Our traditional grand breakfast

 

Again this year, we had four of our local grandchildren over to carry on a tradition we've been tweaking for many years -- I would say at least a dozen years.  It used to be breakfast (or supper, once or twice) out, then Christmas shopping for their parents, followed by ice cream sundaes at Kellerhaus.

It has evolved over the years and most often began with breakfast out at McDonalds or a diner.  But ever since 2020, we have found it works much better to skip eating out and also to skip shopping (as three of them have jobs and can surely buy their own gifts).  Instead, after breakfast, we have a time of crafting, candy making, or both (and sometimes a spot of tree decorating).  I thought today I would share about this year's breakfast.

As usual, I kept breakfast simple but hearty with breakfast sliders 

 

and a Hash Brown Casserole.  The hash brown casserole is always a big favorite with this crowd. 

I also made the Cinnamon Fried Apples recipe you see at the top of the post.  I change that up a little in that I substitute 1/4 cup pure maple syrup for the sugars that are called for.  I also slice the apples rather than chop them.

I had planned on making this coffeecake to fill in any gaps.  I had made this in a previous year and the kids enjoyed it.  But even though it is super easy and fast, I ran out of time.  I had squares of pumpkin coffeecake, blueberry coffeecake,  and cranberry breakfast cake in the freezer, so I warmed those up instead.  

And that was this year's grand breakfast!  The company was even better than the food.

Friday five, Christmasy doings edition

 

Christmas 1952

Here's a quick Friday five, listing more Christmasy doings from the past week:

🎄 1. Last Saturday we found a conducive time for our Christmas tradition with four local grandkids.  We enjoyed a wonderful homemade breakfast, lots of Christmas crafting time with Grammy's crafting stash, a bit of candy making, and then a trip to Kellerhaus for ice cream sundaes.  I'll write an entire post about this on one blog or the other, but here are a couple of photos.

 

Grampa and Ari study the Rolo bag to check the candy recipe. 

The above was my sundae.  About all you can see is whipped cream, salted peanuts, and banana chips, but there was homemade vanilla ice cream under there, along with hot fudge, hot butterscotch, and warm peanut butter sauces.

🎄 2.  Our church kids and teens put on a Christmas musical play.  It was well attended and greatly enjoyed.  Below are four of our grands who took part: the older three singing and the youngest one who had an acting/singing role in the drama.

🎄 3.  My hubby helping out with lots of baking.  You can see some of the fruits of his labor below on the Christmas dessert table at our daughter's home.

🎄 4. Finding time to bake, cook, and deliver goodies to friends in this lovely season of giving.

🎄 5.  A wonderful Christmas afternoon with our daughter, her hubby and family.

 

 

There you have it!  Friday five with a Christmasy vibe!

The day after Christmas

 

 Just a quick check-in on the day after Christmas.  

Yesterday morning was busy.  Since we weren't going anywhere until 2 pm, and also since we do intermittent fasting, our morning was pretty much our own to do as we liked.  Empty nest + not giving one another gifts or stockings (since we prefer to put the money toward getaways that are year-round gifts to both of us) = a lot of free time on Christmas morning.

Free time that we quickly filled up with cooking and baking, not to mention wrapping a few gifts.  Again this year my hubby wanted to wrap one of granddaughter Ari's gifts in a unique way.  A box of maple cookies became a wagon, the two boxes of Laughing Cow cheese were wheels.  He found a small horse (too small, but he didn't have time to look for a larger one, having only come up with this idea yesterday morning) to pull the wagon and affixed a little Christmas tree atop the "cargo".  It was a fun idea but I think it fell a little flat since he had turned some food gifts into a snowman last year.

However, he would not be deterred.  I think my daughter took a picture of the wagon, so maybe I can share that later.

He baked gingerbread men before starting this project.  Meanwhile I was making some food gifts (spicy peanuts -- peanuts roasted with chili powder and cayenne) and maple barbecue sauce.

We also prepared a salad and maple roasted carrots to take along.

All of us were running late so we ended up not eating until 2:45 or so.  The beef and mashed potatoes were all in crockpots (as were the carrots) so the food stayed nice and hot.  What a feast we enjoyed!

Then we opened gifts and it was lovely to see the thought and care put into each package.

