Scenes of Christmas

Christmas is in full swing around here....

Christmas decorations....

Dog on the bed.... (well, that's pretty much a year round sight)

Knitting.... (almost finished, one sleeve to go!)

And food too....but no pictures of that just yet.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas

Shepherd wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas! And so do I.

See you in 2009!

Happy New Year

Okay, one more post before 2007 goes. A few more pics of our trip to Washington DC. These were some of our favorite places:

A very cute panda (at the National Zoo)

great architecture (at the National Archives)

a fabulous and very cool cafeteria (at the National Gallery of Art)

and a beautiful waterfall (looking out from the cafeteria)

All in all, we just fell in love with the place!

Oops, almost forgot a picture of the Metro....(yes, we liked the subway! We're from Arkansas, people...these things impress us greatly.)

See you in '08!

Christmas goodies

Most of the baking and shopping are done. One more trip to the grocery store today, and then hopefully a week of peace and joy and family and good times and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Not necessarily in that order.

I made up some goodies for Jimmy's office. Cookies inside and a 'marvelous maraschino pound cake' on top. I need to remember to start earlier looking for packaging for baked goods. I always have visions of a Martha type custom box of cookies, but I end up with a plastic tub, hmm.

But they are good cookies!

I did manage to get a good picture of our tree (above), which I love. I'm loving the colored lights and the white lights mixed together.

I'll be taking a break from the blog to enjoy the holidays, so see you in 2008! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Washington DC

We are back from our trip to Washington DC, which was wonderful! The day we arrived it was snowing and we walked down to the White House and got the most beautiful shots of it in the snow. It truly was a winter wonderland!

We got to see the Tree Lighting, which was pretty cool. Timed that just right.

I'll have more pics a bit later, but now we've got to get ready for Christmas! Yikes....11 days away.

It's the Holiday Season

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We certainly did. We have so much to be thankful for, it's a very long list!

And now....the Christmas season begins! As you can see, I could hardly wait to get my Christmas banner up! I love this time of year which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!

Let the festivities begin!

(the pictures are from last year...we don't have the tree up just yet!)

December Trip

We've received a secret package....

Not really, but it is pretty cool to get a package from your Senator :)

We're gearing up for a trip to Washington DC. Neither of us has ever been there before, so we're pretty excited! We both love American History (Jimmy got me this book a couple of years ago for my birthday).

Anyway, I'm hoping to find a couple of bookstores that have Japanese craft books and magazines for sale. Does anyone have any recommendations? As well as any recommendations for crafty shopping such as fabric, yarn or thrift stores.

All is Calm, All is Bright

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can give Him, give my heart.

-Christina Rossetti

Oh, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas to all!

Sugar, sugar

The weekend commenced with plenty of baking, and plenty of cookies to show for it. I always, always have to make "Jimmies" (as my husband dubbed them when we married). I've been making these since I was in junior high school. Every year. That's a lot of cookie dough--but I do love it. Everybody always thinks it's a sugar cookie, but it's really a butter cookie with sugary icing. Makes all the difference in the world.

Here's the recipe just in case you're not in sugar-overload just yet:

Jimmies

1 cup (2 sticks) oleo (yes, I use oleo, Blue Bonnet, thank you)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (the real stuff, not imitation)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Cream the butter (oleo) and sugar together until creamy and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, blend well. Add the flour. The dough should come together in a big ball or mass of dough.

Place in plastic wrap (I shape it into a thick frisbee shape) and chill at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.

Roll out half of dough at a time, use favorite cookie cutters to make shapes, place on un-greased baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees about 10 to 12 minutes or until just turning golden around the edges. Remove from oven and let cool completely before icing.

Jimmies icing

1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablspoons water
food coloring

Mix together in a bowl, add one food color. Repeat recipe for additional colors. I usually make red, green, yellow, and off-white. Ice!

Depending on the size cookie cutter you use, you can get anywhere from 4 to 6 dozen cookies from one batch. I made two batches and got about 12 dozen.

These cookies do great just left out on a platter for about 4 or 5 days, after that the icing will begin to dry out a bit, but they taste just as good. I usually mix up a couple of batches one evening and then bake and ice them another evening. I also made a couple of refridgerator cookies from Martha Stewart that are so easy and good! They're called Lime Meltaways, but I make them in lime and orange, yummy!

