Big Boy left me a note.
He knew I’d be up early in the morning and didn’t want me breaking anything should a giant huntsman spider leap out at me while I was half-asleep and making a cup of tea.
And I thought to myself – this is what life is about. These little stories, the tiny blips of joy in our day to day lives, like the enormous love and thoughtfulness my son conveyed in just sixteen scribbled words.
It was therefore with great care that I made myself a coffee in my tiny Russian tea glass…
These wee glasses have proven to be a very popular festive gift. Both of Pete’s brothers loved them and took a set home each after our early Christmas brunch last weekend…
Pete and I popped into Harkola on Monday morning to pick up some more – at $3.99 for a box of six, they’re an affordable and quirky gift. The packaging is scuffed and worn, with good reason – as Ray explained, they’ve had these very boxes on the shelves for over thirty years. I told him he should unpack them and sell them individually as vintage glassware! Each is stamped with “Made in Russia” on the base, is easy to hold even when filled with hot liquid, and fits perfectly in Big Boy’s new Nespresso machine.
I love that all our friends are excited about these too, especially when we explained the history and the ridiculously cheap price. It’s never been about the cost of the gift, but always the story behind it…
We drove from Harkola in Auburn to Cremorne via Silverwater. It took a surprisingly long time in pre-Christmas traffic. At one point my darling husband turned to me and said, completely unprompted, “I’m really enjoying being in the car with you”.
And it was indeed a joy – despite the congestion and going over the Harbour Bridge three times because Google Maps gave us dodgy instructions – because every moment we get to just be together feels like a gift. Not because those opportunities are rare – quite the opposite in fact – but because those are the times when I’m whole. We often refer to our partners as “our other half” and that truly is the case for me.
We went to Cremorne to pick up a pasture-raised goose from a friend of a friend. I’ve never cooked one before, so tomorrow morning will be interesting…
On Tuesday, I finally stopped playing with crystals…
…and started baking. Having bought supplies during our Harkola visit, I set about making our last minute fruit and nut cakes. The kitchen exploded – there were open packets, lined tins and unwashed dishes piled onto every work surface…
I called out for help and Big Boy and Small Man whipped in like kitchen ninjas, unstacked and restacked the dishwasher, then vanished. By the time the cakes were done, everything was tidied away…
I spent a peaceful hour wrapping the cakes this morning, while waiting for one of my men to wake up and deal with the huntsman…
My mum had requested spritz cookies, so we baked a batch…
A big batch…
And with the leftover egg whites, I roasted up a tray of spiced nuts…
I’d had great plans to temper chocolate this afternoon, but our dear friend PeteA arrived for an unexpected visit. So we downed tools and sat and chatted for a couple of hours instead. We’ve been friends for nearly three decades, but there are still so many stories to share. I sometimes wonder if we’ll ever run out of things to talk about.
Have a very Merry Christmas, lovely folks. I hadn’t intended to write another post this year, but then all my joyous, everyday stories – Big Boy’s note, the road trip to pick up frozen geese, the kitchen ninjas – would have been lost.
May your festive season be filled with many happy stories!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Please take some photos of the mess next time Celia, to prove to me you are human. I do not know how you do all these things! I cooked two things tonight and I am bone weary.
So productive! You leave me breathless with admiration. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family – hopefully without that Huntsman 😉
Thank you for this Christmas eve post. It warms me especially the exploding kitchen bit. Much joy to you all tomorrow.
So nice!
Celia, I did not know what is a huntsman spider, had to google, and almost fainted. You are in the same kitchen with that creature, and still baking and acting totally normal
you are my hero…. now, that thing about us being neighbors, I think I can still take it…. that says how much I love you! ;-)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Oh my that is a lots of baking for one day!!! :-) im up this late on Christmas eve… Wait it is now Christmas day :-) merry Christmas!!! As i am waiting for a cake to finish!!! :-) have a lovley day TODAY and enjoy more of those precious moments with your family :-) Liz x
The fruit and nut cakes look so festive. I think your wrapping is very pretty. Big Boy was very thoughtful to leave you a note. Hopefully the spider is out of the way now. I hate spiders; especially big ones!
I hadn’t planned on reading blogs for a few days but couldn’t resist yours. Am breathless just thinking of your energy. The goose will be marvellous and then you’ll have all that wonderful goose fat :) Enjoy!
