Christmas Eve Recap
Dec 25, 2013
Later today I’m off to spend a couple of days with my mom down south but before I leave I thought I’d share a few photos from last night.
Martin came over for lunch and we exchanged gifts. This year was tricky in terms of gift giving for Wille because the only thing he could think of that he wanted were a pair of jeans and some PJ bottoms. Yeah, I know, all grown up! At the same time I enjoyed the challenge and came up with some additiional things I knew he would enjoy like these Old Fashioned glasses, this, this and this book, binoculars, a James Bond DVD and the piece de resistance, a banjo which came as a complete surprise to him which was great.
We had a mini version of traditional Christmas smörgåsbord with stuff like pickled herring (remember the one I got at Skansen?), smoked salmon, ham, smoked lamb shank, sausages and cheeses.
We also had some home made Rocky Road and the Åre chocolates I got from Anne. Btw Åre’s a ski resort in the north and I used to go there quite often when I worked at my former job. When I used to go there it was early days chocolate making. Now they’re famous. Gotta love a success story!
Mini and Bonus also got gifts in the shape of Yeowwws but of course the most interesting of all were the boxes, wrapping paper and string. If you have cats and aren’t familiar with Yeowwws btw, check them out, Mini and Bonus LOVE them and they’re really finicky when it comes to catnip toys.
I hope you guys had/have a great Christmas too!
Tasty ! ;)
Posted by: Nancy | Jan 06, 2014 at 18:41
Dear Benita,
I discovered your blog just a few months ago and I had already got used to reading it regularly. I'm sad you've decided to quit since as Julie wrote it 'you have such a calming influence', positive and creative too. I'll miss you. Anyway good luck for your new activities and THANK YOU! Bonne année 2014! x from France
Isabelle MR from France.
Posted by: Isabelle Masson-Rousset | Jan 01, 2014 at 16:23
What is it with cats and boxes? Our kitty was parking his fat butt into every box he could find at Christmas. Even ones he couldn't quite fit into!
Posted by: Trisha | Dec 30, 2013 at 19:17
Happy New Year Benita!
Thankyou so much for showing us all of these beautiful things!
I just love it here!
Posted by: Pamela from NJ USA | Dec 30, 2013 at 17:35
cats (and kids !!) in boxes!! Love it!!Love your photography! I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2013! Happy new year!
Posted by: june | Dec 29, 2013 at 23:10
Arzu - Amazing, right?! So funny to see them go nuts like that :). Yay!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | Dec 28, 2013 at 18:50
Happy New Year! My cat thanks you... After reading it on your post, I ordered two Yeowwws for her. They just came in and she (a tortoise like Mini) went crazy for them. I don't remember her so enthusiastic about any other toy ever. Just thought you would like to know:)
Posted by: Arzu | Dec 28, 2013 at 16:20
Erika - Thanks! Good to know!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | Dec 28, 2013 at 15:02
Hi there! I've been catching up on my blog reading and saw your post about when you baked a carrot cake and how some ingredients are hard to come by. Just wanted to let you know that cream of tartar mentioned in the comments is called vinsten in swedish and can be found in the spice section of your grocery store. :) Happy holidays!
Posted by: Erika | Dec 27, 2013 at 22:48
Happy new year Benita
Posted by: Isabel | Dec 27, 2013 at 19:42
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Benita. Thank you for the year of inspiration and for being a lovely, calm place to visit. Out of all the blogs I read yours is my very favorite.
Posted by: Andrea | Dec 26, 2013 at 15:51
Nan - I won't be repeating the project next year.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | Dec 26, 2013 at 12:10
Christiine - From Wille I got some books and from my mom I got cash :).
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | Dec 26, 2013 at 12:08
Abc - De är från lite olika ställen, de minsta är vintage Arabia, de större kvadratiska loppisfynd och de rektangulära är från Granit.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | Dec 26, 2013 at 11:38
Glad to hear that you had a nice Christmas Eve celebration. Enjoy your time with your Mom. I hope that you continue the Project 52 next year too. I love seeing glimpses of your Swedish life and culture.
Posted by: Nancy in Canada | Dec 26, 2013 at 05:32
Happy Holidays Benita! My mom is hooked on your blog (as am I)... You shared the gifts that Wille received, how about yours? Do have a lovely visit with your mom. Hope to read you will continue to share your life at Chez Larsson!
Posted by: Christine E-E | Dec 25, 2013 at 16:15
What great old fashioned glasses! Willie must love them.
Have a great holiday and look forward to reading more in the New Year.
Will you repeat Project 52?
Nan
Posted by: SilverMagpies | Dec 25, 2013 at 14:30
We make our own cat nip toys. In one from the shop my friends cat found some packing material like styrofoam globule and ate some of it and died before they managed to the vet.
Many cat nip toys out there are not 100% of cat nip for several reasons. Do you have any informations how yeowww handles this?
Enjoy the time with your mom :-)
Posted by: jja | Dec 25, 2013 at 11:08
Hej! Vart har du köpt de fina vita uppläggningsfaten ifrån?
Posted by: Abc | Dec 25, 2013 at 10:43
Julie - It's not. we're one of the few families that never watch it :).
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | Dec 25, 2013 at 08:56
My cat loves the paper from all the gifts, she played with it for hours (and then she´s a very lazy cat so that says something)..! :-)
Posted by: tinajo | Dec 25, 2013 at 08:43
Another year of enjoying your blog. I love the snippets of everyday life, and the care you take of your clean, simple, and charming home. Your online presence is a calming influence. Thank you Benita, and Merry Christmas from Michigan, USA!
PS _ I just read today that many Swedes take part in a tradition of watching Donald Duck at 3 every Christmas Eve. Is that a part of your Christmas ritual?
Posted by: Julie | Dec 25, 2013 at 07:12