Merry Christmas!

I'm sorry there's no photo today, I left the lead for my camera back home. I wish I could show you a photo of what it looks like outside, it's the perfect Christmas card landscape. Lots and lots of snow- it's still snowing- peaceful and quiet. The Christmas tree is acclimatising in the basement, all the cookies have been made, the candles lit, the fire is on in the fireplace and I'm reasonably calm. I'm cooking 'ribbe' (rib of pork) for the first time tomorrow, which will be very exciting. Will the crackling be cracking this year?

Sorry for the lack of posts these last few days, Husband and I are still trying to overcome the Illness Of the Year, and it seems to be never ending. I'll try and get a camera lead from someone, so that I can post some photos during the Christmas days.

I wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas, and a very happy New Year!!
And may all your Christmases be white...

Lots of love to you all!

20th December

Almost there now.... The hyacinths have been planted- it's a must for me at Christmas and I love the smell! I always try to make sure I plant them in time for them to be in bloom on Christmas Eve, and I think I'm doing well this year. Still a few sorts of cookies to make, and a few presents to buy, but I'm staying calm for now.. This year is the first time we're hosting Christmas for the family in Norway- exciting!

Hope you all have good days!

19th December

I love wrapping presents. This year I'm using normal brown paper that I've decorated with pretty little bird stamps, and tied together with some red ribbon.

18th December

I love going for long walks around Christmas. Breathing in the fresh, cold air and looking in through people's windows and see their Christmas trees and decorations. Everything feels so peaceful in winter, particularly if it's cold and snowing. Nature is sleeping, and it's wonderful to take it all in. It's also good to move a little after all the chocolate, cookies, big dinners and deserts....

17th December

Nothing is like fresh coffee in the morning, and to accompany that the smell of freshly ground coffee. We got this for our wedding; an electrical coffee grinder. It's fabulous! And so easy to use, even if it's soo early for your brain to function.

16th December

This is what I hope Christmas will be like, fingers crossed.. It's so beautiful when the world is covered with white frost or snow, and I love how it changes everything. My days are now filled with Christmas music, oranges, mulled wine, marsipan brought over from Norway by some friends, making and wrapping of Christmas presents, Christmas cookies, and magazines. I'm very content with that.

Hope you all have good days!

15th December

I apologise for my absence over the last week or so, work suddenly became very frantic, in addition to both Husband and I being ill. But yesterday was the last day before the holidays, and it feels so good to lean back and relax without feeling guilty. In a couple of days we set off for Norway, and we're very excited!

This angel was given to us by a friend that was visiting last week, and it's so pretty in my kitchen window!

8th December

The freezing fog is upon us again, and I took these photos this morning in school. It's so pretty out there in the countryside, everything being covered in a layer of white frost.

6th December

Gingerbread, one of my favourites for Christmas. Love the smell in the house after baking them.

5th December

The sun is shining today, casting long, beautiful shadows everywhere. I love the bleak winter sun.




I wore my sunshine tights for the sun and a red hat for Christmas.



I went to the local Christmas market, just next to our train station. It was very charming and small, with little stalls selling mulled wine and cakes, in addition to the usual vegetable and fruit stalls. There were even a group of carol singers, singing charmingly out of tune. Warmed my heart <3

White Christmas?

We're going to Norway for Christmas in two weeks, and even though we've had a little bit of snow here lately, it's nothing like the snow we have back home! I'm crossing fingers and toes that the cold weather will keep, so that we can go skating on the lakes and hopefully also go skiing... This photo of me is from last year, and I would be so, so happy if we had this kind of weather for Christmas...!

4th December

More baking today; I'm afraid! I've made dough for gingerbread, and hopefully there will be a gingerbread house by tomorrow! Today I made some more truffles, and also some rocky road. A favourite. So easy and quick to make! Yum!

Wrappin up

I love these socks, and they help keeping me warm in this freezing weather!

3rd December

I made these chocolate truffles this morning, and I'm really struggling not to eat them all at once! I never realised how easy it was to make truffles, but now that I do I'll make sure to make them more often. They make a nice little present for someone you care about! Today is the perfect day to do something nice for someone around you, maybe invite someone over for a cup of tea and some cakes? Or surprise someone with a little present? Or simply a hug? I love this time of year, but I know that for many people this time of year is difficult and lonely. Christmas is all about family, but that also means that it emphasises the loneliness for those who are far away from their family, or those who have no one. So why not try and do something nice for someone that you know is all alone?

