Oh Christmas Tree!

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas with all it's glory - singing carols, shopping for gifts, wrapping them, decorating, snow - if we get some, the stillness - even the bleakness but most of all, the celebration of our Saviour's birth. It is a perfect reason to bring out all of my seasonal dishes, crockery, cutlery, cookie cutters and moulds for the feast of the year. *Ü*

I get very nostalgic and very sentimental about my cookery books, of which I have many - bookcases - from Mrs Beeton's, Delia, Mary Berry, Nigella and more. Since I was married - 43 years ago this month, I have watched cookery programmes on tv and started a collection of recipes, some that many years old which are from magazines and shared from friends. They are part of me - my life, my passion and who I am. Food is something I enjoy, cooking and designing and of course - eating! *Ü*  For me, it has to be the 'WOW' factor.  Maybe I should consider starting my own cookery programme on tv! *Ü*

This year, we have a new 6 foot Christmas tree. *Ü* Actually, I bought it just after Christmas last year as it was just £15 in the Argos sale and the box has been sitting for a whole year waiting to be opened! I LOVE it. It has lots of 'snow' on the branches and fits in with my snow theme which I have most years.

 ...and my mother and fawn - I bought in a charity shop years ago. My polar bears are beside them and snowman adorn the mantle.

For the top of my tree this year, I bought a big silver star from Ikea and partially frosted it with white glitter.

As a child, we used to have a fairy on the top of our tree. I recently reburbished her wings and it looks like she has a newish skirt that my mum probably revamped some years ago. As my mum is now 97 and in a nursing home, the fairy is being looked after by my eldest sister. I got to see the fairy earlier this year. Ahhh....memories. I LOVE nostalgia.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. *Ü*

Have a Wonderful Wednesday yourself.

'Ding Dong' Merrily On High!

Ohhh...I had the most wonderful surprise on Sunday afternoon. *Ü* There I was, catching up in the jungle...when there was a loud knock at my front door! I opened the door to see a HUGE silver box on the step with several homemade Christmas shortbread cookies on top! *Ü*

I ran to grab my camera as I wanted to capture my delight. After a hefty lift, I brought it indoors and didn't know whether to open it or wait until Christmas. It was evident after recognising the handwriting, that my 3 daughters had been behind the surprise box. My eldest granddaughter had made the shortbread cookies. WOW! So professional looking.

My husband and I opened the box after a call to my girls and ooo...ahhh....it was filled with the most delicious sight....Cadbury's hot chocolate powder, lots of tins of biscuits, a BIG box of Cadbury's chocolates, homemade Cranberry and White Chocolate Fudge, an Art Deco Christmas card holder (I LOVE Art Deco)....and....2 'DING DONGS'!! LOL.

Now I know that some of you read a previous post of mine - here (last paragraph) - and are waiting in anticipation to find out exactly what a DING DONG is! So...without further ado....the big reveal...
It's about 3 feet long!

 ...close up view...

My youngest daughter Keeley and family...including Miss Ashley - who could hardly keep it to herself and nearly let the 'cat out of the bag' whilst here at Halloween made them. *Ü* They are advent calendars. Each day, we get to undo the bottom ribbon and a sweetie/chocolate can be eaten and there is a little scripture reference too. Awww. Such a lovely idea. I cannot believe I haven't seen this on Pinterest!  Maybe she did! *Ü* There was me...worried about what size box I may have to find to store my Ding Dong after Christmas when in actual fact, I will have eaten it! LOL. So there you have it...Ding Dong Merrily On High 'cos I am now going to go hang them up ready for the start of Advent on Thursday. Bang goes my pre Christmas diet! *Ü*

By royal appointment!

The Queen of England - Queen Elizabeth II visited our little corner of the country recently, so I bundled up as it was due to be a murky, dull day and I ventured out into the cold! Camera battery charged, phone charged and a well rehearsed curtsy - just in case I came face to face with her majesty, you understand. *Ü* Afterall, she was to wander in the back streets of Margate and visit the little Cupcake Cafe - oh yeah!
En route, I passed a car which had the car radio blaring and I was a little suspicious that someone was planning to assasinate the Queen!! Well, you can't be too careful, can you? I later found out that it was a plain clothes policeman!! *Ü*

A whistle blew and several police mounted motorbikes drove towards the crowd where I was standing. The Queen and Prince Philip were on their way. I videod their arrival and then as the car was very close, I changed to still on my camera! Duh! The camera wasn't quick enough and this is what I managed to get!!

Both the Queen and Prince Philip did a walkabout to speak to the crowd but I was a distance away! She wore a pale pink coat and hat - not the colour I expected her to wear for a cold autumn day by the seaside! Still, she did look good for her age! *Ü*

It's surprising how people clean up a town when they know the queen is coming to visit!

I am sure it will be the last time I get to see her in my lifetime, so it was a special moment for me. I am proud to be British - even though there are many things that I don't like to admit to about my country.

Boxing day!!

