Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

BLOGMAS 2024 ~ day 9 ~ Christmas Markets & Fairs ~ BLOG 366.342B

I’ve been to a few local Holiday fairs and will go to another one next Friday, but I skipped the big county one yesterday. It’s been so repetitive the past couple years and I don’t really “need” anything and sadly last year was quite disappointing with a lot of repetitive vendors and many with not so hand crafted items. 🙁

Most of my shopping this year has revolved around shopping for my Eagles group who has again adopted some local foster kids. I’m chairwoman this year and I’m afraid a few of the ladies are probably not as happy with me because I told the coordinator we would help with the teenagers. The teenagers hold a special place in my heart because they are the most forgotten in programs like these. I am also making them each stockings to add in some fun items that aren’t on their needs lists. I’m also including things like toothbrushes and hand lotions.

CNN.com has a great article about the 17 BEST Christmas Markets around the world.

If only I could travel to them all, but that just isn’t in the cards for me so I watch them be featured in Hallmark Christmas movies and dream. I would LOVE to travel to those markets and fairs that have all of the town interactive, but the closest I come to that here is running into everyone I know at the local ones as well as the parade that is coming up on the 21st.

I do try and participate, as well as shop at the markets and fairs locally around me. And by around me I mean within 100 miles or so for the most part.

A girlfriend and I traveled 225 miles last year for the best one we had been to in awhile. It was held at a large Fairgrounds and was in 3 separate buildings with vendor trailers peppered in between the buildings. We were fortunate that day that it was also beautiful weather. It was so fruitful that we made a couple trips back to the car to unload ourselves of bags. We tried it again this year, but it just wasn’t the same. Unfortunately, it had become so much like our local one.

I certainly do my part to shop local and not have everything delivered by Amazon or buy from discount stores. Unfortunately, many of the things I was hoping to purchase as gifts just weren’t available this year from the same vendors or the vendors I was hoping for have closed up shop.

SATURDAY COFFEE ~ BLOG 366.342

BLOGMAS 2024 ~ day 8 ~ PARTY FOODS ~ BLOG 366.341B

This really is a SUPER easy topic and category for someone who loves to cook and bake like I do. I still remember so many silly stories and anecdotes about aunts, uncles, cousins and such that keeps bringing smiles to my face year after year as I prepare the family favorites. These memories are an ingrained part of what this season is all about for me.

I’d like to say that our table always looked just like the one in the picture. Well Christmas day is usually pretty close, but Christmas Eve is ALWAYS much more casual. One of my earlier memories is of a very warm Christmas Day, a backed up sink/garbage disposal (I don’t think we ever had a holiday in that house where the garbage disposal didn’t have an issue of some sort) and then having to transport all the prepared food from my parent’s house to my grandparent’s house via my grandmother’s RED (kind of like a Christmas sleigh) Chevy station wagon (remember those?) while my uncle and I sat in the back keeping the food from toppling over.

CHRISTMAS EVE – When I was a kid dinner was Served buffet style since this was the night we did most of the present opening and the adults didn’t want to spend all their time in the kitchen – in later years we would have it catered (so to speak – they prepared the food, we picked it up and displayed it) from Rattler’s BBQ along with:

Sandwich makings – roast beef, ham, cheeses
Potato Salad
See’s Candy boxes
Wintergreen ribbon candy
Chocolate covered cherries

We also began to use “FINE CHINA” as hubs calls it aka decorated paper plates, bowls and napkins.

CHRISTMAS DAY – This is where we dug out the REAL fine china and crystal as well as the silver and cloth napkins. I loved setting the table for this meal. There were always enough people that we had a KID’S table too. When I was younger I hated the kid’s table – all the good stuff was sitting on the grown-up’s table!

