MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas has taken so long to arrive and yet, it went like it had never arrived!
However, the day was still filled with festivity from the moment the church clock struck midnight!

As soon as my family and friends came back from midnight mass, we cracked out the hot chocolate at 2am and hung the gingerbread decorations on the tree!

There was an awful lot of them!
I also forgot how large the tree was and how many presents there would be!

Going to bed (if only for 4 hours!) the house was still buzzing with excitement and when the sun rose, I was up and making porridge for everyone.

Might as well start the day off right!

The presents were as usual opened in a flash and with only a handful left, it was anyone's guess who they might be for!

With the chicken in the oven...

and the vegetables on the go...

the table was delicately set and very soon after, it was time to eat!

I was stuffed by the end of it!

And I even made a couple of new friends; Sock Bird 1 and Sock Bird 2!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and I hope New Year will be the same!

Grass Wood Nature Reserve

Christmas Eve and the weather couldn't be windier!
Fortunately where my friend and I were, it didn't rain at all for the duration we were out walking round Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Grass Woods Nature Reserve.

It's a lovely little wood. Only down the road from Grassington village, it was peaceful and felt fairly remote.

Whilst walking through this small piece of woodland, we came across a very tiny limestone pavement, not too similar to Malham Cove. Or so I have been told!

After a couple of enjoyable hours, we thought it best to have lunch. So off we went to Grassington to find a cafe or a tearoom. We found such a pleasant tearoom called The Retreat Cafe and Tea rooms. It was so pleasant, we found ourselves staying there longer than any of the other customers!

It was such a large burger I ordered and the cake was just as big and as delicious!
I would definitely go back there!

Decorating the house

Today, we finally decorated the house! Better late than never I suppose!
I started in the sitting room this year and worked my way to the tree.
I started with the paper chain, that was entertaining to put up!

Doesn't look too bad really!

Next up, was a makeshift pine cone garland for the mantelpiece. In the evening when it is dark, you can really see the tiny fairy lights light up and sparkle the pine cones and baubles!

Moving into the hall, I noticed my friend had already put out part of the knit-ivity she has been working on.

My favourite decorations are the bells...

and the robins...

and the mistletoe...

and this tree in general!

Finally I reached the tree!
The lights were a nightmare as you can well imagine! The size of that tree is unbelievable, it is so bushy!

Not long to go now!

Christmas at Beamish

Yesterday, a group of us went to a special event called Christmas at Beamish. It was truly magical!
All of the town was lit up with traditional Victorian styled lighting, and to see the trams lit up was fantastic! Beamish went all out and I was transported back in time to witness classic street carol singers and merchants with stalls in the park.

As we waited to enter the museum grounds, cups of tea were bought and drank gratefully.

We didn't have to wait long before we were allowed in. A stampede of people rushed in; I was only too happy to be on the shoulder of one of my friends!

The town was worthy to be on the front of a Christmas card; with the trams brightly lit and the Christmas tree standing tall, it was a wonderful sight.

The whole town was so beautifully picturesque.

After looking round the shops and the small market in the park for present idea's, traditional coal stoked fish and chips were beckoning!
We had to wait well over an hour for them but golly, they were worth it!

Once eaten and cleaned up, we allowed for the rather large portion to settle whilst listening to a small choir in the Pitt Village church.

Back in the town, I bought what I thought would make great Christmas presents and admired the scenery yet again.

It is just so stunning here at Christmas!

Before heading home, a much needed cup of tea was needed and I was more than welcome to drink it!