At our house, it isn’t Christmas until the fat lady swings…
Christmas is less than a fortnight away, and we’re not ready.
We’re actually not even close to ready. Normally by this time of year, we’d have Christmas presents sorted, meals planned and the house tidy.
This year, we’ve been frantic – Pete’s siblings arrive on the weekend and I haven’t even thought about what I’m going to feed them. I’ve only just started making Christmas presents, and things keep breaking down – the dishwasher, then the oven, and now the back (guest) toilet. We haven’t had time to make any jams, Christmas cakes or puddings.
Sigh.
I’ve decided there’s no point stressing about it all. Sometimes life affords you a little control, other times you just have to hang on for the ride.
So we’re having a low key Christmas. I’m going to glaze a couple of hams, because they’re easy, and having a leg in the fridge means we’ll never be caught short of a meal…
Judging from the garden, it will be a squash-based festive season. After years of whinging about not being able to grow zucchinis, we are on the verge of a glut. The tromboncinos look ready to take off as well. I’m sure we’ll be sick to death of them in a month or so, but at the moment I’m so excited by how fast they’re growing that I keep running outside to admire them…
This year we’re going with tried and tested favourites from the kitchen, including…
…Vanilla sugar…I’ve made a huge 3kg batch, ready for packaging up…
…and lots of moulded chocolate treats (more to come in a future post!)…
If you’d like some ideas for homemade gifts, please have a look at our Christmas page.
The tree finally went up last weekend, and it’s always a joy to pull our fat mermaids out of their box…
Here’s the third mermaid in the set…
How are things going at your place?
I’m sorry if I haven’t stopped by your blog for a while – it’s been really hectic. But it’s also been a month filled with family and friends, so I’m certainly not complaining! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Oh Lordy, Celia, if you have your tree up, you are far more organised than me!!! Help…. Love your fat lady… and such deliciousness is going on as always. Happy cooking love.
You too, Lizzy! I hope you’re enjoying the season – I know you’ve been flat out as well! xx
I still haven’t even conceived of getting our tree up! So you’re already ahead of us by a mile :P
Small Man was insistent on the weekend! And our tree is huge – it fill ups the entire corner of the living room!
Every year I have a big list of things I would like to make for Christmas and every year I run out of time (or I have very poor organisational skills). A low key Christmas that includes your wonderful goodies sounds great.
Thanks Jo! Some years we make a really good go of it, others are less productive. It’s so hard to predict how Nov/Dec are going to be, so we just take it as it comes. Low key and manageable are just what we need this year! Hope you and your lovely family are enjoying the season! :)
I thought I had seen every possible Christmas ornament possible – but never anything as much fun as your gorgeous fat lady :) ! And methinks you are way ahead of 90% of us!
Eha, thanks for the encouragement! Aren’t the fat ladies gorgeous? I’ve just added a photo of the third mermaid since everyone is so taken with them! :)
Thanks for telling: I thought I was seeing things and better go to bed :D !
Yes it is already here. At least this year I am off a few days before Christmas so I may not have any excuse to complain about all those last minute things. I am sure you will create some incredible food and your garden will help you provide. Hope it is all OK for you Celia xxx
Thanks darling! Do you and Skater have an exciting Christmas planned?
Celia your post is awesome I only put my tree up last night and have not even thought about nice edible’s so will try some of your lovely ideas out
have a nice time and seasons greetings to you and your family
Thanks Linda! All the best to you and your family too! :)
Like everyone else, I LOVE your fat lady mermaids!!!! They would put a smile on anyone’s face, I think.
Jeannette, I’m not usually possessive, but every Christmas, no-one is allowed to hang the ladies on the tree except me! :)
Celia, I just adore your fat ladies – where, oh where, did you get them?!
Oh Amanda, you have no idea how long I’ve hunted around for more! I bought these over a decade ago from a local antique store – they were only $8 each – and I’ve never been able to find any more. I’ve just added a photo of the third one in the set for you! :)
Celia you look pretty organised to me! We’re hosting a Christmas dinner here next Sat and I’m so very far from organised!