Roast Turkey, Baked Ham or Roast Beef
Daddy’s Stuffing – now recreated from scratch to taste virtually the same as my own version Oatnut Sourdough Herb Dressing
Mashed Potatoes ALWAYS from scratch – it was those potato peels that were one of the biggest garbage disposal problems 😀
Giblet Gravy
Cranberry Sauce – my family always used Ocean Spray from a can but nowadays we make my homemade Cranberry Sauce ALWAYS (though our oldest prefers canned sauce LOL 😀 and if he’s here I but a can just for him).
Baked Ham – in later years it was always HONEYBAKED HAM and I loved making Split Pea soup with the left over ham bone.
Glazed Carrots
Green Bean Casserole (THEN) Brussels Sprouts Casserole (NOW) 😀
Gran’s cranberry salad – she’d make two, one for mom and aunt Liz and one for everyone else.
Rolls and butter
Traditional pies like pumpkin, Cherry and as well as Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake though these days I like to experiment with things like cranberry cheesecake.
See’s Candies

When we go to my SIL’s family for Christmas (or any other big family get together) we do Hor’deouvres and LOTS of them! The family is so big now that over the years we have found that if each person brings an hor’deouvre to feed 10+ people that we can make a HUGE feast out of it. We just serve it buffet style (skipping the sit down meal) and mingle and play all day – it is ALWAYS the best time.

Here are a couple recipes that have been added to the MUST have during the holiday season pile over the years.

CINNAMON BUN CUPCAKES
CUPCAKES
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 LARGE eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream

Pre-heat oven to 350°.
Line cupcake tins with papers.
Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Set aside.
Whisk eggs for about 1 minute. They will become frothy and lightened in color.
Add oil and whisk again until combined.
Add sugar and whisk for about 1 minute.
Add vanilla extract.
Add sour cream to the batter, whisking until combined
Now add the sifted dry ingredients to the bowl and whisk gently. Whisk batter until JUST until combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!

CINNAMON SWIRL
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar

Make the Cinnamon Swirl: mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of white sugar. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY

Now start by pouring about 1 heaping tablespoon of the batter on the bottom of each cupcake tin.
Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the Cinnamon Swirl mixture.
Top with another heaping tablespoon of batter.
Now, sprinkle another 1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon Swirl mixture over batter.
Top with another heaping tablespoon of batter.
Using a toothpick, swirl the batter a few times to create a swirl effect.
Top already swirled cupcakes with one final 1/2 teaspoon of the Cinnamon Swirl mixture.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, checking halfway to rotate pans.
Remove from the oven once cupcakes are lightly golden brown and puffed.
Cool 10 minutes.

GLAZE
+/- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
+/- 2 tablespoons milk

Mix powdered sugar and milk together.

NOTES: There are many factors that will affect your glaze consistency. The brand of sugar you use, whether you use a scale or a measuring cup… If your glaze is too thin and runny, add more sifted powdered sugar and test for consistency again. If the glaze is too thick and not spreading, add a very, very small amount (1 teaspoon) of milk at a time, until you achieve your desired consistency.

GRASSHOPPER BROWNIES
11 ounce package dark chocolate pieces
1/2 cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
Creme-de-Menthe Filling (BELOW)
Dark Chocolate Ganache (BELOW)

In a medium saucepan, melt and stir 4 ounces (3/4 cup) of the dark chocolate pieces, butter, and the unsweetened chocolate over low heat.
Remove from heat; cool.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Grease foil; set aside.
Stir sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon JUST until combined.
Stir in vanilla.
In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just until combined.
Stir in the remaining 7 ounces (1-1/2 cups) dark chocolate pieces. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
Spread Creme-de-Menthe Filling over cooled brownies.
Place uncut brownies in the refrigerator while preparing the Dark Chocolate Ganache.
Spread slightly cooled Dark Chocolate Ganache over Creme de Menthe Filling, spreading to the edges with a spatula.
Cover and chill about 1 hour or until set. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut brownies out of the pan. Cut into bars.
Place brownies in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

CREME-DE-MENTHE FILLING
3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons GREEN creme de menthe
Milk (optional)

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and butter.
Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.
Gradually beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
Beat in creme-de-menthe.
Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar. If necessary beat in 1 tablespoon of additional milk to make the filling slightly thicker than a frosting

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 11 ounce package dark chocolate pieces

In a medium saucepan, bring whipping cream JUST to boiling over medium-high heat.
Remove from heat.
Add dark chocolate pieces (do not stir).
Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.
Cool for 15 minutes.
Pour over brownies and QUICKLY spread evenly.

