Christmas Make And Bake

 

 

Do you think the Gingerbread Man at the top looks like he's been at the Christmas sherry? And I hope you all appreciate the very festive Christmas Dinosaurs :o)

Blogging chum CJ wrote an interesting piece this week on her uneasiness with the increasingly consumerist side of Christmas. Something I agree wholeheartedly with. It makes me uneasy too and as each year goes by I grow more uncomfortable with it. So, in an attempt to diffuse this feeling and make the experience more wholesome and to contribute less to landfill, I make as many of the gifts we give as possible. 

This year I've made sloe gin, damson vodka, beeswax lip balms, pjs and pj bags, bunting, tote bags, purses and wash and makeup bags. I found an excellent tutorial on how to make tissue holders on Daisy Jones' blog which you'll find if you click her name. They take minutes to make and I think they make a lovely gift. M has done his bit too, creating homebrew and chilli oil. This afternoon I whizzed up a batch of gingerbread, some of which are going to hang on the tree as decorations (well above small-dog-who-does-a-mean-meerkat-impression-and-is-rather-partial-to-gingerbread height) but most of which will doubtless be snaffled by L (and me). Tomorrow, I have chocolate truffles to make, which look very pretty in a cellophane bag wrapped up with ribbon (hoping to find some plant-based bags for next year).

We do buy presents, but I try to stick to Leanne's excellent mantra: something you want, something you need, something to eat and something to read. I think that sums it all up nicely.

In other news, F has announced to us (and the world, via the ever-subtle Facebook) that he has a girlfriend. He is very proud of her. Mine and M's response: Oh, that's lovely. L's response? Imaginary people don't count. Aren't brothers lovely?

Meanwhile Poppy is really pissed off quite cross because some bugger one of her parents has put wire across the top of the plant pot she uses to stand on and stare over the fence. She's been forced to stand on her back legs on the patio instead, which is No Good At All because she can't see over. I have promised her a tree stump but she's not much mollified. She hasn't escaped over the fence again, but that's only because I'm watching her like a hawk :o)

L has broken up for the holidays at long last (yay all round- no more school runs for a fortnight). He came home at lunchtime yesterday, dumped his bag on the floor and said in a voice of furious dejection Guess what I've got to do over the holiday? 

Homework? I suggested, helpfully.  

Nope, he said. I've got to re-do an exam. An exam I got a B in, and lots of other people got Bs too but they don't have to re-do it.

Why? I asked, mother-radar immediately alerted. What else did you do, other than get a B?

I drew a picture of a lizard destroying school on the back of the paper. The teacher told me if I had enough time to doodle I obviously could try harder in the exam so I'd need to do it again over the holidays!

When I'd managed to stop laughing I told him I didn't know whether to scold him or applaud the sheer brilliant teenagerness of it.

Right-o, off to make up some more presents, fabric glue in hand :o)

Hope all are well,

CT :o)