Dessert was a cookie and candy buffet, and those who cared to made themselves, tea, coffee, or hot cocoa.  We nibbled and sipped while watching the animated version of the Grinch.

Above, Carrie's hot cocoa bar from a previous year.   We did not even take the camera with us, but hopefully we can get some photos from Carrie later.  Her decor is always so lovely!

It was an early evening and Mr. T and I came home around 7:15, put things away, and relaxed.

Today we are in puttering mode.  He fixed a couple of issues with hinges and got together a box of cookies to deliver to friends with a houseful of visiting family.

This afternoon we may go for a drive.    

I want to add that I read this wonderful advice this morning -- The Best Way to Spend the Day after Christmas -- and I really want to follow some of the "pondering prompts" that the author shared.  I love the idea of using them to think back over all that God did in this special season.

And that's it from my kitchen table for today!

Merry Christmas!

 

 Merry Christmas, everyone!

Things are still a-stir in our kitchen as Mr. T has baked gingerbread men this morning.  I'm working on two kitchen gifts, and we are also preparing maple roasted carrots to take along to Christmas dinner at our local daughter's home.

Carrie is preparing a roast, gravy and mashed potatoes, along with homemade rolls which she excels at.  

In addition to the carrots, I'm also bringing this Merry Berry Salad, so the cranberries are awaiting being blended into a gorgeous cranberry vinaigrette and I will assemble the salad in a few hours. 

 We'll also be bringing a cookie tray and are putting the finishing touches on some last-minute food gifts.  We also have a few more gifts to wrap, but dinner is not until 2 pm so we have plenty of time.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas so far as we celebrate the very greatest Gift ever given -- our Savior, Jesus Christ!

This week's Christmasy doings

 

I've been writing a "Christmasy progress" post once a week, posting on Saturday.   So let's catch up a little, shall we?

🌲 Saturday, December 14 -- We met up with friends at King Arthur Cafe, Bakery, and Store in Norwich, VT.  It was so much fun!

I had specific gifts in mind that I wanted to shop for here, but most were not available.  Out of stock.  I found a few other things that would work, however, and I did get some specific cookie cutters I had hoped to find.  I've prepared a more detailed post for my Christmas blog concerning our visit to this amazing place.

When we left King Arthur, we visited a gigantic thrift store on the New Hampshire side.  It was a little overwhelming, actually, but I got a beautiful heavy glass Christmas plate picturing a snowy village for only 1.75.  And a nice hardcover kids' book (which I plan to use as a Christmas gift) for $1.

Following this we went to our friends' favorite Mexican restaurant, located across the street from the thrift store.  A yummy meal.  I picked the enchilada trio meal and my hubby chose the taco trio.

🌲 Sunday, December 15 -- was our church's musical Christmas service with choir chimes, strings, and vocals.  A delightful service!  We were so blessed to have many visitors from the community!  In the afternoon, our musicians took the show on the road to a church up in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire.  Mr. T and I had thought we would attend, but common sense dictated that we not take the 4-hour round trip.  We stayed home and decorated our Christmas tree instead!

🌲 Monday, December 16 -- Let's see.   I caught up on laundry and did some December blog posts and some planning for the week.  Also sent out some orders from my Etsy shop and a few Christmas cards.  Mr. T was at his volunteer job, so no baking got done.  I thought I would make some fudge, but didn't get to it.

🌲 Tuesday, December 17 -- I baked a cranberry coffeecake for a friend and made my traditional apricot fruitcakes for another friend. 

🌲 Wednesday, December 18 --  I made Christmas granola for kitchen gifts and for my friend who's having loads of family visit over the holidays.  Thinking I'm going to have to do another batch of this. 

🌲 Thursday, December 19 -- Mr. T went out to buy a few more baking ingredients.  He baked a double batch of Chocolate Orange Cookies and a single batch of a new-to-us recipe I've been wanting to try: Gingerbread Chocolate Thumbprints.  He also made a batch of Heavenly Delight fudge -- that double decker chocolate peanut butter fudge that is such a favorite with our family and friends.  I wrote some Christmas cards and he took them to the post office.  Our mail delivery here at our home has become slow and unreliable.

🌲 Friday, December 20 -- We picked up a few more components for gifts while grocery shopping, as well as more baking ingredients.  Mr. T made a full batch of Whipped Shortbread before we left for the store, and I made another batch of Christmas granola when we returned.

