For a couple of weekends now, we've been going to local Christmas Fairs ......... it marks the beginning of the Christmas season for us.
Apparently there's been a shortage of berries this year. I don't know why that is the case. So with that in mind, it was a joy to see a huge pile of Holly laden with berries for sale.
For us, the Christmas season would not be complete without rich and warming foods.
These long, dark, and cold nights make the sight of glowing windows and twinkly lights very comforting. And the more old-fashioned it all looks, the more comforted I feel.
This time of year 'the French market' comes to a village near us, called Coldstream. The vendors set up their stalls in the church hall, and we go and marvel at the extortionate prices and abundance of foods we can't buy around here.
The prunes are the main attraction for us. To be honest, it's the reason we go to the French Market!
Something as simple as garlic, beautifully tied with wire, takes on an exotic air, (so much more interesting and pretty, than a plastic crate full of net bags of garlic, from the supermarket). They were laid out on a table, each bunch a precious item.
Our town's Christmas fair turned out to be a huge success. It had the stalls with things for sale, but for me, the high-light of the whole event was ...........
.........the two gentlemen with a stall selling soup and bread, to raise money for a good cause.
This to me, is the Christmas spirit summed up. They were so jolly and kind hearted, and they were serving something simple and delicious, to warm us all. People were flocking round them.
There is nothing like a freezing cold day, to make you feel that a cup of hot soup is the best thing you have ever tasted.
So...........Christmas day is fast approaching, guests are beginning to arrive....... it's a flurry of food, drink and merriment, but I must remember one thing in all the excitement............ I must take a moment to give my husband a kiss under the Mistletoe!
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For a couple of weekends now, we've been going to local Christmas Fairs ......... it marks the beginning of the Christmas season for us.
Apparently there's been a shortage of berries this year. I don't know why that is the case. So with that in mind, it was a joy to see a huge pile of Holly laden with berries for sale.
For us, the Christmas season would not be complete without rich and warming foods.
These long, dark, and cold nights make the sight of glowing windows and twinkly lights very comforting. And the more old-fashioned it all looks, the more comforted I feel.
This time of year 'the French market' comes to a village near us, called Coldstream. The vendors set up their stalls in the church hall, and we go and marvel at the extortionate prices and abundance of foods we can't buy around here.
The prunes are the main attraction for us. To be honest, it's the reason we go to the French Market!
Something as simple as garlic, beautifully tied with wire, takes on an exotic air, (so much more interesting and pretty, than a plastic crate full of net bags of garlic, from the supermarket). They were laid out on a table, each bunch a precious item.
Our town's Christmas fair turned out to be a huge success. It had the stalls with things for sale, but for me, the high-light of the whole event was ...........
.........the two gentlemen with a stall selling soup and bread, to raise money for a good cause.
This to me, is the Christmas spirit summed up. They were so jolly and kind hearted, and they were serving something simple and delicious, to warm us all. People were flocking round them.
There is nothing like a freezing cold day, to make you feel that a cup of hot soup is the best thing you have ever tasted.
So...........Christmas day is fast approaching, guests are beginning to arrive....... it's a flurry of food, drink and merriment, but I must remember one thing in all the excitement............ I must take a moment to give my husband a kiss under the Mistletoe!
I love comforting winter and Christmas food, too - perhaps a bit too much! And that shop window looks very inviting. Sounds like you're well on the way to being ready to enjoy a wonderful Christmas. Seasons greetings to you and yours.
Posted by: Liz | December 21, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Happy Christmas! :-)
A friend has some woodland with lots of holly but I really had to hunt for some sprigs with berries this year.
Posted by: Bee | December 21, 2007 at 12:31 PM
JUST LOVELY ...SOME "REAL"
MOMENT'S OF CHRISTMAS...
Mmmmmmmmmmmm la la la la
la la LA.......HAPPY CHRISTMAS
TO EVERYONE {:>)
Posted by: RI | December 21, 2007 at 12:39 PM
I love the photo of the lovely soup gents...you're right, that's the spirit of the season realized in a wonderful way. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Paula | December 21, 2007 at 01:26 PM
what a lovely christmas fair, and the soup men have the real spirit of christmas.
Posted by: driftwood | December 21, 2007 at 06:26 PM
Hi Vanessa, Wishing you a Christmas that is as happy and merry as possible! Looking forward to reading your blog in 2008. It is always a pleasure to find your wonderful posts full of invention, colour and fun.
Posted by: Alice C | December 23, 2007 at 07:01 PM
I must send you a picture of the wreath on the cottage door at Christmas. I hung mistletoe from it and adorned it with a little draping of red beads, it looked fab!
We had a continental market in Newcastle in December - probably the same people! I enjoyed drinking the hot spicy wine and eating huge frankfurters with lots of mustard.
One of the most beautiful sights was piles and piles of tangerines still with stalks and leaves attached. they were ridiculously expensive though! I bought some venison salami, some duck pate in a tine and also treated myself to a small box of marron glace.
ah Christmas...is it soon?!
Love it!
S x
Posted by: Sarah | February 02, 2008 at 05:41 PM
PS if you like prunes, you really ought to have a holiday on Skopelos (Greek Island) as theirs are the best ever. official.
Posted by: Sarah | February 02, 2008 at 05:42 PM