The Gingerbread Fun - December Traditions

Never fear. Nana had the grands over for a wild and seriously crazy evening of decorating gingerbread cookies. That is not an understatement.

For the past few years, I have decorated gingerbread houses with the grands. But this year, with 3 boys and 1 girl, six years old and younger, I thought gingerbread cookies would be much easier. I was right.

But we still made a big mess, gobbled too many decorations, and spread icing far and wide. One nice thing about decorating cookies instead of houses was that we could eat our work instead of letting it sit around and petrify into cement.

I'm not so sure the parents agreed. But like any good grandparents, we played, made memories, fed them too much sugar, and sent them home.

Here are a few photos from our Gingerbread Party. Notice the series when Gage decides he is GOING to have his plate and cookie (Nana had to decorate his, as he can't eat cookies yet). Of course when we are all watching his actions, Donavyn chooses that moment to look at the camera instead of eating the icing and candy off of his gingerbread boy.

 
Tips:

1. Make the cookies in advance. Definitely. I used giant cookie cutters and made 1 girl and 3 boy cookies. The extra dough was used for normal cookies.

2. Sort candy into individual bowls. That way, each child gets the same things to put on their cookies. Or, I mean, the same amount of sugar to eat.

3. Give each child a cookie sheet as a workspace. Escaping candies and sticky knives stayed right where they needed to be.

4. Forget the fancy icing. Just buy a tub of white icing. It spreads so nice and easy. The icing in the gingerbread house kits is horrible and making a glaze icing that doesn't spread is frustrating.

5. Enlist someone else to take photos. No way could this Nana help everyone, keep Gage from eating stuff, and take photos. Even with assistance, taking pictures of our completed cookies was the hardest part!

6. Have fun! Eventually we will get back to the houses. But for now, keeping it simple makes more sense. And next year, when we have 5, I think I will have to adopt yet another helper for crowd control.

Happy December traditions!

Meowy Christmas!

Meowy Christmas!

May your fur be thick enough, the fire warm enough, and the food dish always filled!
 
Purrs, snuggles, and furballs!

Gingerbread Delight

wafts of spice tickle
quivering noses and tongues
gingerbread delight

~ Angie Quantrell


There is most decidedly a reason that gingerbread has become synonomous with Christmas.

The scent.

The fragrance of warm spices, the steam of a hot oven, the soft melting of toasted cookies melting in your mouth...

Welcome, gingerbread. Welcome, Christmas.

The Christmas Tree Skirt

I can't imagine why the Christmas tree skirt looks like this. Or why the ornaments are falling down.

- House with 2 Cats

Meow-y Christmas!


How about you? Who are your special helpers this year?

Wrapped in Love ~ Merry Christmas at My Door!

I came home from walking in the lovely fall rain to find a package tucked neatly behind the pumpkin display.

And what to my wondering eyes (and fingers) should appear at the ripping apart of the paper but a contribution for our Wrapped in Love Christmas project.

Ten beautiful, cozy, colorful scarves burst out, tempting me to try on and touch. These 10 cozies began at our girls' weekend at the beginning of the month. I also have several other gorgeous scarves that were completed during our eating/talking/movie watching marathon. Thanks, girls! You rock!

I am feeling a little bit better about my stash of scarves, shoulder shawls, and lap robes. 94+ is a lot of cozies!

For, you see, Christmas is coming and our Wrapped in Love project for the nursing home will soon take place. You can read more about Wrapped in Love by clicking the link.

On Christmas Day, a group of us will load our packages, boxes, and bags, and go over the river and through the woods (or at least over the roads and through the neighborhoods) to Landmark. While there we hope to dispense Christmas cheer, a good bit of fellowship, a Christmas treat, and a choice of one of the warm Wrapped in Love creations to all of the residents.


Anyone not busy on Christmas Day? You are welcome to join us. If you can't make it, feel free to dig out that knitting, crocheting, or sewing and whip up a few items to add to our pile. Thank you!

And a very, merry, early Christmas!

The Tree Went Out - aka - How Soon (After Christmas) Do You Evacuate the Tree?

Our beautiful live Christmas tree, banished to the back yard.

