Merry Christmas !

Merry Christmas !

Hi there.
Well, here it is.
Christmas.

Today is the Big Day at our house.
We celebrate this evening.

The family will arrive late afternoon.
We will eat a traditional German meal: 
Bratwurst, Sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and onion gravy. 
It’s modest, working man’s fayre. 
None of your lobster thermidor under this roof! 
Delicious though.

Then the kids will clean the kitchen, the grandparents will retire to the living room with a glass of port or wine, and the ones in the middle will make sure the fires and candles are lit.
My job is to prepare the Bunte Teller. It is another tradition passed down from my German Mutti. Each child receives a Bunte Teller – a colourful plate – filled with sweets, gingerbread, fruit, nuts and a chocolate Santa Claus on top.

And then we will all gather in the living room, and one of the kids will hand out gifts from under the tree, one at a time. 

Hahaha! Read that again. It sounds like Mark and Grace will be underneath the tree! English is such an ambiguous language, isn’t it?

Right. Had enough of the romantic picture I have painted?
It may well go according to plan, but it may not. 
Either way, we’ll all hopefully be in the building safe and sound, the Aga will work and the mash won’t be lumpy!

Mark went out to meet his mates last night, and I saw him tiptoing up the garden path at 9 this morning, so yeah! He’s having a blast.
And when he surfaces, he is so so so peeling the potatoes!
For tonight AND Christmas Day.

Ho Ho Ho.
Families.

Anyway, I hope you have a good Christmas Eve, whatever you may be doing. Be safe, be warm and be loved.

Here’s our little Christmas Video from last year. We liked it so much, we decided to play it again Sam!

Art by darling Jayne Nestorenko
Samples by our Clarity Team
Music by Dave

I’m on the telly tomorrow with Paul,
showcasing these stamps. 
12 noon. Maybe set it to record and watch later, 
when there’s nothing better on the box!

Love & Hugs,
Barb
xxx

56 thoughts on “Merry Christmas !

  1. Hi Barbara Dave ,Grace & Mark not forgetting all the staff at Clarity who do a wonderful job all year round.
    Thank you all for all you do for us all year round.
    I read your blog every day yesterdays was so brilliant and a little tear was shed.
    Once again Barbara thank you ,have a blast today , just loved the idea of the plate of sweets.
    Happy Christmas and New Year to you all not forgetting all on the blog have a good one!!!!
    Lynn xx

  2. Hi Barbara Dave ,Grace & Mark not forgetting all the staff at Clarity who do a wonderful job all year round.
    Thank you all for all you do for us all year round.
    I read your blog every day yesterdays was so brilliant and a little tear was shed.
    Once again Barbara thank you ,have a blast today , just loved the idea of the plate of sweets.
    Happy Christmas and New Year to you all not forgetting all on the blog have a good one!!!!
    Lynn xx

  3. Wishing you ,Dave! Grace, Mark, your lovely parents and family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and Healthy New Year. Looking forward to a great Clarity year and so looking forward to catching up with everyone at The Retreat in July. Xx

  4. Liebe Barbara,
    dir und deiner Familie gesegnete Weihnachten (bei uns in Deutschland ja heute am 24. Dezember) und wunderschöne Tage im Kreise deiner Lieben.
    Und auf einen bunten Teller gehören neben sweets, gingerbread, fruit and nuts auch Marzipankartoffeln, nicht vergessen.;-)
    Lasst' euch euer Weihnachtsessen gut schmecken.
    Ganz herzliche Grüße aus dem 10 Grad "warmen" Berlin sendet euch
    Sabine

  5. Happy Christmas to everyone and a happy,healthy and prosperous new year. I have set tomorrow’s shows to record. Spent last evening in Mousehole watching our littlest granddaughter carry her lantern in the lantern parade. Good start to Christmas. xx

  6. Beautiful music and artwork. It has brought tears to my eyes.
    Thank you all for a wonderful year. You have brought us so much – enjoyment, learning, and happiness.
    Happy Christmas and love
    Anne (Reading) xx

  7. Happy Christmas to all of you. Beautiful cards. Our youngest son will be staying over on Wednesday night ( let me re-phrase that, Thursday morning. ) He is meeting up with friends in Tamworth so we are his hotel. I can judge how much he has drunk by how much noise he makes coming through the front door. probably will not see him before we go to the panto in the afternoon. Hope Mark's not too hungover to enjoy your lovely food. xx

  8. Hope you all have a lovely time tonight & the potatoes get peeled in time. Hope you didn't lie awake listening for Mark to come home !! even though the kids have been left home for ages I still like to know they are home when they are staying here. Must be a Mom thing !! Merry Christmas to everyone xx

  9. Hi Barb,
    Wishing you, Dave,Grace,Mark,Steve,your lovely mum and dad and everyone at Clarity a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Sounds like you are going to have a fabulous night tonight. I like the sound of the Bunte Teller! Love and hugs, Alison xxx

  10. It all sounds lovely Barbara – it's so good to keep the old family traditions going. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas. Hope Mark manages to be up in plenty of time for the potato peeling! Love and hugs Gilly xxx

    1. Hi to all my bloggy friends and those that I have yet to make! Neill is busy in the kitchen preparing yummy buffet treats for this evening. We have our Spanish Family coming round this evening (3 of them). Love and hugs Gilly xxx

  11. Family have gone out for a couple of hours. Mince pies made, vegetables prepared so we're making the most of a few quiet minutes in a very busy week! I read your blog every day and wish you, your family and everyone in the lovely Clarity team a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Much love Chris xx

  12. Happy Christmas Barbara Dave Mark Grace mum dad and all clarity towers design &bloggers may your Christmas time be filled with love and cheer exciting things for “2018”. Love Jaynes stamps been my Christmas cards for this year love them all God bless her love to all hugs xxx

  13. Merry Christmas Barbara. Took Hubby out for a birthday breakfast this morning. I have just finished wrapping presents and the trifle is started and in the fridge ready for the fresh custard and cream. Christmas dinner at the parents' tomorrow and that's my job (sister does cheesecake and I bring the home made trifle). Merry Christmas to you and yours and to all at Clarity Towers.

  14. Traditions are important ant comforting. I hope you have enjoyed your evening. We have just been to the Chrisingle service at church this evening, where it was lovely seeing all the young families excited about Santa and eagerly listening to the story of that very first Christmas. We are just picking up a take away for dinner before getting ready for the watch nigh device later. My Hubbie is playing in the praise band at it.
    I hope everyone has a peaceful Chistmas and can have time with those they love.

  15. Sounds like you'll have a great time together this evening! I can imagine the noise level rising as the hours pass…lovely! We've finally been present shopping (yes…today…Christmas Eve!), tomorrow will be very 'strange'… first Christmas without mam and son is at work (care sector) so just the two of us! Not cooking Christmas lunch until Boxing Day as that's when we're all together. Xxx

  16. Hope you have had a super family day Barbara and Merry Christmas to you all and I assume with the Christmas dinner already eaten and presents unwrapped it will be a quieter day for you tomorrow, but however you spend it enjoy it. x

  17. Happy Christmas to you and Dave and both your blood family and the Clarity one. Thank you Barbara, Paul and the rest of the Clarity team for your inspiration, kindness and friendship. Looking forward to the retreat again already xx

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