Remembering celebrations at the cottage

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

Christmas day was family time. It was cold , and the tree and lights were put up early to keep the dark away. They twinkled right through the night with curtains open until after Christmas. Mum Dorothy had her birthday on 3rd January, their tree came down after her birthday, and I think ours was late to come down too. Our tree was an artificial one, our real ones dropped needles, and I was happy for them to be put outside earlier.

Mom Dorithy kept us all in a Christmas routine. Each year, we had our turn three of us at first then only two as mum decided that that was best as her house was too small.

Mum still brought her vegetarian Turkey to our house. I liked it. She took a homemade circular shaper to hollow out a cylinder of ‘Nuttolean’ then fill the void with turkey stuffing ( bread crumbs, sage, fried onions, seasoning etc.) Some laughed at the wings and shapely chicken thighs. They were great and very much in keeping with those now striving to eat less meat for a better planet. She then made a dark, thick gravy. Simple. Few ingredients and a fail proof method: Oil for frying chopped onions, then when nicely golden and clear, add flour to mix with the oil so that the water when you add it is lump free. I was standing next to her one day, and she said: ” The secret is using this flat spoon with holes in it.” She said this as she balanced the spoon with holes on the edge of the pan and added a loaded teaspoon of very British Marmite stirring at it with brown, making a circular pattern in the creamy white of the onion mix. Left to simmer it was all done. I can smell the onion frying even now. Dad Brian loved Mum’s gravy.

After lunch, the eldest children handed out the presents, reading the labels and passing them to each one in the family. A special time as you heard them read your name. Our boys remember a tradition of always having a wrestle with their uncle until they grew too big for a small space and would have sent the furniture flying.

Birthday parties were so easy at the cottage as the children from over the fence and down the road and later from school all played in the yard at different times anyway. The boys chose the shape of the cake, a dog , a rocket, and once a rain bow jelly because my youngest didn’t like cake that year. We had games in the garden and a treasure hunt in the meadow where the oak trees grow. Our children with their friends, taller each year.

The more you celebrate, the more there is in life to celebrate.

Oprah Winfrey

Parties are the heartbeat of childhood memories.

Rachel Hollis ( American author, motivational speaker, and blogger. I found the three main points of her podcast interesting. Lies that are keeping you stuck. The Rachel Hollis Podcast.)

Our last whole family Christmas celebration was held in 2019. Memories are wonderful . Thank you for letting me share.

Sandy 🙂