It is indeed about the small quirky things. I love the note, something to always treasure! The boys will be decorating cookies shortly, which means eating the sprinkles as they do. I used to be anal about decorating myself so they looked pretty but it far too much fun to watch them having fun decorating and taking pride in their work, even if it does mean some cookies are incredibly covered in frosting and sprinkles! Merry Christmas!
What a lovely post to read on Christmas morning! I hope the huntsman is gone and you’re having a wonderful Christmas Celia! Good luck with the goose!!
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you and yours, Celia.
Merry Christmas to you and all your boys, dear Celia. xxx
Wishing you and Pete and the boys a joyful and peaceful Christmas Celia. Thank you for your friendship and inspiration throughout the year. xox
Merry Christmas Celia! I love the note…it was perfect <3 I'm sure your goose will turn out splendid and those little Russian tea glasses look darling!
Lovely post to wake up to on Christmas morning, Celia! A huntsman on the loose is never my favourite thing. I used to get lovely little notes from our daughter and have saved them. She would slide them under the bathroom door in the morning. Have a wonderful time with your family. xxx
Like ardysez above I find this a lovely post to read this morning. After 38 years Tony has finally convinced me not to kill huntsmen on sight but there is a lot of shouting until he turns up with jar and paper to help the fellow outside.
OMG what a note to wake up to! :O What gorgeous little glasses too. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and NY!! :D
I recently found your place while looking for a recipe for a ‘fruit and nut cake’. My hubby usually buys one from America but this year as we are now retired i wanted to make him one. Your version has been a hit and will be added to my xmas list of cooking. Love your site for inspiration as we are building a new house on 20 acres in the country and moving to a more self sufficient life style. Have a lovely xmas and wishing you success in 2015.
Have a wonderful Xmas Celia. Thanks for joining us all together each month. It is so nice to “meet” other bloggers in this way. All the best to you and yours. X
What a sweetie to look after his Mum that Celia! You have certainly trained them well – especially if they do the cleaning up for you as well :) Gorgeous cakes, goodies and glasses. My girls have been wearing their gorgeous crystal earrings all day with pride – thank you Aunty Celia xox Merry Christmas xox
Now THAT is kindness :). I hope you had a nice big martini glass handy to catch him when he eventually made contact ;). Thank you for including us in your Christmas Eve whirlwind Celia. You are so right to remind us that life is in the little moments, not waiting for something big and majestic to come around. Your last minute Christmas cakes look like my Gran’s Stained Glass St Hilda’s cake she used to make. Lovely stuff. I hope the goose went down well. My mum used to keep a flock of 50 geese specifically for a small (but most determined) “flock” of loyal followers who would buy them off her at Easter and Christmas time. They were most terrifying things and the best watchdogs a person could have. I am quite sure that if Earl was ever to meet up with a goose sitting on eggs, the goose would win hands down! ;). Have an amazing time with your wonderful family and your good friends Ms Celia and see you when you are ready to come back :)
Dear Celia: Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Season’s Greetings!
A joyful post full of the everyday pre- Christmas things that make the day. Charlotte had a similar huntsman story, the one that lives permanenly in the studio. We call it our pet but our overseas friends aren’t so keen on it.
The glasses are a bargain.
Best wishes for the season- and happy New Year Celia, you are an inspriration. .
Celia, if you haven’t been, there is a warehouse in Artarmon called Oriental and Continental Foods (think its in Carlotta Street, near the Bunnings anyway) which is also fantastic for supplies, I love wandering around in there. I am still recovering from yesterday’s food coma.
What a delightful post to read on Boxing Day morning! Celia, at times when we think the world has gone mad (as in recent weeks), your heartwarming post about family and the small things in life (which I actually think are the BIG things) is manna for the soul! I am so pleased to have found your blog – just wish you were my neighbour!!!
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, fun and prosperous New Year, and I look forward to your future posts.
Now for a cup of tea and that Christmas cake…
Lovely post, Celia. I have never cooked a goose either but it’s definitely on my list of things to try. I’ve heard there’s an oily gland you have to cut out of it before you start cooking it otherwise it will give the goose a fishy taste. Now….where exactly to find that gland! Your cakes look incredible and I love how they’re packaged up as gifts. And what great glassware – I need to shop with you as you always seem to find the bargains. And yes, the trip from Cremorne to Balmain – can take 1/2 an hour or two hours depending on circumstances. A very Merry Christmas to you and Pete and the boys xx
Lucky you to have kitchen ninjas! I hope the spider goes away and you don’t have to kill it.
