Welcome to a very different Christmas at the Hearth and Soul Link Party. No matter who we are or where we live, we are all facing challenges of one sort or another. I am comforted by a quote from Max Lucado about the first Christmas, when “Once and for all, God tipped the scales in the favour of hope”. Contrary to what many on social media would have us believe, our celebrations may be different this year, but because of the reason it exists, Christmas can never be cancelled.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes blog posts about anything that feeds the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
NB. Please only share blog posts. I’m sorry, but links to Facebook posts etc will be deleted.
What’s Been Happening
Our Christmas plans have changed beyond recognition with the discovery of the new strain of COVID-19 in the UK. I’m incredibly grateful that this strain is no more lethal than its predecessor and that the new vaccine will work against it just as effectively. The big issue we have is that it is transmitted much more easily. As a result, much of the UK, including my county of Berkshire, has been placed in a new Tier 4. This means we are pretty much locked down and also cannot see family and friends at Christmas. I am incredibly grateful my son and his partner live in an area that is Tier 2. Although we cannot see them, I am comforted that they are much safer than we are. I’m also incredibly grateful for FaceTime.
I’m still determined to make the most of the Christmas season! Merry Christmas to everyone who is celebrating.
It’s not too late to Make Your Own Christmas Wreath with step by step instructions from the wonderful Emma at Green Parlour.
Although I love my family’s traditional Old Fashioned British Christmas Cake recipe, if I haven’t made it by now I generally make this delicious cake instead.
Full of Christmas flavours, my delicious, warmly spiced Brandy and Mincemeat Cake recipe is a lighter alternative to fruit cake that is perfect for any occasion. Or try something different for a very different Christmas –
Chocolate and Cranberry Quick Bread with Cinnamon Glaze is one of my favourite holiday quick breads. With a decadent, rich, full on chocolate flavour, sweet, sharp tangy cranberries and a bit of spice, this moist loaf has holiday flavours galore!
There are lots of other Christmas recipes and ideas on the blog so be sure to have a look around!
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful content.
A Very Different Christmas Featured Posts
Featured posts (from top left, clockwise):-
Traditional flavours can be such a comfort during a very different Christmas. I’m a big fan of Cranberry and Orange Bread, so I really love the sound of these lovely Cranberry Orange Cookies from The LouLou Girls. The glaze makes them look extra special!
I’m a huge fan of peppermint so I know I would love this Peppermint Pound Cake from Nancy C. It looks so pretty too!
Whether it is a celebration for one person or a whole lot more, games can be such fun at Christmas. Maria from Krafty Planner has a free printable Holiday Word Search to get you started.
Although not all places have been decorating as usual for Christmas, Patrick of Adventures in Weseland has discovered some lovely displays on his travels. Check out the photos of what he found in his post Still Trying To Find Christmas Cheer.
On with the party!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
- Please do not link to anything except blog posts. Please share the permalink to your blog post, and not to the home page of your blog.
- Linking your blog posts here means you consent to me sharing as many of them as I can on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook and featuring them on my blog with photographs from the post. It’s easier for me to share if you have share buttons on your blog, and if you put links to your social media on your home page.
- Please consider sharing the party with your friends and followers. There are share buttons at the top and bottom of this post to help make it easy.
What will you share this Christmas week? Wishing you a safe, healthy and Happy Christmas!
Comments & Reviews
Christmas Greetings April,
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and praying for your safety and good health. Thanks so much for the holiday party I appreciate it!
Miz Helen
Thank you so much, Miz Helen! Wishing the same to you and yours. You all are in my prayers as well. Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas, April 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting the party 🙂
Thank you, Claire! Happy Christmas to you and yours!
April, so sorry you are having to be on lockdown over the holidays–praying you and your family stay well and healthy during this time. And thanks so much for including the Peppermint Pound Cake in your features this week!
Thank you, Nancy! Praying for you and your family as well. Take care and I hope you have a lovely Christmas!
