Day two…

This is just the beginning, poor Isobel.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

[image error]December 26th. Boxing day.

It may not be snowing but it's cold and the garden is frozen solid where it's not an icy swamp. No tree planting can commence in the near future. I hope the tree will survive being just dumped in an icy puddle outside the back door. No way was I going to walk down the garden in the dark, and anyway it's sheltered by the back door so the tree should be fine. Aren't they dormant if they have no leaves? Sort of like hibernating but without a cave, or fur.

So, I've showered and cleared up some of the mess from yesterday when there's a knock at the door.

There he is, with a pot with a stick in, a plastic wrapped bundle and a birdcage.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

What? Another tree and another bird? Or is that the same tree and partridge from yesterday? Please tell me it's the same ones from yesterday? How did you get the tree from the back of the house? And have you been in my freezer?

It's not the same one is it?

I thought not. Bring it in then, and whatever else you have there.

Great. OK, two oven ready partridges. This one is organic, and humanely farmed, nice touch. There's not much meat on each one so just pop it in the freezer. There should be plenty of space, tuck it in a space somewhere, beside the one from yesterday would be a good spot. There's plenty of turkey and ham left from yesterday, and that needs eating. It should take us until mid January at this rate. I have to batch up and freeze a load, which is why there's space in the freezer, I knew I'd need it for the left overs. Why do we buy in so much extra food for Christmas anyway?

The pear tree can go outside, beside the one from yesterday. Although, quite what I'm going to do with two pear trees is beyond me. An orchard perhaps? A pear orchard. I wonder how you make pear cider. Or pear wine! Now, there's a thought. I think there are a couple of demi johns in the garage, I imagine that might be interesting. Of course, first I have to clear some space in the garden, plant the trees and somehow keep them alive until they finally fruit in a few years time.

No, I haven't planted the tree from yesterday yet, the ground's too cold and hard for any sort of digging and have you seen the weather? It's freezing and wet. Snow would be an improvement and I have no plans to even set foot outside the house for several days yet. Pop that partridge into the freezer would you, it can stay in there until I find another tempting recipe, or until we run out of turkey.

Yes, I know the freezer's looking fairly full, I stocked up so I wouldn't have to go shopping until New Year.

Gee, thanks.

What are these? Turtle doves? Very pretty dear, but where am I supposed to put them? They are lovely though, and that coo they made is very soothing. They're a bit like pigeons though, and I'm not really that fond of pigeons. What do they eat?

There's a dovecote in the garden? Really, I must go and see!

That's not a little dovecote, that's as big as a garden shed! Why is it so big……

I'm starting to have a funny feeling about this.

Check back tomorrow, but I don't think we'll reach the 12th day here, you'll have to buy the book to see how it all ends.

If you can't wait, Get your copy here.

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