Christmas stockings...

oooooooh thats lovely, i really like mulled wine.

Me too Sticki. Just put some logs on and have a mulled as we type ;o))

how do you make it?
had a few attempts over the years, some more successful than others.

That's looking cosy ...
Is Santa bringing you something nice ? ;o)

• 2 clementines
• peel of 1 lemon
• peel of 1 lime
• 250g caster sugar
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 1 whole vanilla pod, halved
• 2 star anise
• 2 bottles of Chianti, or other Italian red wine

Gorgeous :o)

Hope so Terra. Will leave a little drink n treat :o)

Santa will be pleased ;o)

oooh lovely, put this on my favourites ~ thank you.

Ooh, that looks so cosy:-))

Lovely! Here in NZ Xmas hits us in summer, so sadly no open fire & no toasting chestnuts or marshmallows. Lots of people now have a mid-winter celebration of Xmas in June, just to get a bit more traditional atmosphere. I used to always have mulled wine at Xmas in England .... I really miss the carol singers coming to the door, & the snow, although we didn't always get snow at Xmas where I lived in Bucks. No chance of snow over Xmas now. Could I substitute tangerines for clemintines?? I think they are similar.

There is nothing like a real fire is there, We have central heating but we have kept the fire in the lounge open, so we have to get wood and coal in ready for the big freeze:))

where abouts in buckinghamshire dwyllis?

Lovely! :)

It really is Sheilar love winter for that reason:o)
Seems rather sad Dwyllis, lots of roasted chestnuts here, but am sure the beautiful weather year round makes a difference.
We have the coal and logs Cmsue, both are rather expensive, so we collect firewood from the local park (with permission) which helps us and the keeper, as he doesn't have to collect as much :o)
Thanks Pixi

That looks so cosy - lovely set up

It looks wonderfully warm and cosy N3 .. I shall put it on favs as well for the recipe :o)

Lovely and toastie! I bought some chestnuts t'other day but waited too long to eat them......also need to buy a chestnut roaster!
We have a bowl of walnuts and brazils next to our fire and each night, when we light the fire the dogs queue up for a nut or two, which they crack themselves!

Cheers Paul. Very warm and very cozy Amy. Get that mulled wine made ;o)
Ooooo a Chestnut Roaster where would I get one of those Lulu. The dogs crack brazil nuts? eek !!!! :o)

Tis just lovely, especially at Christmas Homebird. Hope you like the mulled wine :o))

A few good 2nd hand shops sell them, they work better than wrapping them in tinfoil and also look pretty! Yep, pups crack the nuts, eat the nut and shell!! (except for one or two really sharp bits which they leave on the carpet for us to step on!)

Thanks Lulu. Will take a look this week. Don't you just love stepping on what they leave :o)

as long as it's not smelly N3tyy! Quite often it's a squeaky toy!

:o))) Ahhh yes smelly not good Lulu. Well I have had coal and sticks, always when I have nothing on my feet and it makes me shout things like 'goodness that hurt a tad' or something like :o))))

Very festive! You can't beat a real fire in winter.

I don't have one and trust me, garlands on the radiators just don't look right!

Lulu are you hanging up your hold-ups? lol

That's an idea!

heh holds more! ;)

It is lovely Frybo. Well maybe not a garland but a stocking would look okay!! ;o) Or maybe holdups like Pixi has suggested (she obviously does) :o) and Lulu thinks thats a great idea. Whatever, have a lovely Christmas

Lol well its my birthday too!

Ah well there you go Pixi, lol. Twice as much room required :o))) A Christmas day birthday ?????

Yes lol..but these days ..well most people forget I try to lol ;)

Brill !!! Well we wont let you :o)))))

Haha! :)

Bit late seeing this,N3..looks so festive,warm and cosy ...Haven't even got our stuff from the loft yet ! Lovely to see that open fire..I used to love toast done on ours,with those old toasting forks..doesn't taste the same in a Toaster..

