What a delightful vlog! It’s really like being at home for an afternoon tea with dear friends! Such a warm, lovely,cozy atmosphere… Donna and Miranda , it’s so kind of you to let us enter your home and share your Christmas memories…it’s such a privilege ❤ Wishing you a wonderful trip! 😊
Donna, you kill me. 😄 You said Christmas comedies weren't your favorites. You like more sentimental movies. But we have just learned you love Die Hard 😆 "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs...." 😄😆🤣 I always enjoy your visits.
One of my favorite books at Christmas is Immoveable Feast by John Baxter. It is family and food oriented. It is nonfiction and is set in France where the author lives. I also read the Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. It is set at Christmas time and is probably categorized as a middle grade book. It is set in England in a village near the Thames. Will Stanton lives on a farm with his large family. His 11th birthday is near Christmas and on his birthday he discovers that he has come into powers that allow him along with others to fight the rising darkness. There is a snow storm and elements of English mythology intertwined with Christisn beliefs. It is a very good book.
These traditions all sound so lovely! I watch Miracle on 34th Street every year - bittersweet because it was also one of my late father’s favorites. My husband and I also watch at least one version of a Christmas Carol every year. I love Christmas and I think your latest commonplace book is my favorite. Safe travels!
I’m American and my grandmother was the only person here I knew of who made mince pies during Christmas time - the scent and taste of those pies were a special and happy part of my childhood holidays. BTW your mom is so sweet!
I loved you mentioned you would love to be in Winter Soltice. ❤ I just finished it last night and told my husband I wish I could be inside the book with them. 😊
I really enjoyed your Q&A - such lovely Christmas memories. The question about a humorous memory reminded me of the year my teenage daughters cut out forty paper circles of Nicolas Cage’s face and taped them to all the Christmas decorations- the nutcrackers, the angels, the teapot and more! I thought they were unusually excited even for Christmas morning. Little did I know they were excited to see my reaction to their late night decorating!
Just want to share a fun tradition we have in our family (both my husband and I grow up with it) is to make up a rhyme, a poem, or alike on each present and the person who receives the present needs to guess what is in it and the clue(s) is(are) in the rhyme or poem. Take for ever to write but it is really fun tradition and we all do it.
Thank you for your videos. I liked to listening to your memories about the countries you lived and their traditions. My mother ( who is a lady of 87!) and I wish you a merry Christmas with love. Here in Italy we eat " pandoro" or "panettone" . I like best "pandoro". It is a simple cake made in Verona, the town of Romeo and Juliet. Here in Italy each town has a Christmas market. We make " presepe", la creche in french, with little statues which represent baby Jesus born and all the people and angels who come to see him. We do not use "socks" for children but we put presents under the Christmas tree. My grandmother prepared " tortellini" in the soup...for Christmas Eve. Kisses from Italy! I am reading again Little Women with you in this period.
Two of my favourite winter seasonal reads came from your channel, and you mentioned both of them today: “The Christmas Chronicles” by Nigel Slater and “Winter Solstice” by Rosamunde Pilcher. They’re perfect Christmas reads. I love how international your Christmas influences have been: British, Swiss-German, French, American, and Canadian.
I love The Bishop's Wife too. I always watch the Christmas specials of Blackadder, The Office, and Extras. Love to reread A Christmas Carol and my collection of Christmas books.
Thank you for sharing your traditions with us, I hope you feel better soon. As I get older I just want to relax and enjoy the Season. The Hustle and Bustle,the shopping in overheated stores,the crowds...add to the anxiety. I love the old Christmas movies "Christmas in Connecticut", White Christmas,and any "Nutcracker" ,or The Christmas Carol movies. Happiness, and Health to you both ! Cindy🎄
Thanks! I always enjoy listening to your conversations with your mom. I'm not a huge fan of Christmas, but it's so nice to learn more about your lives. I was privileged to spend a Christmas in Germany several years when my son and his wife were stationed there in the army, and it was truly delightful for this Florida girl!
Canadian - British here. My grandmother would always make trifle, in a special bowl (which I inherited) with, yes, Birds custard. Butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, not so much, but French Canadian tortiere and British style sausage rolls! P.S. I knew your mother was Canadian born immediately!!
Thank you for the lovely Christmassy video. It has really put me in the mood for heading over to Scotland this week to celebrate the holidays. As a bonus I will also be spending five days in York. Thanks to your video last year about Castle Howard I have already bought tickets to see their Christmas decorations. One of my favorite Christmas films is Joyeux Noel, about the 1914 Christmas truce. Such a poignant story! Enjoy your upcoming holiday travels. And Donna looks so festive in her lovely blouse.