NOTE: You can substitute 2 tablespoons milk, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, and several drops of green food coloring for the GREEN Creme-de-menthe.

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These days with the popularity of charcuterie boards they have been added to the greatest meal category on a busy holiday eve. A charcuterie board to graze on while you work is a truly wonderful thing.

This time of year can be stressful and super busy so to make things easier we have gone to making charcuterie boards on the “eve” nights of holidays. The word charcuterie sounds a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

Charcuterie Boards are suddenly all the rage, but the culinary art of preparing charcuterie boards dates back to the 15th century. The person who prepares the charcuterie board is a charcutier which literally means “Pork Butcher” in French. The original process/meaning was intended as a way to preserve meat before the invention of refrigeration, especially pork products.

The revived comeback of the charcuterie board brings it front and center to our tables and has been born out of the necessity of our busy lives as well as our love for farm to table and deli style meals that are also quick and easy.

Since the original meaning dealt with preserved meats, adding fermented, farm to table, home canned and prepared foods just falls into place along side the meats.

One of the best things about serving a charcuterie board at your own party is that there are NO RULES! It’s yours for the making – make it as simple or as sophisticated as YOU like. One of the greatest aspects of a charcuterie board is that you can mix it all up to fit EVERYONE’S taste.

You can make these as simple or as sophisticated as YOU like. For us it is ALL about favorites and yummy satisfying and filling “bites” of food. Below is a list of some suggestions for building your own charcuterie board for your next party.

Breads & Crackers – Crostini with toppings, Artisan Breads, Crackers, Fruitcake
Spreads – Jams, Chutneys, Dips, Flavored Mustards, Sauces, Dressings, Flavored Honeys, Flavored Horseradishes
Fermented/Pickled – Stuffed Olives, Pickles, Green Olives, Giardiniera, Peperoncinis, Pickled Carrots, Baby Corn
Cheeses – Cheddar, Havarti, Brie, Baby Swiss, Gouda, Pimiento Cheese, Manchego, Bleu Cheese
Meats – Salami, Roast Beef, Pancetta, Prosciutto, Pepperoni, Ham
Nuts & Seeds – Pistachios, Walnuts, Pecans, Macadamias, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Chocolate covered raisins
Dried fruits – Dates, Prunes, Apricots, Golden Raisins
Fresh fruits – Grapes, Oranges, Berries, Apple slices, Pears, Grape tomatoes, Kiwi, Starfruit
Decorations – sprigs of Rosemary, Thyme or Basil

Here are a couple of my FAVORITE RECIPE LINKS to make for a crowd. They make some pretty impressive foods and drinks for a buffet table.

BRIGADEIROS
CHRISTMAS RUM PUNCH

SLOPPY JOE SLIDER BAKE ~ BLOG 366.341

SLOPPY JOE SLIDER BAKE

1 package Kings Hawaiian rolls
12 slices cheddar cheese
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 can sloppy Joe sauce
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
FRESH ground salt and black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°.
Don’t separate into individual rolls. Cut entire package in half horizontally.
Arrange bottoms in greased 13×9 baking dish.
Top with 6 cheddar cheese slices.
In a large skillet brown beef and onions over medium heat until crumbly. Drain off excess grease.
Return meat to pan.
Add sauce, brown sugar, liquid aminos and season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Simmer 2-3 minutes until well blended.
Spoon mixture over roll bottoms.
Top with remaining cheese slices.
Add roll tops.

GLAZE
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup minced onion

Stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, mustard, liquid aminos and garlic powder until well blended.
Brush roll tops with glaze.
Sprinkle with the minced onion.
Bale 15-30 minutes until cheese is melted and sandwiches are warmed through. Cut and separate into individuals and serve.

BLOGMAS ~ day 7 ~ CHRISTMAS MUSIC ~ 366.340B

I really enjoyed the 4 hour reel Sandra shared last year, but so many of the songs are so old and odd that I finally had to move on to some more contemporary tunes. I never even thought to look it up again.

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. Many years ago I was even part of the hand bell choir at church for Christmas programs.

