Poncetastic Mark 2

[Trumpton]

Just starting the new thread in haste .

A very festive day today (helped by freezing fog conditions all day!).
Youngest DD and I went on a toddle/forage on a local heath and made our front door wreath.
I even had a try at dehydrating lemon slices. I’ve added pine/pine cones from the forage and some eucalyptus from our front garden. I’m quite pleased with it!

I’ve also gone slightly off piste with the cake this year. I could not find cherry brandy anywhere which I usually use for the soaking/feeding. This year I’ve used Chombard!

Chombard respberry sounds perfect for someone with a name like yours Hintofpink

I couldn’t find cherry brandy either so used extra brandy instead plus the port, rum and bitters in Delia’s Creole cake recipe. It seemed like a lot of alcohol going in but it is a lot of fruit looking at it now. I think I’ll have to cut it into half for us and then cut the other half in two for my mum and DC1 to take home.

It’s not even baked yet and it smells great.

I made 12 mince pies while dd2 was busy doing some reading comprehension...I may have been steadily munching my way through them as they're cooling down . Only one jar of mincemeat left; I do hope Tesco delivers the one on tomorrow's shop - stuff's dropping off my trolley every time I go back to amend it!

Found some mincemeat I made last year at the back of the cupboard - might have to test it's still ok...

Not at all poncetastic - quite the opposite- I tidied the freezer and found a large dish of bubble and squeak from last year !
We ate it ... it was fine . So I will make a big dish of it for this Boxing day and freeze it to eat with cold meats . There will be 10 of us both days so I need to get organised .
Also bought ingredients for homemade “Baileys” and have strained and decanted Blackberry Brandy and Marmalade Gin. DH says the kitchen is very sticky , meh !

I’m in need of inspiration to decorate our dining room table which is something I’ve never bothered with before.

I have 3 various sized large vases which I thought I could fill with baubles and fairy lights, does that sound naff?

I’d love a glittery Garland with tea lights but I wouldn’t know where to start!

@TimeToCloseTheDoor
That sounds lovely and not at all naff !

I’m going to give it try tomorrow!

I’m putting together a hot chocolate bar to be used along side the QVC HC velvetiser. I’ve never had time like this on my hands (made redundant last month) before, let’s hope I’m not too rubbish...

It won’t be rubbish Time just keep tweaking it until it looks more how you want it.
Look at some pictures on line.

It’s easy enough to make a Garland from greenery but a bit soon to do it as it dries out quickly. You can just get some long bits and tie them together and then add lights. If you have an old thin Garland you can tie stuff to that. Just keep layering it until it’s the thickness you want. Or do a thin spindly one. Just watch out for ivy giving you a rash.

@TimeToCloseTheDoor if you have various glass or crystal containers you can fill them with cranberries - fresh ones, with some water so that they swell up. Then wrap battery operated lights around. It looks amazing. I always have this in my bathroom - with white roses in some if I have them. So pretty and festive. The cranberries last for ages.

My dad's cake is now iced - dd2 helped with the top & the sides are not amazing (I think I used too much icing sugar but am not really sure).

I've lost the box I bought for it though so will have to artfully drape a tea-towel over it until the weekend when I'm nipping to town

Paperwhites smell glorious this year . I am ready to move them to the kitchen now , it’s fairly cool , north facing so they should do well.
We put the tree up and I started fling random baubles at it ,I want to try to get stair and mantelpiece garlands up today. They are fake and will have fairy lights woven through.
The mantle piece lights were bought for my DH’s first Christmas by his late father who hung them around his cot. DH is 70 next year !

How do you suspend the candles Trumpton?

They are remote control ones it’s just fishing wire . Someone on this thread mention them . Hang on ( see what I did there I will find the link)

HERE

Ooh, I must have missed those! I'll add them to my wish list for next year, thanks for the link

My paper whites are still looking amazing.

Those hanging candles look amazing, very Harry Potter.

According to their Ebay page, those hanging candles are supposed to have £5 off with the voucher code. I copied the code but it would not work. Pity, because £9.95 for 1O and free postage would be a good deal.

Finally fathomed the voucher code. Candles on their way (I hope)

My poncing is a mate level but you guys are incredible! Thank you so much for sharing your creations.
@HintOfVintagePink the cushion you made is so gorgeous. I can’t believe you say you’re not a seamstress.
@HalfWomanHalfChocolate the advent calendar is incredible. I wouldn’t have a vague clue where to even start with something like that, you’re very talented.

My creative level is about drying orange slices and making a garland! Been doing a lot of potato printing and paperchains- low skill level. My paper whites are already out! Starting to think they’ll be gone by Christmas

@TrickyD.
Can you let me know the voucher code please. I have decided I need more candles !

This worked.
YUKPL1VD3RKQBZQM
But only if you pay by PayPal, it wouldn't let me use a credit card.

Not poncing, necessarily, but definitely hygge. 😊

That’s beautiful Holly