Hello, I am Zoe, The Duke of Tradgardland's eldest daughter. I will guide you through the preparations that have been happening in our house today.
There is still a large amout of snow lying and it it is very cold outside and weather predictions of snow showers throughout the night.
This year we bought a pot grown Christmas tree that we are going to bonsai and keep for many Christmas's to come. There is a selections of decorations that have been collected over the years. Including 1920/30's decorations from my Dad's side of the family and several that we have made ourselves.
Freya made the Snow man, above in technology as well as holly and a tree.
Today the house has been busy cleaning and preparing food. I made cranberry sauce this afternoon, a Delia Smith recipe that I have slightly changed.
Makes 4 portions
250g fresh Cranberries
1 and a half tablespoons of red wine/ port
Juice and zest of 1 orange
2 cloves
a small piece of cinnamon stick/ quarter of a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
35g caster sugar
Optional: 1 teaspoon of fresh root ginger/ half a teaspoon of ground ginger
Pulse the cranberries in a food processor or roughly chop.
Add to a sauce pan with the other ingredients and gently bring to the boil and simmer for 5-8 minutes with a lid on, until you get a thick consistency. Serve warm straight away or leave to cool, cover with cling film and store in the fridge until needed. It can be kept refrigerated for 2 weeks.
Merry Christmas to you and your families
From Zoe
Well Christmas has passed here in Tradgardland most equitably. The weather continues to present challenges and debate as to the safety and necessity of travel. My mother-in -law came for lunch yesterday and Jan was able to take her there and back without too much hassle. Today I hit Edinburgh to see my mother for her birthday and to take her out for part of the day.
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It has been a super day. Further snow arrived overnight and we awoke to a decent (7 inch) amount of snow. Jan and I walked to get the turkey and other food from town and I picked up "Wargames Illustrated" afterwards. Good articles upon the 1st Crusade and the Very British Civil War of 1938.
post some images from the postal history of the Duchy of Tradgardland. Today's offering is from the 1950's and depicts the little know shrine of St Wolfgang (built by the Bergmann Family as a chantry chapel in the 19th century) a few miles south of Tradgardstadt. Tradgardland still retains the right to produce stamps which are eagerly sought by collectors worldwide.
Tradgardland it is Gaudete Sunday. The Duke of Tradgardland ,whilst hearing Mass, reflected upon the Rose colour of the vestments and candle upon the advent Wreath...
It is early morning in the camp near Tradgardstadt. The Tradgardland Militia awake to find sweets placed in their boots (by order of the Duchess herself) to recall the gifts left by St Nicholas. Sleepy headed they arise to another day with spirts lifted amidst the winter cold...