Claire, you are one of the most organised people ever! Can’t wait to see how your dinner goes! :) xx
Christmas? That’s weeks away. Isn’t it?
Oh yes darling, don’t worry about it. :)
Seems quite a few of us are having to hang on for the ride this year Celi.
My mom is the first to arrive this evening with a steady flow or family arriving over the next few days. Enjoy your family time Celi.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, it sounds like you’re in for a wonderful few weeks! Enjoy! xx
I do love your mermaids- I saw some very similar in Chincoteague last season- I’ll have to look and see if they still have them.
I have made the first surge of gifts (and delivered them to an early family party.)
I haven’t been blogging much lately due to working very diligently every morning and evening on gifts- everything homemade this year- I just DON”T want to go shopping!
Hope your holidays shimmer with joy and anticipation- Love you!
Heidi, I’ve found out that the mermaids were made by an American company called Katherine’s Collection – they have a huge range of just the most gorgeous decorations! Here’s their website:
http://www.katherinescollection.com/Home
Hope you and Frank and your wonderful family have the best Christmas ever! Lots of love xxx
I too love your fat mermaids. Serving freshly harvested home grown squashes at the Christmas table, what a treat. Looking forward to reading about what you do with the tromboncinos.
Norma, the tromboncinos are growing sooo fast! We’ve eaten one already – they’re great, like a slightly sweet zucchini – really great in a stir fry. We’ll try and collect some seed at the end of the season – email me if you’d like me to send you some! x
From now until the holiday, the days just seem to tick away, one after another, in a blur. Seems, though, that you’ve got a good handle on things. Love the cookies and chocolate but you’ve a gft preparing glazed hams! Mmmmm.
John, thank you! It’s been hectic – the relatives are all here now, so I’m replying to these comments before they all get up – then we’re off to the fish markets at 7am! Hope you’re having a wonderful festive season, dear friend! x
Love the mermaid ladies:) Your kitchen must smell so GREAT! Have a Great Day:)
Renee, hope you have a wonderful Christmas too! x
You might feel way behind with your preparations, Celia, but I’ve done nothing except order some meat! It will be a very low-key Christmas here too, but I still need to get a bit more done.
Your chocolates and cookies look perfect, and courgettes are the perfect antidote to rich food! LOL!
Suelle, I’ve decided low key is good. We’re not fussing, so anything we come up with is a bonus! :) Enjoy your lovely family this Christmas!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas Celia. Thanks for all of your fabulous posts this year and I look forward to another food-filled year next year. You’ve been a terrific inspiration to me. Thanks again and have a very merry Christmas…
Meaghan, thank you so much! It’s so rewarding being able to share our adventures with you all! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Loving the fat lady swinging!!!!
Claire, isn’t she a hoot? I hang the girls up high, so small people with slippery fingers can’t get hold of them! :)
Hello Celia, I love the idea of not stressing about it…really its not worth it is it? I need to remember these words constantly! Your tree is pretty, love the mermaids! The vanilla sugar is a great idea too. Stay cool & happy tromboncino growing and eating! x
Jane, it’s always been our approach to entertaining. When we were younger, we used to hold a HUGE Christmas party every year. Some years we went all our and cooked and prepped for days before hand, other times we served sausages on a slice of bread on a paper napkin. No-one seemed to mind either way! Thanks for all the tromboncino advice, and enjoy Christmas with your lovely family! xx
Merry Christmas to you and yours.. I look forward to following you in 2013.
may your Christmas be filled with fun, family and laughter.. and a very Happy New Year as well :)
Thanks so much, Jan! Best wishes to you for a Merry Christmas and a great 2013!
‘Tis the season for stressing, you’re ahead of us. Kids finish school today and I haven’t done one bit of shopping – oops. I’ve got some vanilla essence I made to give away (once I buy some bottles). Take care and enjoy the family and friends, after all that is what it is all about! Alison xxx
Thanks Alison! And thanks again for the succulent inspiration! My siblings in law arrived with a few pots for me yesterday, so I was pretty chuffed! All the best for a wonderful Christmas!
We have that fat lady ornament in purple. Sadly we don’t but I wish we did. Great post!
