Meanwhile, in the land of real life and preparing, this is a shot of last night’s desk. 
It was a busy day and I had a panic on that with a week to go, I hadn’t made any mince pies. A WEEK TO GO. I mean, that’s a ridiculous situation to be in. We all love ‘em. So for now that situation is resolved. I give it till Saturday. But that’s ok, all the other deadlines will have vanished by then too. I may be in Christmas clover!
Yah, famous last words. Share then, gentle desker; let us know how this countdown to the big two-five is going for you,and of course, we need a photo! Link your WOYWW post here and visit if and when you can. in honour of it all, I will side-step the kettle and head for your drinks cabinet. Sherry’s good. Thanks.
Well, hi Julia! Goodness - I was coming up to bed and thought "I'll just check in case Julia has posted early", and there you were! SO efficient - posting a blog, making mince pies, entering a challenge - and all with only a week to go. Well done you.
ReplyDeleteTake care dear girl. God bless.
Margaret #1
Sherry??! Bleurgh, you'll have to have a gin instead 😉 It's good to have something else to think about other than Christmas prep, you have your journal and I have....no, can't do it, it's all Christmassy at the moment!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 3 xx
Morning Julia, It's so nice to see a bake off as your desk this week, I hope there will still be some left by the weekend? There would be in my house as it's only me that likes them so I can never justify spending baking time just for me.. I'll just sit here and imagine those home baked smells mmmmmm..
ReplyDeleteSherry sounds very tempting, even at 3am, now that sounds very very wrong.
Good to hear you are giving yourself some creative time amongst the madness. Right need to get some shut eye as there's not been much of that around this past week. Happy WoywW Hugs Tracey #5
Looks like we are all in the same boat Julia. Well done on the mince pies, ours will be shop bought as usual lol. Hope you are less frazzled on the day itself. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #6
ReplyDeleteI don't much like mince pies, have bought a small box of small pies from M&S. I do like an occasional glass of sherry though as long as it's not too dry. Never buy it though, but you'd be most welcome.
ReplyDeleteSometimes doing something just for you is just what the Dr ordered as an anti-dote from all that needs doing - love those papers!!
Have a great week Helen #7 (although I've not refreshed yet)
Hi Julia, Sadly not taking part this week, but wanted to stop by and see what you are up to.
ReplyDeleteMy mum use to make mince pies, the cake, cheese straws, sausage rolls, etc. Hope you aren't in too much of a panic and can get everything done with time to spare.
Happy WOYWW
Sue
Hi Julia. I managed to bake the cake. Hopefully marzipan today, icing- inevitable 'Snow Scene at weekend! I"m with Jan G&T all the way!!! :-) Anne X 9
ReplyDeleteI’m all ready now pretty much so will await your visit with the bottles all lined up ready....after all you can have my share any day 😘
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Annie x
Sounds busy to me Julia! I have to admit to being more or less ready and just hope I haven't forgotten anything important. I don't have any mince pies to make as a dear parent of a child my hubby used to teach has made those for us for years and still does so at least I can escape that part. She is a brilliant cook and it's extra cash for her at Christmas so I feel I am justified in letting her do it and no guilty feelings either. Have a lovely woyww, Angela x13x
ReplyDeleteHere are you with mince pies on the go and I haven't got around to icing the cake yet. Think it will be just whipped up snow this year. Gone are the years I used to decorate them fancy (and spend hours doing so).
ReplyDeleteI have a blog page to make for tomorrow so know exactly how you are going and then there is one for the week after too. Why do we agree to these things you ask? I haven't a clue!
Don't think there'll be much sherry drinking going on here - but then you know about my secret tipple and I have lots of it - you didn't see what was in the cupboard. Shhh!
Hugs, Neet 11 xx
Morning Julia, well aren't you the organised one! Making mince pies. Much as I love homemade, thats all gone by the wayside this year. I usually make a Christmas Cake but thats not happened either. Decorations will hopefully go up this weekend, behind doesn't even begin to cover it. Love & hugs to you both, Shaz #2 X
ReplyDeleteIt has just dawned on me too that we're just a few days away from Christmas! I still have some presents to buy - let alone wrap - yikes! I'll stick with shop-bought mince pies - in fact, shop-bought everything! Last year we even bought our roast potatoes - over ready, as Boris would say. And you know what - they tasted just as good if not better than if I had gone through the pains of peeling, basting, tossing - saved me the washing up as well - so there, dirty secret out in the open! Have a happy Christmas Julia, if I don't speak to you before that! Will try to cobble together a post today as I realised I may not be able to link up on Christmas Day. xx
ReplyDeleteI meant oven-ready.
