Happy holiday hodgepodge

 

 It's Wednesday again, so time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond, asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers on their own blogs.  This week's Hodgepodge questions revolve around Christmas and winter.   Here goes:

1. What does Christmas mean to you? 

First and foremost it is a glorious opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior!  It also means family, friends, memories, glorious carols, yummy food, beautiful decorations, nostalgia ... I could go on and on.  I love this time of year!

2. What's your favorite cozy holiday activity? 

Hmmm ....  I love a hot cocoa bar.  The lovely one below is at my daughter's home.

3. Is all your shopping-wrapping-baking done? Tell us about your holiday plans. 

The baking is nearly done.  I want to bake some gingerbread men, and I have a couple kitchen gifts yet to do.   You can see the list over on my Christmas blog.  Or I can just put it here.

The shopping is partially done.  And I do have a few handmade gifts done, and several more to go.

The wrapping is not yet started, though I have some rolls of wrapping paper accessible and I bought some rolls of tape.

You didn't ask about Christmas cards, but I've started on those.

Holiday plans: Not sure yet about Christmas Eve.  Our oldest granddaughters often join us.  Christmas Day we will have church in the morning -- a special Christmas service.  In the afternoon we will join our local daughter and her family for dinner and presents. 

4. If you were Santa what treat would you like to have left for you (it doesn't have to be milk and cookies!) What sweet or savory treat do you most look forward to indulging in around the holidays? 

I don't care for milk, but cookies would be great.  Maybe a nice gingerbread coffee with lots of cream and no sugar, and how about a plate of assorted homemade Christmas cookies?

 
As far as a sweet or savory treat I look forward to around the holidays,  I'd say for sweet, any of our traditional Christmas cookies or fudge.  For savory, I don't know.  Maybe the Ranch House Chicken that I often make for Christmas dinner?

5. Next Wednesday is the first official day of winter (in the northern hemisphere). How does that make you feel? Tell us what you love most about winter? 

Winter comes every year; I'm not super excited about it, but it's inevitable.  It has felt like winter for awhile, even though we've had no snow and only have a half inch or so now.  I guess there is more coming this week.

What I love most about winter is the cozy feeling that comes with being snowed in, with plenty of firewood, a full pantry and lots of craft materials and maybe a jigsaw puzzle.

This is from a previous winter.  Just look at that snow piled up in front of the window.  (This window looks out on the porch roof.)

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Looking forward to getting together with my local daughter next week for some Christmasy crafting.  I need to look over project ideas I've saved and see what we might make together.  I'm wondering about some of these:

I have tart tins that were my grandmother's.  Or maybe some of these:

We will see what ideas we come up with.  I'll be sure to post about what we do.

And that's the holiday Hodgepodge!