybe something for the table when we have pre-Christmas meal with family (DP and I are going to a hotel this year). But I love seeing what other people do!

By the way - there was a thread recently that might have been in the Christmas topic, or elsewhere, asking for suggestions for non plastic crap items for an Advent calendar, does anyone know where it is? Have tried searching but no luck.

Starryeyed those boards are lovely

Oh I have found the thread, it's in this topic on page 2!