Keeping The Traditions Alive

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was at Nel's house, and everything was so nice.  Lots of good food, and Nel worked very hard to make everything just right for her family.  She set a lovely table with red and gold.

And what is nicer than having a lovely table to sit at?  Having a precious elf in red plaid pj's sitting next to you.

Nel's holiday chalkboard art.

We always have a cheese ball and crackers before dinner.

Ever since I can remember, we have enjoyed a hot bowl of French onion soup on Christmas Eve.  Nel also made grandma's enchiladas.  There was tamales and potato salad too.

Jess did all the Christmas baking, making her Russian tea cookies, peanut butter drops, and fudge.  I didn't get a  picture of it, because they always seem to disappear quickly.  There was treats in every corner.

Here is Nel on her baking day with Mia.  They both made gingerbread cake, and it was so moist and Yummy.

Jess has always made an effort to keep my Christmas traditions alive.  She filled my stocking with so many goodies.....my favorite English Breakfast tea, See's candies, candy canes, chocolate, and always puts a couple oranges at the bottom of my stocking.  I don't know if she knows how much that means to me.  My heart sings when I see them every year.  ; )

She found the most beautiful carousel that plays music, a gift from Francesca.

And Nel gave me a sweet framed picture of Mia.  She knows how much I love dandelions, and Mia is holding one.

  

The next morning when I had my cup of coffee, I had so many goodies to choose from, but I went straight for Brian's homemade banana chocolate chip bread.   You would not believe how good this is.  Even the ends are moist.  This has been his gift to the family every year, and we all love it.

                           

I think it's sweet when the Dad's take an interest in the kids' toys.

  Oh, how I cherish these special moments.

Nel didn't stop from the time she woke up until she went to bed.  Thank you for a wonderful Christmas Day Nel.

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

~Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas!

Orange Pomanders

Hello friends.  Are you enjoying the Christmas season?  For many years, my sister has had a tradition of making orange pomanders around the holidays.  I remember going over her house, and the scent of oranges and spices filled her kitchen.  It was so nice, and since I love oranges, I thought I'd share some with you.

A few days ago, she made some with her grandson.  They had such a fun time making them, and I think they turned out festive and pretty.

I talked to my sister on the phone last week, and she was cracking me up with stories about our childhood.   She took after my mom and is a good seamstress, and she also knits and sews quilts.  She's always busy with her hands.  We remember our mom starting a project in the morning, and finishing it up that same day.  One time we came home from school and found a BIG snowman sitting in the front of our living room.  We wondered how she managed to put it together in one day.  She made me laugh when she told stories about our funky mom.  But some of them didn't surprise me much, as I'm a bit funky myself.  ; )

The orange pomanders are a wonderful tradition that my sister does every year, and I think I'm going to start making these too.  Oh, won't the kitchen smell nice?

I thought about one of my favorite Christmas shows that I recently watched, Christmas Oranges.  Giving oranges is a dear tradition in my family at Christmastime.

~Sheri

Have I Told You Lately

My favorite cookie at Christmastime is sugar cookies. I made a batch yesterday.  Jess makes the best sugar cookies, but I have to say mine turned out pretty good.  I roll the dough in little balls, and they're ready to bake.

They're done!

Now, it's time to frost them with Yummy strawberry frosting.

Listening to Burl Ives makes the baking season more festive,  don't you think?

I didn't put many Christmas decorations out this year, but I still love and appreciate this holiday so much.  Since we are in the Advent season right now, I lit my purple candle, which is the color of Advent.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more!

This is the first year I didn't send out cards.  I missed doing that.  Maybe I'll send one through e-mail.

Have I told you lately I love you?

~Sheri

Watch With Glittering Eyes

Hello friends.  How are you doing this Christmas season?  Not a lot happening this week, but next week we will have a little 'baking get together', which should be fun. 

I had my morning coffee in my red tea cup because it reminds me of the colors of Christmas.

My son is a good cook, and he made me a rice dish one night with lots of veggies.  It was delicious.

Nel got her tree, and it looks so pretty sitting in the corner of her house.  Mia had fun at the tree lot, and I love the look of wonder on her face.

Francesca is really into Woody now and all the characters of Toy Story.

I came across this picture of Nel with Santa.  She was 5 years old.  She was never scared to sit on Santa's lap or go to school.  She was a brave girl.

 When I took a picture of my white Christmas fairy, the brooch she's wearing showed up in different colors each time.....magic.   My fairy sends you kisses this week.

And Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.  Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.

~Ronald Dahl

Still Autumn At Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving.  It was at Jess' house this year, and when we got there, she had so many appetizers and snacks while the turkey was cooking.  I brought some sugar cookies and pink frosting, so the kids could decorate them later, and Jess' pumpkin pie was so good.  Nel made homemade whipped cream for the pie, and also some wraps which she cut into slices that were delicious.

Mia and Francesca were wearing the cutest Thanksgiving outfits.

My guitar-playing son-in-laws.  I love to listen to them play their music.

They hopped in the wagon, and Renecke pulled them for a long time around the patio area in the back yard.  They loved it.

Some beautiful Thanksgiving flowers.

Jess has a bunny throw that she drapes over the rocking chair.  It's so funny and cute.

We went upstairs in Francesca's room, so the kids could play in there for awhile.  It's decorated so nice, and it's a big and spacious room for Francesca to roam and play.  Jess put a little Christmas tree in her room with Pink ornaments.

Francesca was cracking up as she piled stuffed animals and toys on me, one after another, and so I let her, until I was buried in them.

Then, they started to throw balls at Jess while they were in the crib, a game they play.  And after that, they went after Nel in the tent haha.

A Mother always wonders if her daughters will be a gracious host when making a big holiday dinner for the family, but my daughters have learned to manage the time well, and always make the guests feel welcome and comfortable.

Jess lives in a nice area, and when we were driving out we saw beautiful trees all lined up on the street and still showing their Autumn leaves. 

It was a nice day with my family, and one that I'll remember always.  Thank you Jess and Brian.

 

 ~Sheri