2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 7

Yay, it's the weekend! Only a couple more of these before the big day. I should be out shopping but instead I am taking the weekend off! Next weekend I will have to hit the shops. Even if you are busy out and about, I hope you find the time to visit with our hosts for today.

Suey @ It's All About Books

Bellezza @ Dolce Bellezza

Today I am sharing a passage from The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal. I have read several of this author's books over the last year or so, and if you want a feel good read with lots of delicious sounding food then I would highly recommend Barbara O'Neal.

The passage is from pages 397 and 398

On Christmas Eve, the restaurant closed at eight, and by ten, Ivan and Patricak were settled in front of the Christmas tree at Patrick's place, drinking eggnog and listening to rock-and-roll Christmas carols, which Ivan insisted upon. Springstreen sang "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," in that raw, ragged voice, and Ivan leaned back happily, drink in hand, to watch the lights sparkle. Patrick was cutting out paper snowflakes that he was going to use for table decorations tomorrow, when a few people would come over for a Christmas goose with all the trimmings. Patrick had made a special request for it, tickled by the idea of a Dickens sort of Christmas and Ivan tracked down one of his suppliers to get a honking big bird - he laughed every time he said this - and it was marinating now. Ivan would get up at dawn to put it in the oven so it would be ready for dinner. He'd also secretly rented a Victorian-era costume, complete with a top hat, in which he thought he looked pretty hot.

The restaurant was closed. All of Liswood's restaurants were closed for Christmas and again on New Year's Day. He felt everyone deserved a couple of days off every year, no matter what, something Ivan found remarkable.

"This is great," Ivan said.

Patrick smiled up at him. "It is. I'm so looking forward to our dinner tomorrow! Thank you for cooking goose."

"One big honking bird," Ivan said, laughing

"The joke might be a little overdone," Patrick said, but he was grinning. He unfolded think white paper to reveal a beautifully intricate  snowflake. "Sure you don't want to try one?"

"I'm sure."

Over at my blog I am also sharing a recipe from the book today.

2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 6

Welcome to day 6 of the Virtual Advent Tour. Today we are visiting with the following participants\

raidergirl3 @ an adventure in reading

Ashley @ Closed the Cover

And I am sharing a new to me carol that I have been introduced to over the last few days that I find really haunting. I hope you enjoy it too.

 

2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 5

Today we are glad to be visiting with some of the long term supporters of the Virtual Advent Tour. Whilst we love all the new people that participate, Kelly and I are always grateful when people love the tour so much that they come back year after year! Please take some time to visit

Darren @ Bart's Bookshelf

Andi @ Estella's Revenge

One of the things that we have always tried to do as part of the Virtual Advent tour is highlight other events throughout book blog land. Normally we update them in the sidebar, but having previously highlighted #estellagram earlier in the tour, I thought I would share another event today.

Kim from Reading Matters is hosting the Book Bloggers Advent Calendar. Kim has asked some of her blogging friends (including me!) to share one of the favourite reads of 2013 and each day she shares one of those recommendations.

I have to say that the range of recommendations is as broad as it is interesting — and no one appears to have chosen the same title. The suggestions include everything from prize-winning novels to little-heard-of gems deserving of more attention. Some were published this year, many were not.

Maybe you will discover a fantastic read during the between now and Christmas. And if you were wondering, I shared a gushy, gushy review about the audio version of On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, which was revealed on day 4.

Do you know of any bloggy holiday events that you would like to share with us?

2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 4

After yesterday's panic which has now abated a little despite the fact that I haven't done any additional preparation, it is time to visit our hosts for today

Cindy @ Cindy's Love of Books

Kelley @ the road goes ever ever on

Today I am sharing the first of the quotes that I have saved up during the year. This one comes from The House at Salvation Creek by Suan Duncan. Just previous to this section a bushfire had come close to the houses in Lovett Bay where the author lives in a gorgeous old house once owned by one of Australia's most famous female poets.

