Dearest friends,
and even though Christmas is over, hope you won't mind if I show you a few Christmas things...Well, I would have been back before now but with so much going on,
Like Windows 10! and not being able to load pictures from my little camera. Finally got that figured it out, "all by myself"!! I sure did!!
Anyhow friends, you know how I've always wanted to be from England, well I have! and always wanted to drink tea from a pretty teacup, that too! and make the traditional British mince pies...
Do you have any idea how proud I am of these little mincemeat tarts? Don't laugh at my makeshift cooling rack, and sorry, some spilled over a little...
Why, I've waited an entire year to make these little tarts. I bought a jar of Borden mincemeat on sale after Christmas last year.
This was the most fun cooking I did for the holidays...
Have to admit, the pie crusts came in a box, but it was I who cut the little rounds and placed them in the pan. An ice cream scoop worked perfect for pressing the dough into the cups.
and after all these years, got to use this set of teeny tiny antique cookie cutters I found at a sale years ago...
(did wash them in hot soapy water first) and best of all, I like the mincemeat. It's delicious!
We got lots of beautiful Christmas cards. Don't worry, I'm not going to show them all... but look at this one...
Six Lab puppies! Have you ever seen anything so cute!! Wish I could keep one.
We had a really good Christmas. Hope all of you did too!
 |
| Daughter Lynn and her fiance Jason with Mars and Amelia |
Like Windows 10! and not being able to load pictures from my little camera. Finally got that figured it out, "all by myself"!! I sure did!!
Anyhow friends, you know how I've always wanted to be from England, well I have! and always wanted to drink tea from a pretty teacup, that too! and make the traditional British mince pies...
Why, I've waited an entire year to make these little tarts. I bought a jar of Borden mincemeat on sale after Christmas last year.
This was the most fun cooking I did for the holidays...
and after all these years, got to use this set of teeny tiny antique cookie cutters I found at a sale years ago...
(did wash them in hot soapy water first) and best of all, I like the mincemeat. It's delicious!
We got lots of beautiful Christmas cards. Don't worry, I'm not going to show them all... but look at this one...
and a big group of silly kitty cats that made me smile.
just one more...
an adorable Bun Bun all sweetly decked out for Christmas.
We enjoyed every Christmas card that came in the mail. This is one tradition I hope never goes away.
Oh, some of you asked to see the ice box fruit cake after it was sliced, so here it is with half missing. It's very good!...
So can we start thinking about spring and gardening now? I'm wondering just how much light and sun we can expect with all the trees cut, across the road.
For today though it's very cloudy here, and a bit sad with all the trees gone...hard to believe, isn't it. Oh, you would be surprised at the number of squirrels that have taken up residence in the trees in our yard now.
Thank you, if you're still here. Sorry for such a long post. I'll be visiting and catching up.
Love,
Henny
I loved your post!! I wish some of those mince meat tarts were mine... I didn't make any since nobody by me likes them. What's going in where the trees were?? I kind of like the new open-ness!
ReplyDeleteWell dear Henny, I think you would qualify for a contestant on the Great British Baking Show, with your sweet little Mince Pies !
ReplyDeleteWe usually dust with a light shaking of confectioners sugar, making them right for the festive season. Your shape-toppers are a lovely finish.
Love seeing the picture of Lynn and Jason, a beautiful couple.
What a grand collection of Christmas cards you have, do you keep them, as I do ?
A totally different view now the trees are no more....I do hope they are not going to build something to spoil the serenity of your farm.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, filled with love, peace, and happiness.
Hugs,
~Jo
Merry Christmas Henny! It sounds like you had a nice holiday. I love the picture of Lynn and Jason with their kitties. Your mince pies do indeed look very British and I bet they were delicious. I imagine it will take a bit to get used to the trees being gone but you still have all of your trees, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Poppy and all your sweet furry babies! I wish you health and happiness for the new year!
I love your little cutter set and your tarts/pies turned out darling - glad they tasted good too :-)
ReplyDeleteWell, it is more sunny...but kind of sorry the trees aren't there! How do you feel about living without the trees?
