Sunday 22 December 2013

Sam Sunday #37: It's Christmas!


It's the last weekend before Christmas, and I've been busy with the final preparations.  Thankfully I've finished my Christmas shopping, although I still have quite a few presents to wrap and put under the tree.  As always, I'm giving people baked treats alongside their regular presents, so over the next few days I will be making lots of mince pies, shortbread biscuits and lebkuchen (delicious spiced Christmas biscuits).  I love baking, so it's not going to be a hardship!

On Christmas Day itself, my husband and I usually split our time between our respective families.  We're planning to spend the morning at home, just the two of us, the afternoon with my parents, and then the evening with his family.  This is only possible as all of our family members live very locally!  This year will be the first year I won't be seeing my sister on Christmas Day, as she's spending it with her in-laws, so we're also having a Boxing Day celebration at my parents' this year, where I will get to see her and my nephew.  Even though we're both adults, it will feel strange not opening our presents together on Christmas morning.

Apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I'm planning a relaxed and low-key Christmas break this year.  I'm feeling tired all the time and honestly, a few days tucked up at home reading in front of the Christmas tree sounds just perfect.  I'm still plugging away with Les Miserables; I'm well past the half way mark now and have set myself the somewhat ambitious target of finishing it by Christmas Day.  It's certainly possible, but it remains to be seen whether I will actually reach that goal or not.  Either way, I will definitely be done by December 31st, ready to start the new year with a new book.

This week, I've been reading:
 

Reviews posted:

11 comments:

  1. Here in The Netherlands we have two Christmas days, 25th and 26th of december. I think they invented that to solve the problem of celebrating with different families! :-)
    I am glad to see you are planning a good Christmas with some time for yourself as well, always important, I think.

    Kind regards,

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    1. The 26th is Boxing Day for us, which is almost like a second Christmas Day, although your way in the Netherlands sounds better!
      Merry Christmas :)

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  2. Nice tree...love where you have it.

    ENJOY your Christmas Day...sounds busy and lovely.

    Nice books you read too.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog

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    1. Thanks, I love decorating the tree at the beginning of December :)

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  3. I hope you have a Merry Christmas! And enjoy all that baking :-)

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  4. Beautiful tree! Ah, I am so jealous you enjoy baking! I would like to too, but lack the skill and motivation to learn, so it was always my mum who was the one who made baked goods, and I made some other things (like appetisers and meals).

    I hope you will be feeling okay during the holidays, I intend to get some serious reading done myself.

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  5. Those baked treats sound yum! Enjoy your holidays and Merry Christmas!

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  6. Merry Christmas to you Sam :)

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  7. I can't imagine not spending the day with my sister, though I know that will happen sooner or later (maybe). Though I do like the sound of extended celebrations because of it! Sounds like you have some brilliant celebrations lined up, I hope you have a lovely few days. Merry Christmas, Sam :D

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  8. Merry Christmas, and I hope 2014 brings you plenty of good reading :)

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