Christmas with the young families

It's our preChristmas Christmas! Everyone is here, the meals are planned to reflect long held family traditions, presents are wrapped and waiting. And so the festivities start now, this weekend. (Not to worry -- the real Eve and Day will have their own share of gala meals and memorable moments.)

A lovely morning. Sunny, cool but not impossibly cold. Good morning cheepers, Stop Sign, good morning beautiful sunshine!






My first task is to drive over to Batch Bakery to pick up breads for brunch and dinner. How pretty it all looks in the morning light!






On my drive home, I am very surprised to see so many fishermen on the lesser lake. I pause to look more closely. A park ranger passes by and I ask him -- how do they know it's safe enough to walk on?
He laughs: they can stand on it, so obviously it's good enough for fishing. Hmm.. that seems fraught with danger. Still, they seem happy and safe in their little cluster...








At home, I get to work. (My coffee and gingerbread square seem to be a running theme of the week. They find their way into this day as well.)






A shakshuka requires a lengthy stewing of the peppers, garlic, tomatoes, honey, lemon and spices. I'm on it!

And in the late morning, the young families trickle in. I'll leave it to the photos to tell the story. You'll see more of Primrose and her parents, because, well, because I haven't as many opportunities to get my fill of them.  Here we go then, our day of holiday festivities:


(Primrose, at nearly 9 months)






(My youngest girl -- my dedicated kitchen helper)






(Primrose shows off her mad scoot across the playroom floor)






(Playing. Together.)






(Brunch. Recipe from the Egg Shop cook book)






(Hey, there, big Sparrow!)






(Primrose gets a ride)






(And now it's time for Primrose to open her first Christmas present)






(Snowdrop helps)






(Somewhere along the line, Primrose gets some Polish stuff. And so does Snowdrop.)






("I'm the girl from Krakow, this is how I show it, From the clothes I'm wearing, all the world may know it!")






(First doll?)






(In all this commotion, Sparrow zonks out)






(But, but, it's time to open your present from the young family! Your first Christmas present!... Okay!)






(highlights: Snowdrop gets a craft set of beads and such from her aunt and uncle. She so wants to do the crafts now! Oh please!)






(Too, Snowdrop gets her first board game: it's called Orchard and it's everyone against the blackbird, so it's based on cooperation rather than competition. Still, it's not easy for her as us grownups cheer, then groan loudly as the blackbird beats us, twice in a row!)






(I roll up the yule log. No dairy allowed tonight. No problem, I stuff it with orange marmalade!)






(A quiet moment, as all the girls watch Christmas Eve on Sesame Street)






(Foie gras to start with...)






(Dinner!)






(Dinner!)






(Dinner!)







(The little kids had solid good naps, but for Snowdrop, the day has been long and full. She relishes a quiet pause -- a familiar routine: going out with Ed to put away the chickens.)






(Waiting for dessert... Ed gets to know Primrose...)






(Finishing touches)






(Final dinner crumbs...)






(So so happy to have had everyone here today... )






The farmhouse is quiet now. Oh, but the memories! The smiles! They fill every corner of this place.


Happy, happy holidays to you as well! With love.