Woooooooahhhhh, we're half way there! Countdown to Christmas 2026 (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

183

Phew, it's a scorcher!

Happy birthday to 70's DD. Best date for a birthday ever!

Some photos! I can take requests for types of food to take photos of!

77

The palindromes aren't quite as good when it's 2 numbers.

Wonder why my food photos still aren't approved?! Do they look suspicious to the AI checker? 😬 Hopefully when the staff get in they'll do a manual check on them and you can see what I posted! (Ice cream, beef and sea food!)

Windy here, but thankfully the forecast was wrong and it wasn't chucking it down for the dog walk. FluffyDog was trailing goodness knows what today, so we've circuited the estate a few times. We looked like we were casing the house of the woman who was banged up last week for selling counterfeit goods on TikTok / Insta as we went past it 4 times! 🙈😬 (She's worth a Google if you've not seen the story!)

Looking forward to the food porn pics.

I am feeling virtuous as went to the gym before work this morning so now just having quick coffee before I walk to the school.

I am doing cheesecake for Christmas dessert so will have cheesecake, christmas cake, mince pies and Colin caterpillar cake. I got the choc pine cones from M&S but I think will save till boxing day.

Now just need to decide what cheesecake, definitely nothing chocolatey. Nigella does a nice maple syrup one.

Morning. If you haven’t posted yet, please post pics of the puddings in the Booths book Fluffy.
Is the book gorgeous? I remember you posted me one a few years ago and it put the M&S one to shame.

There will be 5 of us (4 adults, 1 LO) for dinner and pudding but dm isn’t much for sweet stuff and if very traditional in her approach to puddings so I’m thinking some sort of sponge and custard/ice cream and maybe a cheesecake. We’ll decide properly nearer the time but one of my ‘must have’ treats at Christmas is a pot of posh ready made vanilla custard (M&S or Sainsbury’s taste the difference only). I could eat it like yogurt which is why we only buy it at Christmas

Im currently taking some flexi away from work to attend the macmillan coffee morning at LO’s school. He’s so excited that both me and DH will be there today, he has faithfully promised he won’t even steal my cake.

My bonus will be paid soon so I’ll be getting started properly and ordering presents in the next few weeks.

Plus I finally finished the crochet cushion background - I’m fighting the urge to under the snow rows as I switched from DK for the sky to chunky for the snow and while I reduced the stitch count so it’s straight, the difference in textures is making me twitch. But it’s for DM and she isn’t going to care.
Will start on the house appliqué tonight which shouldn’t take too long 🤞🏼

Nigella also does a nice white chocolate one, Magnolia. I need to ask DH which one I've done the last couple of years! Brain fog.

I've reported my post to ask them to approve the images!

Do you want a book, Meeces? I can send you one as we have a few!

Enjoy your coffee morning. ♥️

I'm getting a small bonus next pay day. It's paying for a few bits, plus our porch canopy to be put up!

Fluffy Ooh if you have one spare I’d love one - will postage obviously. Thank you!

Im just leaving the coffee morning. They split the school in half so reception - year 3 9:30-10:30 then yr 4-6 10:30-11:30.
It was lovely but chaotic. So many hyped up children in one room 😳

Id arranged not to be back at work until 11 so I’m going to do half hour of ironing as I’ve meant to do it the last few nights and just couldn’t be arsed. May stick a CCF on to keep me company.

Oh that ice cream village 😍

I almost need it, even though I think it would be wasted on us!

Here are some more desserts, as per the request. (DH posted your book this afternoon, Meeces, hopefully it'll appear on Monday.)

Did I forget to show you my Booths' advent calendar?!

Enjoying the Booths Love Across The Internet
I got a Lakeland Limited catalogue through the post ( I usually request one ) there's a couple of nice things I want and a 20% off if I spend £50.
I'll have a look online too , and order online as the nearest store is miles away .

My DH doesn't eat chocolate and not a big eater of desserts but I did make a nice pecan and toffee baked cheesecake a few years ago , might try and find the recipe again.

76

pics are fab Fluffy might copy some of the cakes

typing one handed as cat on knee and having coffee.

had to drop DS off for training at 6am yuk. now off to gym myself double yuk.

You're a Cat Prisoner Magnolia accept it and stay put .

Afternoon!

It's been an April-like day today...sunshine and showers. Breezy too, so the washing almost dried. It's now airing / finishing off.

I've weeded the front garden. I've neglected it and it took bloody forever. It isn't perfect, but is better. I needed to do it this weekend as it's green bin day on Monday, and I think there's only 2 collections left before they halt until March.

My small cross stitch kits arrived today, so I can stitch my cards. I am currently stitching a mince pie! 🥧

That advent calendar is gorgeous!

I have a st eval tea light one I bought in the sales. It’s beautiful and I will enjoy burning each tea light.

I think I’ve completely the Christmas snack buying. Morrisons had the cheapest prices on tubs, £4.95, I’m happy to pay that.

I got some biscuits today, and also some Baileys. I will need more biscuits before I'm done!

75

It's really galloping now isn't it?

I'm ashamed to say I was so busy yesterday I didn't realise what a brilliant drying day it was until 3pm but I still managed to get 2 loads dry even then.

