As all of you probably know, I love christmas. And this year, with my family, in-laws, extended family and friends, I was lucky enough to celebrate four days of christmas. So that meant lots of food and alcohol, a bunch of presents and more food. And alcohol. :D
To get in the Christmas spirit, we visited the Dickens Festival in Deventer first. Deventer is one of the oldest towns in NL and therefore the perfect place to transform in a quaint 1800 English village. (but why still remains a question to me)
People are dressed as Dickens characters (top hats! monocles!) , there are carolers singing everywhere, roasted chestnuts, and of course, christmas spirit IN YO FACE.
The Dickens festival is a yearly event, and although Deventer is a lovely town, and I really enjoyed watching all those dressed up people, I would not recommend going to this festival. It is unbelievably crowded, and Deventer is just not build to facilitate 75.000 people. It's like you're standing in line for three hours straight, only to end up at the exit. All those people really spoil the experience. Maybe we should have more Dickens Festivals in NL. Hmmm.
But it did get me into a festive mood, so it was time to decorate the house with trees and garlands and mistletoe and bake like there was no tomorrow. With my ultimate christmas playlist playing (an impressive 230 songs) on the background, of course.
How do you like my barn made out of christmas cards? :D
I made a gingerbread house from scratch
A chocolate cake for the little pre-christmas gathering I threw
I made two of them, actually
Like last year, I also made chocolates (christmas pudding with rum chocolates and chocolate cake with whisky chocolates) and truffles (chocolate ganache with armagnac)
Made little presents out of them
Drank a bunch of these cranberry vodka cocktails (with gingerbread cookies in it!)
These mugs were of course filled with chocolate milk and baileys.
Whilst baking and decorating, watched most of these christmas movies.
And then it was time to put on my favourite earrings and go back home to EAT ALL THE FOOD.
Toffee nut latte and Charles Dickens in the train
Christmas eve there was pumpkin soup, mash, stewed pears (my favourite) and roulade, dessert #1 was a hot apple crumble and dessert #2 was a huge tulband :D
Christmas Day, beautifully decorated christmas tree
There was so much food. There was venison pâté on toast, there were lamb burgers with fries, pasta with a mushroom & garlic sauce, a huge turkey (which I got to carve ;D) and panettone for dessert. Dear oh dear.
Day three was a christmas lunch. Eating so much the previous days, I was too stuffed to take any pictures (unfortunately!). But let's just say we ate plenty as well. There was mushroom soup, huge broccoli and goat cheese quiches, and I brought along my chocolate cake. And also a salmon salad. And there was also a delicious watercress and potato salad. Ice cream cake. I mean.. STUFFED.
My 'new' cousin drew this in our christmas card :)
Oh, and I apparently was a good girl this year, because I managed to receive a bunch of presents. I was very spoiled this year. I won't brag about all my prezzies, but here are some of my favourites
I received a bunch of photography goodies, like a make-your-own-camera from Sass & Belle. Annnnd this beautiful extra wide 38mm lens for my lomo cam!
A couple of architecture books - this one is 'Talking Architecture'
Beautiful stationery from the Swedish Ordning & Reda
Sooooo it's fair to say I had an amazing christmas. I was with family, I saw most of my friends (will have a very late christmas dinner in January as well), and I just had a good time. Ahhh. I miss christmas already. How was your christmas? x