Frosty Festivities Blog Hop

Hello,

Today I am joining in with the lovely Jennifer on her "Frosty Festivities" blog hop. There are posts from each of us on the theme of winter and some lovely goodies to be won as well as lots of great wintery posts from Jennifer herself. So grab your mittens and a hot mug of tea and enjoy....

Winter.
Winter drew in early in our house. From around October half term it seemed to creep into the pattern of the days. In that glorious week off school we would get the supplies ready. Raisins and currents and oranges and that sticky bottle of brandy.

One day would be set aside. When the kitchen hummed with the promise of winter and the smells of christmas. Together we would push the apple through the mincer, adding the dried fruit and mushing it together with the alcohol. We would take it in turns to wrap our hands around the big brown ceramic bowl and give the mincemeat a stir and a wish.

From that moment the waiting began. The peeps in the cupboard to look for unfamiliar dark packages, the christmas cake snuggly wrapped in greased paper, waiting to be iced. Waiting, watching.

Then the clocks changed and we giggled to ourselves as we fell asleep that night. That this was "the good one" and we would get an extra hour in bed.

The days grew shorter and colder. Winter was moving swiftly in. Stripping the trees bare. Replacing them with glittering frost.

We would get in from school and the darkness would start to draw in. We would race around the house together trying to shut all the curtains before tea. Then the cozy evenings took over. Snuggled up by the spitting fire or around a board game.

Winter was always tinged with expectancy. The thrill of the morning light as I woke wondering...will it have snowed? The ring of the doorbell and the curious packages whisked out of sight. The christmas decorations pulled down from the cold loft.

Each day we would set out for school with another layer on. Another scarf dangling around our knees, mittens tied to elastic through the sleeves of our coats. On the weekends when the weather was fine we would go for walks as a family, thick socks stuffed into wellies. We would arrive home with red noses and rosy cheeks and huddle around the kitchen table, mugs of hot chocolate in our numb fingers.

Winter came early in our house and you know what, not a lot has changed!

Now to celebrate the coming of Winter, Jennifer is giving away £25 worth of scrapbooking goodies!

How to win you may ask? Simple. Carry on hopping around each blog and leave a comment on each. You should finish at Jennifer's blog. To win just let her know that you have hopped and commented your way around. All entries must be received by Monday 19th November 10.59 GMT.

So onwards friends through the snow to the lovely Daphne