Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner, as promised, though very very late.

The Christmas turkey, which we cooked in the Crockpot. It came out really nice. Stephen even commented on how it came out looking browned on the top, as though we had roasted it in the oven.

The turkey ready to eat.

Brandied sweet potato casserole. No pecans, and the marshmallows here are different. They melt into liquid quickly, and brown, but never puff up. I'll have to practice this recipe.

Our veggies - fresh asparagus and Brussels sprouts. Very nice, though I did a little too well at making sure they were fresh and crunchy. The asparagus was perfect, but the sprouts could have used a bit more steaming.

Lovely mashed potatoes. The debate in our house was whether we were having mashed or roasted potatoes. I wanted mash, Stephen roasted. He graciously let us have mash this year. I'll have to return the favour.

Stuffing balls. I don't think they are as good as the stuffing we would make in the States, but they are nice.

The wine Stephen chose for us. It was nice, for wine. I am not a big wine drinker. He enjoyed it, though.

Our dinner table. soon before we sat down. In addition to the pictures you've seen, there was cranberry sauce and a really lovely giblet gravy that might well have been the best giblet gravy I have ever made. And notice that there is no stuffing on the table. That is important, because when I realised it was missing, I went back to get it...

...and came back to find someone had snuck onto my chair! This is Jamina, and I was so excited that I screamed and threw the stuffing balls into the air. Scared Ashley badly because she had not seen Stephen sneaking Jamina into the room.

My completed giraffe family, cuddling together on the chair. Jamina, Jo-Jo, Girard, and Jonah, from left to right.

I have been thinking a lot about giraffes and writing and stories, and I am so tempted to start writing stories based on my giraffe family. I will tell you more about Jamina soon, as she has quite a distinct personality, as does Jonah, and there is a lot to tell. Until then, I am missing all of you and plugging along with this degree. I must confess that I am so tired. So very very tired.

Christmas Morning

8 AM Christmas morning found our door creaking open and Ashley crawling into bed with us for morning time cuddles. She had been waiting so patiently. She woke up at 3 AM, then again at 4, and finally at 7. She confessed to having snuck in to look at the tree and presents before coming in, but she swore she didn't touch anything. It amazes me that a 16 year old girl is still so excited about Santa and Christmas that she can't sleep. Possibly this stems from the fact that the last 2 years we have boycotted Santa and an elaborate Christmas.

Santa apparently did not appreciate the fact that we had not set up the tree or done anything nice with the living room, because when we walked into the living room, it was all done for us. All the presents were laid under the lighted Christmas ficus.

Ashley's Santa gifts were nicely laid also, and she must have been VERY good this year because there were two of them. Stephen and I must have been very bad, because we didn't get any from Santa at all. We have decided to write a letter of complaint.

Stephen must have been right when he said he had an in with Santa, and that he wanted Pringles and beer this year, because all that was left was crumbs. At least he put the bottle on a coaster.

This is a screen shot of the Santa-tracking site we used this year. It was how we knew when we had to get to bed, and we must confess that, while Ashley was in bed and asleep in plenty of time, Stephen and I waited until Santa was in North Africa before we slipped into bed. Maybe that's why we didn't get presents from him.

Ashley opening her presents. This one was a book from Santa. She ended up with quite a few books, some DVD's and a new screen for her iPod, plus a chamomile/lavender scented heatable fuzzy duck (amongst many other things.) She has expressed her happiness and is currently begging Stephen to install the new screen while her nose is stuck in one of those new books and the duck is stuck to her chest.

Stephen had the fewest presents (2) but they were dense. And it might have been a good thing, because he really is delightful when he opens presents. It takes at least 10 minutes, and involves examination and observation of detail, coming to a hypothesis and testing it before he actually opens the gift. He walked away with 5 new games and a new case for his Nintendo DS. He is now happily ignoring Ashley's pleas for her repaired iPod by burying his nose in the new games.

After having opened an incredibly beautiful and massively heavy granite mortar and pestle, Ashley couldn't bear the excitement about this gift for me any longer. Being birthed from the wrapping is a giraffe. I was informed that his name is Jonah and he is a hot water bottle cover. He is lovely and intends to torment Girard and Jo-Jo with the fact that he gets more of my cuddles than they do. He doesn't have much of a giraffe neck, though, so I suspect that the balance is maintained.

Jonah and I wishing you a happy Christmas!

Handsome Stephen looking forward to breakfast.

Ashley and her duck, whom she has named Droopey (for now at least.)

Breakfast was French toast made with seeded multi-grain bread and syrup. Dinner is on the stove and the turkey is roasting in the crock-pot. I'll post pictures and the further story later today. Right now the extended version of Lord of the Rings calls to me with its irresistible siren song.

And Since I Said It Once...

I have been so so busy....

I finished my papers, did a day of mock interviews, studied, memorized a paper including bibliography, took an exam, wrote up a research proposal, did a lot of research, brought home 18 books and 30 articles to read in the next 2 weeks, and today started my placement at a school.

It is a good school, and I keep mentioning to them that I want them to hire me. I wonder if it can be said too much. Methinks the mouth must work on staying shut.

The plan: be completely done with schoolwork by the 3rd of January. Have A BREAK from then until the 11th. Re-invigorate and re-vitalize and breathe a lot. Then jump into teaching 5, 6, and 7 year olds with a vengeance baby!

Hope I can stick to it.

Wish we had a fireplace so when my head repeatedly whispers 'The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful' it would actually be accurate.

There are packages under the Invisible Christmas Tree (TM) and a holly wreath on the front door. (It's there so people think we have Christmas Spirit. It's just a façade, really. Bah-humbug and all that. Walk into the house and the image dies as the front door closes, except for the Invisible Christmas Tree (TM). Maybe I should market it.)

It's not that we are not Christmas-y. Just way too busy. This time next year, I'll be just as busy in a completely different way! Woo-hoo! I'll be teaching busy rather than studying busy. I've convinced myself there is a difference.

And a random moment for the day -

New Stuff in Time For the New Year!

Hola everybody!

I have recently come across a wonderful song called River Flows In You by Yiruma, it's a lovely piano piece so if you're interested you can check it out at:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1p_ebSseEq8

So in other news, my amazing mother took me to get my hair cut last week!! It's not short like I originally wanted, Sort of last minute I decided I wanted medium length. So now It's lovely with gorgeous layers and goes down just below my shoulders. 

    

Umm, I get out of school for the winter holidays this friday, which is nice. I have two tests when I come back though. An exam in Biology and an End of Unit test is Chemistry, ooh fun! Hehe, Not. In all actuality I don't have much to report at the moment, so I guess that the end of my update! Bye everybody!!

Xoxo
Ash