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year- I agree, cards are a nice tradition! You might like your new landscape.
ReplyDeleteFun to see a bit about your Christmas. I love the animal cards you shared and the little mince pies, especially the one with the airplane cutout on top, too. Oh, how bare it looks without the trees across the road. You must feel “exposed” on that side! I wonder if you will ever get used to the new view. Happy New Year, Henny! Just think ... a whole new decade ahead, the 20s!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas must have been a lot of fun. Doesn't it seem empty when everyone goes home?
ReplyDeleteYour little mince tarts look great. I just love the tiny cut-outs on top. I have a set of those tiny cookie cutters ( but mine are not old) and I never think of using them.
I want to start thinking of Spring and growing things. I don't get any seed catalogs any more but I remember when I'd dream of Spring and make my order.
I'm with you about England . . . I have always wanted to visit and not London or any other big city . . . but instead rent a car and drive through all the small villages. Stay in little Inn's and eat in Tea Rooms and Village Pub's. I would love to walk the fields of Yorkshire where by favorite vet (other than our niece)James Herriot walked and practiced. Yorkshire and the Island Of Mann is where my ancestors came from, so that would be a treat to see.
ReplyDeleteYour tarts look wonderful and I love those little cookie cutters. You'll have to start adding your tarts to your yearly Christmas treat list :)
Wishing you a bright and happy New Year!
Connie :)
Sounds like a fun Christmas and lots of yummy treats. Can you believe how much we eat at Christmas? The retired guy has had a sore stomach for two days. He certainly over-indulged. I'm glad to hear the homeless squirrels have found your trees. I know they are safe there. And I'm with you, Henny. Bring on spring. Sending hugs (and if I could a few Christmas treats) to you and Poppy. And of course all the fur-babies, too.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your Christmas, epecially the mince pies. Alex's girlfriend who lives in London brought us 24 mince pies from a specialty shop in London at Thanksgving. Oh. My. Heavens. They were wonderful. I've looked everywhere here for some mincemeat in a jar since then and I haven't been able to find it here. I think I'm going to have to ask her to send us some every year. Your's look wonderful, especially with the sweet little cut outs on top.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful New Years my friend. Thanks for visiting my blog today. :-)
Blessings,
Betsy
Oh your mince tarts turned out great.
ReplyDeleteI want one of the lab pups too. : )
Oh my I love all of your Christmas cards. I need to write about my Christmas celebration. I love your little pies they are so cute!! I got a new computer and I have been trying to figure out all the things on it.
ReplyDeleteLove you bunches
WOW!!!! It seems you no longer live in a forested area! That's a big, broad field over there. Well, as you say, you'll get loads more sunlight, not just for your plants, but in your home/yard too, right? Might be a blessing. The ground will green up again, and it won't look too bad after a while.
ReplyDeleteNot too long at all. Everything you post is interesting. The mincemeat tarts look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing - I like the picture of your daughter and the cats! Those are beautiful little mincemeat tarts. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteHAPPY NEW YEAR for 2020 to You Henny and Poppy and Family. Great you've sorted Windows 10- well done! It is 100Deg F here today on New Years Eve- keeping up the fluids too (Mineral Water). Regards. KEV.
ReplyDeleteLovely! Great photos..as usual..
ReplyDeleteAnd! Yes! Mince pies..Love mince pies! :).
British mince pies..? mmmmM!
My Christmas finished yesterday, we had Christmas
dinner on Sunday, family all went home yesterday,
dogs and all..bit more clearing up to~day..! :).
Love the pups in the back of the truck..
Next thing on the agenda .."Happy New Year"....
2020..Goodness me!
So..Henny to you your family..friends..and all your
followers..A Very Happy New Year..God Bless! :o).
