Christmasy doings

 

Here's a little update from the past week.

🎄 Saturday -- I made a cheese log and arranged a large cookie tray to take to a party with my husband's former work crew.  Even though he has been retired a few years, we are welcomed to this party and it's always such a fun time.  Beautiful decor!  Wish I had taken pictures, but I didn't.  For the tables, pretty plastic tablecloths with a pine cone print were topped with red plaid flannel runners and cream colored vases filled with red berries.  Lovely.  This was held in a rustic pine-paneled garage.  A stairway leads to the upstairs, and on each of the four lower steps was a sweet potted Christmas tree.  I always gain so much decorating inspiration from this party.  Food inspiration as well!

🎄 Sunday -- We began singing Christmas carols in church instead of our regular hymns.  Sunday afternoon, we went to a lovely Christmas concert by Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra.  Granddaughter Julia and several of our friends play with this orchestra, so it was exceptionally fun to see in addition to being just a stellar Christmas concert.  Worth every penny of admission.

🎄 Monday -- a change in Mr. T's plans for the day sent us to our state capital on an errand for the church.  I went along so we could accomplish a few things and we picked up quite a few gifts on my list.  

Kind of bittersweet in some ways as we passed a large mall, now nearly empty.  (Back in the day, a trip to that city mall with our kids was always a memory maker at Christmas time.  Although we didn't buy much there, we loved seeing the beautiful Christmas decorations.) 

When we got home from our errands, we ate a late lunch and then went out to do some local errands here in our town.  When we got back from there,  Mr. T made a batch of chocolate peanut butter fudge.

🎄 Tuesday -- I made two pans of lasagna to freeze and then will gift them to a friend who's having a houseful of family at Christmas.  We had had a lot of snow, so Mr. T spent lots of time shoveling at home, church, and our camp.  I had to order some more yarn for my temperature blanket, since the stores I looked at on Monday didn't have the right color.  While I was at it, I ordered a few Christmas gifts as well.

🎄 Wednesday -- Mr. T baked two double batches of some of our special cookies that are in high demand -- Sacher Torte Cookies, and Eggnog Logs.  Both are labor intensive, with the Sacher Tortes including a jam filling and chocolate topping, and the Eggnog Logs requiring icing, adding lines with a fork, and grating on fresh nutmeg.  He was amazed to get so much accomplished, especially since he also shoveled off our metal roof at the camp.  I made a batch of Special Holiday Fudge -- a chocolate one with almond and orange flavors, raisins and pecans.

🎄 Thursday -- Mr. T was out of town at his volunteer job all day. I did some cleaning and dusting tasks that have been on the back burner for a long time, and also made some simple Christmas coasters to include with my gift for the church ladies' gift exchange.  I did some laundry also and did a bit more Christmas decorating in the living room and front hallway.

🎄 Friday -- We went grocery shopping and picked up a few more items and components for food gifts. Made a thrift store run and I found several pairs of brand new Christmas socks (total of 2.50) and a gorgeous pair of dressy black jeans -- my favorite brand and a perfect fit -- for only $4.  I also picked up some free Leisure Arts Spirit of Christmas books in like-new condition.

Mr. T baked Christmas tree spritz, lemon shortbread thumbprints, and another batch of Secret Spice Cookies and I made some cocoa dusted almonds for gifts and wrapped my gifts for the Ladies of Grace gift exchange in the evening.  While I was gone, he put up the Christmas tree -- but no lights or decorations yet.

🎄 Saturday -- This morning we hope to possibly get the lights on the tree.  I hope to make some gingerbread coffee creamer for our own use, and I need to package an Etsy order.  This afternoon, we'll be meeting our friends Syd and Cyndy at the King Arthur Baking Co.  flagship location in Vermont.  The plan is to have supper at their favorite Mexican restaurant.  I'll blog about today's happenings next week.

Hope you all are enjoying some Christmasy doing as well!