Christmas Eve we have KFc, Christmas Day lamb shanks and we chop and change what we do for Boxing Day. But this year we are going to my parents. Coz of work and mums busy pastoral commitments we haven’t been to my parents for years. They come to us new year and will still do that. We normally have takeaway new yrs eve and go to Wetherspoons for breakfast, it’s become a real tradition. I never had a lot of presents but loved the presents I had. Was never jealous of anyone’s Christmas etc. we used to do a Xmas pie which was a big box of different layers of fun small cheap gifts attached with string. Kind of a pick n mix and then at the end we’ve swapped the gifts. But that was list when my Nan died when I was 18 on Boxing Day. We spend Boxing Day rather quietly xx
I love your mum! I'd never have guessed her favourite Christmas film is Die Hard! That made me laugh! 😂 Merry Christmas to you both. Thank you for all the joy you've given me this year again xx
Oh my goodness, my mother made the best trifle. There was never any left over for the next day 😢My older sister, to this say would sit and eat till its all gone. Donna’s haircut looks amazing. And, yes of course Die Hard, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually… all absolutely wonderful Christmas movies. Thank you for sharing 😊
Dear Miranda and Donna, this was such a heartwarming and cheerful vlog to watch! Thank you so much for all your answers to the intetesting questions. I'm also quite traditional when it comes to Christmas and I like the gentle and calm and sentimental approach a lot. How lovely, that there will be another Seasons of Story to look forward to and a travel vlog too. Have a wonderful and safe trip and a wonderful week you two❤❤
Thank you Miranda and your Mum for sharing your Christmas traditions. I used to always make a trifle for my children instead of Christmas pudding. I also used to put little items in their stockings plus a tangerine and chocolate money. Now they have grown up with their own children we have new traditions such as going to the Nine Lessons and carol service even though we are not in any way religious. Over Christmas we watch many old Christmas shows on youtube and always watch 'A Christmas Carol' and 'It's a Wonderful Life' plus of course all my Christmas reading. Ive bought 'Winter Solstice' and cant wait to start it. Looking forward to your Christmas vlogs. 😊❤
Hello Miranda and Donna. A few years ago my daughter and I made the chocolate log out of Delia Smith’s recipe book. It looked wonderful as we poured it into the tin and put it in the oven.. But, something happened while it was in there and although we were expecting a chocolate Swiss roll to come out, it was more like a rubber mouse mat.. Disgusting! Not even my son could eat it as it even went beyond his limits. That’s one of my Christmas memories. A disaster of a dessert but nevertheless a memory. 😊
That was absolutely wonderful to watch, Miranda and Donna! It was very interesting to hear about the different countries in which you've lived, and the different foods. At the mention of 'Miss Read', I dashed to the bookshelf and found 'The Christmas Mouse ' and 'Village Christmas ', so I'll get cracking with them! Keep well, and enjoy your upcoming trip.
Fantastic! Die Hard is definitely a Christmas film! We watch it every year! We also watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. Only this year did I realise it was based on a short story ! “The Greatest Gift” - I’ve ordered it but it has not yet arrived. Hoping it comes before Christmas! Loved watching
This was so enjoyable!! I miss the little Crabtree and Evelyn treats - loved to stop in and buy little indulgences for both myself and my Mom (and they would wrap them up so beautifully). My favorite Christmas movie is "The Bishop's Wife." I remember first seeing it on TV when I was little and being entranced. Cary Grant as an angel and that ice skating scene captured my heart. I now watch it at both the beginning of December and again on Christmas Eve. It has a beautiful message of the true meaning of Christmas. Have a wonderful trip! 💕
Hi Miranda and Donna thank you so much for your Q&A I enjoyed hearing about you Christmas’s. I always read Winter Solstice by Rosalind Pilcher in the week running up to Christmas and love to finish it on Christmas Eve. I absolutely enjoy a book called A Proper Family Christmas by Jane Gordon-Cumming it really could be made into a Festive Special for TV, it is a comical farce really. My favourite film is Meet Me in St Louis for Christmas viewing. Hope you both feel much better soon and have a wonderful Christmas.❤
Thanks! I really enjoyed your Q and A Christmas vlog. What a special love the two of you have. The photos of earlier Christmases were fun to see online today! Enjoy your upcoming travels!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas favourites with us. Cheese is a favourite of mine too with all the kind of cheeses that appear around the holidays 🧀🐭 Happy travels!
Hello! I enjoyed this video so much. I'd love to see your Santon collection if/when you set them out! I'm born and raised in New York, but my mother was from France. Her Santons were something I grew up with, and eventually inherited. My figures are about 6cm tall, and I really cherish them.
I loved every single moment of this Q&A but my favorite part was Donna’s favorite Christmas film! I have to say that was quite unexpected! You two are just delightful, I really enjoy so much when you film together. Enjoy your travels, looking forward to seeing what you two get up to. Also, thank you for your latest Christmas commonplace - I can’t wait to dive in to it when I have my next day off.
Haha thank you so much for your comment and amazing support, Judi! So appreciate it, and I hope you enjoy having a look at the commonplace book when you get a chance! ♥️
Thank you Miranda and Mum for your company. I am Spanish but love all things Victorian. I have spent Christmas in London, to me its Magical and one of the best Christmas time I have ever spent. I pray and hope to return to England, and definitely will visit Yorkshire. Merry Christmas
Another fun video . I’m in the US and have bee sick off and on since Sept-the flu is awful. I will still send 200 Christmas cards-better get busy. Live your recipes and have made the lemon dessert 6 times-keep them coming.
It's lovely to hear all about your special memories and traditions and those special moments that make the holiday so meaningful for you both. I'm glad the exploding ornament didn't necessitate a call to the local fire house! 🚒 🧨 🎄
I love the Bishops Wife and Die Hard too Donna ..hahaha xoxo and this year I made the "Christmas pudding in a glass" Figs with maple syrup and anise from The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater and used the figs after straining to make the Dried fig and Marsala tart. Both turned out wonderful and thank you Miranda for recommending this lovely book.
Listening to the playlist from Seasons of Story right now! I absolutely love "Still, Still, Still," and think it is one of the most underrated carols out there. I learned it in high school (20+ years ago 🤪) and make sure to listen to it multiple times each Christmas. I think you and your mum would appreciate the music of Chanticleer, an all male chorus based in San Francisco. They have an absolutely gorgeous sound and some amazing Christmas arrangements. All their albums are on Spotify!