✨🍑✨ ✨🍑✨✨🍑✨ ✨🍑✨✨🍑✨ ✨🍑✨
Happy New Year Henny! I too am sad about the trees, but you may have so much sun you can grow anything you like! They have cut all the trees down here and the town is nothing but buildings practically. So, is the icebox cake wonderful tasting? Just wondering. I hope you are having the best holiday you can and enjoy the New Year Celebrations! Terry
ReplyDeleteI haven't sent Christmas cards in about 4 years and so this year I only got 4 cards in the mail! That's ok though! Most of the people I know and love we saw at some time through the holidays! The cards you showed are adorable! I too would like one of the lab puppies! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see that you took on Windows 10 and came out the other side! The little mincemeat pies look soooooo gooood.
ReplyDeleteHope your New Year brings lots of happy things-----light from across the road, plants, veggies, and animals.
Let's see... stars, clovers, chickens, and...airplanes? I can't tell what the last one is! 😊
ReplyDeleteOh, how I would like one of those mince tarts! I hope you have a wonderful New Year, Henny! I think you may just love having all that extra sunshine in your front yard!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Henny! What a great looking couple the young folks make. Lots of cute Christmas cards to spread
ReplyDeletethe holiday cheer, too. Glad about your new squirrels, but I have to say, it looks too clear and empty across the
road with all the trees clear cut. The birds in the Spring will have to go much farther to build nests.
Good for you Henny, figuring out your pictures from camera to computer with Windows 10 and making those sweet little mincemeat tarts. Have a fantastic 2020 ~ FlowerLady
ReplyDeleteMy wife made sure the family cats got something for Christmas so they wouldn't be "left out."
ReplyDeleteHi Henny,
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh, I have always wanted to be from England too.
I agree, I do not want the sending of Christmas Cards to go away, I love the tradition. Thank you for sharing a few of the fun cards you received.
Love, Carla
The tarts look good! I canned some mincemeat this past summer, but not nearly enough!
ReplyDeleteThe tarts look good! I canned some mincemeat this past summer, but not nearly enough!
ReplyDeleteWow your view sure changed after the trees are gone. Looks different! I am so impressed with your tarts I have never made them. I wish you a very Happy New Year! Good to hear you survived Windows 10. I will have to give in soon :)
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty cards! Your mince pies look delicious!!! Happy New Year Henny! I wish you all in the best in 2020! And congrats on learning Windows 10, I'm still using version 8 because I'm just not ready to move on yet lol!
ReplyDeleteA belated Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020! Loved your pics of Christmas. I made mincemeat from green tomatoes and apples, a recipe from a Harrowsmith book I was given many years ago. Probably not as rich as what you used, but very good all the same. I never did get around to making tarts, but I still can, they are not just for Christmas! I don't use the desktop computer with Windows 10 very much, but I know I struggled to find out where everything was at times. My son gifted me his old Apple laptop a few years ago, so I mostly use that. He did an update on it for me during the summer, as it was struggling, but is now still going well enough for me at well into it's eleventh year. I hope the coming year is a good one for you!
ReplyDeleteOh those darling mincemeat pies are making my mouth water! Mincemeat was my mom's favorite and I can't even think about it without thinking of her. And I think it's hard to beat the Already Pie Crusts from Pillsbury! Thanks for sharing those darling Christmas cards,,,yes, it surely came and left in a hurry this year, don't you think? Happy New Year, dear Henny!
ReplyDeleteI love your little mince pies! So cute, clever of you. I'm glad you had such a happy Christmas. May the new year be as happy!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful and uplifting post. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful little pies you made. I love getting Christmas cards, we got less this year. Seems like people just aren't sending them like they used too. I always will.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of seeing Christmas and enjoyed you sharing your Christmas. I have a few more to share over the next few days too on my Christmas blog. I love fruitcake. My husband likes it especially heated a little for breakfast with his coffee.
Happy New Year to you
betsy
Oh, I don't know where to begin...I would love to taste one of your tarts...they look delicious. I so love that Lab Christmas card, and the others too, but must say I am partial to it.
ReplyDeleteNo, not to early to think about gardening...I saw someone with a seed/garden catalog. IF I can remember when I post this I am going to see if I can sign up for some physical seed catalogs. That is one thing where an actual catalog in hand is so much better than the internet.