The plan had been to have our friend Jennifer and her boys over in the afternoon, but she cancelled due to illness.   So Mr. T tried another new recipe -- Coffee Maple Spritz -- and also a batch of Peanut Blossom cookies.   I worked on Christmas cards and gift wrapping, and took advantage of another Shutterfly freebie to make a gift.  I also prepared ahead for tomorrow's breakfast with some of the grandkids and did some brainstorming about crafts and candy to make with them.  We went out to get a necessary ingredient and did a bit of Christmas shopping along the way.

🌲 Saturday, December 21 -- today will be our annual Christmas tradition with four of our local grands.  They show no signs of outgrowing it, although it has been tried and tweaked over the years and now has to take work schedules for the older three into account.  I'll write more about that next week.

And those are the Christmasy doings from here, for now!

Delights of December

 

 I first posted this series back in December 2006, before I had ever thought of beginning a Christmas blog.  I wanted to post something special for my readers each day of December, so I created a little series I called Delights of December.  I shared many, many recipes and crafts -- well, 31 days worth -- that had been special to our family at Christmas through the years.

Since I didn't have a lot of readers in the beginning, I reposted the series in 2011.  

Don't worry, I'm not reposting it again, but many of my readers are more recent than 2011, so these ideas and recipes will be new to many of you.  I'd like to encourage you to click the "Delights of December" label in the label cloud over here in the sidebar at right.  Hope you enjoy!

Maple Cranberry Sauce

 

By now probably most of us are looking ahead to what Christmas dinner will look and taste like.   If your meal plans will include turkey, chicken, or pork, may I suggest a delightful (and easy) maple cranberry sauce?

This year I volunteered to make the whole berry cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving.  I knew my daughter had made a version free of refined sugar in recent years, and I asked her about it.  She directed me to this one: The Best Cranberry Sauce, from Two Peas and Their Pod.  And oh my!  It really is the best.  

It's made with pure maple syrup, the juice and zest of a large orange, a bit of water and a touch of cinnamon (1/4 t.)  When my daughter made this sauce for a church dinner earlier in November, she had forgotten to add the cinnamon and I thought it was delicious without it.  So when I made it for Thanksgiving, I was doubling the recipe and I decided to add just a whisper of cinnamon -- 1/8 tsp. for the double batch.  It was plenty, and I actually prefer it without any cinnamon at all.

Screenshot from TwoPeasandTheirPod

 
This sauce is so delicious that many people say they could eat it by the spoonful, all by itself.  I definitely suggest that you make a double batch.

I should add that it's not really a favorite with the kids in my life.  They say it's not sweet enough and prefer the jellied cranberry sauce that comes from a can.  (And if that describes your kids, then be sure to buy the Woodstock jellied cranberry sauce, which to my knowledge is the only brand that doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup.)

This is fast and easy to make.  The most difficult part is grating the orange zest -- and that's not hard.  I hope your family will enjoy this recipe if you try it!

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image similar to the illustration above, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This third week's verses are focused on Joy.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 17.

Today's Scripture is Nehemiah 8:10.

S=  "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our LORD.  Neither be grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  (Nehemiah 8:10)

O= After the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt under the direction of Nehemiah, Ezra stood in the street "upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose", and read from the book of the law.  Verse 8 notes that Ezra and other men "read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading". 

The people wept when they heard the words of the law (v.9) but Nehemiah and Ezra instructed them not to weep but to celebrate, "for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Warrem Wiersbe explains in With the Word, "When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 444 B.C., Ezra was already there, instructing the people in God's law.  When the work of rebuilding was completed, Ezra held a great 'Bible conference' during the Feast of Taberrnacles.  The emphasis in chapter 8 is on 'the Book'.  They honored God's Word by standing when it was opened (v.5), listening when it was read, and seeking to understand it when it was explained.  They rejoiced at understanding the Word and at obeying the Word."

Believer's Bible Commentary also has some helpful thoughts: "The people's tears showed that the message was taken seriously (v.9).  They were right in taking the Word of God seriously, but they did not need to be overwhelmed by grief.  The feast was not for weeping but for rejoicing.  Only one occasion for mourning and fasting was to be found among Israel's feasts, and that was the Day of Atonement.  The rest of the feasts were to be kept with joy and celebration.  The fruit of the Spirit was to be visible: love, in sharing with the less fortunate; joy, in eating and drinking before the Lord; peace, in calming their fears and putting their hearts at rest.  Their sadness was turned to joy, and the joy of the LORD was their strength."