Lovely! I’ve been enjoying on iPlayer the BBC Great British Winter - 5 marvellous episodes. Also BBC Winter walk - a lot of these are in Yorkshire. Merry Christmas when it comes.
Miranda, this conversation is absolutely beautiful. Your relationship reminds me of mine with my mom and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Hope you have a restful holiday. Season. Thank you so much for sharing.
Miranda, I'm more like your mum when it comes to Christmas movies. I prefer the sentimental movies. I don't know if you get this channel, but love Hallmark Christmas movies.
Thank you for this cosy video ; it makes me feel happy and reminds me of our own Christmas traditions : as a child going to see the vitrines animées in the Printemps or the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, then later going to the marchés de Noël in Strasbourg, the midnight mass and coming back to put little Jesus in the crib, watching the Sissi films with Romy Schneider, eating Quality Streets which my grand parents would offer to us and which meant really Christmas... There are so many wonderful memories with always Christmas carols in the background. At Christmas everything seems at the same time lighter and mysterious and cheerful.
Miranda I just love these videos especially when you have your mum on with you. You have such a special bond with each other and it's lovely to See! You are both looking lovely and this new video like all your others make me smile when I see them so thankyou ❤
This was so sweet and nostalgic to watch, I hope someday my mom will come to live with me as well and we can enjoy more special times together as you and your mum do, you two are so lucky to have so much time together and all these amazing memories and adventures! Thank you for bringing us into the family and sharing these wonderful memories and recommendations with us, it felt like a wonderful visit with family actually. Hope you both are fully better and able to really enjoy the rest of the Christmas season!
I absolutely love watching “The Twelve Drinks of Christmas” with Alexander Armstrong and Giles Coren… it’s a hoot and so festive. Merry Christmas beautiful friends and fellow subscribers 🎄🤶🏻🤶 (it’s on prime)
I absolutely loved watching you laughing together and talking about your Christmas traditions and memories, so interesting and fun. Donna’s love for Die Hard made me giggle, it was a bit of a surprise following straight on from The Bishop’s Wife! I loved all the food chat, special foods are a big part of Christmas for me too. I share your love of marzipan, so delicious! I especially love marzipan fruits, although they’re almost too pretty to eat! Thank you for sharing these memories in another wonderful video.
Oh 😊so much fun!! Love hearing about your Christmas favourites! I love marzipan 😁 but I'm the only one of my friends who does. I was sent a German Stollen and gingerbread for Christmas. Looking forward to that. My great aunt always used to do Raclette for Christmas 😅they did live in Switzerland many years ago. Hearing your stories brings back memories of visiting my great cousin during Christmas ❤ she has been living in Australia for many years now and I haven't seen her in so so long!!
I just started reading the Winter Solstice now because of your video talking about the book. I am loving it and just started reading. I will be done probably a week before Christmas.
As a Canadian it was so nice to hear that you make butter tarts and Nanaimo bars. Especially enjoyed Miranda twisting her tongue around the pronunciation of Nanaimo 😄
Gosh, thank you so much for your incredible support, Rebecca! What a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning. I so appreciate it! Thank you very much indeed, and wishing you the happiest of holidays 🎄❤️😊
It was so lovely and sentimental spending time with you and your mum especially this first Christmas after my own mum’s passing. I found myself sorting through my own memories and vowing to keep the best traditions alive. Oyster stew on Christmas Eve and stockings first thing Christmas morning.😂❤
Thank you for sharing your Christmas memories and traditions. I am always interested in how others celebrate. I had never heard of Canadian Butter Tarts or Nanaimo before so now I will search for those treats. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to have a lovely meal by the tree with a festive table set. We always have a new recipe which we love to research during December. Perhaps a butter tart may make an appearance this year.🎄❄️
Oh, I needed that time extension! I’m actually cheating and listening to it; I just couldn’t get the sit-down time for reading.😢 Wonderful video! Sorry to hear you have been sick!
Enjoyed this video very much Miranda and how you both celebrate the holidays and sharing your families Christmas traditions. Christmas is big in our household with decorations, food, choir participation, and going to plays and/or concerts. 😊🎄 yes, the Canadian treats you mentioned are such a staple to our Christmas dessert trays and almost any get together really. I had such a chuckle Donna about watching the Die Hard movie at Christmas 😂 Too funny as I also love action movies and might check that one out to watch again. One of my personal favs is a little movie called ‘Prancer’ . I’m also saving Poirot’s ‘A Silent Night’ to read over the holidays. Looking forward to listening to your Christmas playlist🎶 and Seasons of Story Miranda, wishing you both a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year🎉❤
It’s lovely to have a glimpse of your Christmas traditions ! For me England and Germany are the two countries that I love to visit in December. Everything then is so colourful and cozy. And you’re absolutely right, marrons glacés are the best. I wish you a very happy and restful Christmas 🎄 ❤
What a lovely video! Happy holidays, Miranda and Donna! Thank you for another year of one-of-a-kind, thoughtful videos, as as well for the Comfort Book Club. Best wishes 🎄
Thank you both for sharing your Christmas traditions and memories. You've lived in so many different places and I love the way you've both adopted traditions from different countries. PS Die Hard was a surprise!
This was such an enjoyable video. I love hearing about people's traditions and memories! Years ago, a Canadian colleague would bring butter tarts when he visited the company's US headquarters, and we went mad for them! I learned that there is a divide re: butter tarts -- those who prefer them more runny and those who don't. Where do you and your mum fall in the butter tart debate?