Welcome to my new followers. *Ü* Thank you for joining us and I hope you both enjoy your visits.

Phew! What a busy month October was...well, it really all began last year when my 3 daughters decided - after seeing my Halloween party photos, that they wanted a Halloween party at 'home'. So, being the 'always-happy-to-please-my-family' mum that I am, it stemmed from there! It took the whole year - gathering ideas, organising creature visits, printing labels, shopping, baking and making and that is without time decorating the house which took DAYS! Anyways, it was worth every single minute and I am so happy that everyone went home spooked happy! *Ü*

I repeated the process all over again on Halloween - Monday 31st. I invited friends for lunch - including Amanda. She and Boris hit it off straight away! *Ü* Boris being my butler...he is totally invaluable. *Swoon*.

 Boris and Amanda. You may know Amanda from UKS - papermadmand.

 I made another batch of food that I had previously baked for the party. That means, in effect, I had baked 3 Graveyard cakes - a double and a single!! I am sick of Graveyard cake! I have eaten umpteen portions - warm - with ice cream - with cream and on it's own with a hot chocolate! It was sooo good but anymore and I will be needing my own gravestone!

I bought a total of 6 pumpkins! Two giant, two large and 2 medium...oh....and a little Munchkin mini one. I am sick of pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and the sight of orange!

I knew it would happen. I never should have checked out Pinterest - far too many fab ideas. Far too many recipes and decorations that I wanted to try - and did and I now have to find a home for everything!

Which brings me to the title of this post!! *Ü* The very next day - Tuesday for those of you who can't remember that far back now that Halloween seems an age away...I started the long and arduous task of taking everything down, removing batteries for storage, putting away and boxing up. My Halloween collection has grown somewhat! The storage boxes have gotten bigger and I am trying to label everything in the boxes as I put it away for next year! I don't want to even mention the word 'Halloween' after this post until late September next year!

Halloween yesterday, Christmas today! Well...almost. It means I have to start planning on getting out the decorations at least. I have a new tree this year and got it in the Argos sale last year. It is covered with 'snow' and will add a lovely atmosphere with the rest of my 'snow' themed decor.  I am slowly running out of space to store everything. Boxes in the cellar. Boxes in the top 2 rooms and boxes anywhere I can find a space.

My littlest granddaughter Miss Ashley informed me whilst here, that she has made me a.....'Ding Dong' for Christmas. I have no idea what it is as Keeley swiftly told her not to tell me! *Ü* I have just one little problem...what size box would I need to store it in after Christmas?!!

Anyone for Graveyard cake?!

***HAPPY GUY FAWKES NIGHT***

Have a brilliant and safe evening. *Ü*

***HAPPY HALLOWEEN***

...from The Queen of Halloween! *Ü*

My party pics. Part 3. Day 30

Today's post is all about the food that I made and baked for my party. This is the menu that we had. Everything except for the jelly 'worms' - although I did make 'worm' rolls! *Ü* I am trying out the jelly worms today to see how they turn out as it is a US recipe and I need to get the measurements right.  

Guacomouldy...

Brain Mousse with Bat toasts...I didn't mix the gelatine in the room temperature ingredients, hence the gelatine cooled too quickly and didn't leave the markings of the mould. It worked last year and I have made another for tomorrow, so fingers crossed that it turns out well! *Ü*
                                   

Meathead platter...

'Worm' rolls...

Spiderweb pizza...

Witch's Fingers...

Ghastly Ghoulash...

Potato slices... time got the better of me with these. I wanted to use a cookie cutter to cut the middle and have positive and negative shaped potato slices.

Skeleton Ribs...

... Luna Moth Larvae!...

Braised Bat Wings...they do look burnt but it's the marinade that makes them blackened. They were soo delicious and moist...

Not Your Mummy's Meatloaf...with Monster Mash and Swampweed...

Death By Chocolate Graveyard Cake...

Deep Dish Pumpkin Meringue Pie...if you don't like pumpkin pie...this was so good...more like a spiced egg custard tart.

Cupcakes with green 'Fluff' (marshmallow) in the middle. I iced the tops with green icing and added a topper on each...

There was also I Scream with 'Ogre Snot'! *Ü*

I was surprised how everyone was so willing to eat what they saw and read! LOL.

The following day, we played games as there wasn't enough time to do it all in one evening - Pin the Wart on the Witch. I had bought us all glow sticks and we had fun making a light show.

That's it folks. I hope you have enjoyed the build up to Halloween. I have really had fun in finding recipes, ideas and helping you to prepare for your Halloween celebrations. Thank you to all of my followers who have kept up with me and for those of you who have left me a comment. I really appreciate your time and support. I will be doing it all again tomorrow as I have friends coming for lunch. *Ü*

Toots for now and have fun.  Ohh....I almost forgot...please say hello to our newest Boo Crew recruit! She joined us yesterday...just in time to share her treats with the little ghouls who will come knocking tomorrow evening! *Ü*