The quote comes from pages 155-157

Bob's daughters, Meg and Kelly, arrive to celebrate Christmas bringing their partners...and dogs, Tali and Bear. Tali is a handsome black and white border collie with a baby pink lipstick smile and a ton of charm. He shadows Meg like her keeper. Bear is the ugliest dog ever born: too tall, skinny in the rump, big-chested. Not even her ears match. One sticks straight up. The other flops flatly. Her coat looks like it's been attacked by moths. Kelly adores her.

The floors of rooms all over the house are littered with clothing, mattresses and bedding for dogs and humans, strewn like the aftermath of gale-force winds. Lulu, my step-daughter from my first marriage, comes with her partner and her border collie, Bella. Bella's muzzle is greyer than ever, although she still never stops dropping sticks in your lap and begging you to throw them. The sticks are like toothpicks now, though. The floor space is chockers. Lulu will sleep in a tent on the lawn. She is kind enough to tell me she likes camping. Chip Chop is overwhelmed, but she cheers up at the sight of food.

Christmas dinner unfolds in chaos. the charcoal in the barbecue won't catch alight. The turkey, covered in the skin from the ham to keep it moist, is cooking too slowly. Dogs, stinky wet from a swim, hover politely at my feet in the kitchen, hoping a morsel will drop off the bench. When nothing does, they wander off, heads sagging with disappointment, pausing only to shake. The walls are sprayed with water. The salad, too. Chip Chop finds the ham skin after we take it off to brown the turkey. She eats it to the point of explosion. We call Ray the Vet who tells us she might die but there's not a damn thing we can do. We lock her away from even the smell of food.

My mother, resplendent in fire-engine red with strobing red reindeer earrings and a Santa Claus brooch that flashes like a lighthouse, tells me the Christmas decorations are a disgrace. "I'll do them next year," she huffs.

"I've gone minimalist," I snap back. Truth is, with bushfires and getting beds and tents sorted, I ran out of time and energy for more than a few baubles and a small old flashing Christmas tree I've had for years.

"Minimalist and Christmas don't work," she replies. And she has a point.

When we finally sit down to eat, I am sweating from a barrage of hot flushes. I whack down two glasses of champagne in rapid succession, then I look around. Smiling faces. Tanned arms reaching for a prawn, smoked trout, some mango salad.

"Ah bugger," I shout. "Put down your knives and forks. We haven't sung the carols yet."

Everyone groans. Lulu hands around the words to six carols we sing every year before we eat. She's been sitting on them, hoping I'll forget. Not a chance! Is there an exploding point for happiness? There can't be.

*****************

By midnight we're all in bed, even the youngies. Bob grabs me tightly. "Thank you," he says, with a sigh.

"Oh no, thank you!"

And we both fall into a deep sleep. Holding hands.

At the next Christmas the decorations are far from minimalist!

2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 3

Day 3. You know what that means? Only 3 weeks until Christmas Eve! I am sure that there are lots of you out there who are all organised and have now finished your shopping, all your cards are sent etc etc. Hopefully I won't be the only one whose reaction to the whole 3 weeks thing is PANIC!!!

I am sure that our tour hosts for today have everything under control, so be sure to visit them both!

Tasha B. @ Truth Freedom Beauty and Books

Tami @ Just One More Thing...

2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 2

What a great start to the tour we had yesterday with Becky and Alexandra kicking things off in style! Today we are visiting the following blogs.

Teresa @ Teresa's Reading Corner

Amy @ My Friend Amy

Let's kick things off with a beautiful acapella version of a Christmas favourite that has been doing the rounds for the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!

 

2013 Virtual Advent Tour: Day 1

Welcome to the 2013 Virtual Advent Tour!

We are so excited to see what everyone has to share with us this year. Our first stops are at the following blogs:

Becky @ Becky's Book Reviews

Alexandra @ The Sleepless Reader

Like last year, we are going to be sharing some quotes that I have been saving up during the year specifically to share for the tour! There will also be some songs and other things. What that means is that there will be something new to see or hear at the blog most days.

Remember it isn't too late to sign up and join in the fun! You can find all the details, including how to sign up in this post!

Another way to have fun this holiday season is by participating in the December #EstellaGram hosted by the Estella Society. You just take a picture each day that relates in some way to the prompts. Then you can post on your blog, Instagram, Facebook etc.

Let the festivities begin!