Countdown to Christmas 2023: launching into summer with more Christmas planning (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here's our new thread. Almost missed that it was needed!

Can somebody add the countdown again please, as I've no clue! 🤣🤣

Hello all, I am jumping back in to the thread. Waves to all. I am in between jobs, which should mean a relaxing summer but actually means doing lots of handover stuff and holiday tasks for old job and prepping for the new.
Today's to do list includes making Christmas vodka

I have 3 lots of Christmas vodka on the go now: rose hip, rhubarb and gooseberry. I'll do raspberry too once they're ripe.

I'm tired today. Too much going on!

I'm not generally a lover of vodka but I'd definitely try a gooseberry vodka cocktail of some kind Fluffy

Will you have a decent gap between end of handover and start of the new job Constantly?

I finally finished work and switched my out of office on at 7pm. I'm so so tired and in need of a break.

Christmas craft prep has started though - I've decided on present 1, a scarf for my friends daughter. I made her one a few years ago and she literally wore it out so I'm pretty sure she'll like it.
I've picked the pattern and will be making it while we're away, with yarn for a second project packed away just in case I have time (a small grinch soft toy for dnephew)

Gooseberry vodka sounds interesting. It could use crop from my garden (it's only 2 years planted)as it's not enough for a crumble.

@ConstantlyCooking, it's this recipe. I've never done it before, but also have a 2nd year bush with a not-huge crop!

Thank you- that looks like a good addition to my vodka cupboard.

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I bought myself a gilet in Costco last year , I'd thought about them as they were getting trendy (but I couldn't see myself in the very long ones that everyone was wearing ) . Costco one has zipped pockets and very lightweight and warm with No Feathers ( I don't wear down/feather)

I saw some of the nice jackets a couple of weeks ago and sent DS a photo but he likes a hood,so I didn;t buy one .

Exciting day here - going to buy some breakfast things , washing , cleaning, supermarket shopping . The glamour .

((I want to make Werthers Original Vodka but no-one will drink it )

Didn't want to make a new thread on this really but been seeing loads of posts on Facebook that Home Bargains, Asda and Tesco have got Christmas bits in. Is this the earliest it's been? I'm sure I'm usually getting the excitement when everyone else is groaning but that's usually about end of August or September when the English schools are back 🤔 I'm in Scotland.

I'm now in a confused state of excitement seeing it but feeling like it's wrong 😂🎅

Good morning. Even I think that's early pumpkin - but I'm a teacher so currently telling myself it's ages to the end of August. I am planning a trip to Costco soon 70. I like to make sure I get my pannetonne. We normally eat it in Jan or Feb but I like to know it's there.

Haha totally understand. Our schools go back a week on Wednesday!

I showed the posts to my husband and he's like "even for your that's early" 😂 I've got the rep for always talking about Christmas!

To be fair I've started my Christmas shopping etc but I feel like that's my own hit of Christmas, I'm not ready for the world to be thinking of Christmas yet 😂

I know Christmas is a-coming when the big Tesco has walls of the tubs of sweets (Heroes ,Celebrations,Roses,Quality Street) taller than me and 20 deep

Last year, I decided not to buy Quality Street and put together a Christmas tin of different wrapped chocolate that we all liked (including a mixed bag of Costco mini toblerone- style choc)....but I ended up buying the big QS tin as well ....

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I stopped eating chocolate last year (except very occasional , I couldn't STOP stop ) so I didn't buy the big tubs because they're always the leftover ones (Bounty or the Creme Egg ones) left sitting there .

I did buy the M&S Very Merry Munch but it was really sweet , and an odd mixture .

Mini Toblerone sounds good and (if I get to IKEA ) Mini Daim bars . And those Malteaser truffle sweets .

<adds to list>

Afternoon!

It's a bit damp here, but not as wet as forecast, thankfully. ☔️☔️☔️

So far today I've walked to Asda and back to get mostly crisps for the kids a few bits somehow I filled my wheelie trolley, and then did my physio and 30 mins on the cross trainer. I need to clean the bathroom now really, but will have a cup of tea first, psych myself up!

I'm tired today. I don't sleep well with the achey shoulder. 😴

I managed to put another branch on my wintery XSt scene...it's slowly taking shape.

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We are very soon going to be at 20 weeks
Out shopping there were a few shops with Hallowe'en stock (which I was unreasonably pleased with) .

Afternoon!

I'm just waiting for DH at the allotment as I have too much to carry home.

I have my first lot of tomatoes, which have really struggled to ripen in the crap weather. Thankfully they're blight-resistant, so haven't been ruined by the rain.

It's been a properly crap year other than beetroot, beans and now tomatoes. Oh, and redcurrants! My raspberries are coming on though. Slowly.

Following 🎄

There is something satisfying about crops even when small Fluffy (thinking of my pitiful apple crop this year).
You could try green tomato chutney if they are not ripening. I may have grown toms one year just to try this!

I was away with DH at the weekend and may have been forced to duck into a Christmas shop to avoid the rain

hi all, hope everyone is getting on ok :)
i think i am going to attempt to make a return to DIYing a lot of this years smaller gifts for family i have so many craft supplies and ufos and I havent gifted much hand made since before the children were born
DS starts nursery in sept - where has the time gone! I like the idea of being the irritating parent that does home made gifts for key workers etc. i know its not everyones jam but i have always been a pinterest poncer haha

Also we have harvest! SPUDS!

What do you plan to make @HairsprayBabe?

I've been doing my Christmas knitting and crocheting for a couple of months now. Currently working on an advent calendar made from leftover Christmas sock wool. No idea who it's for but I feel I'm using up leftover yarn.

I defrosted two freezers last week and sorted out the frozen food so I feel I'm starting to get organised. We have a family event this week and I've got a couple of weekends away next month. After that my diary is clear so it will be time to crack on with batch cooking and cake making.

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Morning!

I'm starting my Christmas card cross stitches soon. I'm failing dismally at the one I'm doing which is clearly why I keep buying more so I'm moving on to something else for a bit. As they're smaller, I should be able to whizz through and actually feel like I'm progressing something.

The weather is still rather unsettled. Autumnal, even. 🍂

Oh no. It's because there was no countdown yesterday! Ahhhh!