This was a delight to listen to, hearing of all your Christmas traditions and likes and dislikes was fun.... Die Hard was a surprise! Myself and my husband are total opposites when it comes to Christmas food, he's the traditional one, loving mince pies, Christmas pud, turkey and all the trimmings etc. I usually have a vegetarian Christmas lunch though this year I think I might have a fresh tuna steak with potato dauphinoise and steamed green beans (though I like the idea of a fondue or raclette). I like my dessert to either be pear pavlova or chocolate fondant - that dessert where the chocolate oozes out of the middle when you cut into it. As I don't like Christmas cake, for the last few years I've made a Toscakaka, a yummy Scandinavian cake which is a light sponge topped with caramelised almonds. However, this year I'm going to make a Mazarin cake which is a Danish recipe. Miranda, I think you'd love it as it has lots of marzipan in the sponge, then is coated in dark chocolate ganache. There are recipes for it online, or email me and I'll send you the one I use (I tried it out a few weeks ago). I love all my Christmas reading (including Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles) and do always watch the original version of A Christmas Carol on tv. Thanks for all you do and all the hard work. I hope you are both fully recovered by Christmas. We sadly had a funeral to attend yesterday and the whole church seemed to be full of people coughing. I said to my husband that it will be a Christmas miracle if we didn't catch something!
Hello Donna and Miranda, that was a fun video. I am glad you are both better and hope you enjoy the rest of Advent. The Christmas Commonplace Book is delightful - thank you so much, Teresa ♥
Hello Miranda and Donna! I thoroughly enjoyed listening today, such happy thoughts and memories of yours are a reminder of all the ones I have! Have a wonderful time away and look forward to hearing all about it! Take care! 🥰🇨🇦🎄
I loved hearing about your Christmas traditions and memories! I have never had marzipan but now I want to try it. Oh, and I am currently reading The Box of Delights and loving it! Have fun on your travels and I hope you both continue to feel better.
Thank you Miranda and Donna I enjoy listening to you q and a . I enjoy what you do for chirstmas and how you celebrate the day and listening to all the answers to the questions and how things have change for both of you .❤
Thank you to you both for such a lovely, heartwarming video. So lovely to hear all your answers to the interesting questions. Have a lovely trip next week. Much love. Xx
Loved this episode Miranda and Donna. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and fave recipes. My husband and I listened to your playlist on Spotify all day long today. Love all the carols. Have a lovely winter holiday next week, and hope you two are feeling so much better. ❤ xo Karen
Hello lovely ladies. Donna, you’re a legend, Die Hard as one of your favourite Christmas films! Love it! One of my favourites too! I never knew you had travelled, and moved around so extensively. You both have such great stories and memories to share. Happy to hear you’re both on the mend, and I would like to wish you both a very Merry Christmas, and look forward to seeing you both in the New Year🎄🎄
So excited to watch this, you and your lovely mom always bring me such joy! It truly is a treat to watch your videos, and I absolutely adore your book recommendations, I have finally started reading Agatha Christie thanks to you and I'm enjoying her books so much. Discovering your channel is one of the highlights of this year for me, so thank you so much for sharing your world with us! Hope you're both well, best wishes and many blessings!💛✨
Download my free Christmas Commonplace Book here: www.mirandajanemills.com/christmascommonplacebook
I think a cookbook compiled by Miranda and her Mum would be brilliant! With Miranda's beautiful photos if course.
Your Mums hair looks so lovely your very lucky to have such a strong bond with her.There is so much respect for one another x
Your Mum level of awesomeness has reached the roof!! She likes Die Hard!!! Wonderful!!! Another great chat, thank you!!!
Yes, that was unexpected and brilliant 😂
What a delightful vlog! It’s really like being at home for an afternoon tea with dear friends! Such a warm, lovely,cozy atmosphere… Donna and Miranda , it’s so kind of you to let us enter your home and share your Christmas memories…it’s such a privilege ❤ Wishing you a wonderful trip! 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Laura 😊
Donna, you kill me. 😄 You said Christmas comedies weren't your favorites. You like more sentimental movies. But we have just learned you love Die Hard 😆 "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs...." 😄😆🤣 I always enjoy your visits.
I'm in Canada and I love mulled wine and Tourtière on Christmas Eve. Tourtière is a French Canadian mince pie.
Yes, I’ve had it! 😊
My husband is from Montreal so Tourtière is often on our Christmas menu.
One of my favorite books at Christmas is Immoveable Feast by John Baxter. It is family and food oriented. It is nonfiction and is set in France where the author lives. I also read the Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. It is set at Christmas time and is probably categorized as a middle grade book. It is set in England in a village near the Thames. Will Stanton lives on a farm with his large family. His 11th birthday is near Christmas and on his birthday he discovers that he has come into powers that allow him along with others to fight the rising darkness. There is a snow storm and elements of English mythology intertwined with Christisn beliefs. It is a very good book.
I love your Mom even more now that I know her love of Die Hard!!
😂😂😂
These traditions all sound so lovely! I watch Miracle on 34th Street every year - bittersweet because it was also one of my late father’s favorites. My husband and I also watch at least one version of a Christmas Carol every year. I love Christmas and I think your latest commonplace book is my favorite. Safe travels!
Thank you for your wonderful support, Jennifer! It’s so kind of you, and I really appreciate it. So glad you liked my Commonplace Book ❤️
I’m American and my grandmother was the only person here I knew of who made mince pies during Christmas time - the scent and taste of those pies were a special and happy part of my childhood holidays. BTW your mom is so sweet!
My mom made mincemeat pie, too. She and I were the only ones who actually ate it. I miss her mince pies.
