been a while

December has a habit of being a busy month, so it's no surprise when blogging dries up. A big part of me says just let it go, don't bother with it and just be in the moment instead. But there is another part of me that says if I don't record things then I'll regret it next year when I wonder what I cooked for Christmas dinner, or how the gingerbread house looked. Most of this stuff is on the gram, so anyone reading this might have already seen it there, but I like to make a note of things.
The gingerbread house is done, but I'll save that for another post. It's getting late and the early night I'd plotted is still top of my To Do list. I've got lots of bits and pieces to show or talk about, it's my intention to put together several posts this week, but if I'll get round to it is another matter.

The thing I've done most of lately is potter in the kitchen. The gb house, everyday cooking, and I finally made a chocolate torte that I've wanted to make for a couple of years. Ridiculously easy, ridiculously delicious. It's a recipe I got from a Korean vlogger, so it took a while to scribble it down with all the pausing and notes I needed to make. The top has a ganache poured over it, which I'd never made before. I had no idea it was so easy, and that you could use it to make truffles if you wanted to. Not a clue. Now I know how simple it is I'll make it again. It was a very good torte, we all enjoyed it.

So far I've made two festive lunches, both over the weekend. On Saturday Violet's friend came round and I do like to send him home with a full belly. I realised I'd never made him a roast dinner, so it was chicken with all the festive trimmings to go with it. It turned out well. It was his birthday a week or so ago, so we put a candle in a cupcake and sang Happy Birthday to him, just a smidge late. He looked absolutely delighted.
On sunday we had our nephew and his girlfriend round to lunch. Had a sudden thought of where to serve the food as we don't have a dining room any more. It had to be the island in the kitchen, so I tried to make it look pretty, welcoming, but not overwhelming. Delightful company, a very good day, and another festive chicken dinner in the bag.
The house is bedecked in fesive dress. The tree is up, the wreath is on the door, the outdoor lights are on. It's all a little less this year, no glitter, nothing sparkly, less lights but still white lights, red roses, fruits and nuts. Again, a subject for another post.
The Final Project was done last week, the changing of the garage doors. Again, I put up a pic on the gram, but will show them here at a later date.

Christmas shopping is done. Pretty much. A few loose ends to tie up and then I need to get thinking about Bill's birthday at the start of January. Each year I seem to forget about it until it's practically here. I'm determined to try and make it feel special this time.
A delivery of new oven gloves arrived today. Didn't really need them as I bought some very pretty ones from TK Maxx recently, covered in holly and cats, so festive but not overly so. When I saw someone on You Tube get these Gisela Graham ones, covered in gingerbread men, I just knew I had to have them. So incredibly pretty. Can't promise it'll be just for December, I think I'll have a hard time saying goodbye to the jolly little gingerbread men, I fully expect to be using them during summer too.
That's it for now. A little catch up, probably much the same as things you are currently doing right now. Lots of cooking, decorating, shopping, organising. A busy time ahead for all.