It’s almost Christmas! It’s my most favourite holiday of the year. My sister, Rachel, and I went to Huntly to the Market Muir with Mum and Dad to pick out our tree last Saturday and this morning, we decorated it.
Mum puts wreaths on all of the inside doors – guest lounge, guest dining room, ensuite bedroom, door that separates the guest area from our private one (although we often visit with folks who are staying at the B&B).
The house looks beautiful with the decorations and smells even better. Christmas baking aromas linger in the air – homemade mincemeat for tarts, fruitcake, and shortbread. All treats that aren’t prepared any other time of year.
Mum has a collection of scented candles that she burns, too. Cranberry, spiced-vanilla, balsam.
And, on the mantlepiece in the lounge, her miniature village is set up and lit. It looks so pretty. All those quaint buildings, trees, and people.
Granny and Grandpa Shand and Granny and Grandpa Duncan come to ours Christmas Eve for a meal. Mum always makes Beef Olive (from scratch) and Roast Potatoes. We eat in the guest dining room and have a lovely candle centre-piece on the table.
After supper, we go over to the guest lounge where we have tea and coffee along with mum’s homemade shortbread and like always, we get to open one present from Granny and Grandpa Shand – our Christmas pyjamas.
All these traditions. I’m not sure what I’ll do when I get married and move out. Will I have to come home every year at Christmas and stay just so I can continue these traditions or do I start my own?
What are your Christmas traditions? Which ones do you absolutely have to uphold every year?
Sarah's Place... 
Only one more sleep now, Sarah…