One of my aunts, born in the 1890s, used to refer to all Christmas presents as Christmas boxes. They didn't have to be in a box. In fact a bonus in the pay would be a Christmas box. And Boxing Day was when an employer would hand them over.
So here's Maggie Rudy's take on the Christmas box sweater, knitted by grandma, with plenty of room for growth, tried on with dismay by the little mouse, while mom cautions him to say nowt, because she understands.
And today being a wonderful mild sunny day, walking happened. So did Christmas boxes from nature.
Here's one, a silver dime on a gold beech leaf
And here are favorite scenes, shadows falling on beech trees, that grey silk trunk like a drawing surface
This beauty appreciation is all very well, but first the inner woman was attended to.
The Christmas Eve cod steak was as good as I'd hoped - very. Lovely flakes, just baked enough. Cayenne pepper. Bed of spinach, carrots and scallions. Buttered boiled Yukon gold potatoes.
Years since I had decent cod. Locally, in the northeast US, the fish preferences of the population are more exotic than the north Atlantic fish I grew up on, in northeastern Yorkshire, cod, herring, haddock, skate. They're pretty rare.
But Misfits market has added in cold pack ordering which makes fish and meat possible in the Misfits box in addition to produce. This is my first trial of the fish option, expensive and worth it.
Then today came the planned cod cakes. Flaked cod, left from Christmas Eve, mixed with several veggies, Old Bay seasoning, egg beaten in, Panko breading, baked.
Fancy bit of Thai basil, growing in a pot in the kitchen, glass of ginger ale
Dessert was German tiny cookies and a drop of eggnog.
Speaking of potatoes, which we were back there,
here are Yukon gold potatoes, planted as peelings, growing like maniacs in a pot in the living room. Bringing the outdoors indoors. I did get a couple of accidental potatoes in a pot upstairs, so we'll see if these deliberate ones work out.
Not long before I can go on a witch hazel blossom hunt. Even before snowdrops.
It's all go!
