Memories are made of this...

Memories are made of this...yes the last few days have been full of old and new traditions with laughter, tears, and lots and lots of conversation. Its a time for family and friends and not really for sitting at my computer, although I do have a few minutes on my own, so I am going to let the pictures do the talking. I hope you had a blessed Christmas and overcame any obstacles that came your way and you are at peace with the your world, thank you for all the personal wishes. So as we bask in the afterglow of the season and start with the run up to the New year...I wish you well... So Christmas Eve, a hearty meal with the seasons colours and lots of mulled wine (well for this Mommy anyway, especially with a cold...nothing like it to clear the infections). Then we have the children's first Christmas present from Mommy..a new pair of PJs after all the children are all lovely and sweet smelling after a big deep bubbly bath...
Then its outside with the Santa dust and reindeer food...as Santa's tray is laid out (reindeer biscuits, carrot, mince pie and milk...I was not allowed to put sherry out as it might make Santa giddy and he would not be able to get on with his job) the children look up the chimney for signs of Santa and they work out amongst themselves how he actually does it all...
Once the children are a sleep a little magic happens...Santa shakes the snow off his boots and lays out all the lovely gifts for the two little ones that have been good all year (OK maybe the last bits just too much of a fairy tail)!!!
I love this time at night, I have watched the midnight service, all is done, and I sit with the twinkly lights and just soak up the atmosphere and of all the promise it holds for the fun and delight of the next morning. A time to really count my blessings...
The best bit of the morning is seeing it through the eyes of the children...How my wee one loved his kitchen, as I sat and watched them playing I thought of all the lovely stuff I could make to fill its cupboards...felt cup cakes, cookies, fruit and veg....
Ahhh then its the time for Mom to retreat to the kitchen, the mulled wine goes on (again) and the music sings out...you got to love Andy Williams and Bing at this time of year! So the table is laid with my best dinner service..much to my Moms disgust as I tell her how every piece of the matching set was thrifted from various places throughout the last couple of years...

Everyone falls in to bed, the house is full of scrunched up paper and cling film covered bowls of food...TOYS everywhere...and a special camera sits in its box waiting to be opened...yep I got my camera...yes the very same one I have lusted over for about two years now...So we awake on boxing day morning and after a little breakfast and yet more playing we get our wellies on, heavy coats, hats and gloves we venture out on a grey wet day...
After all a walk is part of our family tradition and despite my Mom being in her seventies she joined us, I think because my dad used to love walking around the area I live in. This makes it extra special...
It is now understood by my Mom why our front porch is always full of coats, wellies and lots of mud!!!
The air was clean, the ground was well...wet!!! I love this little walk is is just a short lap around the house, a full circle you go out the road one way and return the opposite direction and the views are amazing at all times of year, of course for me the best time is summer, but you knew that already right?
It is stunning too at this time of year, lots of bare trees and reflective water although it does all look a little sinister, my home area holds so much history I was reading a book about the area and it goes back to the Stone Age...hunter gathering...then through the ages...Romans, Celts and Anglo-Saxons. So as I walk through the surrounding area there is a real sense of belonging to the land and being part of its history...

I am now clearing up the Christmas mess, changing the bed covers over and generally clearing up the house to welcome the next phase of the season, Bringing in the New Year...I wish you all a very Good New Year, may It bring peace and good health.

Happy New Year