I’m sure your Christmas was wonderful and I hope your new year is fantastic.
a wonderful look at what we really mean by joy at this time of year – I love that glassware – never used to like crystal but am really beginning to appreciate it – I love a busy cheerful mess in the kitchen esp when you have kitchen ninjas to deal with it (am trying to train mine!) – hope you enjoyed your christmas and that the huntman was long gone by then
Celia, what a darling boy to look after his mother that way! Really, I’m sure few would ever think of such a thing as leaving their mother a warning note. I would NOT have been able to carry on in that kitchen until the spider was found and relocated!
Hi Celia, that was very thoughtful of big boy. If I saw a note like that in my kitchen I would be back in bed hiding! Your cakes look lovely!
The little tea glasses are cute and it’s great to have a circle of friends who enjoy what you enjoy. We have a group of 10 that celebrate togther each December. I alway buy them all exactly the same gift. Something simple and fun that is a reflection of our interests. This year it was a map that you could scratch off where you’ve visited. Who doesn’t need one of these pointless pieces of ephemera hanging around in the spare room? I also made a huge batch of spiced nuts in the crock pot. Simple recipe but took ages as you’d imagine so next year I think I’ll go back to the oven. Cheers Celia! xx
what precious boys you have. All credit to you and hubby for having raised such sweet and thoughtful boys. Merry Christmas to you and yours, thanks as always for sharing, and i agree with all who wonder, where do you get that energy from??!? :)))
I just have no idea how you manage to cook as much as you do. And as always, it seems that 99% of what you make is for others! Hope you had a fabulous Christmas Celia!! And that your strong, manly husband caught that huntsman for you….(I shudder at the thought. Spiders are the only thing that make me squeal!!)
Hi Celia, I have been away from the internet for a week or so, and have just got back home. I received your starter – Thank you soooooo much. Now got to get baking. Hope you had a good Christmas too and best wishes for the New Year.
I admire all your bakes, esp. the Fruit and Nut Cake that I am gonna call Jewelled Cake. I am in fact amazed at how much you have managed to do and this is not half of it, I know.
Pete’s comment brought a tear to my eye. What a wonderful thing to say to someone. You are a very lucky woman and those around you are even luckier.
Those glasses are adorable and the story behind them is even better.
I hope 2015 is a fantastic year for all of you. Much love from me to you.
Beautiful post – really joyful. And still laughing at the first comment. Happy, happy Christmas my dear Celia.
Hope your goose turned out & your glasses are so cute, perfect for all drinks either hot or cold (& a bit of bargain!)
Happy New Year to you! You have been nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award – for inspiring & motivating me throughout the year. I love participating and being a part of the foodie community with you. Acceptance is purely optional, but if you’re keen please check out this post:
http://missfoodfairy.com/2014/12/29/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
What a beautiful, happy post this is Celia! I loved it, thanks so much for taking the time to write about your day :-)
I just wanted to ask it IMK will be running on the 1st of January as I’m looking forward to joining in again.
I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas!
Sarah xx
Although I’ve been quiet this year, your blog is one I’ve read all the time. I love that I never know what you are going to come up with.
Alan says those glasses are exactly like he remembers from a visit to Russia in the sixties. They had little silver holders with a handle that they fitted into.
I hope the goose was good.
Thank you for bringing us into your kitchen, along with your family and friends. All is so warm and delicious. Best to you and yours in 2015! xxoo
Lovely Christmas stories Celia, and I too would want to be warned about the huntsman – I’ve shrieked and leapt backwards too many times after seeing one crawling above my head or from behind a picture frame!
Happy New Year, and best wishes for a fantastic 2015!
Beck
What a beautiful post Celia & such wonderful thoughts, filled with so much love. I cannot believe what a find those glasses are! But tell us – where is that spider right now? I can only picture Mandy reading this.
I loved reading this post. Christmas 2015 preparations are under way in our house. I have two batches of fruit soaking for the fruit cakes and have started to consider the edible goodies and their packaging for the Christmas pressies.
P.S We have already removed several Huntsman Spiders from the house in the last couple of weeks.