tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post3480521261876378435..comments2023-10-31T15:39:09.651+01:00Comments on box elder: Twelfth Night, three giftsLucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-5988699778513847132017-01-06T17:54:08.551+01:002017-01-06T17:54:08.551+01:00Joyful Epiphany to you--I like the handmade presen...Joyful Epiphany to you--I like the handmade presents (complete with cumin) and the charming video. I haven't even begun taking our extravagant tree down, even though 12th Night is upon us. We have entirely too many ornaments. But I'll be out celebrating in a few hours. Have another wonderful year.marly youmanshttp://www.thepalaceat2blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-23898465855163417182017-01-06T16:24:24.912+01:002017-01-06T16:24:24.912+01:00Thanks all, for such lovely comments.
PC - Now lo...Thanks all, for such lovely comments.<br /><br />PC - Now look, they're only birds made out of paper, let's not worry too much about taxonomy and genetics! I like the idea of eating from a wooden tray, like an old fashioned trencher. We went to a restaurant a while ago which served meals, meat and veg and stuff, on wooden boards, it was quirkily nice.<br /><br />ML - thanks to you for stopping by! It's not much of a festival for Brits really either, any more, though I think it once was. More so here, with the cake and the charm and all. But I've always found the taking down of the decos a bit sad and anti-climactic, so of recent times I've taken to making a little ritual and celebration of it.<br /><br />Pam - that's nice that you get their videos too! They are a delight.<br /><br />Z - that's kind, yes, all kinds of spices, and a variety of chillies isn't always available. Basque espelette ones are very good but terribly expensive. I'll ask him. Glad you liked the video.<br /><br />Cat - we did, thank you. You are always a faithful and appreciative reader.<br /><br />Robbie - 'Suddenly a blog comment here or an email there seems insubstantial in comparison; too businesslike'. Never think that, gifts come in many and incomparable forms. The Christmas markets in the bigger towns are better packaged, but still seem lacking in soul, somehow. I gather those in Alsace are more the thing, Strasbourg is famous. Do you know these? Glad you were able to appropriately restore OS's spirits!<br /><br />Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-71217454256847584012017-01-06T08:42:54.496+01:002017-01-06T08:42:54.496+01:00True about the French and Christmas Markets. Last ...True about the French and Christmas Markets. Last year, post Cologne, it was Lille, this year Arras. They try, bless them, but it's as if the Germans have Christmas woven into their DNA while France, supporting many of the views I support, can only rise to tokenism. And it seemed particularly noticeable this year when I sought solace from Brexit.<br /><br />But then, but then... We arrived in Arras at lunchtime and parking was a nightmare. We had a hasty lunch, moved to our hotel which overlooked the Grand Place (and thus the market), then Occasional Speeder, who had cherished us throughout like a mother hen, went to pick up the car and park it in the underground park. She was gone for ages and came back in tears, worn down by the complexities of her tasks. But we, sitting in the hotel foyer, at least were able to do the right thing; as she came up the steps, red-nosed and red-eyed, I pointed to an ice bucket from which protruded a bottle of The Widow. Wouldn't have achieved the same rehabilitation with <i>sekt</i>.<br /><br />All these "made" things which somehow emphasise the spirit of Christmas and are evidence of friends who like you and who know what will please you. Suddenly a blog comment here or an email there seems insubstantial in comparison; too businesslike. I watched the video, delighting in its expertise (I am just finishing a monster biography of David Lean, the great British movie director) but unable to play the sound because VR, still be-shingled alas, sleeps next door. I was moved, I promise.<br /><br />Here's why your posts are well read. You are able to bestride the aesthetics of the olive wood pot and its resonances while, almost in the same breath, referring to the culinary, possibly moral, dilemma posed by a pestle/mortar in the same material which would, though tempting, (Ah, the creative bathos!) "simply be clutter". Layers of your life, precisely sliced. Seedcakelike. Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-27877821048925611532017-01-06T02:48:50.437+01:002017-01-06T02:48:50.437+01:00That is a wonderful video. Colin is a wonder.
An...That is a wonderful video. Colin is a wonder.<br /><br />And that olive wood bowl is also marvelous. And the cumin! How thoughtful!<br /><br />I think you two had a happy Christmas. As well you should.Catalysthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-46559848846925369802017-01-06T00:24:20.675+01:002017-01-06T00:24:20.675+01:00Had to switch to chrome to watch this. Excellent, ...Had to switch to chrome to watch this. Excellent, touching, beautiful. Thank you so much. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04680720575605112612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-38090835400561793382017-01-06T00:20:24.253+01:002017-01-06T00:20:24.253+01:00So much pretties! No wonder you kept the hat and b...So much pretties! No wonder you kept the hat and boots. I mean, Tom gave them to you as a surprize. (Dylan and I do the same sort of thing, so much easier than guessing.)<br /><br />I really must keep Tom in mind when I buy spices. Which from around here means chilis. Does he like that sort of spicy? Zhoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515663141425057088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-80988633908570866922017-01-05T23:41:21.047+01:002017-01-05T23:41:21.047+01:00It's lovely, isn't it? I'm somehow on ...It's lovely, isn't it? I'm somehow on their mailing list too (must have signed up at some point) - thanks to you. <br /><br />Pam https://www.blogger.com/profile/12641269043817163165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-80005053643329472372017-01-05T23:36:54.446+01:002017-01-05T23:36:54.446+01:00So many wonderful things you share with us here! T...So many wonderful things you share with us here! Twelfth Night is not mentioned much here in Canada except perhaps in some immigrant groups. My mother always made a point of remembering Epiphany from her own life in Finland, as the day we take the tree and other decorations down. <br /><br />I love the knitted things (am presently wearing the ones you made for me). Olive wood is unknown to me but the grains are so very unique and lovely, as are the objects made out of it.<br /><br />The video is heartwarming and beautifully done. <br /><br />Thank you for all these gifts today, Lucy! Happy New year! marja-leenahttp://www.marja-leena-rathje.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-936227903661553742017-01-05T23:14:54.918+01:002017-01-05T23:14:54.918+01:00yes, i am all tearful and lumpy of throat. such lo...yes, i am all tearful and lumpy of throat. such loveliness, though i had to hush the clearly non-romantic part of me saying, they're different species! it's never going to work! <br /><br />i, too, have a fondness for olive wood. for all wood, really. back when i was little, it was customary in my home to eat sandwiches and other dry foods on wooden trays. when i moved out on my own, i was very excited to find a tray that could replicate the one from my childhood (my aunt still has it: indeed, it's likely older than i am and holding up beautifully)<br /><br />we don't do gifts except for the children. i buy gifts when the fancy strikes me, or when i find the perfect thing for the perfect person. i must admit i get resentful around christmas about the expectation that one must shop, shop, shop. then again, like you, i like the smaller markets with handmade goods. on a whim i bought mr. monkey a handmade shaving soap at one, and for the both of us a handprinted calendar from another. <br /><br />hope you're enjoying the cozy season!the polish chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09929281676865641560noreply@blogger.com