I loved you mentioned you would love to be in Winter Soltice. ❤ I just finished it last night and told my husband I wish I could be inside the book with them. 😊
Agree.😊
I really enjoyed your Q&A - such lovely Christmas memories. The question about a humorous memory reminded me of the year my teenage daughters cut out forty paper circles of Nicolas Cage’s face and taped them to all the Christmas decorations- the nutcrackers, the angels, the teapot and more! I thought they were unusually excited even for Christmas morning. Little did I know they were excited to see my reaction to their late night decorating!
Hilarious!!
That's so funny!
Just want to share a fun tradition we have in our family (both my husband and I grow up with it) is to make up a rhyme, a poem, or alike on each present and the person who receives the present needs to guess what is in it and the clue(s) is(are) in the rhyme or poem. Take for ever to write but it is really fun tradition and we all do it.
Thank you for your videos. I liked to listening to your memories about the countries you lived and their traditions. My mother ( who is a lady of 87!) and I wish you a merry Christmas with love. Here in Italy we eat " pandoro" or "panettone" . I like best "pandoro". It is a simple cake made in Verona, the town of Romeo and Juliet. Here in Italy each town has a Christmas market. We make " presepe", la creche in french, with little statues which represent baby Jesus born and all the people and angels who come to see him. We do not use "socks" for children but we put presents under the Christmas tree. My grandmother prepared " tortellini" in the soup...for Christmas Eve.
Kisses from Italy!
I am reading again Little Women with you in this period.
Christmas in Italy sounds so wonderful!
@@carolaustin3785
Thank you!
Two of my favourite winter seasonal reads came from your channel, and you mentioned both of them today: “The Christmas Chronicles” by Nigel Slater and “Winter Solstice” by Rosamunde Pilcher. They’re perfect Christmas reads.
I love how international your Christmas influences have been: British, Swiss-German, French, American, and Canadian.
I love The Bishop's Wife too. I always watch the Christmas specials of Blackadder, The Office, and Extras.
Love to reread A Christmas Carol and my collection of Christmas books.
Thank you for sharing your traditions with us, I hope you feel better soon. As I get older I just want to relax and enjoy the Season. The Hustle and Bustle,the shopping in overheated stores,the crowds...add to the anxiety. I love the old Christmas movies "Christmas in Connecticut", White Christmas,and any "Nutcracker" ,or The Christmas Carol movies. Happiness, and Health to you both ! Cindy🎄
I love you ladies!
Always so wonderful to see your mom and to hear from both of you! Thank you ! ❤
Since you both haven’t been feeling as well just wait and do some of these things on the new Year. That can be special too, celebrating on New Years.
Thanks! I always enjoy listening to your conversations with your mom. I'm not a huge fan of Christmas, but it's so nice to learn more about your lives. I was privileged to spend a Christmas in Germany several years when my son and his wife were stationed there in the army, and it was truly delightful for this Florida girl!
Thank you so much for your lovely support, I so appreciate it ❤️ And how wonderful to have spent a Christmas in Germany ❤️🎄
Canadian - British here. My grandmother would always make trifle, in a special bowl (which I inherited) with, yes, Birds custard. Butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, not so much, but French Canadian tortiere and British style sausage rolls! P.S. I knew your mother was Canadian born immediately!!
My mum is British-born but lived in Canada. My dad is Canadian! xxx
I agree so much about winter solstice book at Christmas
The outfits you are both wearing seem to be the perfect match for your colourings. Lovely.
i have just watched " The Bishop's Wife". ❤❤❤❤❤Thank you Donna.
Thank you for the lovely Christmassy video. It has really put me in the mood for heading over to Scotland this week to celebrate the holidays. As a bonus I will also be spending five days in York. Thanks to your video last year about Castle Howard I have already bought tickets to see their Christmas decorations. One of my favorite Christmas films is Joyeux Noel, about the 1914 Christmas truce. Such a poignant story! Enjoy your upcoming holiday travels. And Donna looks so festive in her lovely blouse.
Christmas Eve we have KFc, Christmas Day lamb shanks and we chop and change what we do for Boxing Day. But this year we are going to my parents. Coz of work and mums busy pastoral commitments we haven’t been to my parents for years. They come to us new year and will still do that. We normally have takeaway new yrs eve and go to Wetherspoons for breakfast, it’s become a real tradition.
I never had a lot of presents but loved the presents I had. Was never jealous of anyone’s Christmas etc. we used to do a Xmas pie which was a big box of different layers of fun small cheap gifts attached with string. Kind of a pick n mix and then at the end we’ve swapped the gifts. But that was list when my Nan died when I was 18 on Boxing Day. We spend Boxing Day rather quietly xx
I love your mum! I'd never have guessed her favourite Christmas film is Die Hard! That made me laugh! 😂 Merry Christmas to you both. Thank you for all the joy you've given me this year again xx
Oh my goodness, my mother made the best trifle. There was never any left over for the next day 😢My older sister, to this say would sit and eat till its all gone. Donna’s haircut looks amazing. And, yes of course Die Hard, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually… all absolutely wonderful Christmas movies. Thank you for sharing 😊
Dear Miranda and Donna, this was such a heartwarming and cheerful vlog to watch! Thank you so much for all your answers to the intetesting questions. I'm also quite traditional when it comes to Christmas and I like the gentle and calm and sentimental approach a lot. How lovely, that there will be another Seasons of Story to look forward to and a travel vlog too. Have a wonderful and safe trip and a wonderful week you two❤❤
Thank you Inga ❤️🎄
Thank you Miranda and your Mum for sharing your Christmas traditions. I used to always make a trifle for my children instead of Christmas pudding. I also used to put little items in their stockings plus a tangerine and chocolate money. Now they have grown up with their own children we have new traditions such as going to the Nine Lessons and carol service even though we are not in any way religious. Over Christmas we watch many old Christmas shows on youtube and always watch 'A Christmas Carol' and 'It's a Wonderful Life' plus of course all my Christmas reading. Ive bought 'Winter Solstice' and cant wait to start it. Looking forward to your Christmas vlogs. 😊❤
Hello Miranda and Donna. A few years ago my daughter and I made the chocolate log out of Delia Smith’s recipe book. It looked wonderful as we poured it into the tin and put it in the oven.. But, something happened while it was in there and although we were expecting a chocolate Swiss roll to come out, it was more like a rubber mouse mat.. Disgusting! Not even my son could eat it as it even went beyond his limits.
