Tu-Whit, Tu-Whoo, To-Warm

Liz said she would like a Hot Water Bottle at Christmas - with a handmade cover, please. I bought a good quality bottle in Boots [My Cornerstones Poundshop Bottle leaked – not making that error again!]

She likes owls, and they seemed a suitably nocturnal motif. I worked out a pattern on the PC using simple shapes.

I cut them out of three different red fabrics, and some grey tape [all previously backed with Bondaweb] and ironed them onto a beige oval

I stitched detail using various fancy stitches

Then I ironed the oval [also with Bondaweb] onto the red fleece fabric, and blanket stitched the edge on the machine.

Finally I assembled the hwb cover. The other side has an overlapping centre slit to allow you to get the bottle in and out. Warm and cuddly!

The Word Became Flesh…

…and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

May God bless you, and your loved ones, this Christmas Day and always. Now switch off your PC and get back to them!

Grand Designs

Eat your heart out, Kevin McCloud! My girls have come home and they have been building a house of their own.

Steph was up bright and early, and working in the kitchen on the gingerbread house. She used Martha Stewart’s recipe [of course]

Everything carefully measured and cut out. Then assembled, and supported whilst the icing ‘mortar’ dried

 

Then in the evening, Steph invited Liz to help her decorate the finished house. Much better than my feeble attempt. And probably it will be much more edible too. [I shall stick to knitting dogs instead!] They didn’t use all the sweets though. I suspect they will eat them later!

The other thing that happened yesterday was the Carol Singing at Cherry Tree Gifts.

The rain was coming down very heavily – and nobody else from church turned up apart from John and Carol [plus DIL Rachel, who has come with two friends from Ratby Band to provide music]

Fortunately there were plenty of others there, including a good number of teenagers, and we sang carols on and off for two hours!

We stood inside the shop, as it was too cold and wet outside.

Sarah served tea, coffee and mulled wine, and people were very generous in contributing to our Christmas charity collection.

Just Midnight Carols and Christmas Morning Service now – and then Bob is officially on holiday for a week!

Christmas Crib

This word has many definitions

1. [noun] a manger or cattle trough
2. [noun] a child’s bed
3. [noun, slang] home, place of residence
4. [verb] to borrow someone else’s ideas

So here are two cribs I have cribbed from the blogs this week!

First up, from Not So Granny, in East Anglia

This is the ‘Posada’ nativity scene which travels round their village. This idea is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and it is all explained on NSGs blog. Do you have Posadas in your town?

Secondly, from Thrifty Household – her ‘Urban Nativity’

I love the idea of displaying the figures on the bookshelf. Look at the big picture and see her clever positioning of the characters.

• Angels, as you would expect, are ‘on high’
• Wise men are standing next to dictionaries
• Shepherds are by food and cookery books

My only reservation is Joseph standing next to ‘How Clean Is Your House?’ I daren’t think what Kim and Aggie would have said about Mary giving birth in a stable!

But having these figures in the middle of your home, among the quotidian objects and the books that define you and your life is a brilliant idea. It is a reminder of Immanuel, God With Us - that Jesus came down to be with us, where we are, and we can experience His grace in the everyday things.

My neighbour Claire has had her kitchen remodelled this year. She said to me a few weeks back that the space where they always put their crib is no there any more. “Where will we put it? We can’t have Christmas without Jesus!” I said to the family she told me

“Can I quote you on that?” I replied

Where are YOU putting Jesus in YOUR Christmas this year?

Dogged Determination

Liz works as a Volunteer at Battersea every Sunday afternoon. She emailed me recently and asked if I could knit her one of these…

They are selling the knitting pattern for the Staffies as a fund-raiser. I bought a pattern. Then decided that I could not afford all that Rowan wool, and bought a cheaper alternative in Button Boutique, and set to work with the needles.

I thought the pattern was quite difficult. The head was knitted all in one piece, and the shaping done with increasing and decreasing stitches. It was hard to tell if it was going right. But I pressed on regardless.

 

When I started sewing it together, Bob suggested it looked more like a lemming than a Staffordshire Terrier. I felt that remark was a little uncalled for. Sewing up was also complex and involved pipecleaners. This is definitely not a child#’s toy. But It came together in the end.

Oops! forgot the collar, final result is here…

Liz promptly took photos and tweeted them to Battersea! I do not think I have got his eyes and mouth right though. I may try knitting another one sometime. Do go to the website and check it out!

Is Our Church Green?

…after all, it is unleaded! The men have arrived to repair the damage, and the Insurance Co should pay up promptly. There is a cordoned off area and a big sign in the Car Park.

