One of my most memorable Christmas Eves was spent in a barn on a cold night. Horses nibbling hay. The occasional Nickerson. A candle, in violation of barn rules. Friends and cheeses and sweets. Some wine. A recollection of a much earlier Christmas Eve near an inn with no room.
Ha ha, I was going to ask you what a Nickerson was ... I was immediately going for a regional variation on a whiskey cocktail, but that just tells you where my head is at
Tom and Mark, please get together and supply the recipe and directions for making and shaking a ‘Nickerson’ - you owe it to anyone reading this thread! 🤣 You’ve both made a start on listing some of the elements already - hay, candlewax, cheeses, sweets, wine and whiskey. No cookies...
Thanks Rebecca 🥰 I need to make some mincemeat. Only my sister and I like it, but I have to have it every year. We do it with the fruit only; but there’s a version here that has venison in it. No thank you! Mincemeat is spicy and boozy and sweet.
I need to be honest here: I don't actually eat sweet things, but I LOVE the process, the smell and the warmth of Christmas baking! I'm in charge of making our family Christmas pudding this year, too - again, it's not for me, but the scent of Christmas in the kitchen - wow!
Oh I love this. So many good Chrisymas memories that I'm sure are shinier because distance has smoothed the sharp edges. And yet, I want to remember the happy times and not the times that have broken my heart.
I’ve been struggling with the festive feeling this year - probably because the weather has been so whack? I have my decorations up! I’ve been wearing my Christmas dresses! I’ve watched three terrible Christmas movies and two good ones. I built my Christmas Lego. I’m faithfully doing my advent calendar. And there’s no reason otherwise as to why my festive spirit is flagging. I even finished my Christmas shopping. But...waiting for the quiet joy. It will come.
One of my most memorable Christmas Eves was spent in a barn on a cold night. Horses nibbling hay. The occasional Nickerson. A candle, in violation of barn rules. Friends and cheeses and sweets. Some wine. A recollection of a much earlier Christmas Eve near an inn with no room.
Like, i hate auto correct. Nickerson? Nicker. You know the nose noise!
Ha ha, I was going to ask you what a Nickerson was ... I was immediately going for a regional variation on a whiskey cocktail, but that just tells you where my head is at
Tom and Mark, please get together and supply the recipe and directions for making and shaking a ‘Nickerson’ - you owe it to anyone reading this thread! 🤣 You’ve both made a start on listing some of the elements already - hay, candlewax, cheeses, sweets, wine and whiskey. No cookies...
Dang it, Rebecca beat me to it!!! 😂 🥃🐴
I'll need to consult with Bond Girl Bride to concoct a recipe. Tom will provide the whiskey.
Was it an impromptu gathering or planned that way? Either way, it sounds so lovely.
Planned, actually. A meeting of two families and very, very simple. It was lovely.
Lovely piece Bryn, and it’s helped me think about my “Christmas” piece coming up this weekend. No cookies, just Snoopy.
Thanks Tom! Looking forward to reading your holiday piece. (It’s a toss-up between Snoopy and Muppet Family Christmas as my faves.)
Gorgeous post, Bryn - I’m feeling festive already! My mum gave me a jar of homemade mincemeat yesterday - I can’t wait to turn it into mince pies!
Thanks Rebecca 🥰 I need to make some mincemeat. Only my sister and I like it, but I have to have it every year. We do it with the fruit only; but there’s a version here that has venison in it. No thank you! Mincemeat is spicy and boozy and sweet.
I need to be honest here: I don't actually eat sweet things, but I LOVE the process, the smell and the warmth of Christmas baking! I'm in charge of making our family Christmas pudding this year, too - again, it's not for me, but the scent of Christmas in the kitchen - wow!
Oh I love this. So many good Chrisymas memories that I'm sure are shinier because distance has smoothed the sharp edges. And yet, I want to remember the happy times and not the times that have broken my heart.
Exactly, Sarah! Thank you ☺️ I could think of a few rougher holidays, but who wants to do that? If anything, they make the other days shinier 🥰
I’ve been struggling with the festive feeling this year - probably because the weather has been so whack? I have my decorations up! I’ve been wearing my Christmas dresses! I’ve watched three terrible Christmas movies and two good ones. I built my Christmas Lego. I’m faithfully doing my advent calendar. And there’s no reason otherwise as to why my festive spirit is flagging. I even finished my Christmas shopping. But...waiting for the quiet joy. It will come.