That’s one of my Christmas memories. A disaster of a dessert but nevertheless a memory. 😊
That was absolutely wonderful to watch, Miranda and Donna! It was very interesting to hear about the different countries in which you've lived, and the different foods. At the mention of 'Miss Read', I dashed to the bookshelf and found 'The Christmas Mouse ' and 'Village Christmas ', so I'll get cracking with them! Keep well, and enjoy your upcoming trip.
Fantastic! Die Hard is definitely a Christmas film! We watch it every year! We also watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. Only this year did I realise it was based on a short story
! “The Greatest Gift” - I’ve ordered it but it has not yet arrived. Hoping it comes before Christmas! Loved watching
This was so enjoyable!! I miss the little Crabtree and Evelyn treats - loved to stop in and buy little indulgences for both myself and my Mom (and they would wrap them up so beautifully). My favorite Christmas movie is "The Bishop's Wife." I remember first seeing it on TV when I was little and being entranced. Cary Grant as an angel and that ice skating scene captured my heart. I now watch it at both the beginning of December and again on Christmas Eve. It has a beautiful message of the true meaning of Christmas. Have a wonderful trip! 💕
Hi Miranda and Donna thank you so much for your Q&A I enjoyed hearing about you Christmas’s. I always read Winter Solstice by Rosalind Pilcher in the week running up to Christmas and love to finish it on Christmas Eve. I absolutely enjoy a book called A Proper Family Christmas by Jane Gordon-Cumming it really could be made into a Festive Special for TV, it is a comical farce really. My favourite film is Meet Me in St Louis for Christmas viewing. Hope you both feel much better soon and have a wonderful Christmas.❤
Thanks! I really enjoyed your Q and A Christmas vlog. What a special love the two of you have. The photos of earlier Christmases were fun to see online today! Enjoy your upcoming travels!
Thank you so much for your lovely support, Carol! I really appreciate it. So glad you enjoyed the video and the photos on my Instagram! ❤️
Thank you for thinking of those of us who don't celebrate Christmas. That was so thoughtful of you. I look forward to your winter commonplace book!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas favourites with us. Cheese is a favourite of mine too with all the kind of cheeses that appear around the holidays 🧀🐭
Happy travels!
Hello! I enjoyed this video so much. I'd love to see your Santon collection if/when you set them out! I'm born and raised in New York, but my mother was from France. Her Santons were something I grew up with, and eventually inherited. My figures are about 6cm tall, and I really cherish them.
I loved every single moment of this Q&A but my favorite part was Donna’s favorite Christmas film! I have to say that was quite unexpected! You two are just delightful, I really enjoy so much when you film together. Enjoy your travels, looking forward to seeing what you two get up to. Also, thank you for your latest Christmas commonplace - I can’t wait to dive in to it when I have my next day off.
Haha thank you so much for your comment and amazing support, Judi! So appreciate it, and I hope you enjoy having a look at the commonplace book when you get a chance! ♥️
I think you are going to Scotland! Hope so. Thank you for the festive cheer. Wishing you both a happy christmas xx
Thank you Miranda and Mum for your company. I am Spanish but love all things Victorian. I have spent Christmas in London, to me its Magical and one of the best Christmas time I have ever spent. I pray and hope to return to England, and definitely will visit Yorkshire. Merry Christmas
Another fun video . I’m in the US and have bee sick off and on since Sept-the flu is awful. I will still send 200 Christmas cards-better get busy. Live your recipes and have made the lemon dessert 6 times-keep them coming.
YAY, Nakatomi Plaza fan!!!! Definitely a Christmas movie.
That was so lovely! Nanaimo bars! I live about 1.5 hours from Nanaimo where they originated! 🥰🥰
It's lovely to hear all about your special memories and traditions and those special moments that make the holiday so meaningful for you both. I'm glad the exploding ornament didn't necessitate a call to the local fire house! 🚒 🧨 🎄
Hehe thank you Pamela! So glad you enjoyed this video, and thank you so much for your wonderful support ❤️
Oooh a future travel vlog? Yay 👏🏽
I love the Bishops Wife and Die Hard too Donna ..hahaha xoxo and this year I made the "Christmas pudding in a glass" Figs with maple syrup and anise from The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater and used the figs after straining to make the Dried fig and Marsala tart. Both turned out wonderful and thank you Miranda for recommending this lovely book.
Listening to the playlist from Seasons of Story right now! I absolutely love "Still, Still, Still," and think it is one of the most underrated carols out there. I learned it in high school (20+ years ago 🤪) and make sure to listen to it multiple times each Christmas.
I think you and your mum would appreciate the music of Chanticleer, an all male chorus based in San Francisco. They have an absolutely gorgeous sound and some amazing Christmas arrangements. All their albums are on Spotify!