Meanwhile the Christmas Programme rolls on – we hosted our traditional “Manse Open House” and were thrilled to have so many guests. Bob put up the clothes rail [from Get In The Picture] in a corner of the kitchen, which proved really useful for all their heavy winter coats and jackets.

Yesterday was the Thursday Drop In Carol Event.

This is a less formal affair than many of the other events this week. David climbed down the ladder to attend [hence his scruffy green work jumper] Bob is resplendent in one of his Christmas Waistcoats, seen here reading a monologue. After a couple more carols, I got to read the beginning of John’s gospel. I have now read this passage three times this Christmas- and I love it more each time. The red and blue alphabet thing behind Jan is our “Church Christmas Card Distribution Centre” – it comes out every year and we sort our cards into it. It was made about twenty years ago, but has been renovated at least once by Susan [sitting with her back to the camera]

Stella decorated the little tables beautifully, and in place of the usual biscuits we had mince pies and Christmas Shortbread.

Here is Bob’s monologue [found on the Internet of course!]

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS – IN A RECESSION

Effective immediately: the following economizing measures are being implemented by the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' subsidiary

1. The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the cash crop forecasted, will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance
2. Two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are, therefore, eliminated
3. The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French
4. The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked
5. The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals appears to be in order
6. The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day was an example of the general decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by Human Resources will assure management that, from now on, every goose it gets will be a good one
7. The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes, thereby enhancing their outplacement
8. As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching
9. Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps
10. Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year
11. Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line

Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

For Those In Peril On The Sea…

Frugal Queen had a thoughtful post yesterday reminding us that it is thirty years this week since the Penlee Lifeboat disaster.[click here] I remember the awful news, just days before Christmas, that not only was the entire crew [and captain’s family] lost from the ship “Union Star” – but also the eight brave members of the Penlee Lifeboat crew, launched from Mousehole in Cornwall in appalling storm conditions. The RAF rescue helicopter had been unable to take off, due to the hurricane force winds. The lifeboat, the Solomon Browne, was smashed to pieces.

Bob’s paternal grandmother came from a lifeboat family, the Mercers, from Walmer in Kent.

There are some of his ancestors in this photo of the 1910 crew

Here is the lifeboat station on the Strand.

In 1944 a Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Joseph Mercer for rescuing 13 men from an anti-submarine boat stranded on the Goodwin Sands.

Let us never take for granted the sacrifices made by those who serve in the RNLI – staffed by volunteers, and funded by charitable donations. Saving lives day in, day out, all year round.

Sitting here in a warm dry home, about as far from the cold wintry sea as it is possible to be, right in the middle of  England – I am grateful to Froogs for this timely reminder. May all of our lifeboat crews be able to enjoy a quiet, safe Christmas, at home with their families.

Top Tips For Christmas #4

My final tips are

Just Desserts

[yes I know that the phrase should correctly be ‘just deserts’ i.e. what you justly deserve- but I am talking puddings here!]

Remember

‘desserts’ is ‘stressed’ spelled backwards

People tend to overdo puddings at Christmas time. It is nice to have a choice – but two is fine [especially if there is a bowl of fruit as well] And if the main course has been huge then why serve pudding straightaway? Stop eating – clear the table and then sit down after the washing up has been sorted with a cup of tea/coffee [glass of wine] and something sweet. Maybe even relax in front of a good film on TV with your bowl and spoon [or plate and pastry fork]

Make sure you have secreted in your fridge some cream, or crème fraiche [which keeps longer than cream] or clotted cream [Roddas of course!] or Greek Yogurt [I buy it by the bucketful from Lidl] and in the freezer a decent tub of vanilla ice-cream. Then you don’t need to fret about making custard.

Any pudding looks more fancy with something creamy slathered on it!

Making your own puds and sweets is easy – and there are lots of recipes on the internet. A half hour in the kitchen can yield some lovely treats [and you made them so you know what’s in them]

Annika at All The Livelong Day gives us Aunt Vera’s Sugar Tarts

Pattypan over at Tarragon and Thyme has posted some superb recipes recently. She has peppermint creams, gingerbread squares and more [I am deeply suspicious of her Toffee Vodka though!]Over at Thrifty Household you can find great recipes for Florentines, also Turkish Delight and Limoncello

Make good use of packet mixes to produce quick and easy sweet treats [check our Frugal Queen’s cakes here] And for ‘fancy cakes’ if you don’t have time to bake, then buy some cake ‘bars’ and cut them into three and put in petit fours cases [pictured Mr K’s – but Sainsbury’s Basics range look just as effective].

Or get a cheap ‘iced fruit bar’ First cut it horizontally [in half or thirds, depending on depth] Now cut the slices you have made into small squares.