Me enither Bloomer..maybe this weekend :)
I miss my coal fire too...tho not cleaning it out and having to go out for coal in bad weather etc!

I never had to clean ours out,Pixi..still at home then..poor dad had that pleasure,before going to work ! ..and we were so grateful getting up in the cold weather,with ice on the inside of the windows brrrr!..but mostly,it was stoked up to stay in overnight,when it was really bad..

Got all the decs up, going to buy a real tree tomorrow, so excited. The fire is lovely Bloomer. We do toast on it, but don't have one of those forks like my nana used to have, need to get looking. Also roast chestnuts and marshmallows. Must admit the cleaning out is a bit, and going out for coal in weather like we have today is yuk! as Pixi says, but I try to think it is worth it, which it always is :o)))

Glad i dont have one today we have galeforce winds reaching 100mph today! No work for me tonight! its awful!

A lot have gone back to woodburning fires now as well.My friend has just got one,and it's lovely..but the wood is quite expensive..don't know whether if it balances out against other fuels..They have had to build two wood stores for their supplies..so it should keep them going for a while..

I have been watching the weather warnings today,Pixi..it sounds horrendous in Scotland..stay safe and warm..It is just getting wild here,and wet..and supposed to be going out for a Christmas lunch where I used to work...just depends what it's like around noon..as I will have to go on the bus,,OH had to go out,so can't run me into town...where are they,when you need them ? Lol.

Logs and coal are rather expensive and every week seems to increase by a £1 !!!!

My sister has just called from Dollar (Scot) the children are only in school for the morning. Building up here now. Be careful Bloomer. Told my mum she isn't allowed out :o)) Take care n have a good time.

My knight in shining armour has managed to get home earlier than he thought..so I WILL go to the Ball !:o)..
Still windy and wet here,but I think it has eased slightly..I won't hold my breath though ...

Great. (Asked you the question on another thread) Have a good time and enjoy the Christmas Spirit/Baileys/Mulled Wine :o)))))

Its totally wild here! 100mph winds! trees down everywhere..bridges closed..internet keeps going :(

Suki went out cant find her

I have just seen your other question,N3,and yes I did have a good time,thanks....a very nice traditional lunch..Plenty of wine flowing,but I am very boring and don't drink now..that sounds as though I had to give it up ! ..not really,just went off it :o)..and it doesn't look good....drunk in charge of a bus pass Lol.Wind eased quite a bit,and fine at the moment..fingers crossed...

Oh dear,Pixi..I hope she has turned up safe now..let us know please..

For Stickitoffee ... I lived at Wheeler End Common for nine years, which is on a hill, sort of above West Wycombe .... between West Wycombe & Stokenchurch & about a mile from Lane End. High Wycombe was where I did all my shopping.

Yes she came in about an hour after I posted that Bloomer..she was hiding under the bird table lol.
Wins are dying down now. TOkk Rick 2hrs to get home..normally takes half hour!

Pixi I'm glad you found you cat. It must have been scary yesterday for you. We live at the top of a hill and the trees were thrashing about. At least we were protected from the way the wind was coming. Take care.
Lovely to see the open fire. We only have radiators here, but when we lived on the I.O.Wight we had an open fire and collected the driftwood during the year for stacking in the garden, then Gerry sawed what we needed as we went along. We always made sure that the fireguard went up when we left the room as it used to spit out hot embers sometimes. Happy Christmas to you.

All calm today:)

That's good,Pixi..and glad Suki was ok..calm here as well :o)

:))))

Love your fireplace. Like others have said it looks so cozy.
I'm not a wine drinker and dried herbs don't agree with me anymore but I'm going to save the recipe anyway.

Who wouldn't want to share a rug in front of that lovely fire! Have added this to my favourites and will look at it when I need warming up come Winter. ;-))

Absolutely Muddy. It is lovely and I made my first fire of the season last night :o))))