If you are a keen summer resident, then in winter you probably miss communicating with nature and are burdened by the city bustle. New year and long winter holidays are coming. How are you going to celebrate the holiday? If you have a heated cottage house outside the city and a sauna nearby, why not move the new year’s meeting to nature?
A change of scenery and fresh frosty air will help to reset last year’s load of problems and enter the new year joyful and updated. At the cottage, you can relax in a narrow family circle or invite friends and gather a large noisy company for the celebration. To make a cottage holiday leave pleasant memories in your memory, start preparing for it in advance and take care of all the little things.
The cottage, Wake up!
A few days before new year’s eve, you must go to the cottage and prepare it for the celebration. After the closing of the summer season, the house is very cold, so thoroughly heat it. Clear the snow around the house, bathhouse, garden paths and recreation area, and prepare Parking spaces for several cars if you plan to invite guests.
Chop enough wood for a home and bath stove, and then throw large snowdrifts near the bath: after the steam room, many people will probably want extreme sports. Put the summer house in order, clean the garden furniture, prepare warm blankets that can be taken out to the street, and clear a place for installing a barbecue-outdoor recreation is unthinkable without shish kebabs!
Wipe the dust in the house and wash the floors, put the rooms in order, think about sleeping places for all guests, prepare bed linen and towels. Count the number of chairs and set the holiday table in advance. Stock up on enough water and apply firewood.
If the temperature in the house is still not comfortable enough, it may be worth taking some additional measures to insulate it.
The decoration of the house
Create a sense of celebration in the cottage will help colorful lighting that can be fixed on the porch, gazebo, fence, garden trees and shrubs. Choose special outdoor garlands with protection from moisture and temperature changes, and take care of the extension cords to which the street lighting will be connected.
It is great if a coniferous plant grows on the site – it will become the main hero of the holiday. If not, you can buy a new year’s symbol at the Christmas market or turn any garden tree into it. For its decoration, not only purchased toys are suitable, but also tangerines, candies, balls of bright threads, spray-painted cones, etc.
Hang decorations on all cottage plants, window eaves, and pergola. Attach a Christmas wreath to the front door of the house – it is fashionable and beautiful, besides it can be made with your own hands. There are many workshops on making wreaths. If there are not enough decorations, warn guests that homemade Christmas tree toys will become a pass ticket to your cottage – let them complement the new year’s decor of the site.
Don’t forget about candles and lanterns – the lights look very romantic in the winter landscape. Place them in the recreation area and along the paths. You can buy ordinary household candles, put them in jars and bury each one in the snow – it will seem that the snow cover is illuminated from the inside.
It will be good to put a small live or artificial Christmas tree in the house. A special atmosphere will be created by beautiful candles, garlands on the Windows, tinsel, colorful Christmas socks hanging near the fireplace or stove, and so on. Turn on your imagination!
New year’s purchases
Cottage properties are usually located far from civilization, so you need to prepare everything in advance that may be required outside the city. Buy food with a long shelf life ahead of time, perishable products – the day before. Separately, discuss with guests alcoholic beverages: they need to be purchased in the right amount, so that on new year’s eve, no one came up with the idea of getting drunk and driving to the city for additional alcohol.
Take care of the plastic containers in which you will transport edible preparations to the cottage. Do not forget to bring a sufficient number of dishes and appliances, and it is better to buy disposable ones. Washing a huge mountain of dishes in the field is not always convenient, and colorful cardboard plates and cups will perfectly fit into the rustic style.
Stock up on sparklers, crackers, and fireworks. Don’t forget about skiing and sledding. You will also need charcoal for the grill and a means for kindling. Prepare hygiene products and a first aid kit on duty. If you are going to the cottage with children, bring Board games, plasticine and coloring books to occupy the little fidgets for a while and talk to your friends about something of your own.
Festive menu
Fine dishes with complex decoration, expensive dishes and refined glasses do not go well with cottage life. Set aside such delights for another occasion and declare simplicity a hit of the new year’s feast. On the cottage table, even boiled potatoes will be appropriate!
Homemade preparations – pickles, tomatoes and mushrooms and sauerkraut will perfectly fit into the festive dinner. If you plan to prepare salads and deliver them out of town, give preference to combinations that do not have layers and complex decorations. Diversify the table with sausage and cheese cuts. You can buy fresh vegetables. Don’t forget about light snacks and sandwiches.
The main meat dish on the holiday table is likely to be fragrant kebabs. But if you want, you can prepare other meat dishes at home. For example, bake chicken thighs in the oven or make a jelly.
Don’t forget about dessert! Buy fruit, candy, and cookies. Craftswomen can bake a sweet cake or gingerbread at home.
Cooking culinary masterpieces in the cottage is not always convenient, so give preference to simple and hearty dishes, bring with you blanks that can be quickly put together, cut or spread out on plates. Don’t forget to marinate the meat for the barbecue! It is better to discuss the menu with friends in advance and discuss who will bring what.