Tag: food

‘Twas the Week Before Christmas

Deck the halls Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house, There was baking and wrapping; the click of a mouse. Yes, we are almost there and for me, this is the best part. Cards have been written and gifts (largely) wrapped. The headache of what to get for whom, of making things and decorating is over – now is the time to enjoy.

This morning involved my favourite activity – the distribution of gifts. My husband kindly drove me around town, dropping me off for a short chat with friends. What a treat to interact with people in 3D, despite masks and social distancing. Because this is what the season is all about, surely. Here is our opportunity to show that we care for one another. In the hustle and bustle of the every day, it is easy to overlook how much we value our friends. Yet, at Christmas, our goodwill embraces loved ones near and far and even, for a short, magical while, to everyone we meet.

Cards and gifts waiting to be delivered. Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Christmas for many, especially women, has become a marathon to be run; a trial to be endured. How frequently we become burdened with insane expectations. The Martha Stewarts of this world have a lot to answer for. Of course, this misses the point entirely. Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate.

Festivals are moulded by convention, but whether we adhere to them or not is really up to us – there is no Christmas police. Take the Christmas card. It was invented by Henry Cole, who was looking for a time-saving solution to the fashion for sending Christmas wishes via ‘decorated letterheads and visiting cards’ (V&A). This was a trend he himself had encouraged to boost the postal service and especially the Penny Post. Many friends have chosen not to send cards this year and instead are giving to charity, which is eminently sensible if card writing is a chore you’d rather avoid. I love making and sending cards, so I shall continue. I also depend upon the Post Office, so in addition to our usual donations, I shall be making one to Royal Mail – via stamps!

The same holds true for Christmas meals. With so many folks unable to host family this year, they are choosing to make something that is far more in line with what they enjoy than what is expected. We’ll be having a woodland nut roast. Another friend will have lamb. If everyone in attendance loves turkey with all the trimmings, that’s great – just remember to get them into the kitchen to help you prepare the potatoes and sprouts or contribute a pudding. Cooking together is a wonderful and often hilarious activity (a glass of wine helps); cooking alone while others lounge on the sofa eating chocolate is an embittering chore.

With no-one able to visit, decorations too have become optional. Some folks have barely bothered, others, like myself have gone a little overboard. Christmas may be a little quieter this year, but there is no reason not to show one’s enthusiasm with lights and elves and reindeer.

Leave no surface undecorated Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

My motto has been leave no surface (undecorated) behind and on these dark nights and slightly worrying days, these very decorations have served to cheer me.

This afternoon, I made some sloe gin muffins to pop in the freezer for Christmas Day morning. The sloe gin I’d made in October is now ready and after decanting it, I didn’t want to waste all those delicious sloes. Removing the stones took a little while, but there was no rush, only an opportunity for mindfulness. With Christmas music in the background and my husband making dinner by my side, it was a lovely experience.

We thought we ought to try one! Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

I made the muffins because I wanted to. There was no obligation – only a chance to try a new recipe. We need to hold strong to doing things not out of duty but out of love. We need to blow away those clinging cobwebs of convention and embrace what brings us – and just as importantly, others – joy.

A picture of an elf – just because! Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The early Quakers – devout though they were – did not celebrate Christmas or any other feast day. For them, every day was sacred and should be valued as such. Though most modern Quakers, and the rest of us, do enjoy these special celebrations, perhaps a balance can be struck.

Christmas Day is both wonderful and ordinary. Its brilliance lies in the efforts we make to contact loved ones, share gifts and food. It reminds us to be our best selves. And if we remember, simultaneously, that is it just a normal day, perhaps we can take the stress of perfectionism out of it.

Better still, we can carry the essence of the season throughout the year. Cards, gifts, fellowship and sharing food is not just for Christmas. An unexpected card will always bring a smile, as will a little ‘unbirthday’ gift. We can share food with the needy through Food Banks and drop samples of our creations round to friends. Christmas Day marks the turning of the year – towards light, life and hope. It offers us a new beginning, as every day does. Let’s make the most of it.

Seasons Greetings from us all! Image: Jeff Costello-McFeat

Which leaves me to wish you a Very Merry Christmas! And I look forward to joining you in the New Year. Much love, Karen

Live Beautifully

In these crazy days, as the Corona virus locks us indoors, I thought it might be timely to do a post on something positive: living beautifully. When our lives are filled with activities and deadlines, it is sometimes difficult to make space for the finer things. Yet, these are what make life worth while. They do not require an immense amount of time, money or effort, but if we try to incorporate living beautifully into all that we do, I believe our lives can be transformed.

I have been inspired by friends who always made an extra effort to make a simple coffee date into an afternoon retreat. By taking time to lay a tea tray with pretty cups and linens, they immediately graced the moment with care and friendship. They may have added homemade goodies, flowers or prettily arranged food. Nothing was showy or intimidating (this is not the objective), but they were clearly acts of love.