A= Certainly I am to take my sin seriously, as seen in December 16's reading from 1 John, and I am to be serious about my Christian life and my walk with God.  But the Christian life is intended to be a joy-filled life.

There have been many times in my life when I felt I could not do what was being asked of me.  Literally, I had no strength of my own.  I prayed in those times for God's joy to be my strength; sometimes I prayed it through tears.  God answered gloriously and I did find that His joy was my strength.  

P= "Lord, I am so thankful that Your joy can be my strength.  I praise You for the many times in my life when you have proved that to be true.  

"I know that every day is to be 'holy unto the Lord' -- for it is to be sanctified to Your service.  Help me to live my life in such a way that this is so.  May each and every day of my life count for Your glory!  I know that this can only be done in Your strength, and I thank You for all that You have done, all that You are doing, and all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study for today!  I hope it has been a blessing to someone.

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!

The Jar of Jelly -- a Christmas poem I have loved for years

 

  
The Jar of Jelly 

 To others' eyes, it may not look like much;
Wrapped up in festive ribbons and some seals
To make it look more Christmasy and gay.
But you for whom it's meant will find, I know,
All that is packed within the little jar,
You will translate the label properly
And see just what the contents really are.
"Wild grape -- " you'll say, and suddenly
You'll not be walking dusty city halls,
But down an autumn-gilded little lane
Between the jewelled vines of old stone walls.
Instead of dingy bricks beyond a court
You'll see a spruce-green hillside, sharp and clear,
Sweet fern and bayberry will scent the breeze,
The whirr of partridge wings delight your ear.
It is not much to send, this one small jar,
But you will see that in it, pure and true,
Shimmers the essence of the place we love,
Preserved especially by me, for you. 

-- Barbara Overton Christie 

 I've posted this before -- in 2006! -- but I am posting it again for the enjoyment of my newer readers.  I have loved this poem for many years.

  My mother had several issues of Farm Journal's Christmas Book, and I loved to peruse them every year. This poem was included on a page with recipes for gift jams and jellies. 

 I was fortunate enough to be given some old issues of the Farm Journal Christmas Book in later years, and the issue containing this poem happened to be one of them. I have enjoyed so much having these books for my very own. 

This poem in particular shows how even a very small gift can come straight from the heart -- and that it can be much more than just a jar of jelly.

December 11 Hodgepodge

 

Again this week,  I'm joining in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Here we go ...

1. What's one task you'd like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

Make two pillow quilts that I am trying to finish for December birthdays.   Below is a folded pillow quilt from a previous year, for a previous recipient.  As I look at this I realize that this photo was taken in the extra bedroom of a favorite cabin up north.  Apparently I had taken my sewing machine along to work on this (and maybe other) projects during our getaway.  Obviously, I was using my time a lot better then than now.

2. What's your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

Oh, I have several:  time management, healthy eating, the way everything takes longer as we age.  If I'm honest I'll admit my biggest challenge is time management.

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

I am a cookie baker any time of year. I love, love, love baking Christmas cookies in particular, but my hubby loves it too and he is the one who does most of the Christmas cookie baking, though I do some.

A cookie tray Mr. T put together for a party

A small plate of favorites to share

 
If my year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter, I guess maybe it would be a car shape -- yes, they are out there, though I really don't care to own one -- because we have done so much traveling by car this year, both for road trips and for our volunteer jobs.

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What's the last thing you made that called for milk? 

I do not like milk. Never have.  We don't even buy milk any more.  It goes bad so quickly.  When I need it for a recipe, I dilute half & half cream (which we always have on hand) with water to substitute for milk.  Last thing I made that called for milk was a creamy sauce.

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

I hadn't really thought about this until recently, but this one:

 from the Christmas carol It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Edmund Sears.  If you can't read it, this is the third stanza and says:

"All ye beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow; Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing."

The gorgeous artwork is by Jennifer Trafton and is from this book: Glad and Golden Hours, by Lanier Ivester.   Its subtitle is "A Companion for Christmas and Advent".

