Before Xmas

One of the traditions at New Year is to hang a large bulb called a Boska on the front gate. It is wrapped in silver paper and decorated with a red ribbon

They bring good luck. As do pomegranates 

Normally after New Year's I would throw it onto the compost heap. 

But last year my daughter Elli told me they keep theirs all year, still wrapped in silver paper.  It not only lives all year without watering but starts growing again in time for the next New Year

 It has indeed sprouted a green leaf.  I was amazed.  

I rewrapped it and it's good to go for another year. Not quite as leafy as last years

Cheerful, festive red peppers in the garden

My NZ niece Julie is hanging a blue and white Greek eye on her kiwi Christmas tree

Pickled onions ready to go

My thick Christmas folder

With

Traditional NZ/English recipes

Recipes from my childhood

Lists and more lists

Xmas supermarket shopping list

Xmas eve prep list

Food that should be on the Xmas table list

 You don't know how easy it is to forget the Yorkshire puds, garlic bread or even the gravy when there is so much variety. English and greek

Then there are my blog posts from xmases past, printed out for posterity 

It's a very thick folder

Delivery from Vaso's trees

The smell of Christmas

Orange juice and zest goes in almost every Xmas sweet, Greek or foreign