Tuesday 27 December 2016

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 27 Dec 2016 - T for Xmas

Hello T-Gang! 

Looks like we have all survived what for most people are happy days, but for some people a very difficult time of the year.... I sincerely hope you have all had a lovely Christmas period. I certainly have. I spent it together with my husband. Our children all live far away and we did have invitations from friends of course, but we wanted to be just the two of us. No chaos, no stress, no hassle, no travelling, no presents, no parties... just us. Am I being selfish?

After a leisurely breakfast we spent the morning making preparations for our Christmas dinner. We roasted the chestnuts to go with the sprouts (Brussels sprouts are a British Christmas tradition and I like mine with chestnuts)
We roasted them in the little top oven of the stove in the lounge.
I had cooked pork in the slowcooker overnight and we had pulled pork:
The weather has been lovely all week. Ideal to eat outside. So we had our Christmas dinner out on the terrace:
The other foods on the table are roast potatoes and parsnips. And balls of stuffing. Graham makes his own with local sage, fresh breadcrumbs and some chestnuts added for good measure.

I also have a tree (see my previous blog) and I wanted to show you the lace bell that I made. I haven't done much lacemaking this past year. (Must do better...)
 Sorry for the bad photo. Somehow it focused on the background...

As it's Tuesday, I will link up with Elizabeth and Bleubeard at Altered Book Lover with something drink related. The above picture with the wine should qualify but I also have a postcard to share with you:
It comes from Japan and the girl is called a Maiko girl. That is an apprentice geisha in Kyoto. Their jobs consist of performing songs, dances, and playing traditional Japanese instruments for visitors during feasts.

A girl called Nabuko sent it to me and she writes that 2017 is the year of the rooster in the Chinese zodiac. She also writes that in Kyoto the leaves are turning colourful and that it is raining there (4th Dec).

The stamps are very nice too:

I end by contemplating how many rock stars and famous people have died this year 2016.... I heard that George Michael died yesterday, aged 53. On Christmas day it was Rick Parfitt of Status Quo (still very popular in the UK). What is it about these people? It seems the rock star life style really isn't good for your health. My mother has always been right, lol!

That's it for today. Happy T-Day, and a good week too.
We'll meet again in the new year, so Happy New year!
Hugs
Lisca

16 comments:

  1. It looks like you had a wonderful, leisurely Christmas holiday. How nice to soak up the sun during winter! We've had unseasonably cold weather here in southern California. Have a blessed week. Pat xx

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  2. Glad to hear you had a lovely Christmas together. I don't like holidays, it's no fun being alone so I just pretend they're not happening! How lovely that you could eat on the terrace, my mouth was watering when I hears parsnips and chestnuts....The postcard is beautiful, as is your lace bell. Have a great last week of the year,
    a happy T day, and a happy and healthy new year. Hugs, Valerie

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  3. i think you made the best of the feast, everything really sounds good to me. and Looks so yummy! awesome lace bell (i always have Problems with autofocus, too - but you really can see all the Beauty here!).
    foreign postal stamps are often so beautiful, and the Card itself is, too.
    happy t-day, lisca - have a good turn of the year!

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  4. Your meal sounds and looks very special, lovely to be able to sit in the sun to enjoy it. Your lace work bell is beautiful, it must have taken you hours to make.
    Loved the postcard, when I saw the name of the sender it made me think of a friends daughter in law who is also called Nabuko.
    Happy T day and I hope that the coming year will be a good one for you.
    Yvonne xx

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  5. Wow, it looks like you had a wonderful Christmas, how lovely to sit on the terrace in the sunshine! Those chestnuts look delicious and also sound wonderful as an addition to the stuffing, thanks for the inspiration :-). We had a quiet time too, we visited family and friends just prior to Christmas so it was just me and my hubby on Christmas Day - we enjoyed our turkey dinner and then went for a walk on the beach and watched the sunset - perfect! I think time alone is good as it ensures we have a fun and stress free time :-). I love your postcard and stamps (secretly I always look forward to seeing your postcards, it must be so exciting to see what you have received when the post arrives). I recently watched a programme about Japan hosted by Joanna Lumley, it was an amazing series and such a beautiful place :-). Anyway enough of my ramblings ... lol, this is such a great post! Happy T Day and may 2017 bring you joy, peace, love, and light! Wishing you the very best today and all year long. J :-) x

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  6. I don't think you are selfish at all. Looks like you and your husband had a wonderful Christmas. How I envy you sitting having Christmas dinner outside on the terrace. Thank you for reminding me I forgot to roast the chestnuts! I don't use them for stuffing, but enjoy them as a snack. The lace bell is so pretty and delicate. The postcard is and stamps are colorful on this grey morning. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. What a lovely happy photo of you and your husband enjoying that beautiful holiday meal in the warm Andalusian sunshine. Ahhh ...

