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!