Just made some Mexican bean soup in slow cooker for lunch but having breakfast and realised have garlic essence on my fingers which doesn't go well with marmalade. Yuk.

I am off to the tip now - absolutely LOVE going to the tip. I am slowly emptying my house of crap. (There's a lot).

75

I did washing yesterday it was bright and windy so ideal
Changed my DS 4.5tog for his 7.5tog duvet ( not that he bloody noticed ) and washed the lighter one to go into storage .

I am stalking the Sainsbury site for their Taste the Difference Limoncello Pannetone but so far only found Cherry and Amarretto which sounds nice
I don;t like sultanas , mixed candied peel or <shudders> chocolate chips in mine .
I usually buy a few in HomeSense (the tiny ones) but I bought the Sainsbury one last year and I was spoiled !

Afternoon!

We're attempting more washing drying today but while it's dry, there's barely any breeze at all. Hopefully it'll do <something> though (it's only bedding so very light stuff).

I'm stitching my first Christmas card which is a mince pie! It has 2 different yellows which are barely able to be told apart, especially in artificial light, and they don't come labelled. So I had to wait until today to do that part as I couldn't do it last night!

70, I find pannetone to be a bit dry generally. Are the ones you like less dry?

I was chilly in bed overnight in the early hours. But we have relatively warm nights this week, apparently, so I'm not changing to the duvet yet. Soon though!

Sorry 70 we like the chocolate chip panettone here - it's delicious toasted but I never know if I should slice it or cut it into wedges. Slices toast more evenly.

We've been decluttering bit by bit. We have kept some crap over the years! Two trips to the recycling centre last week and at least another one still to do.

Fluffy we have still got the summer duvet on but I have added a thin quilt on top. Very cosy and much more comfortable than going straight to the winter duvet as I can push off a layer if I'm too warm. After nearly 40 years together I think I've finally convinced DH that we sleep better with a window open too. I grew up in a windows open all year round house and feel stuffy when the bedroom window is closed. We didn't have central heating either 🎻 <- tiny violin for Woolly

The only time we don't have a window open at night is when the wind is blowing straight at the house, as it's a) too loud and b) too cold, otherwise it's open (day and night, actually; we're very much a windows open house).

We are on bedspread and sheet. The level up from this is 2.5 tog duvet! We rarely get over that in this house as it's so warm.

The kids' stocking sweets (jelly beans, chocolate Santa and chocolate orange) have just arrived with Sainsbury's. Along with the Pringles for the Christmas Day buffet. I got their advent calendars in Booths this week, and I have the sweets to fill the calendar my mum made for them.

I need to make a list of what's left, which I think mostly consists of soft drinks, a box of alcohol free beer, and then the buffet / dinner bits not already on order.

Well Xmas has come a wee bit early for me as I unexpectedly went on a test drive for Mobility Scooter vs Power Chair as my scooter is over 10 yrs old now and is quite heavy for DH to get in and out of the car boot. There was ZERO intention of purchasing anything as we weren't in any hurry as we've just been a bit spendy over the new bathroom and yet I will shortly be taking delivery of a lightweight carbon fibre powerchair. It was more than I intended to pay and there are much cheaper ones out there, but this one feels comfy to sit in, hubby can lift it one handed and it folds down with one push of a button. I use one on a cruise so I know the pros and cons and it will take a bit of getting used to switching to a powerchair from a scooter but I'm pleased this will be less of a strain for hubby.

@NoWordForFluffy
They are quite dry but I don't like butter or margarine on bread or toast , I'd eat dry toast over anything buttered.
The ones I'm after have lemon curd running through but if I'm not in luck , I'll get plain ones and add a layer of a good lemon curd

I definitely wrote a post earlier today but no idea where it went

It feels like we’re all on a ‘sort the house out’ drive as we also did a tip run today. Our garden was being overrun with random detritus from the office/garden room build so we sorted and disposed of loads today.
Our tip is surprisingly chivalrous - I have yet to go there without someone (staff or customer) approaching to see if they can help. DH is always bemused.

70 I don’t bother changing our duvet over anymore. Peri has done away with most of my need for extra heat. Like the idea of a bedspread though.
And also - no butter LO is the same as you and it makes me itchy to watch as I’m a butter on everything person which is why I’m not allowed bread or crumpets very often

Fluffy how many cards are you stitching this year and which ones did you go for?

Woolly we were a windows closed house - dm hates any hint of cold and was really terrified of bugs coming in (which may explain some of my issues about bugs although I’m not as bad).
Since me and DH have lived together we’ve been a windows open house though - he was brought up on a farm and would 100% sleep in a tent with the door open most of the year if I’d let him 😂

Anyway, I’m currently sat working on my crochet cushion cover. I made the windows, door, rooftop snow and Christmas tree yesterday and am now doing the boring job of sewing in ends and stitching them in to the house appliqué.

We need a tip run as we have the detritus from redoing the downstairs loo to get rid of, including the old basin, as well as lots of cardboard from various bits of new furniture.

I got some dead cute felt animal decorations from Lakeland this week. To go with my cheese ones from Next (I kid you not!).

Meeces, I'm doing 6 cards. Photos of designs attached. They're great as they're small, and I've done 2 this weekend.