The Leaping Cat, Oysters and Christmas in Photos

The Leaping Cat, 

Oysters 

and 

Christmas in Photos

 

 

 

Mint Spies nestled on a plate in disguise…..we ate our body weight in these this Christmas and nearly scoffed the holly one night too……..

 

 

 

Fresh Marennes Oysters these were served as a treat on Christmas Eve with shallot vinegar sauce and Tabasco……they tasted fresh, just like the sea and were a great addition to the buffet table. 

 

 

A Flaming pudding surrounded by a wreath of blue, our Christmas Pud was a rich concoction of fruits, nuts and booze….served with creamy custard.

 

 

 

 

 

Haut Medoc in a bottle….just one of the reds on the Christmas Table…..a table that was festooned with paper cracker hats and jokes….

 

 

 

 

 

Mistletoe and wine, see above for the wine! We “found” a large ball of mistletoe in a local field…….it is now hanging in the hallway and one needs to duck, or kiss, to pass by it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal and snow covered Christmas Tree branches…..for the first time this Christmas, we didn’t have a “real” tree, but bought a pretty “faux” tree……it looked so “wild” that I only adorned it with a few crystal baubles and some glass and feather birds…..as well as some simple white sparkling lights. 

 

 

 

A China Hen and her two eggs! A wonderfully quirky gift from my mum and dad, who know I am a Chicken Mother to three hens! The two eggs are salt and pepper cellars and sit behind my pot hen’s wings! I LOVE it and cannot wait to use it on the breakfast table…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly and the Hunter ~ I had fun decorating all my precious bits and bobs throughout the house with fresh holly…..with berries of course. This is my Art Deco clock, a French clock with a bronze hunter and his dog…..with ducks.

 

 

 

 

The Antique Log Burning Fire in the salon has been lit since Christmas Eve and we have slumbered on the sofa several times…..as well as clinked champagne glasses and cracked fresh walnuts……

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so to….the leaping cat! Willow my Burmese cat who reclines on top of one of the wirelesses in the library/den, takes a death defying leap from the top shelf to the back of the chair…..she has never missed yet!

 

 

 

 

 

Two Christmas Day eggs courtesy of my Coronation Chickens, well two of them……..we made the ubiquitous festive scrambled eggs with smoked salmon for Christmas Morn’ and breakfast….

 

 

 

 

Indian Tree on porcelain…..my grandmother’s dinner service that I inherited….I use it for high days and holidays ~ I love the feeling of continuity when I use this dinner service……it links generations of family together and I never mind that I have to wash it by hand. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally The Christmas Dinner…..with sprouts! We love them…..roast turkey, roast potatoes, sprouts, carrots, stuffing, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, parsnips, gravy and pigs in blankets……because we’re worth it!

 

 

See you later with some 

appetiser recipes for the New Year.

Karen