We do not have to spend a fortune on a gift to show we care. Whatever we can afford, it can be made more precious by a piece of ribbon or pretty paper. So what of life? This is surely the best gift and deserves the prettiest bows, the most gorgeous paper!

My daily reminder on my black board. Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Time is on my side

For once, time is definitely on my side. As I fall into the ‘at risk’ group, I now have twelve weeks (or 84 days!) of zero social commitments! On the one hand, this is a pretty horrible prospect – I’m already missing my friends – but on the other, I have the good fortune of my husband sharing it with me and a number of ideas of what I can do in this huge expanse of time.

Having time to think is always a luxury and one we do not afford ourselves often enough. Now is a perfect opportunity to reevaluate our lives and perhaps consider ways that we could make our lives a little better. I’m going to start with all the things that make me smile and bring joy (Marie Kondo’s decluttering advice is more than just about tidying the house).

You might like to do a mind map too of what brings you joy and make this an interactive experience!

Here’s my list in no particular order: friends and family, flowers, food, books, music, writing, letters, art, exercise and work. So how can they make life beautiful?

Friends and family

Since I am currently isolated, this is definitely the hardest one! However, a judicious use of social media means that we can keep in touch via any number of platforms. Regular video contact with the kids keeps me sane and talking on the phone is always a pleasure. Seeing and hearing others allows us to avoid the many pitfalls that can arise from the misreading of a text.

Another way we can write thoughtfully is through letters. It may be a lost art and postal rates increases do not help, but there are few activities more enjoyable than penning and receiving letters.

To make it ‘beautiful’ I invest in gorgeous stationery. I usually use a fountain pen so that my writing is as attractive as possible and also as meaningful. If you slow the rate at which you write, you are more likely to express your thoughts as you intended.

Modern life means that we often live at a distance from friends and relations, but letters and cards, more than anything else bridge that void. I have a wonderful friend in Yorkshire who is a keen letter writer and despite being separated from the age of ten, we still keep in touch regularly. On the rare occasions when we are able to meet up, we start our conversations as if they had only broken off a day or so ago. The same applies to distant friends who email with the same care as a letter. And some of them have discovered beautiful email stationary, thus merging the beauty of letters with the convenience of modern communication.

Receiving and writing letters is always a joy Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Words

While we are on the topic of words; books are a ‘go to’ for making life beautiful for me! They have the power to thrill, uplift, entertain and inform us. If we make time to read, we are making time for ourselves to tune out of the everyday world and tune in to our imaginations. I believe we are both refreshed and healed by the experience.

Enjoy the sunshine

This has been in rather short supply this year and its rarity makes it all the more precious. In the narrow window of sun we had today, I determined to head outside and do a little gardening. Though I only managed about half an hour, the smell of the earth and the sun warming my bones made me feel wonderful. Excavating the lilac trees from a carpet of ivy was also very satisfying and and my garden is a little more beautiful as a result.

While there, I also took my secateurs to cut some spring flowers for the house. I didn’t take too many, but they made a sweet little bouquet, which will certainly cheer my kitchen.

Even the smallest bouquet, inexpertly arranged, will raise a smile. Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Food art

Despite the fashion in very expensive restaurants to make their minute portions of food look like a modernist painting, flourishes don’t have to be grand to make food appetising. Here are some of my very simple ideas to make food a visual as well as a gastronomic joy!

  • Add seed sprinkles and herbs to dishes like soup for extra pazzaz.
  • Invest in nice china – charity and second hand shops have an abundance at very low cost.
  • If having a modest sandwich, add pickles and fresh veg sticks for colour and texture.
  • Eat at the table and if you are feeling fancy – add napkins and flowers. For a special occasion, hunt out the table cloths.
  • Add sliced lemon (and possibly ice) to drinks. It always makes it feel more of a treat.
  • The list is really endless, but making mealtimes a ritual that has meaning will make it so much more than a refuelling stop.

Be beautiful!

I’m going to finish with one that seems a little obvious but is often over-shadowed by unrealistic expectations. If we hope to feel good about ourselves, it is important to invest in ourselves. Appearance matters -as much to us as those that see us.

When we are home with no visitors, the temptation is to lounge about in our pyjamas and slippers, but I think this would soon eat away at our self-esteem. Even when working from home, most experts advise dressing for the office in order to get your head in the right mindset. I would not suggest you do that, but why not take care to select a nice outfit, do your hair and make-up and (this took me a while to get right) add some matching jewellery?

Shallow though it sounds, when you look good, you feel good. Self-care is not selfish, nor is living beautifully (when done with the right intention) showing off. When we live beautifully, we are expressing that we value all of life’s gifts and appreciation and gratitude, as we know, are always good for the soul.