Greg, she’s no longer available, but there are other great designs available from the same manufacturer, who are US based:
http://www.katherinescollection.com/Home
Opening champagne today! Have a wonderful Chrissie!
Wow! The cookies looks deliciuos! Enjoy time with your family,that’s what this season is about.
Sponge, it really is, isn’t it? Enjoy the season! :)
I’m glad I’m not the only one wishing I had a couple more weeks to make the presents and goodies that I want to. I’ve made crackers, almond bread and lemon spread for gifts but haven’t got to the candies yet. Food for Christmas day is easy–my very generous brother-in-law has given me two beautiful lobsters!!!
Liz, that sounds wonderful! I’m a bit more organised now – have three batches of cookie dough in the freezer, ready to do mixed platters next week, and have made a huge batch of mixed nuts. Have a great Christmas!
I know you have more to do, but you have done so much… and it all looks wonderful. All I’ve done is a lot of onlne shopping and put up the tree! I now have ornament envy ;)
ED, I’m sorry to give you ornament envy! This is the closest I can get to sharing the mermaids with you all! :) Have a great Christmas love! xx
I’ve done nothing for Christmas! Those marrows look fantastic. Hope the loo gets fixed in time :)
Thanks Tandy – loo is fixed (I’m still heaping blessings on the head of our darling plumbers). Have a great Christmas! xx
Your fat ladies are fab and so is your garden. Squash based festive season sounds interesting! I’m just pretending that Christmas is ages away – saves worrying about all the things I should be doing (or have done already). A x
Anne, we’re having our first great squash season, and I’m really excited! Hope Christmas is enjoyable and not too stressful! xx
The wonderhub decorated the tree last night. The boy was working doing the lights for “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the local community theatre. I “supervised” meaning I sat on the couch and ate my dinner.
“Inner Peace Through Lowered Expectations” is my motto. Do what you can, enjoy the time and forget the rest. Relax. Big Hugs, Maz.
Bless you, my darling friend, you are a true kindred spirit! Flat out like a lizard drinking today with all the family here, but enjoying it immensely! Lots of love to you all! xx
Celia, I just love your fat mermaids. I am so jel, jel:) Have a wonderful time with your family.
Thanks darling! We’re even now – you have a Santa that blows smoke rings! :) Merry Christmas to you and Maus! x
Feeling for you Celia! I feel so unprepared this year too. My trees have been up for a few weeks though, as that’s non-negotiable! Your mermaids are just so cute, have you got the matching fish as well? I saw them at the Bredbo Christmas Barn- just about the best shop in the entire world!!
Ham is terrific as a fill in, we have it fried for breakfast, baked for dinner, slabs in sandwiches, and slithers to nibble on in-between :)
Merry Christmas Sweetie!
Becca, thank you so much for putting me onto Bredbo – they know who the maker of the mermaids was! Can’t get them anymore, but they have a wide range of newer models! Enjoy the season with your lovely family, darling! x
I’m not ready either, so I feel your stress. Going low key is a good stance to take, I think! I love your ideas for gifts, too, and those chocolates are beautiful.
Kari, thank you – sometimes it’s easier to just capitulate rather than try and stress out just before Christmas! :) Hope you get a chance to take it easy too! Merry Christmas!
Celia, your “disorganization” puts my most organized days to complete shame… :-)
I absolutelly LOVED the fat mermaids – my gosh they are cute, adorable, and so self-confident in their plumpness!
we don’t have a tree yet, we don’t have gifts wrapped, many gifts not yet even decided. I feel always rushed and running after something that I cannot quite reach. Oh, well…
ENJOY THE RIDE, MY FRIEND, that’s what matters!
Sally, sometimes we get a say, other times, life just happens. And either way, it’s usually good! Wishing you and Phil all the very best this festive season! xx
Celia your buxom, lovesome Mermaids are so gorgeous. They make me smile and they seem to be all about generous love and laughter. Thanks for all the enjoyment your blog has given me all through the year and a very merry Christmas to you and your family and love, laughter and contentment in the New Year.
Love the fat lady swings!