When do you undecorate from Christmas?

Oh, the memories of years past, when I was still at home, living with my parents and three siblings. We can all tell you exactly when Dad wanted to take the tree out.

That would be, most of the time, on Christmas Day morning, even before we opened presents.

Yes. He would begin to verbalize his plans for taking out the tree, lights, ornaments, tinsel and all, tossing it on the rubbish heap or wood pile or on the top of some other pile of yard stuff. Seriously! We barely had time to open our gifts, let alone play with them, before he was unplugging the tree and dragging it out the door. Pine-needle bespeckled kids, mountains of wrapping paper trash, scattered toys, various animals in the midst of playing in the papers, mom trying to watch us enjoy Christmas...and there would go dad, announcing the soon-to-be-upon-us-tree-removal. Barely having heralded his intentions, the tree would be marched away.

Another Christmas tree down the drain.

Surely, I tell you the truth with only slight extensions. The family joke has become how soon my Dad can convince my Mom to let him haul out the tree. He starts in even before Christmas Day. We know the game.

And guess what? In my house at least, I have a very hard time leaving the tree decorated and in place AFTER Christmas Day! His Christmas Day destruction of the holiday décor has jumped to my generation.

This year, we managed to remain decorated for one day past December 25th. Maybe less. We undressed the trees, repacked the storage boxes, removed lights, cleaned, and generally put the house and yard back to normal. On December 26.

I know. It's a sad, sad thing. But I can't seem to help myself. It doesn't help that the hubby agrees.

January 1st? Winter décor is all in place, and nary a Christmas bauble left in sight.

I guess there's always next year and the hopes of letting the decorations of Christmas hang out until the New Year. Here's to Christmas 2015.

Fantastic Kitty Cat Microwave Fudge

You read me correctly. Follow directions exactly.

Fantastic Kitty Cat Microwave Fudge

Ingredients:

2 gray kitties, @ 8 months old
3 c. sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 10-oz. pkg. dark chocolate chips, plus about 2 more oz. to make a total of 12 oz.
1 7-oz. container marshmallow crème
1 tsp. vanilla

1. Make sure kitties are not in kitchen.

2. Melt butter in microwave in a microwave proof bowl. Depending on the wattage of your microwave, adjust time to melt. Mine takes about 45 seconds.

3. Add evaporated milk and sugar. Stir very well with whisk. Scrape sides with spatula.

4. Check for kitties. All clear? Continue.

5. Cover with wax paper. Cook in microwave in 2 minute increments. Take out and whisk completely between each time chunk. Cook for a total of about 5 minutes. Once the mixture starts to boil, then watch very carefully. I usually switch to 30 second intervals so I can stir it down.

6. Remove and place on countertop. Add chocolate chips, marshmallow crème, and vanilla. Stir well until melted and mixed.

7. Pour into butter 9x12 baking dish. Lick the spatula and whisk.

8. Place fudge in cold oven to cool. This prevents kitties from getting in the pan.

9. Warning: Remove fudge from oven before using oven. Place fudge on top of fridge while oven is in use. Most important step: Do not forget fudge on top of fridge.

10. Cut fudge into 1-inch squares. Stop. Notice paw prints in fudge. Many paw prints.

11. Check for kitty hair. Looks good? Whew.

12. Remove pieces with paw prints. Feed to your family. They won't care.

13. Place other pieces on decorative platter.

14. Store covered in fridge until eaten.

15. Tell no one.

Merry Christmas to All - And To All, A Good Night

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with love and peace!

And behold, an angel of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising god and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2:9-14

Focusing on Holy in the Midst of Secularism - Attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Adapted from a picture book, available in both French and English in this home, The Polar Express shares the tale of a young boy who does not believe. Making new friends as he travels to the North Pole to have his faith in Santa restored, the main character undergoes multiple situations that force him to confront his beliefs. He is often heard saying, "Are you sure?", which echoes his search for truth.

Near the end of The Polar Express, this young man finally confirms his belief and meets the Big Guy. He is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas. He whispers in Santa's ear, and Santa stands tall, holds up a bell that fell from a reindeer harness, and shouts, "The first gift of Christmas."