Always love the Sundays when you are here and to see your mother, too. Your hair is so lovely with curls. Mom with shorter.
Many thanks to you both and Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much for your fabulous support, Christy! I so appreciate it!! Merry Christmas to you too ❤️
Lovely! I’ve been enjoying on iPlayer the BBC Great British Winter - 5 marvellous episodes. Also BBC Winter walk - a lot of these are in Yorkshire. Merry Christmas when it comes.
Miranda, this conversation is absolutely beautiful. Your relationship reminds me of mine with my mom and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Hope you have a restful holiday. Season. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for the hard work you generously put into the commonplace book printable. I will be sharing the ideas with my friends.
Merry Christmas x
Miranda, I'm more like your mum when it comes to Christmas movies. I prefer the sentimental movies. I don't know if you get this channel, but love Hallmark Christmas movies.
Thank you for this cosy video ; it makes me feel happy and reminds me of our own Christmas traditions : as a child going to see the vitrines animées in the Printemps or the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, then later going to the marchés de Noël in Strasbourg, the midnight mass and coming back to put little Jesus in the crib, watching the Sissi films with Romy Schneider, eating Quality Streets which my grand parents would offer to us and which meant really Christmas... There are so many wonderful memories with always Christmas carols in the background. At Christmas everything seems at the same time lighter and mysterious and cheerful.
Miranda I just love these videos especially when you have your mum on with you. You have such a special bond with each other and it's lovely to See! You are both looking lovely and this new video like all your others make me smile when I see them so thankyou ❤
This was so sweet and nostalgic to watch, I hope someday my mom will come to live with me as well and we can enjoy more special times together as you and your mum do, you two are so lucky to have so much time together and all these amazing memories and adventures! Thank you for bringing us into the family and sharing these wonderful memories and recommendations with us, it felt like a wonderful visit with family actually. Hope you both are fully better and able to really enjoy the rest of the Christmas season!
I absolutely love watching “The Twelve Drinks of Christmas” with Alexander Armstrong and Giles Coren… it’s a hoot and so festive. Merry Christmas beautiful friends and fellow subscribers 🎄🤶🏻🤶 (it’s on prime)
How about mussels for Christmas Eve. That is what I do.
I absolutely loved watching you laughing together and talking about your Christmas traditions and memories, so interesting and fun. Donna’s love for Die Hard made me giggle, it was a bit of a surprise following straight on from The Bishop’s Wife! I loved all the food chat, special foods are a big part of Christmas for me too. I share your love of marzipan, so delicious! I especially love marzipan fruits, although they’re almost too pretty to eat! Thank you for sharing these memories in another wonderful video.
Oh 😊so much fun!! Love hearing about your Christmas favourites! I love marzipan 😁 but I'm the only one of my friends who does. I was sent a German Stollen and gingerbread for Christmas. Looking forward to that. My great aunt always used to do Raclette for Christmas 😅they did live in Switzerland many years ago. Hearing your stories brings back memories of visiting my great cousin during Christmas ❤ she has been living in Australia for many years now and I haven't seen her in so so long!!
I love that Donna’s film is Die Hard, made me smile. Great vlog as always. Mary Berry is my go to food recipes.
I just started reading the Winter Solstice now because of your video talking about the book. I am loving it and just started reading. I will be done probably a week before Christmas.
As a Canadian it was so nice to hear that you make butter tarts and Nanaimo bars. Especially enjoyed Miranda twisting her tongue around the pronunciation of Nanaimo 😄
Miranda, thank you for your lovely content. You are such a joy! Wishing you and your mum a lovely holiday season.
Gosh, thank you so much for your incredible support, Rebecca! What a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning. I so appreciate it! Thank you very much indeed, and wishing you the happiest of holidays 🎄❤️😊
It was so lovely and sentimental spending time with you and your mum especially this first Christmas after my own mum’s passing. I found myself sorting through my own memories and vowing to keep the best traditions alive. Oyster stew on Christmas Eve and stockings first thing Christmas morning.😂❤
Thank you for sharing your Christmas memories and traditions. I am always interested in how others celebrate. I had never heard of Canadian Butter Tarts or Nanaimo before so now I will search for those treats. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to have a lovely meal by the tree with a festive table set. We always have a new recipe which we love to research during December. Perhaps a butter tart may make an appearance this year.🎄❄️
A lovely idea, Glenda! xxx
Oh, I needed that time extension! I’m actually cheating and listening to it; I just couldn’t get the sit-down time for reading.😢 Wonderful video! Sorry to hear you have been sick!
Enjoyed this video very much Miranda and how you both celebrate the holidays and sharing your families Christmas traditions. Christmas is big in our household with decorations, food, choir participation, and going to plays and/or concerts. 😊🎄 yes, the Canadian treats you mentioned are such a staple to our Christmas dessert trays and almost any get together really. I had such a chuckle Donna about watching the Die Hard movie at Christmas 😂 Too funny as I also love action movies and might check that one out to watch again. One of my personal favs is a little movie called ‘Prancer’ . I’m also saving Poirot’s ‘A Silent Night’ to read over the holidays. Looking forward to listening to your Christmas playlist🎶 and Seasons of Story Miranda, wishing you both a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year🎉❤
It’s lovely to have a glimpse of your Christmas traditions ! For me England and Germany are the two countries that I love to visit in December. Everything then is so colourful and cozy. And you’re absolutely right, marrons glacés are the best. I wish you a very happy and restful Christmas 🎄 ❤
Thank you Nadine! Wishing you the same ❤️🎄
What a lovely video! Happy holidays, Miranda and Donna! Thank you for another year of one-of-a-kind, thoughtful videos, as as well for the Comfort Book Club. Best wishes 🎄
Thank you so much for your very kind support! So lovely of you, and I really appreciate it. Hope you're having a wonderful December ❤️
Miranda Thank you for posting.