I just received a copy as an early Christmas gift.  Highly recommended!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We got more snow overnight.  But there is rain and warm temps in the forecast, which is to be followed by extreme cold.   Makes me just a little nervous about a repeat of some scary flooding near our camp in December 2022.  You can read about that here.

And that's the Wednesday Hodgepodge for this week!

 

Sweet little vintage Christmas card

 

 This little card is a recent find that will be going in my Etsy shop.  The scene reminds me so much of the valley where I grew up.  Mountains all around, a big red barn, friendly folks -- well, I just love it.  The message inside the card is also refreshing and different:

Christmas again!

And may you have the real joys 

that make the season mean so much;

-- warm remembrance, friendly greetings, 

and hearty good cheer.

Isn't that beautiful?  And so much of it is just what I wish for my friends at Christmas.  How about you?

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image featuring an illustration of candy canes, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  This second week's verses are focused on Love.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 9.

Today's Scripture is 1 John 4:7-8.

S= "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."  (1 John 7:-7-8)

O= This letter is written by the apostle John and may be thought of as a "family letter" from the Father to His "little children" (as John addresses them) who are in the world.  

C.I. Scofield says, "John's Gospel leads us across the threshold of the Father's house; His first epistle makes us at home there."  A lovely thought!  

The section containing verses 7 and 8 of chapter 4 is titled by Scofield in the Scofield Study Bible as "Little children assured and warned."

God is love, and all real love comes from Him.  Since we are born of God, and know God, we are to love one another.  If we do not manifest this love toward one another, we really don't know God as well as we should.

A= This passage is definitely speaking to me today.  Many times my reactions are so much less than loving.  Many times I feel as if I can love people, but I don't really like them very much.  I know that I have to truly love others if I am to show the world an accurate picture of my Savior.

P= "Lord, You know how hard this is for me.  I feel as if I do love my church family very much and have a genuine love and concern for each one who attends.  Yet you know I have often had a real struggle over the years with various situations.  I'm very thankful right now that I can't even remember what most of them were.  I pray that You would help me to love as You would have me to love.  I praise You that You are love and that true, real love comes only from You.  Give me a true love for others, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is another super-simple Bible study post for the Christmas season.  I hope it's a blessing to someone!

Christmas preparations so far

 

 Christmasy preparations are ongoing here at our home, with the foremost being lots and lots of baking.  My hubby has baked Secret Spice Cookies, Chocolate Mint Crisps. Eggnog Logs, Chocolate Spritz, Blond Brownies, Whipped Shortbread, and is currently working on a batch of Sacher Torte cookies.  Those are the cookies you see below.  They're a chocolate thumbprint cookie with the indentations filled with either raspberry or apricot jam and then chocolate.  They are outstanding.

 
I've made a number of hand-crafted gifts -- I think maybe ten or so thus far.   I'd like to do a couple more, and hopefully there will be time to do so.

  I got all of the fall decor put away and began a bit of Christmas decorating on the table, the hutch, and a living room corner.

We don't have our tree up yet, nor our outdoor lights, but hopefully that will happen very soon.  And, we're working on plans to get together with four of our local grands for our special Christmas tradition with them.  The older three have jobs, which makes setting a time much more challenging.

 
Today Mr. T and I took a jaunt to a discount store to catch up with a lot of needed items for baking and household use.   On the way home we stopped at the Maple Creamery and tried a hot maple creamee.  A natural, maple alternative to hot chocolate -- and oh, how delicious!

And that's where things are at here in our Christmas preparations!

The picture I didn't have

 

I've shared before about the delights of my mother's kitchen at Christmas time when I was a child.   At one time I wrote: "Kitchen gifts were somewhat of a tradition in my family as I was growing up.  My mother made pans and pans of her maple fudge, but she also made lots of Christmas cookies, and loaves of cinnamon swirled bread which she topped with a thin white icing plus sliced almonds and a few candied cherries. "

We didn't take photos of everything we did back then as many of us do now.  Taking photographs in those days involved a camera loaded with film.  When the roll of film was used up, one sent it away to be developed.  Both film and developing cost money, so in the 1950s we planned photos carefully rather than always being spontaneous with them.  (Although many snapshots, particularly of children, were taken spontaneously.) 