For a moment there, I was in my own world, watching a favorite Christmas movie. I both expected and waited for the story about the Birth of the Savior. Many centuries ago, Baby Jesus was the first Gift at Christmas. That's what I was waiting for Santa to proclaim.

So, instead of rewriting my own version of The Polar Express to hear the Christmas news, I will attend our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. I think this is one of my favorite church services of the entire year.

The Christmas songs, the candles, the story of Jesus, a new Baby, unexpected accommodations, animals, shepherds, angels, Christmas greetings . . . The thanksgiving, the worship, the prayers, the celebration . . .

I hope you have a candlelight service near you. Take the time to attend. Experience the first Christmas Gift. It will be worth every second.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth.

Will Their Be Pine Trees in Heaven?

Ahhhh. I am that serious.

I surely hope there will be pine trees in Heaven. I love that scent so much, I think it is my absolute favorite. Even above chocolate and coffee and lavender.

We just added our final Christmas tree to our menagerie of decorated sticks. After a brief tree hunting episode that did not include heading into the mountains due to several restrictions, we ended up at Lowe's. I say their name because they gave us a great deal! I mean a really great deal.

Let's say the tree (Norfolk pine, folks, Norfolk pine) was originally priced at $34.99. And they welcomed us into the store with "We are willing to make you a deal!" and big smiles.

And they did.

We got over 50% off of a quality nearly 6-foot pine specimen; fresh, well-stuck-in-place needles, and an absolutely gorgeous tree. AND it had a disposable bag and tree food attached. AND they cut the trunk for us. AND they used one of those cool tree-wrapping-with-net machines. I was in awe.

And now? This final tree is standing proudly and fragrantly in our bedroom. Why not? We can enjoy the scents of being in the woods all night long. (And all of the other locations for a full size tree have been occupied this year due to my stunning win of a 9-foot fully decorated tree - see previous blog entries).

I love the fragrance of fresh pine trees. Ask Kevin. Last night I just stood there with my nose attached to the tree, declaring lifelong love and devotion. To a tree.

When I walk into a pine forest, or my bedroom, and gulp huge breaths of that piney scented air, my body and soul just relax. Stress unwinds from my body, my muscles ooze, and I enter a state of peace.

Here. I want you to experience my evergreen fragrance. Scratch and sniff the photo. That's our bedroom tree.

Did you do it?

How I wish we could do that on our computers. Well, thinking of other not so great scents, maybe not.

Back to my original question: Will there be pine trees in Heaven?

I hope so.

Gingerbread Joy - Sugaring Up the Grandkids

Meet gingerbread joy. Also now known as sugar joy. I mean sugar high.

Nana likes to have traditions with her grands. A few years back, I started decorating gingerbread houses each Christmas with the grands.

Gingerbread Tips:

~ Hot glue houses together. Who eats them anyway? And they won't fall down or make you wait for hours and hours until they set.

~ Cover a piece of cardboard with foil. Tape it on. Glue each house on an individual board. Much, much easier.

~ This year I got smart. Divide candies into bowls. One bowl per kid. Saves fights, hassles, and who gets to eat what. I mean who gets what to add to their house.

~ Give each a damp wash cloth before you begin. Perfect for wiping off sticky fingers and faces.

~ Ask an adult to help if you have under two's. This was Donavyn's first gingerbread decorating. And, oh, boy, he found the icing and candy!

~ Let gingerbread houses dry before sending home. I put them in the oven so the kitties would not help themselves.

~ And of course, it goes without saying, take lots of pictures. Lots.

We are proud of our houses. And under the influence of sugar samples.

Donavyn and his house. Mostly, he wanted to wipe off the icing and eat it.

Hayden and his house. He kept raising his hand for help or more icing. Can you tell he is in kindergarten? Guess what they are working on.

Khloe pretty much did her house all by herself. Other than icing. The changes in the kids from year to year are amazing.

Nothing like sugaring up the kiddos. And then sending them home with mommy and daddy.

