Second Day of Christmas

 What a full wonderful day we had!

We were given so many lovely treats, I was given

5 different kinds of tea! 

The one I had for breakfast was so delicious, I had 2 teapots full!

If Earl Grey could be called a 'dessert tea' this one is!

Breakfast included a Christmas gift, 

of a delicious bread is a brioche loaf - tons of eggs and butter.... 

A delicious bread for Christmas! 

I had it with butter and apricot preserves!

Lunch was our annual takeout food!

I got my new Christmas cake pans!

We opened gifts and the 5 DE Stevenson books I ordered last year

arrived during this time!

I wore a beautiful unique necklace and a new shawl that I was given on 

Christmas day that is so lovely and warm!

I was given a beautiful gift from my blog friend Pat,

a lovely red shawl, much and porcelain spoon and green tea! 

Thanks again dear friend!

I saved this present for last as I just love surprises for Christmas...

And food gifts are such a blessing, honey, jam, super special chocolates,

and so much more.

And we got a lovely DVD and food to have an at home date while watching this movie!

We heated up take out leftovers for dinner and had a Walton's date!

I am hoping to get out my Christmas Miss Read book tomorrow,

the 3rd day of Christmas, and begin reading it!

I am still not sleeping that great (I think so much Christmas excitement!)

and tomorrow is going to be a much needed rest day.

And that was the second day of Christmas.

A Very Nice Sunday, with many sorts of blessings

We finally made it to our far-away church again!!!

Our car battery being beyond the grave dead,

a man gave us a ride to church and back again!

It was really good to be back!

I did not teach Sunday School because I am still 

working on gaining energy,

it takes me a long time to bounce back from 

illness now... I am hoping to get better and 

build my immune system and strength again, but

I know that it just takes longer...

and I am no longer 20 but 40 and age too can make

a difference.... 

It was great to be in church though with my other 

church family...

I did have a moment where I nearly cried towards the beginning,

seeing the church still decorated for Christmas and 

here I was finally back and I felt like I should be greeting everyone with

Christ is Born! (The answer being Glorify Him!) but not only did

we miss Christmas because we were ill, but Theophany too...

Also, it was Zacchaeus Sunday,

which is like the flag saying 'Lent is coming'... and so it is,

and so we pray to be ready...

***

I was given 3 belated Christmas/Birthday gifts...

so many thoughtful and beautiful things!

A Christmas ornament, natural honey, 3 really nice

teas, all ones I did not have, candles, a cookbook for

high teas (! hello I hope future high tea at home tea-party dreams!), knitting notions, 

a cute crocheted container for them, lip and hand lotions,

homemade caramel and toffee... 

I am so wishing I could have my dear friends,

including many tea-loving friends who are my blog or IG friends,

and many who are far from where I live now,

here for tea and treats! 

***

We are still enjoying my Grandma's date bread!

So good with butter and tea!

***

We enjoyed lamb leftovers for dinner and soup,

and we enjoyed pots of first the new apple cider tea 

and then the ginger lemon tea!

I am very thankful that Mr Husband enjoys having tea with me...

and that he is not a coffee drinker...

***

I poured over the new tea cookbook last night....

so many great ideas!!!

Meanwhile, I found a pie recipe that I thought of tweaking for 

the dessert I hope to make for the shared house blessing meal

this coming Sunday, God willing.

I am so grateful for the many cookbooks I have, 

much of them given to me as gifts or because of purging or

at library book sales! :) 

I just love baking and cooking!

I guess you would say it was my first 'homemaking hobby' 

and one that is very close to my heart.

***

My Grandma has been a baker for many years,

of good food, what she would call 'not gourmet' but really

could be seen as such - it's more that she means

'not from a recipe that has a million steps or unusual items

that one would not normally have'... 

And in many ways, I am just like this,

though I like to do all sorts of baking, 

from simple, home-style but amazing, to gourmet or closer to it.

***

And so, Sunday, with going to liturgy, 

being given such thoughtful gifts,

having rides to and from church,

a nice Sunday dinner and clean up time,

 was a peaceful day, with a lot to be thankful for!