Thank you both for sharing your Christmas traditions and memories. You've lived in so many different places and I love the way you've both adopted traditions from different countries. PS Die Hard was a surprise!
This was such an enjoyable video. I love hearing about people's traditions and memories!
Years ago, a Canadian colleague would bring butter tarts when he visited the company's US headquarters, and we went mad for them! I learned that there is a divide re: butter tarts -- those who prefer them more runny and those who don't. Where do you and your mum fall in the butter tart debate?
This was a delight to listen to, hearing of all your Christmas traditions and likes and dislikes was fun.... Die Hard was a surprise! Myself and my husband are total opposites when it comes to Christmas food, he's the traditional one, loving mince pies, Christmas pud, turkey and all the trimmings etc. I usually have a vegetarian Christmas lunch though this year I think I might have a fresh tuna steak with potato dauphinoise and steamed green beans (though I like the idea of a fondue or raclette). I like my dessert to either be pear pavlova or chocolate fondant - that dessert where the chocolate oozes out of the middle when you cut into it. As I don't like Christmas cake, for the last few years I've made a Toscakaka, a yummy Scandinavian cake which is a light sponge topped with caramelised almonds. However, this year I'm going to make a Mazarin cake which is a Danish recipe. Miranda, I think you'd love it as it has lots of marzipan in the sponge, then is coated in dark chocolate ganache. There are recipes for it online, or email me and I'll send you the one I use (I tried it out a few weeks ago).
I love all my Christmas reading (including Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles) and do always watch the original version of A Christmas Carol on tv.
Thanks for all you do and all the hard work. I hope you are both fully recovered by Christmas. We sadly had a funeral to attend yesterday and the whole church seemed to be full of people coughing. I said to my husband that it will be a Christmas miracle if we didn't catch something!
Thanks Miranda and Donna for everything.
Thank you so much for your wonderful support, Barbara! So very kind and generous of you ❤️
Loved watching this. To you, Miranda and your Mum, Merry Christmas 🎄
well that was lovely- thank you- do feel better completely soon!
Have you ever read treasures of the snow by Patricia St John. Wonderful book about forgiveness. It’s sad as well but really lovely set in the alps x
Really interesting. Christmas is such a lovely time of the year 😊
Hello Donna and Miranda, that was a fun video. I am glad you are both better and hope you enjoy the rest of Advent. The Christmas Commonplace Book is delightful - thank you so much, Teresa ♥
Hello Miranda and Donna! I thoroughly enjoyed listening today, such happy thoughts and memories of yours are a reminder of all the ones I have! Have a wonderful time away and look forward to hearing all about it! Take care! 🥰🇨🇦🎄
Lovely Q&A, watched it with a Baileys. Was not expecting Donna’s love of Die Hard, really made me giggle. Lots of love to you both 🎄❤️
I loved hearing about your Christmas traditions and memories! I have never had marzipan but now I want to try it. Oh, and I am currently reading The Box of Delights and loving it! Have fun on your travels and I hope you both continue to feel better.
So happy to hear that! Thank you!
Thank you Miranda and Donna I enjoy listening to you q and a . I enjoy what you do for chirstmas and how you celebrate the day and listening to all the answers to the questions and how things have change for both of you .❤
An enjoyable blog getting to know just a little bit more about you and your Mum!
Thank you to you both for such a lovely, heartwarming video. So lovely to hear all your answers to the interesting questions. Have a lovely trip next week. Much love. Xx
Thank you some Miranda and Donna for a lovely podcast. Have a wonderful holiday 🌲
This was super enjoyable! Thank you! ❤️
Loved this episode Miranda and Donna. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and fave recipes. My husband and I listened to your playlist on Spotify all day long today. Love all the carols. Have a lovely winter holiday next week, and hope you two are feeling so much better. ❤ xo Karen
Hello lovely ladies. Donna, you’re a legend, Die Hard as one of your favourite Christmas films! Love it! One of my favourites too!
I never knew you had travelled, and moved around so extensively. You both have such great stories and memories to share.
Happy to hear you’re both on the mend, and I would like to wish you both a very Merry Christmas, and look forward to seeing you both in the New Year🎄🎄
Loved seeing this Q&A of Donna and you
So excited to watch this, you and your lovely mom always bring me such joy! It truly is a treat to watch your videos, and I absolutely adore your book recommendations, I have finally started reading Agatha Christie thanks to you and I'm enjoying her books so much. Discovering your channel is one of the highlights of this year for me, so thank you so much for sharing your world with us! Hope you're both well, best wishes and many blessings!💛✨
Thank you so much!! That’s so lovely of you to say. I’m thrilled you’re enjoying Agatha Christie ❤️
I love die hard too!!
Thank you both for the many happy hours I’ve spent watching you, reading with you, eating cake and drinking tea! Merry Christmas 🎄 ❤
Thank you so much for your incredible support, Karen! It's so generous of you, and I really appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you too ♥️
I love how both of you are so on point about the Christmas spread.
Merry Christmas to you and you mum from Canada. You both are lovely. I have subscribed to your newsletter and have the Commonplace Book.
You’re both so lovely. Have lots of tea and reading and rest and take good care of each other ♥️🎄. Sending hugs!