I managed to find a bit of unexpected money and decided to spend it on a Philips DS3020 docking station for my new iPod touch. I just received an e-mail confirming that it has been sent and I'm very much looking forward to listening to music on it. I'm not sure if the Christmas playlist still feels relevant when it does arrive, but if not I'll just create one suitable for our New Year's celebrations. I do love gadgets!

I was so happy to receive so many wonderful presents last night: A white iPod touch (which actually was an early Christmas present in November) and the MacFamilyTree software from T., a kimono style robe and products from Avène from T.'s sister and her husband, the works of Swedish Nobel laureate Tomas Tranströmer, a book full of Christmas inspiration from Ernst Kirchsteiger and two sets of bed linen from my mother and father-in-law, as well as Avène Skin Recovery Cream and Monika Ahlberg's very extensive Christmas cookbook from T.'s grandmother.

Yesterday's Christmas dinner with turkey, red cabbage, white and brown potatoes, a wonderfully rich sauce, Amarone wine, and a rice and whipped cream dessert with cherries was lovely and I don't think anyone were even close to go to bed on an empty stomach.

While the rest have been preparing today's Christmas lunch (for twelve people) T. and I decided to take T.'s sisters German shepard out for a long walk which made her very tired and she is now snoring lightly at my feet. It's a lazy day and I love it.

2011 has been an extremely eventful and somewhat draining year for us, and now we're busy finishing many things in time for the holidays. Christmas presents have been bought and we have even opened our first ones, since the children will spend Christmas elsewhere this year. Last night we had a very tasty "Christmas chicken" dinner and afterwards the boys were eager to open their presents and watch us open the presents they had made or bought for us.

T. is currently very busy exploring one of his gifts, the game LA Noire. I received a cookbook with Christmas recipes, Julens godsaker by Mia Öhrn, and together T. and I received a small stool made in school by our youngest, which will be perfect in the kitchen (it will help me reach the top shelves). He made it so well, and I exceedingly proud. From us, our youngest received a pair of slippers and our oldest the most recent Harry Potter DVD as well as some money for the things for which they save up. In addition they gave each other a computer game (for the youngest) and a huge popcorn bowl and lots of microwave popcorn (for the oldest). It's always sad to see them go, but yesterday was wonderful and I hope they will have a wonderful "second" Christmas as well.

T. and I are also looking forward to "Christmas no. 2" and it might get a bit quiet on the blog for the next few days. It only remains for me to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Eighteen years ago I received my first pair of Iittala Festivo candleholders, five-ringed. I've always liked them, but I kind of forgot all about them for a while. Browsing Tradera I stumbled upon other sizes and I suddenly envisioned a new way of using them. Iittala Festivo candleholders are available in the sizes one-ringed to eight-ringed and I realized they look great grouped. I managed to win the auctions on four more (one one-ringed, one two-ringed and two four-ringed) and I have decided that I will keep an eye open for yet a few more in larger sizes.

There has been quite a few twists and turns in our correspondence with the insurance company since the accident, but today we have finally ordered our brand new, candy white 2012 Skoda Superb Elegance TDi 170 with cream leather. Our previous car was black with cream leather, but this time we decided to go for white. According to the information we received at the car dealer's we're supposed to get the car at some point in April. A long wait, but hopefully it will be well worth it.

Almost all the prizes have been handed out to the Nobel prize laureates as I write this, and, as a Swede, it was an emotional moment when 80-year-old poet Tomas Tranströmer was awarded the prize for literature. All of the laureates are no doubt worthy of their prizes, however, and I look forward to continue to follow the upcoming dinner and other festivities.

Image borrowed from Aftonbladet.

The first one of my two white amaryllis has begun to bloom and it certainly looks amazing. Otherwise today is a rather slow day. T. doesn't feel very well. He has a cold and a headache on top of that. Outside there is a storm, but it's nevertheless quite cozy to stay inside and we have managed to make knäck as well as some fudge. We'll see what else we'll come up with.

We've done a bit of Christmas decorating at home today, had a really good meal, have watched the Danish Christmas calendar on television, and are planning to make some Christmas candy tomorrow. A lot of candles have been lit and we're relaxing on the couches for a while before at some point deciding it's time to go to bed. It feels great right now.