That will give you at least two dozen mini cakes – some with marzipan and icing – some just cubes of cake [not everyone likes Almonds. Dunno why]. Often people just want a mouthful of sweetness with their coffee – they don’t need a full blown pavlova or wedge of apple pie.

I’ve not made a Christmas pudding this year [shock! horror!] I just have a few individual Matthew Walker ones which cost pence from Approved Foods. If anybody does want one, it will take seconds to microwave. [Not 2 minutes. I mistakenly overcooked a couple the other day. They were unbelievably chewy. Sorry Bob] MW make puds for all the big supermarkets including Waitrose. They’re OK!

One final recipe. I have not road-tested this one myself yet, but I am determined to try it. It is a Christmassy take on Eve’s pudding and I found it on a Waitrose advertising leaflet which fell out of a magazine. Then I lost it, so I googled it, and discovered it has been around ages.

I have mincemeat [in a jar] and cranberries [in the freezer] and apples [in the fruit bowl] Not only have I found the recipe, but also a video on how to do it!

Waitrose Mincemeat, cranberry and almond Eve’s pudding

Alternative to Christmas pud. Serves 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large cooking apple, peeled, cored and chopped (about 300g)
• ½ x 410g jar Waitrose Mincemeat
• 100g fresh cranberries
• 100g essential Waitrose Salted Dairy Butter
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 2 essential Waitrose Free Range Eggs, beaten
• 75g essential Waitrose Self-Raising White Flour
• 25g ground almonds
• 15g flaked almonds, to finish
• Cream or brandy butter, to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, gas mark 4. Place the apple in a saucepan with 2 tbsp water. Stir, cover and cook gently for 5 minutes until the apple is soft. Stir in the mincemeat and cranberries. Spoon into a 1-litre shallow baking dish.
2. For the topping, cream together the butter and caster sugar until pale and light. Beat in the eggs then fold in the flour and ground almonds to give a soft consistency.
3. Spoon the mixture over the apple and mincemeat, spread level and scatter with the flaked almonds. Cook in the oven for 30–35 minutes or until the topping is risen and golden. Serve hot with pouring cream or brandy butter.

Cook's tip; Fresh cranberries work just as well as frozen in
this recipe.

I will report back after I have done it myself!

Thank you everyone who has commented on these tips, or been posting them as part of the Top Tips Team. I have certainly picked up some good ideas and hope others have too.

Now sit back and enjoy Christmas…

Only In Norfolk!

I was greatly amused by this article on the BBC news website last week. The UK’s shortest double-yellow-lines have just been painted by the Alexandra Tavern in Norwich. Here’s landlord Tony Little with his tape measure.

The 17” [41cm] lines were laid down in the city's Stafford Street to distinguish a permit parking zone from a two-hour limit bay which all drivers can use. "I've no idea what kind of vehicle you'd put on there," said Tony “what sort of vehicle could get a ticket on such a short double yellow line?”

I think I have worked out who this restriction is for – according to the Eastern Daily Press, there is increasing popularity among local farmers for owning one of these…

Obviously the police and traffic wardens are concerned that these affluent agriculturalists will be popping into the city for some last minute Christmas Shopping. And as the Singing Postman used to remind us “You’ll never see a farmer on a bike!”

what about some pictures then??

No doubt if anyone does park their Segway by the pub, they will be apprehended by this officer of the law…

Her Majesty, however, has chosen to travel to Norfolk by train this Christmas, according to yesterday’s EDP. Here she is arriving at King’s Lynn station on the 12.24 from London [which got in four minutes late!] The Queen bought a £47.20 First Class Any Time Single ticket for the 100-mile journey. “She buys all of her tickets personally,” one source said. “She pre-books. And all of her security have them as well.”

First Capital Connect, which runs trains between London King’s Cross and King’s Lynn, said apart from her own compartment, no special arrangements were made. “It’s the same service for everyone else,” a spokesman said. “All our customers are treated exactly the same.”

Do you think our 85 year old monarch has a Senior Citizen’s Railcard?

I shall be in Norfolk myself next week – she’s always welcome to pop over to Cornerstones for a cuppa!

Down The Pub Again!

Sarah at the Royal Oak was our hostess for this Churches Together Event – an Interactive Carol Service with BBC Radio Leicester on Monday night.

It was great fun – over 70 people and some good singing.

		Oh Come All ye Faithful VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The carols we sang were apparently the Top Ten in a Poll in the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester. But somehow I do not think that those who voted had expected these modernised versions of the words! [For example, “Born to raise us from the earth” sounds more like growing potatoes on your allotment]

As usual Sue organised the event and Bob, Paul and Mike did the techie stuff. And over £60 was raised for charity.