Preparations....berries, advent and books

The berry canes are overflowing. Literally every day you can collect a cup full.

Not being home for Christmas, meant that the desserts and baking we normally do for Christmas day won't be done.

Our favorite cheesecake from Chelsea Winter was the reason we planted berry canes in the first place.

The berries are harvested year after year and put to many uses. Jam, for one.

I had made the biscuits first

Sharing with the just the 5 of us, on a normal week day

but we managed to come back, slice after slice.

So, one afternoon, I decided to make a cheesecake. Just because I could. More berries were used dessert after dessert, with also lots stored in the freezer for later.

Deciding on an advent calendar that could could go on the road:

totally portable
space saving
chocolate (and other melting things) free

I found a pattern whilst browsing TradeMe one day. A felt advent calendar. We started weeks before December, Eliza and I. Cutting out, collating and sewing, sewing sewing. After a couple of weeks, and December 1st looming way too close, I bought a tube of fabric glue.

The plan was simple; everyday someone in the family would take out an ornament to make. They found the kit and instructions and sewed away. Usually it was started before school, and finished during the day.

Audio books.

Road trips have meant audio books for sometime. I ordered a list from the library - the MP3 format is great - only one CD needed for hours and hours of listening pleasure.

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Christmas on the Road 2018

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