All that to say, at least in my childhood home we rarely took photos of food.  So I don't have pictures of my favorite Christmas goodies.  Those pictures all reside in memory's picture album, gilded with nostalgia.

The other day, I was sorting through some more boxes of Christmas cards and stationery to prepare for more Etsy listings.  And I came upon the card pictured at the top of the post.  It was just an inexpensive freebie card sent along with others to potential donors to a charity.  And this card just spoke to me of my mother's Christmas preparations.   Nut meats, and candied fruits, made an appearance in her kitchen every December.  The bread board resembles closely one that she had.  And oh, the bread itself!  Although this looks like a bread studded with fruit, my mom decorated her cinnamon-swirled yeast loaves almost exactly like this, with a thin white icing garnished with cherries.  The only thing she did differently was to add some thinly sliced almonds to the trimmings along with the candied cherries.  

What a lovely reminder of my childhood Christmases!  I am so happy to have come across this.

First Hodgepodge of December

 

A day late (because of a scheduled post that I wanted to remain on Wednesday),  I'm joining in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Here we go ...

 1. What's the best $5 gift to give someone? 

That is a good question.   I'm sure that many of my kitchen gifts come in at $5 or under, so maybe some fudge, or a mulled cider mix ... but one $5 gift I've personally appreciated in the past is a Dunkin Donuts gift card.

2. What's your favorite way to relax/unwind during the busy holiday season? 

Probably a cup of some holiday herbal or decaf tea sipped by the tree lights.  Maybe with a vintage Christmas magazine or a Gooseberry Patch Christmas book in hand.  Maybe even a Christmas cookie.

This wonderful book made an appearance at my childhood home every single Christmas.  When I saw this little softcover alongside my mother's Christmas notebook, I knew the Christmas baking season was about to begin. 

3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes? 

I love gingerbread  -- both the cake type and the cookie type.  I do try to bake some gingerbread men each Christmas, but it doesn't always happen.

We have made gingerbread houses in the  past, mostly when the kids were younger and it's fun, but not a tradition as such.  I took a few minutes to hunt for a photo but no success as yet.

These felt gingerbread men never get stale!

 

And yes, I do like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes.  Muffins, scones, Asian food ...

4. December 5th is National Blue Jeans Day...will you be celebrating? Do you have a favorite brand? A favorite pair? Do you have a hard time parting with a favorite pair of jeans? Blue jeans-joggers-leggings-yoga pants...which one do you wear most often? 

If by celebrating you mean will I be wearing blue jeans on that day, well, it's likely. 

Favorite brand would be Gloria Vanderbilt, though I do have a pair from Dress Barn that I like a lot.  (Are those stores even around anymore?  Somehow I'm thinking not.  I bought those jeans at a thrift store.)  My favorite pair is a dark indigo Gloria Vanderbilt.  Of the mentioned articles I wear jeans most often.

5. As we head into this holiday season what's your biggest priority or goal for the end of the year? 

Oh, let's see.   Probably just to have had a peaceful and meaningful Christmas season.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

After months, if not years, of struggling with an older desktop computer that wouldn't support any more browser updates, I finally got a laptop that is totally up to date.  Now to master the learning curve involved.  I will still use the desktop for blogging and many other things, but the laptop is going to be very helpful.  Very thankful to grandson Sam for helping us decide on the best value and fit.

And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!

This should be an annual public service announcement ...

 

 ... so I'm posting it again this year.  It's a reminder to check your pantry, freezer and fridge for ingredients you'll be needing.  If you don't usually do this sort of planning, I think you will be surprised what a difference it makes.  In fact, up to the point of writing this post I had not yet checked this for 2024, and my hubby (who started baking in late November) has already run out of red decorating sugar!  He also ran out of the Andes mints he uses for his famous chocolate mint cookies -- a real problem which necessitated a run to the store.

In my Christmas notebook I have a list  (pictured at top of post -- double-click to see it better) titled "Long-Term Holiday Shopping List".  I think it was an idea from FlyLady some years back.  It includes not just baking ingredients, but also groceries for our traditional Christmas Eve meal, ingredients for a few freezer meals and kitchen gifts, and more. It's so helpful to check this list against your pantry and fridge contents before beginning to bake or cook for Christmas, to find out what will be needed.