    Your lace star is gorgeous! Even a small piece like that must take a long time to make.

    Hapy T Day and Happy New Year, Lisca! Hugs, Eileen

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  8. What a beautiful post. Personally, I don't think you were selfish at all. Christmas should be about family, and that's how you celebrated it.

    A few years ago, Julia first talked about the Brussels sprouts, but gave no explanation of them. So of course I did an internet search to learn why someone would eat them on Christmas. Even though I came from a very British family (grandmother), I don't remember that custom. Since I love them, I might add them to my Christmas dinner next year. As for chestnuts, they are difficult to get here. The only place I've found them was at the Asian market in packages already prepared for eating.

    Your lace bell is lovely. It's definitely a talent I could never pursue. You have created a pure beauty.

    Your lovely postcard is perfect for T, too. It's also a real beauty, and I'm thrilled you shared it with us. I had no idea what a Maiko girl was, or even that geisha's had to apprentice before becoming one. I love T day, because I always learn something new each week.

    Feel free to use the concept of sharing a previous T post from each month for New Years. I'd be honored if you do.

    In response to your question about the February babies swimming in tea, they are traditionally baked into King Cakes for Mardi Gras. The person who gets the baby either hosts the next party, or pays for that one. It’s some kind of tradition, especially in New Orleans (in the US, where they celebrate Nardi Gras which is also called Carnival, each year). I didn’t make a King Cake, so, in traditional T fashion, I floated mine in tea I didn’t drink. BTW, the tea was cold, too, so no plastic babies were harmed in the making of the tea post.

    How lucky you were to eat on your terrace on Christmas day. You have what I suspect is perfect weather where you live.

    Thanks for sharing your Christmas meal, you lace bell, and your tea inspired post card with us for T this Tuesday.

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  9. I think you had a perfect Christmas. Staying home and enjoying the best company is the only way to spend Christmas.I love the idea how you could eat your Christmas dinner outside. We weren't cold, but warm for us is a little above 0 degrees C. :) Happy New years and happy T day too. Hugs-Erika

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  10. Your Christmas celebration looks lovely.
    It sounds to me like you and your husband are paying good attention to self care. We opted for a quiet Christmas as well and enjoyed each moment. It comes and goes so quickly.
    Sweet Japanese postcard you shared with us. Makes me think of a favorite book MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.
    I have missed visiting you Lisca.
    Happy T Day oxo

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  11. It is not selfish to spend Christmas with the one you love at all, and by your smiles it was the perfect way to celebrate.
    You post card is really beautiful, Japanese customs have always fascinated me, always so interesting to learn about life in other countries.
    Happy T-day......our last for 2016.....my that went by fast!

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  12. Wow- a perfect christmas and I adore the wonderful lace bell and the postcard is so special!
    Happy New Year dear Lisca!
    oxo Susi

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  13. How wonderful to eat your Christmas Dinner on your terrace! We go to my son's house on Christmas Day these days, since his partner left him with the children! I think he likes some adult company although as the children are growing up so quickly it may not last long! I love your lace bell and you postcard! Hugs, Chrisx

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  14. Your Christmas feast looks delightful. I've never had roasted chestnuts but they sound yummy with brussel sprouts. I usually put almonds with mine.
    Happy T day...a day late!

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    HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIEND!ALL THE BEST IN
    2017.

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  16. Oh no - I hadn't even heard about Rick Parfitt yet, I used to be a huge Status Quo fan, back in the days... Yeah, 2016 seems to really have taken its toll on lives...
    I love the looks of your Christmas feast and decoration and, no, you are not selfish at all to spend the days just like you want them to.
    Happy New Year!

    p.s. Sorry for being so late to make my T-day round...

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