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
Hark the Herald Angels
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

LIGHTHOUSE INN LEGENDARY POTATOES ~ BLOG 366.340

Chef Leon “Wally” Walden worked at the Lighthouse Inn for 50 years. He was known for many dishes, but these potatoes in a rich cream sauce topped with golden crumbs were probably one of the most beloved “LEGENDARY” dishes and a local favorite. This recipe was adapted by an America’s Test Kitchen test cook by adding the baking soda to help keep the sauce from breaking. I added the onion powder and sliced onions. They remind me of half mashed and half scalloped – truly one of our family favorites.

LIGHTHOUSE INN (New London, Connecticut) LEGENDARY POTATOES (adapted from Chef Leon Walden)

Prep time 10 minutes
Simmer time 25 minutes
Bake time 20 minutes
Rest time 10 minutes
Total time 1 hour 5 minutes

3 cups half & half
2 1/2 pounds (3-4 potatoes) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 small onion, sliced
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
11 tablespoons butter
2 ounces FRESHLY ground Parmesan cheese
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Whisk together the half and half, baking soda, onion powder, 2 teaspoons of FRESH ground salt and pepper.
In a large pot or sauce pan combine 2 1/2 cups of the half & half, potatoes chunks, onion slices, baking soda, onion powder, 2 teaspoons of salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil over medium high heat, but immediately lower to a simmer.
Simmer for 20-25 minutes until tender. Stir often to avoid sticking and burning.
While potatoes are simmering, preheat oven to 375°.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in 9×13 baking dish. Brush butter up all 4 sides.
In a small bowl melt 4 tablespoons butter.
Add Parmesan cheese, Panko crumbs, pepper and remaining salt.
When potatoes are tender mix in remaining half & half, 6 tablespoons of butter, stirring gently until butter is melted.
Arrange potatoes in prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle panko mixture evenly over top.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are hot, bubbly and browned.
Remove potatoes from the oven and cool 10 minutes before serving.

NOTE:

Can easily be made in individual ramekins for more elegant presentation.
Works well with Gluten Free bread crumbs instead of Panko crumbs.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ~ BLOG 366.339

BLOGMAS 2024 ~ day 6 ~ CHRISTMAS MOVIES ~ BLOG 366.339B

Today’s category is USUALLY an easy one for me. It’s also one that really doesn’t change much from year to year. UNTIL last year! The year I decided to make it my mission to find and tape the best Christmas movies from the 1940’s.

My list for the search was; those in purple I actually found and watched – those in blue were added this year to find. The search will continue this year and every year until I see them all.

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)
The Apartment
The Honeymooners Christmas

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. I watch them while I’m decorating and working through the house.

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 2024 ~ day 5 ~ DECORATING ~ BLOG 366.338B

Another year has passed and the holidays are upon us again! A late Thanksgiving has put me a bit behind, but I vow to catch up this week 😀

I have to admit I’m one of those people who can’t wait to decorate and leave it up for longer than most. We do have a couple neighbors who fortunately feel the same way we do and the Friday after Thanksgiving had them out taking down the turkey blow-ups and decorating for Christmas. We too wait until the day after Thanksgiving to begin outside decorating.

We were at our favorite local Christmas tree farm when they opened the day after Thanksgiving to pick out 2 wreaths for the front porch. If you saw my Happy Homemaker Monday post you know that we were fortunate to get wreaths because they had a fire the next morning and lost their wreath and flocking building so will only have trees the rest of this season. Hubby is going to trade out the green light for another red later this week.

Are you a traditional or trendy decorator? I’m a traditional, sentimental decorator. I still have ornaments from when I was a kid and some of my grandparent’s things. We tend to have the same decorations year in and year out, but they may be in different places each year because I add a piece here or there and some even get donated or die by attrition. My ex-sister-in-law recently contacted me about returning some ornaments that my grandmother made that my brother didn’t want back which I thought was so sweet of her! I’m looking forward to having the ornaments back in the family.
Are you white lights or multi-colored? This category depends for me. Definitely multi-colored on the tree, but I have white on my sleigh. This year I’m adding some jingle bell garland to those white lights around the sleigh.
When do you decorate inside? PLEASE don’t laugh, but since COVID my tree has gone up at Halloween 😀 and stays up through AT LEAST King’s Day.
Outside? We wait until after Thanksgiving 😀
To Blow or NOT Blow? We’re yes on this category MOST of the time. Years with early snows or stormier than normal windy days we stray away from them. This year I just don’t want to “listen” to the constant hum so we’re building a different set-up with nativities.

In reality how I decorate each year changes based on my mood, weather, where we are living, etc… so it will never be the same twice! But, it will at least be the same components usually.

This is my Snowman Family arranged from 2 different years. They were so much fun to make out of second hand store finds. They were also a lot of work. I ended up only making two snowmen families, shipping one to a friend who lives in Florida and never sees snow 😀
We made candle yule logs for Advent craft night at church one year and they were a HUGE success and soooooooo easy to do. The decorations below are a few of my all time favorites, several of which I’ve made over the years.
The ornaments below are some of our homemade bulbs. Several years ago I made quite a few and then did them with my girl scout troop also. Hubby liked them so well that we have now donated all our store bought bulbs and made enough of these for the entire tree.

My cousin that passed away in 2014 made the ornament below for me. It will always be hung by my shooting stars in her honor even though I’m still mad at her for leaving the mess called A HOUSE FROM HELL for me to deal with.
And our favorite handmade ornament by Design Chick Creations.

MEAT LOVERS SAVORY BREAD PUDDING ~ BLOG 366.338

This is a versatile recipe that can be dressed up or down. Change the cheese flavor, change the bread flavors, add seasonings that are special to your family, add or delete proteins…

MEAT LOVERS SAVORY BREAD PUDDING
6 LARGE eggs
2 1/2 cups WHOLE milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
FRESH ground black pepper
12 cups cubed artisan bread
1 1/2 cups cubed ham steak
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar OR pepper jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease 13×9 baking dish.
In a LARGE bowl whisk together the milk, cream, eggs, mustard and seasonings until well blended.
Fold in bread cubes, 1 1/4 cup of each cheese, onions and meat. Set aside for 15 minutes to rest.
Gently toss bread mixture again and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
Top with remaining cheese.
Bake uncovered 45-55 minutes until casserole is puffed and center is clean when tested with a butter knife.
Rest 10 minutes before serving.

BLOGMAS 2024 ~ CHILDHOOD & FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MEMORIES ~ DAY 4 ~ BLOG 366.337B

WOW there are so many! One of my earliest favorites was when I was 5 and I got my tea table and chairs – my uncle sure looked silly sitting at that table drinking tea with me 😀 I LOVED that table and planned to keep it forever eventually passing it down to my daughter, but when I was in college my dad gave it to my aunt who said it had only been on loan from her all those years 🙁

But wait, that is not my favorite memory. It turns out that my favorite memory is of trying to stump my dad each and EVERY year with his gift – it became a mission of sorts to be the first person to stump him. I swear the man was like Carnac when it came to knowing what was inside a box. We tried EVERY year to stump him and I don’t remember ever being able to actually do it. We tried adding bricks, taping a silver dollar with duct tape to the bottom so it would flip back and forth to make noise when you shook it, the box inside a box trick, adding a pair of old shoes… but he ALWAYS guessed! I still don’t know how he did it. Sadly 🙁 this will be the 31st Christmas without him. He died so young, but I have so many wonderful memories of him and Christmas from when I was young.

There of course have been many memories since, but for some reason the childhood ones are the most memorable at times.In more recent years the memories are not about things, but more about times. There was an arctic storm a few years back that blew in and all of a sudden everything turned white. This was our first snowstorm of the season and just before Christmas.

Hubby made this for me to wake up to in the back yard before the snow got too bad. The house across the street usually looked horrible, but NOT when it was under a blanket of snow.Unfortunately, being in a cul-de-sac, delivery trucks leave MANY tire tracks at this time of year to mar the beautiful snow cover.

The first day after he storm was absolutely gorgeous though!

The duck pond behind the neighborhood was truly a work of art.

Obviously we hadn’t gone anywhere – no tire tracks!

The fish ladder was like glass with the cold and ice.

JSDBFJHSFJKHSD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU & RECIPES week 48 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.337

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

WEEKEND RECAP

WOW, what a whirlwind weekend! I’m glad it was a long one! I hope your Thanksgiving was as relaxed as ours was full of yummy food, family and friends. I didn’t even leave the house except to feed the neighbor’s cat and still managed to do over 12,000 steps on Thursday alone!

On Friday we met my girl friend and her mom at our local family owned and managed Christmas Tree Farm to help her with her tree and buy our wreaths for the holiday season. I’m so glad we did it when we did because sadly, the wreath room and flock room along with multiple pieces of equipment were destroyed in a fire early Saturday morning! I was impressed that with all they lost (power, water, wreath making abilities, flocking machines…), they were open again on Sunday for trees only. Small towns rally together to take care of their own.

Saturday was a flurry of activity that started by meeting with the ladies helping our “Angel Tree” gift program for the holidays because we received the names on Wednesday evening and need to be done shopping and wrapped by the 11th so I can deliver them on the 12th. It’s a super quick turn around this year.

Sunday was just as busy meeting with a friend to design flyers for her bar and grill’s Christmas party, shopping for the Eagle’s lodge since we skipped last week with the Thanksgiving crowds, helping my mom pack to finally leave on Monday for her snowbird run, laundry and cleaning. Sadly, a close friend lost her son suddenly on Sunday afternoon 🙁 My heart aches for her and I’ll be picking up as many meal prep and chores for her that I can while she’s away.

Don’t forget that BLGOMAS 2024 has begun. I hope you can join in!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Layer season is here! In fact it has become MULTIPLE layer season 😀 It’s cold, but sunny with highs in the mid 40’s and lows in the high 20’s or low 30’s for most of the week until the weekend when it is supposed to start raining again. UGG’s, turtlenecks and flannels have become my best friends again!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is up to date, but will be deep cleaning today so I can go full on decorating mode tomorrow. We had decided to do a live tree this year and planned to go get it tomorrow afternoon. With the fire at the tree farm, we’re rethinking it and probably going to do our artificial tree again this year.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a hair cut appointment in town on Wednesday and will do the grocery store on the way home.
PROJECTS I’m hosting a “GIRL’S NIGHT” next week so am concentrating this week on finishing ALL my decorating and getting some baking done. “GIRL’S NIGHT” will be a BYOB, SNACK, PIZZA and project night. Some will finish Jewelry trees from last year, some will be making an adorable painted stacked wood project we just found, some will do both, some will just eat and drink… 😀 the whole point of the night is just to have some fun together. As for the BYOB some will definitely drink, but the BYOB is mainly for making homemade flavored vanilla.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

STREAMING Have been watching or should I say re-watching BONES which is now 20 years old! Where did that time go? We’re in season 5. Also re-watching late night HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER which is almost as old.
CABLE Trying to get caught up on everything on the DVR. The Hallmark movies will be something I’ll have on while decorating this week.

READING TIME

Yesterday was book club (SOCIETY of LIES by Lauren Ling Brown) and sadly I didn’t finish the book in time. I was only 75% done, but fortunately neither did half the others. We did pick the next book (The LAST ONE at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak) though and I got it ordered. 😀

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	12/2 MONDAY	12/3 TUESDAY	12/4 WEDNESDAY	12/5 THURSDAY	12/6 FRIDAY	12/7 SATURDAY	12/8 SUNDAY
DINNER	BEEF & SHORT RIB LASAGNA (COSTCO)	TACO TUESDAY with FRIENDS	OUT	ROAST CHICKEN	PIZZA ROLLS (homemade – recipe soon)	GERMAN MEATLOAF	TURKEY NOODLE CASSEROLE
DESSERT	NONE THIS WEEK

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

In case I’ve never mentioned it I have thing for barns… 2 of these may not make it another year if we have a heavy snow as they are barely standing on their own now.

INSPIRATIONS

I probably should have shared this one LAST week, but I live by this ideal, so I guess anytime is a good time to share it! In fact, I have only ever done 1 black Friday sale when I was in my early 20’s and have NO intention of ever doing another.