Hope you'll have lovely weekends!

Finally Friday!

I'm enjoying a proper Norwegian breakfast, with kaviar bought from Scandikitchen- the place in London where Scandinavians go to get a taste of their food from home. Also getting some Christmas present inspiration from the lovely Prydelig magazine!
This weekend I think I'll do some more baking, and also take a little trip to the local Christmas Fayre on Sunday. I'm making most of my Christmas presents this year, and I love going to the markets to get some inspiration.

Hope you have lovely plans for the weekend!

Remember to keep warm, be good to yourself and to those around you.
It's particularly important these cold and dark days!

Baking days

The house still smells lovely after yesterday's bakeathon. We Norwegians take our bread for granted, and when living abroad you suddenly realise how much you miss having proper bread for breakfast. The only way of getting proper bread here in Britain, as far as I'm concerned, is to make it yourself. And there is something hugely satisfying about making your own bread too, I don't know why. Now I certainly have enough bread for a while...

2nd December

Woke up to freezing weather and SNOW! Little snowflakes dancing around in the air- it makes me so happy.
Hope you are keeping warm!

1st December

It's December! The house smells of fresh, homemade bread, and I'm sitting in the new chair drinking a cup of tea. I'm also baking breakfast rolls, coconut macaroons and 'kakemenn'. It's domestic goddess gone mad here today, probably because I've been ill for so long, and haven't been up for any of my usual indulgences. I'm also expecting mighty fine visitors soon, and it's always nice to stock up on food! In other words, I'm a happy soul. It's freezing cold outside, even little bits of snow, and inside it's warm and cozy. I think this is my favourite time of year, I love all the potential and expectations it holds.

Hope you all have nice first December- days!

Remember to be good to yourself, and those around you!

A perfect chair for reading

We had a very exciting delivery the other day: our Laura Ashley arm chair, bought in the Laura Ashley sale a while back. It's so beautiful, and perfect for sitting and reading in. I've always wanted to have a chair like this!

More candles

After a few hours the wax will be dry, and you can gently remove the candles from the moulds. If I use ramekins I like to leave them in, as they make quite nice little lantern.

Advent

It's almost advent now, I'm enjoying a cup of Christmas tea and lighting all my red candles. As I'm still not well, I think I'll stay indoors to avoid the freezing air getting to my lungs and making me cough even more.

Wishing you all a happy weekend!

Making candles

This is something that I've done almost every Christmas since I was a very little girl, and it's a lovely thing to do this time of year! It makes a perfect present, and as I only use old candles instead of buying wax, it is both cheap and eco friendly. I collect all the stubs from used candles all through the year, and by the time I get to Christmas I've got quite a collection!

You'll need some wick and possibly some wick sustainers, to keep the wick from floating up when you pour the wax in. And you'll also need some moulds, and for this you can use just about anything; tea cups, tins, ramekins, yogurt pots etc.
Put the stubs into tin cans (I use the ones you buy tinned tomatoes in) and the cans in a pan with a bit of water in it. Put it on medium heat on the stove. As the stubs start melting, use a fork to take out the little bits of wick that will start floating around. When it's all melted pour it into the moulds. Make sure that the wick doesn't float up when you pour the wax in, and use a little stick (matchsticks are good for this) to tie the wick around, to stop it from sinking into the candle.

Christmas inspiration

I love Country Living and Country Homes and Interiors magazines. They always inspire me, and make me wish that we lived in a little cottage in the country side, with an open fire, a big kitchen and garden. One day....

As for now, here are some of the lovely photos in their Christmas issues.

Finally Friday!

The sun is shining, it's freezing cold and it's Friday! I'm having a lovely morning with the radio on, a hot cup of tea, surrounded by all our Christmas things that have been taken out of their box. This weekend looks like a good one! We've got mince pies and mulled wine, planning on seeing Harry Potter (Husband is singing on the movie soundtrack!) and also taking some photos for my London guide, which I am working on these days!

Hope you all have good days!