An Old Friend

My friend and fellow blogger Sarah Rooftops set a challenge to write a blog post on your most treasured possession. Not including partner, family or pets.

Well, my 36 year old teddy bear Ruth is pretty close to being one of these really. Ruth sports a vintage 1974 cardi in striped towelling which I used to wear when I was a baby. She has been much loved over her three decades and has undergone various remedial procedures including a new face (made of old towel) and new nose (actually for a toy dog). But her original expression and personality was carefully retained.

In my mind, Ruth is a Buddha like figure of silent wisdom and comfort and a secret Ninja master. The perfect sidekick in fact.

Winter Wonderland

It snowed today! And I enjoyed my favourite walk along the old railway line (now a cycle track). There were loads of gorgeous red berries on holly and rowan trees. Here, a blackbird enjoys the berries. Interestingly, they are poisonous to us, but not to them. How does that work?

Getting Medieval With It

No, it's not the scariest tomato in the world (for Alistair) or a beachball with piercings. This is a clove studded orange aka a pomander. Pomanders became a big thing for Xmas in the C17th and C18th. They were also believed to protect against disease, including plague! Better safe than sorry, I say...

Make a pomander by studding any citrus fruit with cloves and it should naturally dry and fragrance in a Christmassy way. Oranges are traditional but you can use limes, lemons, or kumquats (don't ask me, I wouldn't know one if I saw one.)