Thanks for hosting us all again! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and stay well. I brought by some Elderberry Syrup to help everyone stay well. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Thank you, CJ! I’m a big fan of elderberry syrup. Take care and stay well. Merry Christmas!
Hi April, I saw that on the news this morning that there was a new, faster spreading, strain of COVID in the UK. Wow, I can’t imagine how much faster this thing can spread than it already does. Please be safe and stay healthy! Thank you for featuring my holiday word search at this week’s party and I hope you have a peaceful Christmas.
There is, Maria. Thank goodness it isn’t any more lethal than the other strain, it just spreads faster. The vaccine is effective against it though so hopefully that keeps rolling out smoothly so we can fight back 😀 Thank you for your good wishes. We are taking great care. I hope you have a lovely Christmas. Stay safe!
Wishing you the merriest of Christmases, and many thanks for your faithfulness here!
Thank you so much, Michele. Wishing you a safe and healthy Christmas.
Hi April–I’m sorry your country and especially your area, and of course, you and your family, are going through such a challenging time. Obviously, we’re going through a similarly challenging time here. I only wish that we were under a lockdown as well, so we could stop the spread of COVID. The increasing numbers are staggering.
We are all doing the best we can to celebrate Christmas and count our blessings while worrying about everyone and trying to stay safe.
Your Lemon and Walnut Squares definitely need to be made gluten free here and soon! I need to add them to my to-make list so I don’t forget about them.
That Peppermint Pound Cake looks amazing. Lovely on a holiday table!
I’ve linked up my Blueberry Gingerbread (so good) and Crustless Fudge Pie (some call it brownie pie). Merry Christmas! xo,
Shirley
Thank you, Shirley. I hope you will enjoy the Lemon and Walnut Squares. Please let me know how the gluten free version turns out. I am sure it will be lovely. Both your recipes sound amazing – I’m particularly intrigued by the Blueberry Gingerbread. Take care and I hope you have a Merry Christmas. You will be in my thoughts. xo
April, this is my first time joining the link party! Thanks so much for hosting. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the festive posts today during the lead-up to what will definitely be “A Very Different Christmas”. Your appetizers post gave me an idea – since this will be a Christmas dinner for two this year for us, I’m just going to make a variety of appetizers and no main course. Why not? They’re always the most fun, anyway! Thanks again, and I look forward to the next link party. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Welcome Carrie Ann! I love your idea about the appetizers! I think we should all eat exactly what we want this year, that is for sure. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you at the next party which goes live Sunday 27th.
April, it really is a different kind of Christmas this year. I have been keeping my eye on the situation in the UK because I have a few friends there. Seems so scary with this strain, but glad that you are finding ways to enjoy the season at home and making the most of it! Merry Christmas! And thank you for hosting!
Thank you, Angie. Take care and stay well. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for hosting during such a busy time! Lockdowns and restrictions are difficult to live with, but they offer the hope of reducing the suffering that would surely occur otherwise. I wish my state of Georgia would take sensible precautions. Take care. And have a merry Christmas!
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas too, Sandra! Stay safe!
We are behaving as if we are locked down, because the positivity rate in our area is one person out of five. But I am feeling hopeful now that the vaccinations of the healthcare workers have started in America. And I grieve for the 317,000 dead. Like you, we are making the best of it.
Happy Holidays, however you can manage it!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Oh my goodness, that is a very high case rate in your area. How frightening. Our rate is nowhere near that high and we are in the top tier of lockdown in England. Please do take care and stay safe. Happy Holidays to you too!
Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up with AWAY IN A MANGER, POINSETTIA – THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS PLANT, and WHAT’S ON YOUR CHRISTMAS MENU?
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Dee! Merry Christmas!
I am happy to hear that the vaccine works against the new covid strain. I’m sorry that you cannot see your son for Christmas, but happy that you can still celebrate with your husband. Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for being a great hostess.
Thank you, Kristie! I hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas too.
Thanks for hosting! Merry Christmas!
It’s a pleasure! Merry Christmas!
