No need to dream.......

There has been even more snow since I took these latest photographs. It is amazingly beautiful.



I was beginning to wonder if all the trees were going to survive the weight of snow. Especially the little Christmas tree outside.



But after the morning snow showers had ended, there then began a bit of a thaw. Oh, there is still plenty of the white stuff to last a good few days yet, unless temperatures rise phenomenally. But it seems that isn't going to happen - we are forecast more snow showers, slowly increasing temperatures and then, of course, fog.

My preparations are all pretty much done - mince pies and veggie sausage rolls made, and tomorrow's festive nut roast and bread sauce taken as far as can be. There is a side of salmon to be given a pesto crust and baked in the oven for tonight. And those things will feed us for the rest of the holiday with minimal further effort.

Especially as the weather has caused our expected visitors to cancel! Some, the younger ones, may yet call in, but my sister and our friend from down the road have taken the sensible decision to stay home and pull the duvets over their respective heads. So the DSM and I will be (happily, I assure you) alone with the smoked salmon and scrambled egg and Bucks fizz for breakfast, and the aforementioned cashew nut roast for dinner. With ample supplies of advocaat, wine, port and all manner of suitable beverages, although (really, really, really) we are very moderate in our enjoyment of such things.....really.

The DSM and I will almost certainly make it over to York to see the mater on Boxing Day, unless the weather throws something very unexpected at us, but we have cancelled the now-traditional picnic lunch in her room, just in case. But from now until then, he is home, the hatches are battened down, the tree lights on and the young cats are going demented, having discovered a mighty enthusiasm for the glittery foil rosettes and ribbons trimming our Few, at our advanced age!) parcels. Which should be under the tree, but are actually under one of the shawls that I keep in the sitting room, as an anti-Snowshoe device.

There! What did I say? Two young things just thundered into the room, and pounced, but were foiled (oops - didn't mean that pun!!)

So, my dears, compliments of the season to you.