Across the watery ways

[dolorosa_12]

I'm stretching out this strange, sleepy, isolated Christmas for as long as possible. Matthias and I both have holiday for all of next week, although at some point we are going to have to make a start on packing things up to move (the removalists are coming on the 5th). We currently live in a small house, with comparably few possessions, so it shouldn't take too long, but the prospect is a bit daunting. I haven't moved house in eight years.

Today, however, has been spent on more pleasant things. Most of the morning I curled up with a hot drink and the Yuletide collection, working my way through every book/literature fandom I wanted to read, and commenting on everything. I've also read everything in Madness with which I was familiar, and left comments there as well. Tomorrow will be for reading TV and film fandoms (of which I have far fewer, although I'm looking forward to the twelve fics for What We Do In The Shadows), and then I should be done with the entire collection, apart from my recs post, which I always write after reveals.

I'm now cooking chicken soup, and stock with duck bones for yet more soup, simultaneously. The house smells very wintry and warm, and we've got the Christmas lights on against the dark.

I did make it out of the house for a very muddy trudge to Grantchester, but unfortunately half of Cambridge appeared to have the same idea (it's always better to go in the morning rather than the afternoon) and the path was extremely crowded. Rather than fight through the unmasked crowds for the return journey, I tried a different path through the fields, but this was incredibly boggy, and I arrived home caked in mud. It was nice to be out in the sunshine, however.

There was just time for a forty-five-minute session of restorative yoga before cooking dinner, and I feel very sleepy and stretchy. I think this evening I'll stick to my Winternight reread (I'm on the third book, and greatly enjoying things), watching the latest episode of Discovery, and collapsing into bed. Honestly, doing nothing seems to have sent me into semi-hibernation!

I hope everyone's been enjoying a relaxing weekend.

Comments

[corvidology]

It sounds like a lovely plan for the week, particularly if you can get ahead of the packing. :D

[dolorosa_12]

I've made a start on the books today, and can tell already it's not going to take long. More of a problem is finding a place to put the boxes in our tiny house — I foresee a lot of box Tetris in my future!

[chestnut_pod]

Mm, that does sound lovely.

I’ve never made a duck stock before — is it essentially just the same process as a chicken or turkey stock?

[dolorosa_12]

It's been good so far!

Duck stock is exactly the same as chicken stock — put the bones in a pot along with whatever vegetables you desire, cover everything with water, boil for a while. I'll be using it in tonight's dinner.

[merit]

Chicken soup is such a comforting smell - I always add some many types of onion and garlic for extra benefit too!

[dolorosa_12]

Absolutely, and I totally agree with you about the onion and garlic!