It’s so hard for COVID to be happening at Christmas, especially this new strain. But you’re so right, it still can’t cancel Christmas. We’re blessed to have FaceTime and Zoom so we’re not cut off completely. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas despite the difficulties.
Thank you, Barbara! I wish the same to you! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, April. Thank you for this wonderful hop. May you and yours be blessed this Christmas!
Thank you so much, Julie. I wish the same to you!
April, I’m so sorry to hear you won’t be able to spend Christmas in person with your son and his partner. The holidays and being with our families is such a special and comforting tradition that it seems even harder if we can’t celebrate with our near and dear.
We are fortunate to be able to be with our children on Christmas, but we are still being very caution and wearing masks and keeping some distance in the home. I’m grateful to have at least that, but long for the day when we can hug and be close again.
Christmas Blessing to you and yours,
Niky @ The House on Silverado
Thank you, Niky. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Stay safe and well.
Thanks for hosting and have a nice week and a Merry Christmas April.
Thank you, Julie! You too!
Thank you for hosting! I always appreciate visiting here and seeing what you have been creating. Merry Christmas to you and yours, stay happy and healthy.
Thank you, Melynda. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas too. Stay safe and well.
This is what I featured on my blog 12-14 to 12-18-2020. On Tuesday was Death by Chocolate and Peanut Butter Trifle. Wednesday was How to Bake a Ham in a Convection Oven With 4 Bonus Glazes. Thursday was York Mint Red Velvet Wreaths. And Friday was a Red Velvet Oreo Trifle. Enjoy!
What a lovely selection of recipes, Marilyn!
I guess all any of us can do is make the best of what we do have this Christmas and be thankful for our blessings. Yes, thank goodness for Facetime and Skype! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, April.
This is so true, Donna! We have so many blessings to be grateful for. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
So very true. We do need to smile and celebrate in Christmas and be thankful. Love that tree and love all the food. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you, Patrick! I wish the same to you and your family!
Your breads are beautiful, April! They are pinned! Thank you for having us all over for another wonderful party! Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Tee @ Teediddlydee
Thank you, Tee, and thank you for pinning too. Merry Christmas! Hugs!
Hi April! I’ve heard about the new strain and wondered how you were affected! Sorry that you won’t be able to spend Christmas with your son. Some of our children wil be missing from our celebration, too. But, like you, we are remembering the reason for the season and not letting it get us down! Thanks for that message! I heard a good one today, “We all need a ‘Stable foundation!” I sure know that is true!
Have a wonderful and Merry Christmas! Enjoy the video chats!
Thank you for thinking of me, Helen! I do love the idea of a “stable foundation”. I know for sure that is true too 🙂 Thinking of you and your family this Christmas. I hope you have a Merry Christmas too.
Merry Christmas April! Here in Ontario, we are going into a loose lockdown as of Boxing day. I am glad because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate with my SO’s mom and his nana, both which live alone and shouldn’t have to celebrate by themselves. Precautions will be taken, but since I have an autoimmune disease, we’ve all been very cautious from the start. This will be my 2nd Christmas unable to celebrate with my parents and siblings, but if that means keeping them safe, it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.
Thank you so much for hosting every week and for sharing your wonderful recipes with us. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas!
I’ll be thinking of you and yours this Christmas, Cindy. I’m glad that you can celebrate with some of your SO’s family, but sorry you cannot be with your family too. Thank you for the compliment! I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas too!
I’m sorry things are so precarious where you live. I am saying a prayer for you and yours right now and hope you have a very merry Christmas regardless.
Thank you so much for praying for us, Lauren. We really appreciate it! I’m so grateful we are all still well, and for the hope that this season offers us. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
April, I know the two of you will have a lovely time and make the most of your lockdown! Thank you so much for hosting. I don’t know how you do it! Wishing you a 2021derful!
Thank you, Jean! I hope you have a lovely time too. I really like your turn of phrase 2021derful! I wish you exactly the same. Thank you for all your support!