I bet the parents love it as much as the grands do. wink wink

Corn/Rice/Wheat Square Cereal Snack Mix - The Spicy Version from Moi

Did you get the code? I could use the four-letter-word that spells the brand name of this breakfast cereal, but there are many manufacturers that make the same thing. So why worry about a specific label? Just use the square cereal with the grid work pattern in the grain of your choice. Add that to my version of the spicy snack mix. Prepare to eat too much.

Square Cereal Spicy Snack Mix

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter
3 T. worcestershire sauce
1 T. parsley
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne
2 tsp. seasoning salt
1 cup peanuts (shelled)
1 cup pretzels
8 cups your choice square cereal with the grid work (wheat, corn, rice)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt the butter. Add all spices and stir well.

3. Put nuts, pretzels, and cereal in a large metal bowl. Mix with hands. Pour half of butter mix on cereal. Mix well (but gently). Add remainder of butter mix and stir well.

4. Pour snack mix on jelly roll pan.

5. Bake for about 20 minutes. Check every 5 minutes. Stir at 10 minutes.

6. Let cool. Store in airtight container. I have no idea how long it lasts. My husband eats it all in about 3 days.

Put a little spice in your holiday! Enjoy.

Homemade Stockings - A Family Tradition

Ages ago, or at least twenty-nine years, I made matching stockings for my new husband and myself.

Using fabric with Christmas prints, I sewed strips together to make a striped quilted fabric. The striped pieces were sewn to a backing to provide stability. After cutting out the stocking shapes, they were sewn together. I added festive trim and a loop for hanging. To finish the stockings, I embroidered our names.

Upon the arrival of each of our children, showing my love of elaborate Christmas times with family, I made more stockings. But their stockings were huge. Actually, each baby could fit into his and her stocking with ease. For a short time.

The tradition continues. With the birth of each grandbaby, yet another handmade stocking is created. The only signs that show the different decades of origin are the changing of the prints on the fabric. And possibly the variety of trims.

It's always been that way with me. Making things with my hands is one of my passions. I love homemade. Gifts from the heart and the home.

How about you? Do you love homemade or store bought? What gifts do you like to make or give?

Christmas Card Joy: Old Book = Cute Display

Need a new Christmas card display idea? Turn an old hardback book into an unusual way to show off your cards.

I saw something similar to this on Pinterest, my favorite location for gathering ideas. The fun thing about finding great ideas is that you personalize and adjust them to fit your likes and location. Perfect.

First you find a neat old book at a thrift store. Doesn't matter what it is about. You won't be reading it.

And then you fold pages. And fold pages. And fold some more. This takes the most time of any of the steps. I think I worked on and off for 3 or 4 days before I was finally done.

And then you let your grandson help choose a winter print scrap paper for covering the inside pages. This is vital if the inside pages are ugly or boring. Or maybe you just love snowmen like we have on ours. I glued it down with Modge Podge. Worked perfectly. Oh - I tore off an end page to measure the scrap paper. Again, easy and perfect fit.

All done. Display those cards any which way. I added fresh greens, a German smoker Nativity, and a candle.

The Carolers - Victorian Dolls Meet Khloe aka Decorating When You Are Three

The Evolution of Design

Meet Khloe, interior decorator. At three, both her decorating style and choice of wardrobe show future promise in the world of fashion and design. In our first photo, Khloe demonstrates her ability to focus on the facets of design. She steps back to view the overall picture before beginning her work.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Caroler. They are the subject of study by designer Khloe. How to look upbeat and current? How to take a fashion stand?

Notice the touch of class added by our design protégé. A classic tiara, in teal sequins, adorns the top of Mrs. Caroler's head. In a nod to worldwide celebrations, Khloe has added a string of matching Mardi-Gras beads. Perfect touch.

At first, our top class designer, sporting her own look of princess train and crown, thought to keep with appearances and wear the crown.

But upon further consideration, Khloe, ever wise in her decisions, placed the piece de resistance upon Mrs. Caroler's head. The result? Much joy and satisfaction is evident on Khloe's youthful face.

Star watch, people, star watch.

Keep an eye on this young designer. The future will tell how her strong and confident clothing and design choices will influence leaders at even the top houses.