So here we are in Christmas week! This week I am sharing a few quiet words and a couple of festive recipes (for you and for the birds) to bring a sprinkling of calm as the festivities peak. With inspiration from Julia Baird, Emma Mitchell, and Maya Angelou. Wishing you whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.
Beth Xx

• Phosphorescence by Julia Baird p.286  (William Collins)
• Making Winter by Emma Mitchell  (LOM Art)
• Untitled by Maya Angelou in Celebrations: Rituals of peace and prayer by Maya Angelou  (Virago)
• Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)

Ingredients for featured recipes:

(1)   For the birds

• You will need:
• 250g block of lard
• 250g wild berries like rosehips or hawthorn, or dried fruit like dried cranberries or sultana, wild bird seed, and porridge oats (250g in total, in any combination of berries, seeds and oats)
• A saucepan of boiling water
• A heatproof bowl to make a bain-marie
• Yoghurt pots, fibre plant pots or coconut halves
• Garden twine

(2) For you

• 2 litres still or sparkling cider or apple juice
•  2 large or 3 small apples, washed, cored and sliced but not peeled
• 3 oranges or 8 tangerines (washed and sliced but not peeled),
• 1 lemon (zest and juice only)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice, 
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 
• 8 cloves, 
• 6 short cinnamon sticks
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar