Author: QuiltLady

BLOGMAS 2023 ~ DAY 10 ~ ADVENT CALENDARS ~ BLOG 365.337B

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There are literally thousands of different advent calendars. The calendars can be homemade DIY or quite elaborate. It’s entirely up to you.

These days most are promotional items and come in every form from daily chocolates to beers. You can make your own, find them on ETSY, EBAY… but what do they stand for? What is advent?

Advent itself is Christian followers remembering the birth of Christ in celebration of His birth and the anticipation of His return. Advent originates from Latin meaning “coming” or “arrival. Advent begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas.

This year the first Sunday was November 26th, the second IS TODAY, December 3rd and the third one will be the 12th. The third one is also known as Gaudette Sunday and is a time of rejoicing that the fast is almost over.

Advent calendars are a cute little way to help kids not only countdown to Christmas, but also learn along the way. Many families offer up a daily scripture or devotional reading to go along with the chocolate treat as a way to stay focused on the reason for the season.

 

Many families also use an Advent Wreath, burning the candles as they countdown to Christmas. Each week features a different liturgical theme. Traditionally the first week features hope and expectation of the Jewish people as they await the Saviour’s arrival and reminding Christian believers to wait for Jesus’ second coming. The second week focuses on preparation and the third week celebrates the coming of the Messiah while the final week celebrates God’s peace and love.

Both royal purple and Sarum blue are used to symbolize the preparation, penitence and royalty to welcome the new king at Christmas time while purple is also used as the color of suffering during the week of Lent and Holy Week. Most churches have shifted their emphasis to the Sarum blue for Advent and reserving the royal purple for the Easter season. Pink replaces the blue in week 4 as a shift happens to lessen the emphasis of penitence and turn the attention to the celebration of the season.

Red and green derive from old European practices using evergreens and holly to symbolize the ongoing life and hope that Christ’s birth brings to the world. Red and green are NOT actually liturgical colors for the season.

BLOGMAS 2023 ~ DAY 9 ~ ELF on the SHELF / FAVORITE CHARACTERS ~ BLOG 365.336B

I know many parents are tired of ELF on the SHELF, are you? Now Food Network even has a baking competition that revolves around the ELF on the SHELF.

I have always loved the idea and would make a list each year of the antics they would get into that year so I was always prepared and hopefully didn’t repeat myself too much!

My munchkins have grown up fast! 2 of 3 of them “KNEW”, but the youngest still believed and we tried keeping the elf/nisse tradition alive another year! BUT, her teacher told the whole class that year! Who does that? I was soooooo mad! First off it wasn’t her place to tell the kids and what kind of person, especially a teacher, steals a child’s belief of anything? These days the munchkins all tower over me in their teens and our elf/Nisse has become a sentimental fixture in the Christmas decorations.

Last year I discovered Julenisser, a Nordic tradition, to replace our previous Elf on a Shelf. I can’t find that a Julenisser is actually given a name, but I’m winging it here. 😀 The nisse is one of the most familiar creatures of Scandinavian folklore. Again this year we’re bringing back Annabelle and her pet reindeer, Alvin.

In Solvang, a Danish community, they actually do a Nisse Adventure like a scavenger hunt and Danish style JuleFest celebration throughout the month of December.

In Denmark there is a serious subculture regarding the Christmas elves and gnomes known as Julenisser. They live in forests and eat fruits and berries throughout the year before they come spend the month of Christmas with your family. They have BIG hearts and ARE magical and they love to play tricks on you and your family!

Hallmark even did a Christmas movie this year that involves a Gnome/Troll calle MY NORWEIGIAN HOLIDAY.

I know some people begin the day after Thanksgiving, but for us December 1st was always the beginning, though now that the munchkins all know I’ve put them out already this year.

For several years we did an Elf on the Shelf for the munchkins. Each year since we’ve done a “cousin” elf so it wasn’t the same elf every year. I know many parents are dreading that darned elf every year and having to come up with at least 24 DIFFERENT scenarios that are different from the previous year!

So when do you begin? Do you have unique names for your elf? Or do you have a Julenisser? Also, do you have a favorite Christmas character? Angels, Snowmen, Nutcrackers, Bears, Gnomes, Reindeer, Peanuts (Charlie Brown, Snoopy…), Elves, Gingerbread Men, Penguins or the BIG man himself, Santa Clause.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past several years:

BLOGMAS 2023 ~ DAY 8 ~ CHRISTMAS CARDS ~ BLOG 365.335B

Do you still send “snail mail” Christmas cards? 😀 We received our first card last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. And it was a wonderful one from a favorite nephew with so many wonderful pictures of their beautiful daughters.

I do! I know a lot of people have stopped or send virtual cards, but I’m a die hard on this one. I just love sending and getting Christmas cards in the mail. But, I fear they are becoming a thing of the past. Unfortunately I receive fewer and fewer each year it seems. Virtual cards just aren’t the same to me. AND I can’t reuse virtual cards to make the next year as gift tags.

I even painted a set of old shutters in Christmas colors to display them.

I DO try to make my own Christmas cards when I can, and I PLANNED to do homemade again this year, but years like this last year full of issues sometimes finds me sending out box cards.

A local store carries boxed cards that are really nice quality, pretty cute and super affordable.  I’m bound and determined that I WILL do homemade again soon 😀

I did try an annual letter a few times, but ended up in just doing a few paragraphs eventually hitting the highlights from throughout the year since.

CARMELITAS COOKIE BARS ~ BLOG 365.335

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIE BARS
adapted from https://donuts2crumpets.com/2016/03/caramelitas.html

These are awesome cookie bars with deliciously gooey layers of buttery oats, rich chocolate and creamy caramel.

2 (11 ounce) bags of Kraft caramel ball bits OR 22 ounces creamy Werthers caramels
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 cups – 3 sticks melted butter
1/4 cup spiced rum
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Pour the rum over the raisins and let sit 10 minutes.

 

  • Melt the caramel bits and whipping cream together in a large saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl mix together the oats, brown sugar, flour and baking soda until combined well.
  • Stir in the melted butter until you have a crumbly mixture.
  • Press half of the oat mixture in to a greased 9×13 pan.
  • Bake 15 minutes.
  • Drain raisins of excess rum, saving the rum for a yummy drink later.
  • Sprinkle the raisins and chocolate chips over the baked base.
  • Drizzle the caramel over the raisins and chocolate chips (they will be swimming in it.)
  • Crumble remaining oat mixture evenly over the caramel layer.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes more.
  • Let cool for AT LEAST 4 hours on a wire rack, but the longer, the better if you can. Try to leave them over night. You can eat them sooner (if you must) BUT be warned you will just have a gooey mess, not bars!

NOTE: I like to keep these in the refrigerator! These bars are even yummier cold in my opinion!

BLOGMAS 2023 ~ DAY 7 ~ CHRISTMAS MUSIC ~ BLOG 365.334

I’ve really been enjoying the 4 hour reel Sandra shared on Monday, but so many of the songs are so old and odd that I finally had to move on to some more contemporary tunes.

  • What are your favorite Christmas songs?
  • Do you have a regular playlist? I do! I still use a CD player with my disc changer and leave it on shuffle if I’m working at home. 😀

I’m all over the place with Christmas music – it really depends on the day, the occasion, my mood, what food we’re eating, are we at home or listening on the radio? – there are just sooooooooo many factors!

BUT, I do like to wait until at least the day after Thanksgiving!

I LOVE so many of the old standards, but I also love a country Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller. I also LOVE Christmas carolers, not that you see many these days. I was even part of the hand bell choir at church for Christmas programs many years ago.

As for some of MY favorite songs I have a few that top the list, including a few newer artists:

  • It’s Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas
  • Silent Night
  • White Christmas
  • Jingle Bell Rock
  • Last Christmas 
  • Born on Christmas Day
  • Winter Wonderland
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • Little Drummer Boy the version with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas
  • Deck the Halls
  • Baby It’s Cold Outside
  • Hard Candy Christmas
  • Come All Ye Faithful
  • It Came upon a Midnight Clear
  • We three Kings of Orient
  • Joy to the World
  • Rudolph the Reindeer
  • Do You Hear What I Hear
  • The Most Wonderful Time of Year
  • It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
  • This Christmas by PJ Morton
  • Oh Santa by Mariah Carey
  • Christmas on the Square by Dolly Parton
  • Carol of the Bells by Lindsey Stirling
  • Believe by Josh Groban
  • Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson
  • Merry Christmas Baby by Hunter Hayes

BLOGMAS 2023 ~ DAY 6 CHRISTMAS MOVIES ~ BLOG 365.333B

Today’s category is always an easy one for me. It’s also one that really doesn’t change much from year to year. UNTIL this year! This year I decided to make it my mission to find and tape the best Christmas movies from the 1940’s.
My list for this year’s search is:
  • 3 Godfathers (1948) with John Wayne
  • The Bishop’s Wife (1947) with Cary Grant and Loretta Young
  • It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) with Jimmy Stewart
  • Christmas in Connecticut (1945) with Barbara Stanwyck (though she is NOT my favorite)
  • Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) with Judy Garland
  • Holiday Affair (1949) Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh
  • Cover Up (1949)
  • Shop Around the Corner (1940) with Jimmy Stewart
  • Remember the Night (1940) with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck
  • I’ll Be Seeing You (1944) with Ginger Rogers and Joseph Cotten
  • It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) with Don Defore, Gale Storm and Alan Hale Jr. (the Skipper on Gilligan’s Island)

BTW Die Hard IS a Christmas movie!

I start taping Christmas movies on Hallmark as soon as they air so I can watch them ALL year long. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and let’s face it, Christmas movies have happy endings.

It’s a toss up for me about whether White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye or It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed is my absolute favorite, but I think I’m leaning towards It’s a Wonderful life!
Which Miracle on 34th street version (the original with Natalie Wood or the remake with Richard Attenborough) is the best? BOTH versions of course!
The Santa Clause with Tim Allen quickly became a favorite – who could resist visiting the North Pole every year?
Now Home Alone is just silly, as is Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase but, they never fail to make me laugh! A new favorite is the Christmas Chronicles with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

BLOGMAS 2023 ~ DAY 5 ~ WHEN DO YOU DECORATE? BLOG 365.332B

I only WISH this were my house

I want this year especially to be relaxing and stress free. I’m not going to do a linky. Just comment on my post and let me know you’re playing along and I’ll be sure to visit and comment on your post. As a reminder here are this year’s prompts:

I’m like a little kid when it comes to Christmas. It is my very favorite holiday. LOL I WILL NOT apologize for wanting to decorate by Halloween every year. 😀 or that I do actually start before Halloween.

I usually have restraint and hold out until the day after Thanksgiving…, but again NOT this year – indoors anyway! Hubby started decorating the outside the day after Thanksgiving, but had been planning, weather permitting, he’ll finish today, but it has been so, so cold that he only gets about 2 hours of decent temperatures outside.

Our local (mom and pop – family run) Christmas tree farm opened bright and early Friday morning and we were there when they opened to get wreaths, warm snuggly coffee from the coffee trailer and help a girlfriend with her tree. You can cut your own tree, but they also have fresh cut trees. The Christmas tree farm in all its glory is up for sale. My girlfriend Dana says we should pool our resources and buy it! I’m seriously considering it. Dana loves her tree AND her coffee!

In previous years they sold out quickly and we missed out on live trees, though we always get our traditional wreath.

We are using our tried and trued artificial tree one last year which I put up just before Halloween. I topped the day off with a visit to the Family and Friends holiday open house. It’s a small boutique store and I arrived a few minutes early for my appointment time and was rewarded with having the store to myself to visit with Susie and Lynne, the sisters who own it – really cute little old ladies! 😀

Obviously, I start as soon as I can to decorate, but it takes a few days and I take the time to enjoy it instead of turning it into a chore. I will be going to the annual Christmas Fair at the fairgrounds on Friday. I believe I have done my part for shop local with mom and pops again this year.

I was hoping to have the outside decoration pictures for you today, but will update this post after hubby finishes later today. The fog has been horrible for the past 2 days and the pictures would be too weird anyway.

So, when do you decorate?

MAPLE BACON BARS ~ BLOG 365.332

At first I thought these were going to be too savory of a dessert recipe, but hubby and the neighbors cleaned their plates and asked for more. The salty and sweet mixed together to make a tantalizing bite that leaves you craving more.They were a HUGE hit!

MAPLE BACON BARS
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 LARGE eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon WHOLE milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 strips bacon, diced and cooked crisp
1/3 cup small chopped walnuts

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Cream butter and brown sugar together until smooth and fluffy.
  • Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla.
  • Combine the flour, oats, baking powder and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture.
  • Fold in the walnuts and bacon pieces.
  • Spread into a 9×9 greased baking dish.
  • Bake 25 minutes. Cool completely.

MAPLE GLAZE
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons PURE maple syrup
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • In a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, maple syrup and vanilla until smooth.
  • Drizzle over bars and let set before cutting into squares.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS week 48 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.331B

Good Morning my friends. It’s cold here so grab a warm beverage and join me in getting this last week of November started. We are literally only 4 weeks until Christmas! Are you ready? Do you at least have a plan?

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

It’s been COLD BRRRRRR can you say layers and layers? It’s 26° right now, but we are supposed to get to 47° later today. I always laugh because that 47°, if we even reach it will only last 20 minutes. In reality as I dress for the day it will be 35-40 degrees for the majority of the day. Levis, UGGs and a mock turtleneck with a flannel will be today’s uniform and a favorite hoodie if I even go outside today. We’re supposed to be in this pattern of cold and clear until it begins raining again this weekend when we are supposed to get 5-10 degrees warmer.

BLOGMAS 2023 is in full swing and you can find the previous days here. Join in if you can and don’t forget to leave me a comment so I can know you’re playing along and I can know to visit you 😀 My organizational abilities are paying off and so far I’m up to date on BLOGMAS, but I’ve fallen a bit behind on BLOG 365, about 30 posts which I’m really trying to finish up, but I’ll reevaluate in a couple weeks since I’ll have so many days with duplicates from BLOGMAS. I bet I’ll end up over 365 LOL

I’m trying some maple brown sugar oatmeal with golden raisins this morning and a few sips of coffee.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did ALL the laundry on Saturday, including the bedding and towels so I could change out to the electric mattress pad for the winter and even folded it and put it away, but you know how laundry is – the minute you put the last piece away, you realize someone has dirtied a towel or thrown a pair of socks in the hamper. LOL 😀 I’ll call it a win!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I will be taking my friend who had the ankle replacement to the doctor on Thursday and if all goes well we’ll be having a celebratory lunch! I’ll be going to the Christmas Fair on Friday so will do ALL the shopping while I’m in town that day.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Lots of paperwork, but no travels. I have a few Christmas gift projects that I WILL BE getting done this week!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I planned the menus through December and several to evaluate for January.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • At night we’re re-watching CHEERS to fall asleep by, but in the evenings we’re watching cooking shows and Hallmark Christmas movies mostly. There are a few odd shows that have been taping, but I guess the “new” season will be in full swing in January?

I’m still reading Jana DeLeon’s Undertow, book #3 of her Tempest Island series – just too busy and tired to get to much more!
MONDAY 11/27
TUESDAY 11/28
WEDNESDAY 11/29
THURSDAY 11/30
FRIDAY 12/1
SATURDAY 12/2
SUNDAY 12/3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DINNER
 TEXAS RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE
 HAWAIIAN LEMON CHICKEN & RICE PILAF
 GREEN POTATO SOUP & RANCH CRACKERS
 OUT for LAMPLIGHTER THANKFUL THURSDAY TURKEY DINNER
 CHEDDAR CRUST CHICKEN POT PIE
 POTATO CHOWDER & PARMESAN RANCH ROLLS
 SPLIT PEA SOUP with BUTTERMILK BISCUIT DUMPLINGS
DESSERT
ORANGE ROLLS
 MAGIC COOKIE BARS

We had to drive out a bit further into the country to pick up a couple Christmas presents on Saturday (the only shop small I did as I’m making the majority of gifts this year) and it was super cold (our high that day was 37 degrees for about an hour!), but it was absolutely beautiful. I was actually able to get a couple pictures of some favorite old barns.

And my Amaryllis is about to make a December appearance. The paper whites are next 😀