More Ingredients and a few Decorations

I nipped into town today to go to B & M, the Works, Sostrene Grene and Waitrose.

I came away with some baubles from B & M.  Three packs of Green Stars and three packs of golden pine cones. Now I did not really need these.  I had been eyeing them up and they dropped the price slightly and that is why I ended up buying them.  These will come in handy for next year as I have a framework that goes over a large table that you can decorate seasonally with different things.  As this has only been a recent buy, I needed to find some suitable decorations and these are a starter for that.  Keeping to the green and gold colourway that I have for the dining room as the idea is to have this over the dining table or a side table.

Then I went to The Works and managed to get a Page a Day Diary for 2026 which is what I went there for.  Very handy for planning and plotting various events but also things that I do seasonally in my household.  Also crafting, preserving items, curating and collecting.  Am therefore pleased to have been able to find this.  I prefer a paper diary.  However I do plan on going back to get some more crafting items, possibly on Tuesday.  I have been very impressed with the crafting items from the Works for this Christmas and the prices have been very good.

Sostrene Grene, I came away with an assortment of decorations. I have some tree projects which I hope to make in the coming year for Christmas 2026 and these are part and parcel of the materials needed for this project. There are quite a few more to collate yet.  Today's finds consist of mainly small cones, seed heads etc. There are also some card Angel Wings which I thought I might add to a homemade decoration or two.  I do intend to nip back in for a few more items/materials on Tuesday bearing in mind that I am going to be working on Christmas items for the whole of 2026  I quite want to have some items to go at. I have a list of new projects to make, UFOs and home created ones as well to work through.  I also have air dry clay to work with and create some decorations and other items.

Latterly I went to Waitrose and managed to get the ready made puff pastry I was after.  I have purchased 8 rolled sheets of this as I intend to make sausage rolls, but also some other easy "cakes"/savouries for over Christmas to be cooked fresh as we need them.  I may go and get a few more packets if I can next week in any event.  I will make the shortcrust pastry myself.  I have made puff pastry before.  However for next year I want to be able to perfect the recipe and technique and possibly make my own stash of puff pastry through the year.  That is one aim on the list in any event and to go into the diary.

I also managed to source the pre-prepared Chestnuts that I was after in order to make a Chocolate and Chestnut pudding/Terrine which is a Ruth Mott recipe.  This is a firm favourite here for Christmas as it can be sliced from the freezer and then the rest of the pudding packed back into the freezer for another day.  I only bought fresh Chestnuts yesterday but they apparently are not a success in this particular pudding.  More on that later on though.  I also bought in a couple of jars of ready made Cranberry sauce and some spices I was after, including Juniper Berries, Powdered Cloves, Pickling spice and Allspice as well as Marzipan.  I am going to be busy in the kitchen over Christmas as well as moving forward.

I have two trays of Clementines and two nets of large oranges and two Melons.  Still need to get apples, grapes, Kiwi fruit, and Bananas.  There are Strawberries, Gooseberries, Raspberries, mixed fruits, Cranberries in the Freezer although I think I will be making jam with the majority of these.

I bought G a PerfectDraft Dispenser/Pump last year as his Christmas present as he is fond of a drop of Cider. It is a considered outlay but does keep the Beer or Cider extremely well.  Have re-ordered a new 6 litre keg of Thatchers Gold in readiness for Christmas today.  Should be delivered sometime on Monday all being well.

Overall it has been a very long day.  I was walking into town at 8:50am from where I live.  Then I walked all around town.  On the way back stopped at Waitrose and then as I had too much to carry I texted G to come and collect me.  However I cannot carry anything home these days.  At least all the walking will have done me some good.

G is fishing tomorrow.  Missy is not terribly good at the moment and he was in two minds as to whether he should go or not.  The weather is going to be reasonable and so I have told him to clear off and go and get some peace and quiet and I will stay with her Ladyship and tend to her needs whilst he is away.  At least I can potter about if Missy sleeps and just keep checking on her every so often.  I have a lot to do whether it will all be achieved is another matter. At the end of the day it will only be us to cater for.

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Photos to follow later on.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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