Happy New Year!  Well, I do hope this year is a splendid one.  I rang in the new year 🔔🔔 by going out to lunch at the Mexican restaurant with my brother-in-law.  It is a fun and festive place for both of us to catch up and visit.  He first stopped by the house and brought over some beef that he got from a relative's cattle ranch, and he wanted to share some.  Meat is so expensive at the stores, and I was grateful.  He also brought me some more homemade chili.  I first made him a cup of coffee and some homemade sugar cookies with icing and red sprinkles, and after a while we went over to the restaurant.

Well, I am always mentioning my in-laws to you, so I thought I would share a little about them.  There are three sisters and six brothers, and I love them all.  But you know I have my favorites.😉 I've known all of them since I was 16.

I am close to them all, but one of my favorites lives in Seattle and calls and checks up on me from time to time.  And three others live close by, with one being another favorite which I see often, and that has always stayed in touch with my family.

I have been enjoying the holiday tea that Nel gave me.

Jess reminded me that the new season of Virgin River is out, season 6, so I've been watching that.  It's been a very entertaining season.  Jess takes her time to watch these episodes, but I breeze through them, and am almost finished with the season.  Some flashback photos of Mel's parents,

and her real dad she never knew.

There were 8 doves that landed on my lawn and came to visit me.  It was a sight for sure.

I'll show you the Harry Potter nook next time that Nel made for Mia using one of the small closets at her house.

Have a sparkly new year.  I have never made resolutions.  Too much pressure to keep up with, so I will sincerely just be the best version of me. 😚

~Sheri

Not Always Roses

Me and Jess had a bit of a run in with a woman who was unreasonable and unfair with her demands, and it saddened me because it came right on Christmas Eve.  It's not always roses here at Red Rose Alley;🌹 we come into some challenges, and sometimes we have to deal with all kinds of people on different levels, but being a woman myself, I know how important it is to be helpful and compassionate with people in need.  But unfortunately, sometimes we come across women who abuse their power in their jobs, women who stand by and do nothing while someone needs help, women who have no grace and mercy, and women who have no love.  We all come across them in our daily lives.  But someone very dear to me reminded me of what Saint Francis said, "Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given; a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage."

So, give your light, my blog sisters.  There are those who need it so desperately.

I had a beautiful Christmas, and my children gave me so many wonderful gifts.......leggings and socks, Holiday spiced tea, Boston Tea Party Tea (Earl Grey), which actually came from Boston when Jess visited, Starbuck's Christmas Blend, candy cane chocolate cookies, "joy to the world" cup, framed picture of Francesca, which meant so much to me, cause she was wearing the dress I picked out the first day of school, kitchen dish towels, glass bowl, coasters, and See's!  And Jess always puts oranges in the packages, which will remain a tradition forever.

Aren't these the most unique coasters?  Have no idea where Jess got them, but I love them.

I have to show you the packages that Nel wraps from Santa because it's such a creative idea.  She puts a big S stamp on them also.

Matching pj's and hats.

Here's Mia opening up my present - the Disney Dream House!

I hope you have pleasant days leading up to the new year.  And I will leave you with one of my favorite verses.  Please remember it in times of trouble.

If God is for us, who can be against us? ~Romans 8:31   

Some Christmas Cheer

I got a visit from my brother-in-law last week who brought us some Christmas cheer!  He brought over so many goodies from the in-laws - a ham, homemade chili, homemade tortillas, chocolate chip cookies, Russian tea cookies, and a favorite every Christmas, Ferrero Rocher Chocolates.

The chili was so delicious.  It had a spicy kick to it.  I made some fried eggs to go with it the next morning.

We had a very foggy day, which I love.

My son made another batch of croissants, and I topped them with butter and cranberry jelly.

Now, I've shown you the Pioneer wagon that's on main street in my town during the holidays, but I don't think I've ever shown you it covered in snow.  I can just imagine traveling in that wagon in the cold snowy season during my favorite era.

I watched the movie, A Merry Scottish Christmas.  These two played brother and sister back in the day in the popular series, Party of Five.  A Merry Scottish Christmas was a feel-good movie, lots of joy, and celebrating some Scottish traditions.

I have to show you the Christmas market Nel went to this season with Mia.  It was so fun!  Lots of sparkly displays, carolers dressed in red and green velvet cloaks, yummy traditional foods and drinks like hot chocolate, mulled wine, Poffertjes (a Dutch dish of small, fluffy pancakes), and gingerbread.  There was also artisan shops selling handmade trinkets.

My other babies were sick last week.....and Jess too.

But Francesca felt better over the weekend, and got to go to The Nutcracker with Mia.

My neighbor, F, brought over some homemade fudge.  I was craving it, and was so happy to receive some this Christmas.  It was such a thoughtful gift.

I've been having a nice Christmas season with magical snow to look at all around me.  I can't believe how lovely these snow days have been here in the mountains.  

My neighbor's lights through the blinds.

This Eurasian Collared Dove came to visit me this Christmas.

Joy to the World

The Lord has come!

Merry Christmas friends!

You are dear to me.

~Sheri

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