ReplyDeleteGot to ice my cake today - royal or the instant stuff?? Love the colour combo on the top photo. xx Jo
ReplyDeleteThat paper is absolutely gorgeous, Julia - lovely design and colours. Hope you show us what you do with it. Well done with the mince pies too.
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW,
Shoshi #17
Well I think we are all in a little bit of a panic mode right now! I've been multi tasking right and left for a few days now but I'm happy to report I have it all under control. Says the lady as she runs a wheel off! Happy WOYWW!
ReplyDeleteGlenda #18
buy this stage I am usually rationalising everything - kitchen floor needs a wash - I'll do it after they've been. Beds need changing - ah well another week wont hurt Table decorations/ Oh they just get in the way....... But strangely together this year. I do wonder however what I have forgotten. Am looking forward to an un pressured sausage roll making afternoon at the w/e - the only christmas baking I do! Merry Christmas my dear, hope you have a blast!! Love n hugs, Cindy xx
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI will join you in a sherry! I think I need one after how long it took me to do my post! My IPad refused to let me see where I had finished typing, so after a few tries I gave up and finished at the top🤣🤣. My husband has been making mince pies and gluten free apple pies for me. Love the smell of home baking x
ReplyDeleteGold star for making your own mince pies - I always mean to but always end up picking a box up in the supermarket. Have a very Merry Christmas,
ReplyDeleteHugs, Diana x #23
Oh a fun post. I LOVE Mince pies. Haven't had one in a while. And deadlines seem to be here close by the minute. At my age I don't need PANIC...I have settled for ice cream with Rum Chatta during this 3 wks time. Take time to breathe and see you next week it's the BIG DAY.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have never had a mince pie and I am not entirely sure what it is. will google it later. I kind of grinned though that you thought to shoot the kitchen mid-stream. that is fun, and yep. I get that whole lets do this challenge while there are 49 zillion other things that need done thing too.
ReplyDeleteMy husband just told me yesterday he had ordered one more gift for our son (last month) that supposedly has shipped but, he can't track it so, no telling if it will arrive before we leave or not yet.
Happy WOYWW Julia and thanks for hosting this hop :) ~Stacy #26
A little bird told me you use an app for writing your blog on the IPad. Just wondering which one?
ReplyDeleteLove the patterns on the papers and the emergency mince pie production - they never last that long around here either! Happy WOYWW. Hope you have a lovely Christmas. Caro x (#15)
ReplyDeleteyour comment on mine made me roar with laughter, I think I'd end up in hospital if I tried to photograph the decks from outside, plus I'm not good with ladders! had to come and tell you how much it made me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW. So glad I got here before midnight! Days are so full right now. Enjoy those mince pies and finishing off the Scrap challenge. Ali x #29
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit, Julia - so glad you like the finished result! If you pop back, I have just updated the photos with better ones that a friend took this afternoon, complete with the jewellery I wore. You are right, I can't remember what I was planning before the gown idea cropped up! It's been such a busy time, working hard to get it all done in time.
ReplyDeleteShoshi #17
Thanks for stopping by with encouraging words! I very much like the colour scheme you've chosen for the scrapbook page - those two colurs work very harmoniously together! The mince pie production line is most impressive too. I'm the only one who likes 'em in my house/family, so it's not worth making them myself - I just grab 'em wherever and whenever I can!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely Christmas!
Amelia (16)
Hi Julia, I'm sneaking in a day late ... although to be honest, I spent most of the morning thinking it was Wednesday! Sorry I have been AWOL for so long. In my absence I have crafted, and made a Christmas Cake, but no mince pies! It's years since I made any as my girls never ate them - I might make some at weekend if I get chance! I have 4 sherry miniatures from the Santa Express train a couple of weeks ago - all the adults got one, and nobody else drinks it, yay me! I have the same Pinch of Nom book, but not tried any of the recipes yet! Have a lovely week, and a lovely Christmas, Heather #31
ReplyDeleteStill popping around visiting.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Carol N #22