Stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Plum pudding, brandy butter and rum sauce arrived with Cadbury chocolate, a suitcase full of old-fashioned parlour games and grandparents from over the pond.
Brussel sprouts, parsnips, sausage rolls, mince pies, a Christmas cake with robin on top. Chestnuts, wild rice and a Willie Bird brining in a salt water stew of cinnamon, spice, honey, star anise and oranges.
A small mountain of potatoes to peel. Piles of parcels finally wrapped. That unbeatable air of anticipation preceding Christmas Day. Now that the planning, prepping, primping and preening of tree and tabletop has reached its peak it's time to wish you all a most Happy Christmas.
Whether you are one of my many readers who share this unique, Sonoma Country life, or you and yours are far, far away from this coastal Northern California clime, may the echo of the hush that will sweep over the bay at Bodega and into the valleys of Sonoma county tonight keep us connected in the coming year.
Many families have different traditions for Christmas Eve in the food department--some do pizza, some do Christmas chili. We are followers of the chili tradition--which will be paired with a certain bottle of Jolly Big Red:-) Tomorrow it will be turkey with a bottle of Toad Hollow. This Christmas we are only drinking wines made by people we know!!! Interesting in this case that their first names are Timo & Todd.
Posted by: Frank Simpson | Thursday, December 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM