Pretty Prezzies!

I'm extremely sorry that I abandoned you on Christmas! Things just got so very busy, and before I knew it I was stuffed to my nose with candy and gingerbread, and every good thing; the very thought of getting up and retrieving the computer sent my stomach into spasms of pain. The good news, though, is that Shewsbury Cakes are not exclusively for Christmas, so I will be posting the recipe the day before New Year's!

So, the catch up on Christmas activities: the day before Christmas Eve, my sister and I went with a friend to see The Nutcracker - a Christmas tradition. It was, naturally, quite fun, and my friend and I entertained ourselves through the Intermission by trying to puzzle out how it was that one of the hallways led from our level down to the other, and there being no incline or stairs (the solution to this puzzling question left me feeling rather idiotic). Christmas Eve, we baked and decorated another elaborate gingerbread house (pictures will follow tomorrow). We were going to try out the Victorian rowhouses this year, but as we looked at the pattern, we came to realize that they took a good three days to complete, so we attempted the ski chalet again. It turned out far better than last year's. And now there's nothing left of it but the roofs; we ate it all.

As is tradition, we opened our presents Christmas Eve. I asked for nothing but books, because there was nothing particular that I really wanted. Nevertheless, I got a few other special surprises: a pretty gold bracelet with an oval purple stone; a white elephant-shaped teapot (it is so cute!); a beautiful silver-and-green cameo on a white ribbon; a multi-colored felted scarf, and a few clothing articles. But everything else was books. What books did I get? Well, here they are:

• Beyond the Western Sea: The Escape from Home by Avi
• Beyond the Western Sea: Lord Kirkle's Money by Avi
• Gideon Trilogy: Gideon the Cutpurse (AKA The Time Travelers) by Linda Buckley-Archer
• The Arabian Nights translated by Sir Richard F. Burton
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Hard Times by Charles Dickens
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
• The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
• Perfect Fire Trilogy: Blue Flame by K. M. Grant
• Alex Rider: Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
• Pagan Chronicles: Pagan's Crusade by Catherine Jinks
• Myst: The Book of Ti'ana by Rand Miller
• Myst: The Book of Atrus by Rand Miller
• The Squire's Tales: The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady by Gerald Morris
• The Squire's Tales: Parsifal's Page by Gerald Morris
• The Quilt Trilogy: A Stitch in Time by Ann Rinaldi
• The Quilt Trilogy: Broken Days by Ann Rinaldi
• Mine Eyes Have Seen by Ann Rinaldi

Many of these were bought to replace my old paperbacks (yay! The hardcovers are now officially outnumbering the paperbacks!!), and I had to re-purchase David Copperfield because I discovered that my previous copy was, in fact, an abridged American edition. And I will not read Charles Dickens abridged. The Arabian Nights is one of those really pretty leather-bound Barnes & Noble editions, and has forty color illustrations. I've been wanting it for a long time.

Speaking of books and libraries, I actually have two new bookshelves on their way! When those are complete and installed, perhaps I will take pictures of my not-yet-complete library for posting; just so my Readers get an idea of what my library is going to look like! I am also working on a pretty tapestry, which I will take pictures of when it is complete.

Christmas Day we had a wonderful dinner. Seared ahi tuna on a bed of stirfried spinach leaves, chopped finger potatoes baked in some sort of mustard sauce, salad, smoked salmon, homemade rolls (special family recipe), and a great many other yummy things. I was stuffed.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! And though it late by quite a few days: Merry Christmas, everyone!!!