A very brief search found me this image of Old Tjikko...is a 9,560-year-old Norway Spruce, one of the most commonly occurring forest trees. It is located on Fulufjället Mountain of the Dalarna province in Sweden. Old Tjikko originally gained fame as the "world's oldest tree." Old Tjikko is, however, a clonal tree that has regenerated new trunks, branches and roots over millennia rather than an individual tree of great age. Old Tjikko is recognized as the oldest living Picea abies and the third oldest known clonal tree.
For the mat layer, I found an image of a 1860's "First Book", a Swedish child's ABC. I couldn't go past either of these old beauties!
We are having a much scaled down celebration this year, what with everything that has occurred. The girls are coming for a simplified lunch, and a friend will stop by later in the day.
While I haven't done nearly as much in the way of cooking this year, I did relent and make Chris a Christmas pudding...he has been a great help during some trying times and I felt he deserved a pud...I think Christmas pudding is probably one of his top favourite treats.
I have also made a bombe (from an older Gordon Ramsay recipe) that is sitting quietly in the freezer. We are expecting a few hot days and so something chilly to finish sounded a good idea, plus making it a little ahead of time certainly cuts down on the work load.
We will enjoy a simple barbecue and salads, a good cheese board and the sweets of choice. I have a jar of fruit mince somewhere in the back of one of the fridges and so a tray or two of mince pies will complete the foody agenda for this year, that is as long as it is not too hot to make pastry tomorrow...
We had been invited to my lovely nephews Christmas Eve do this evening, but sheer exhaustion made me decline, sadly...it would have been lovely to catch up with everyone, but stamina and energy levels have decided otherwise.
Better trot, I want to put my feet up with a wine spritzer...Tim has turned on the air conditioner so hopefully we can all relax now, ahead of a quiet but happy day tomorrow...
Merry Christmas everyone!
Di