Christmas Shopping In The City

Me and my son have been wanting to drive to the city to see the sights and hear the sounds of Christmas.  It's about 50 minutes away, so we don't get there that often, and this time I drove.  I've been wanting to do some Christmas shopping, and go to some of the places that we don't have up here.  Now, this used to be a small country town when I was growing up, but now it's a big city with a mall, lots of restaurants, and plenty of shops.  Our first stop was to get a coffee and Christmas treat at Starbuck's.  I got my usual Cafe' Americano, and after enjoying our Christmas goodies, I bought some holiday coffee to bring home.

I heard that Home Goods opened very early during the season, so we headed over there before the crowds.  My son went to Sprouts while I was at Home Goods.

  I absolutely loved browsing through all the isles.  I couldn't believe when I noticed there was a Valentine section already out.  I saw a Valentine nutcracker that was just too cute not to get.  And I put it out along with my other Christmas decorations.  Isn't this the most delightful nutcracker?

The next stop was Michaels and World Market.  I picked up some Marzipan Stollen, which is a German Christmas bread, and so delicious.

Barnes and Noble was right next to it, so I went inside to get a calendar for next year.  And Mary Engelbreit is the one for me - its cheerful pages makes me smile.

It was time for lunch.  All that shopping made me hungry, and I noticed an Italian restaurant in the distance, so we went there.  The atmosphere was so festive with Christmas trees, lights, and decorations.

  You can always tell how a restaurant is if the cokes they serve are good.

I ordered chicken alfredo, which was creamy, thick, and very good.

It was time to do some more shopping.  While my son went to Trader Joe's to get some goodies, I went over to Kohl's.  Have you ever tried these Pastry Bites with Feta Cheese and Caramelized Onions?  They are tiny bites of goodness.  Nel and Jess get them all the time at Trader Joe's.

I bought a sweater at Kohl's - a classic soft cream colored sweater for winter. 

After that, we drove over to Target, which was in the area, and then headed back home up the mountain.

I unpacked all my goodies, and enjoyed some of the foods we bought.  I was tired from the excitement of the day and the drive home, so later that evening I settled in and watched my favorite movie, White Christmas.

I had a great time with my son going to the city and having a day of Christmas fun.  Sons have a special way of making their mamas laugh, don't they?

We went at just the right time, cause the next morning we were covered in snow. ⛄

~Sheri   

Santa Came Early This Year

It was a sunny week.  We are expected to get more snow soon, but for now, I enjoyed the warmth of the sun most of the week.

  You may have heard that California had an earthquake.  It was a 7.0, but it was about 4 hours from my area.  Thank you to those who checked in on me.  I wanted to do something festive last week, so I went into town and had a shopping day!  What better place to go than to A's home shop where it is Christmas all year 'round. 

The next stop was K's Boutique.  She was having a Christmas sale, 40% off on all sweaters.  I was so glad, cause I wanted to get another sweater like the pink one I have, only in grey.

I get one of these chocolate bars every Christmas because the chocolate really is tasty.

I found this glass plaque when I was out.

"You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." ~Matthew 5:14

My next stop was to drive by the church.  I wanted to see if there was any Christmas decorations out.  There was a pretty flower arrangement sitting next to St. Francis.

  I drove through and got some lunch.  Now, this isn't just any corn dog.  It's a jumbo crispy honey corn dog.  They are the best I've ever had. 

It is a tradition in our family to make Russian tea cookies every Christmas.  My son made a batch, and he added too much butter, so they flattened, but were still so good.

Have to put my elves out every year.  They just make me happy.

After a Chinese take-out of kung pao chicken, shrimp and cream cheese won tons, and foiled wrapped chicken, I loved what my fortune cookie said.

Charlotte is almost walking now, and her big sister always looks out for her.

I am a collector of snow globes, and when I noticed one of my snow globes was leaking, I had to toss it.  It was one that Jess gave me years ago, and a favorite of mine.  I still have three.

Found this box last year, and loved it.

I watched the Christmas movie, Haul Out the Holly.  It was a silly and lighthearted movie.  Lacey Chabert is one of my favorite actresses during the holiday season.

Santa came early this year.....

Meet Jax!  He's an 8 month old Australian Shepherd mix.  Nel rescued him from the shelter.  He's a super sweet pup, but definitely a little fearful of the world, being out on the streets.  Hopefully, he'll start feeling more and more secure as time goes on.  They already love him, and he's really taken to Mia.

And since it was sunny out, I wanted to get some fresh air and visited the creek.  Mount Shasta has an abundance of snow on it, and when I look up at our mountain, I sometimes feel it is just as pretty.  The rain has filled the area, and that was so good to see.

~Sheri

A Train Story

 I saw this picture on a friend's blog recently, and I absolutely loved it.  It spoke to me right away.  You see, I have always been drawn to trains.

My grandfather worked for the railroad.....and died on the railroad.  It was the year 1935, and there was a powerful storm that lasted three or four days.  The weather was so bad, you couldn't see in front of you.  Some men were working on the railroad, and fourteen workers were dispatched for repairs.  They were coming home in a pair of open railroad cars when they collided with a gravel-filled car coming the other way.  Eleven men died that day, one was my grandfather, and others were injured.  After that, my grandmother was left to raise five children on her own.  Difficult times for sure, but she managed to raise three girls and two boys, with my dad being the oldest son.  I still have those newspaper clippings from the monument they built to honor those men who died on that tragic day.  And it was a privilege to attend the ceremony with my mother that was held in my hometown.

  Interesting fact:  Railroad workers were making about 35 cents an hour back then.

I have always appreciated movies about trains, and just watched The Christmas Train.  The storyline is a bit of a mystery, and a favorite Christmas movie of mine.

On a lighter note, here is a little bit of my week.  The heaters in the bedrooms went out again, and it's been pretty cold.  The main heater is still working, which I'm thankful for.  Do you know how hard it is to get a hold of workers during the Thanksgiving weekend?  But my resourceful brother was able to find someone quickly.  My son cooked the turkey this year, and he made a lemon and pepper dressing that was delicious.  It was a wonderful meal with all the sides.  We'll start with the cozy blanket I've bundled up with the last few days that has kept me warm.

The Christmas season is upon us.  Enjoy it immensely. 🎄

~Sheri