24th December: The Final Preparations

Picture 1: Orlando has loved all 11 of his Christmases so far!

Picture 2: And another crazy Orlando tail! 

Picture 3: You always expect something to go wrong on Christmas Eve - this year it was a leaky radiator! The engineer is coming tomorrow morning!

Picture 4: The Christmas cake!

Picture 5: It's that weasel-y day!

Picture 6: There was a lake across the road this morning.

Picture 7: Dad loves watching the NORAD Santa Tracker!

Picture 8: We went out to deliver Christmas cards to neighbours this afternoon.

Picture 9: These little dishes were a gift from Lydia. They always make an appearance at this time of year.

Picture 10: the first view of the morning on Christmas Eve!

Picture 11: the sunlight through the window... very different from yesterday but just as lovely!

Picture 12: sun rays over Stempster as we came back from delivering cards

Picture 13: the little tree in the Sitting Room looks even better on Christmas Eve!

Picture 14: This is the dog's Christmas Breakfast - I had great fun making it for them. 

Picture 15: Clem and I working on the human rice salad.

Picture 16: A Christmas plate from 1976 - the year our family was formed 🥰

Picture 17: The crib always looks at its best on Christmas Eve, and taking a moment to admire its magic is a must!

Picture 18: Admiring the reflections and the brilliant moon illuminating the bare trees outside.

Picture 19: The three of us on our Christmas card delivering, with the flooded river behind us.

Picture 20: The sun setting on Christmas Eve. There is something wonderful about knowing it will next be rising full of hope and promise on Christmas Day.

Picture 21: And speaking of hope and promise, there were signs all over Stempster today!

Picture 22: A glass of lights and liqueur.

Picture 23: The Pork Pie looks amazing! I wish we could share the smell though because that is out of this world! 

Picture 24: Look who I found! Pig In Blanket is visiting the nativity scene, too.

And that is us at 300 Pictures - right in time for Christmas!
Merry Christmas from all three of us.

23rd December: Christmas Eve Eve and the Great Snow

Picture 1: Snowflakes on Jess's back!

Picture 2: In the last couple of months, Orlando has started licking Jess's back to try to get her to play. She tolerates this usually.

Picture 3: The sad story of an Orlando sliding off a step!

Picture 4: Orlando was having a conversation with a neighbouring dog!

Picture 5: You may pet me!

Picture 6: the day started with opening cards, and this perfect one from the wonderful lady who lived at Stempster before us! 

Picture 7: the after effects of Storm Pia, but with a sprinkling of snow!

Picture 8: the start of a winter wonderland!

Picture 9: If you look closely, you can see a spaniel on this one!

Picture 10: Orlando has read the sign on the door and now needs to be admitted!

Picture 11: Oh dear.

Picture 12: Looking down over the cottage garden...

Picture 13: And out towards the wind farm...

Picture 14: Then across the lawn..

Picture 15: And the kitchen garden!

Picture 16: We never usually win anything, so Rusty has been a very important part of our Christmas since we won him at Homebase in 2013!

Picture 17: Orlando refusing to shake the snow off!

Picture 18: "I may be tiny but I have a big voice!"

Picture 19: the spruce tree being weighed down by all the snow!

Picture 20: Stempster House looking picturesque in the snow!

Picture 21: The Christmas cactus in all its glory behind all the glory of the nativity... The snow outside just makes it even better!

Picture 22: The robin was not quite sure about the bird feeder! He did have a go, though!

Picture 23: It is, of course, necessary to make the most of snow when it arrives... That means snowballs!

22nd December: the holidays begin!

 

Picture 1: Driving home for Christmas!

Picture 2: and then getting stuck just past the bridge into Stempster...

Picture 3: ... because a wire had come down across the road. It's a dead end road so there was nothing to do but wait and have a cuppa in the car.

Picture 4: but I saw a cormorant gliding down onto the river...

Picture 5: ...and bobbing along the meandering river.

Picture 6: but eventually I managed to get up the hill and home!

Picture 7: home for the holidays!!

Picture 8: "can you keep an eye on Orlando so he doesn't eat the presents?"

Picture 9: which wasn't really very taxing as the Christmassy feeling was almost delicious!

Picture 10: Clemency's feet were so wet after walking her children down to the retail park that we had to get her some new shoes! 

Picture 11: We were top to toe in tailbacks trying to get through Thurso this afternoon!

Picture 12: I'm sure that slate shouldn't be there! So far the only damage we've had in this weather.

Picture 13: Ginny with the table football. The first match hasn't taken place yet though! 

Picture 14: Our attempt at an outdoor tree hasn't been a great success so far!

Picture 15: Last day before the Christmas holidays calls for some fish and chips!

Picture 16: Which means that the dogs sit by the gate and wait to have some bits of fish.

Picture 17: Now they're happy!

Picture 18: Washing up is thirsty work!

Picture 19: It's a Wonderful Life - it wouldn't be Christmas until we've watched this one!

Picture 20: Who knows what Orlando is doing here?!

Picture 21: The piggy is looking particularly chilled today!

Picture 22: We weren't the only ones looking for bird food in the shop today!

I love that B&M allow these little fellows in!