Acquisitions!

My dear brother in London expressed a desire "for a slice of Mom's fruitcake."
I laughed and responded, "Didn't you know that there is only one fruitcake in the world?  It just keeps getting re-gifted!"
I immediately felt bad because I realized that he was serious, and that at this time of year, his heart goes home back to a time and place where we were children, loved and cherished.  A time when Mom would bake, and we would be the enthusiastic recipients.

To be truthful, I always liked her fruitcake...dark and rich and crunchy with walnuts.  But time, and SK's jokes about fruitcake have left me somewhat jaded.

I have never made fruitcake of any sort, and I am pretty sure that I have never had the recipe.  But, my own dear sister has made it for years, and I spoke with her this week.  As usual, she is up to her neck in busyness.  She is responsible for a cast and crew of hundreds who put on an outstanding holiday production of song and dance.  It runs four nights, and no doubt wears her out.  But that is just a small bit of what keeps her so involved.

She laughed gently at my question and immediately emailed me the recipe.  She has fielded questions about it ever since, as I text her.  I have not made it as yet, because I am still trying to find all the ingredients.  Believe it or not, gumdrops have been a challenge.  She agreed today that perhaps the American candy "Dots" will do the trick.

SK and I were out and about today searching out gumdrops.  We went to quite a few stores and shops.  We have a pretty good collection, and I am almost sick from trying them out.

Throughout the day, we managed to find a few other rare finds.  I am quite pleased with all of our plunder.  It was so fun being out in the rain under the umbrella, among the crowds.  I love it!

Here are a few pictures of the day and the day's acquisitions:

Isn't it charming?

Nothing remarkable here, except that I love these delicious apples and I love that the package is the UK flag.

This looks unremarkable too, and it doesn't really show how heavily loaded the conveyor belts at the grocery stores were.  Danes and it seems like Brits as well go to the store and buy a couple of days' worth of groceries.  Everywhere I looked, people were buying tons of stuff!  All getting ready for a couple of days of feasting next week, plus food-gift-giving.

I don't know when this was built but it is amazing.

We met a couple of ward members along this street with their two little ones.  It is so interesting to me how nearly everyone is in black or a similarly dark color.

Don't laugh!!!!  (Even though SK and I are both laughing here.)  We will attend a Wedding Blessing in a church on Saturday.  One of our YSAs here was married in the temple a few months ago.  On Saturday, she will have a ceremony in a church so that all of her loved ones can attend.  We will help her set up for everything tomorrow, and then attend the formal ceremony in the church on Saturday.  When I asked what the dress was for the occasion, she said, "Oh your husband should wear a suit and you should wear dressy clothes.....and you MUST wear a fascinator!"
I responded, "Of Course."
But the truth is I had no idea what a fascinator is!  SK and I went in search, and had a difficult time finding them.  A large department store had them, but the least expensive was $80!  I just can't spend that much money on something I will wear once, and then donate to a granddaughter for Halloween.  Finally after a lengthy search, we found this one in a little shop where the ladies were most helpful.  $13.  I can live with that.  But I don't know how I can wear it with a straight face.  It is on a headband, and is supposed to look like it is perched on my head like a giant butterfly.

These are all tiny mincemeat pies...about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter.  They are everywhere right now.  Mincemeat is BIG here....and very traditional.  We will serve these on Christmas if anyone comes, and if anyone likes mincemeat (how can you not like mincemeat?)  But after seeing them in so many places, we decided (in Erin Allen grand tradition) to have a taste test.  And so here are four to try.  I can hardly wait.

I saw these little salt and pepper shakers in London in a souvenir shop.  Everywhere we have gone in Oxford, I have asked for them.  But today, I finally found them.  Aren't they adorable?  

I just felt like I needed to show you these very fresh brussels sprouts.  Have you ever seen them "On the stem?"