I'm sharing my list, but really it will differ for everyone.  In fact, as I looked it over I saw that there were a number of things I needed to add.  So I added them in, and have now actually printed out the revised list and placed it in my notebook.

LONG-TERM HOLIDAY SHOPPING LIST

Extra flour
Extra sugar -- brown, white, confectioners
Quick oats
Corn syrup and molasses
Extra cornstarch
Extra butter
Lemons and oranges
Walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds
Raspberry and apricot jam
Baking chips -- white, semisweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and peanut butter
Marshmallow fluff
Evaporated milk
Sweetened condensed milk
Baking chocolate -- unsweetened squares and cocoa
Extracts -- almond, orange, lemon, maple, vanilla
Whole spices -- cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries
Ground spices -- cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves
Almond bark -- white and chocolate
Candy -- Hershey kisses, Andes mints, candy canes, M&Ms
Colored sprinkles
Red and green colored sugar
Stretch-tite plastic wrap (best for wrapping cookie trays)
Extra foil, waxed paper, parchment paper
Cheeses -- shredded cheddar, blue cheese, ricotta, Neufchatel, mozzarella
Half-and-half cream
Bacon
Celery
Extra eggs
Frozen chopped broccoli, spinach, pureed squash
Lasagna noodles
Sour cream

So make up your own list, making note of specific ingredients required by your own favorite family recipes for the holiday.  Then check it against what's in your pantry.  I hope this idea saves someone a trip to the store!

Time to make some kitchen lists!

 Yes, if you haven't already, it's time to give some serious thought to all that'll be happening in your kitchen this December.  List-making is really a must if you do any baking or candy-making over the holidays.  I make a tentative cookie list, a tentative candy list, and a tentative kitchen gifts list every Christmas.  If I don't do this, I will be sure to forget something I wanted to include.  I have made most of my tentative lists for 2024 already.  The one you see above is a "Kitchen Gifts" list from a previous year, fancied up for blog presentation.

Many of you have probably made similar lists already.  But if you haven't, now's a good time to begin!

Above you see a glimpse of my lists for this year.  I'll offer a more detailed look at them over on my Christmas blog.  

I also will be making a fourth list, what I'm calling for lack of a better title a ministry list.  When I can, I like to help friends who may be busier than I and have a houseful of company over the Christmas season.  For one family, for example, my list will include two frozen lasagnas and possibly another main dish as well, in addition to cookie trays and probably some breakfast items like granola and coffee cake.  You may be able to help out a friend in a similar situation, and if so, you will need a list.

Tomorrow we'll talk about another helpful list of a slightly different sort.  Meanwhile, have fun with your own list making!

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download, and I wanted to let you know that if you're interested you can head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image with the candy canes, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  I plan to use some of these for very simple Sunday Scripture posts here and also (different verses) on my Christmas blog, for the first four weeks in December.  The first week's verses are focused on Hope. 

Today's Scripture is Jeremiah 33:14-15.  In the actual study, this one was from December 4 -- just in case you downloaded the study and are following along with it.

S= "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,  that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
"In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."  (Jeremiah 33:14-15)

O= God is speaking here, giving Jeremiah a message to speak to Israel and Judah.  He declares that the day is coming when He will the good things which He has promised to Judah and to Israel.  He will cause the Branch of righteousness (Jesus Himself) to take the throne of David as King of Kings and Lord of lords.

A= The most obvious application that stands out to me is that God keeps His promises!  What He promises, He eventually performs, when His time is right.

It is also neat to see the promise of the coming of the Branch fulfilled, insofar as Christ coming to earth in His first incarnation.  We have the sure promise that He will come again to reign as King of Kings and Lord of lords, to "execute justice and righteousness in the land."

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You that You keep Your promises!  What You promise, You are more than able to perform.  I see here Your promise of sending the Messiah -- and how that promise was kept.  I thank and praise You for the surety that You always will keep Your promises -- You will never leave or forsake Your people; You are working all things together for our good and Your glory; You will be with us even through the valley of the shadow of death; just to name a very few promises. I praise You for all that You are doing, and all that You have done and will do!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

So there is our very simple and basic study for Sunday Scripture today.  I think that "simple" is likely all that most of us can handle right now as we move into this blessed Christmas season.  I know that to be true of myself!