At The Year's End

[poliphilo]

I cleared the flowerbed under the window of its heather last year because it was harbouring rats and John put in squash and pumpkin plants- only one of which prospered. This year we're going to grass it and put in lots of spring bulbs. Julia was preparing the soil this morning.

I took the Christmas tree down. It had been up since the beginning of the month. I've also gathered up the Christmas cards. I find it hard to keep in a Christmassy state of mind once Boxing Day has passed.

It's silly how much Christmas food we have still to eat. We bought a Christmas cake- because one does- and we haven't even cut it yet. There's also a whole tray of pigs in blankets still to cook. Ailz and my mother have been eating warmed-up turkey every day and they'll be doing so again today.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Christmas here lasts until 12th Night...it has always been that way in Spain and my Christmas feeling starts on Christmas Eve and goes until the Epiphany.

But yes, we still have Christmas food though not as much another years and tomorrow I'll make the New Years's Eve feast...I love having leftovers and not having to cook more for a few days.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I usually tough it out until Twelfth Night but this year I couldn't be bothered.

Yes, leftovers can be labour saving.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Because we have developed the tradition of a short pre-Christmas break in London, our tiny tree and minimal decorations don't go up until Christmas eve. I therefore keep them until Twelfth Night. Even when the kids were still small, we never put up the tree until the weekend before Christmas at the earliest.

With regard to food, G doesn't like turkey so we had a joint of beef. After we'd had our Christmas lunch, I sliced it and froze it in portions, so we don't have any leftover Christmas food that has to be eaten, but I have some ready made roast dinners for the weeks to come.

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

I was quite pleased with how the quantity of food worked out - the duck turned out to be just right for the two of us, giving plenty of meat for the big lunch, and a little left over for another day. I did wind up leaving the chipolatas in the fridge, though, as I already had smoked bacon wrapped Brussels roasting away - that plus the duck seemed like enough of a meat quotient for even us. =:)

I'd probably freeze much of the left over turkey, to avoid that kind of culinary monotony, plus it's just handy to have ready-cooked meat like that, for perhaps a curry, or a nice pie.

I do wish we had space for a tree here - but, there really isn't room, and the roomie/owner isn't one for decorations at all; even if there were a spot, it wouldn't feel right, going to all that effort just for myself. Mum did have a little table-top fake tree, though. ^_^ Not exactly the same thing, but still, a nice reminder of times past.

Myself, I've never really been keen on Christmas cake - so I opted for carrot cake (of course =:), which we tucked into with enthusiasm. =:9

Do you have a herb bed? I'd put one in here, but if all goes well, I should be moving in a month or two. Fresh herbs are such a delight to cook with - that aroma basil gives off as you snip or crush the leaves into a sauce, oh! And that gentle tang lemon thyme affords.. such a delight.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We've had the same artificial tree for many years- possibly for as long as we've been married. I'd be sorry not to have one. My earliest Christmas memories have to do with the amazing spectacle that was our 1950s Christmas tree- with its glass ornaments and candles (yes, real candles- no concerns about health and safety sixty years ago.)

I'd like a herb bed. Maybe I'll organise one this year.

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, over here I'm trying to figure out how to get heather to grow (we've a blank spot out by our front fence that nothing seems to grow in, and I think heather would look quite lovely there, if only I can find somewhere to get the plants.

We always freeze our leftover holiday food. We started doing ham again at the Christmas holiday, which is wonderful because I freeze the ham and use it to make ham and bean soup later (perfect for the rest of winter).