Nadolig Llawen i Bawb
Christmas morning breaks brilliant and glittering, with a fresh coat of snow covering the path to the door. It's the first Christmas in the cottage, and Bran and Will are both determined that everything will be perfect, and so elated that whatever happens, it could hardly be anything but. It begins with the little gifts, left in stockings over the fireplace (but not low enough to actually burn) that they give each other, and then a spot of tea and breakfast before preparing for guests. There is holly over the windows and a wreath on the door, and a tree in the corner where the Stantons' wooden ornaments share space with other, newer ones they've made for themselves.
The little cottage smells of Christmas dinner by the time family arrive, of goose and roast potatoes and spiced hot cider. There have never been quite so many people around the table before, and there's a little banging of elbows and near-spills, but the laughter more than makes up for it. Then there are presents--little things, but all chosen and made with love and wrapped in bright paper (and the home-made Christmas crackers are, the crafters think, quite an accomplishment). There's a roaring fire, and music--singing carols with the harp behind, and then just curling up to listen to Paul's flute, cupping warm mugs of mulled wine in toasty fingers.
[Gathering style, tag in at any point during the day and just have fun. :)]
The little cottage smells of Christmas dinner by the time family arrive, of goose and roast potatoes and spiced hot cider. There have never been quite so many people around the table before, and there's a little banging of elbows and near-spills, but the laughter more than makes up for it. Then there are presents--little things, but all chosen and made with love and wrapped in bright paper (and the home-made Christmas crackers are, the crafters think, quite an accomplishment). There's a roaring fire, and music--singing carols with the harp behind, and then just curling up to listen to Paul's flute, cupping warm mugs of mulled wine in toasty fingers.
[Gathering style, tag in at any point during the day and just have fun. :)]