Then in the latest issue of Everyday Food, there's a 'Marvelous Marschino Mini Pound-Cake' recipe. It's actually an ad by www.cherrymkt.org, but it looked good! Makes six (and I could've easily gotten seven) six-inch long mini-cakes. I don't use cherries much, so this was a nice change.

I'll probably make some kind of pie for Christmas day...not sure what kind yet. But that will just about wrap up the baking for this holiday!

Hot Chocolate season

'Tis the season for hot chocolate! Is it hot chocolate or is it cocoa...I'm never really sure. But whatever it is, it's good. I bought a box of "milk chocolate" by Nestle, and added our own marshmallows. Just perfect in these oversize cups I found a couple of years ago. They have a redwork motif to them, and came with coordinating (but not matching) little plates, which are perfect for cookies (if I had some made, which I don't). The cookie making shall start this weekend. Lots and lots of cookies. I foresee a haze of powdered sugar over the entire kitchen!

Have a Pink Christmas

Pink seems to be everywhere this year. We were in Pier 1 on Saturday, during our marathon shopping spree, and the red and pink -ness was everywhere. I couldn't resist. I bought a gift bag for $3.00 because it looks like my blog header! It looks like my blog header...how cool is that? I had no idea I was so "up" on things. Truth be told, I'm not...I just like red and pink together.

And pink and cream....like this:

(I took this standing at the foot of it...it's not quite that big-footed looking)

A close-up of the cuff. It's from a thrifted wool/angora sweater. And the stocking is from the pink wool blanket, same as these and this.

I whipped this up one night last week in nothing flat. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. Maybe sell it...maybe not. Hmmm...don't know.

And then there's these: (pardon the yucky picture...it's a rainy day)

Parts. Parts of soon-to-be felted crocheted bookmarks from this magazine.

I thought this was a terrific idea for a small gift or favor. I made a couple to see how my yarn felts. Then I'll make about a half dozen, they make up in no time. And one to keep for myself!

Creatures are definitely stirring...

Tomorrow is our Christmas shopping blitz...lookout stores, here we come! Jimmy and I plan to get all (I say "all" like it's some gigantic sprawling thing, it's not a huge list) our shopping for others d - 0 - n - e. I find as I get older, I enjoy "shopping" less and less. I mean, the head out to the stores and spend all day without a clue what I'm going to buy kind of shopping. Unless it's fabric, or yarn. Even then, that doesn't take all day. I guess I'm to the point where, if I'm going to spend hours and hours on something, I'd like it to be something I'm 'making,' not something I'm 'buying.' Nevertheless...we shall shop.til.we.drop. And then - it will be done! Tra la! Done! We can enjoy the rest of the season, not spend.
I read this and I think...hey, I'm cheap. So be it...there's worse things.

I'm working on some sewing accessories to list in my etsy shop. Here's a peek...I'm planning to do some pincushion / needle book / tape measure sets in several fabrics.

I'm pleased with the simple little pincushion. It's tight as a tick, which I like. And I put a pouch of lentils in the bottom so it's good and weighty, and the lentils sort of serve as a stop for the pins, so they don't go all the way through.

A wonderful weekend to all! Glad tidings of the season!

Christmas meme

I snagged this from here because I adore any Christmas related stuff, and shoot, this is my blog after all...

I'd love to read your Christmas meme! Just leave a link with your comment.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Egg nog...definitely, egg nog. Although, hot chocolate is wonderful, nothing against hot chocolate!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wraps mostly, sits a couple out unwrapped.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Well, for years and years it's been white on the tree, but this year it's colored lights everywhere...the tree and outside.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually, the day after Thanksgiving. We were true to form this year.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I'm sorry, did you say 'excluding' dessert? That would exclude cookies, wouldn't it? Hmm..well, I guess I'd have to say Cornbread Dressing. (It's a poor second to cookies, though)

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

Not just one really, but lots of memories of decorating trees with my Mom and baking cookies, making date-nut log, huge amounts of date-nut log and having date-nut log stuck all over your hands (you must mix date-nut log with your hands!). I miss my Mom, and yes, the date-nut log.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My mom told me I was about 6 or 7 and she asked me if I believed in Santa Claus, and as she tells it, I gave her a very pensive look, thought for a moment, and said "Well, I know you're Santa Claus, but I believe in you!"

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? One gift, usually something small.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? It's pretty traditional. Lots of blown glass, vintage colored balls and heavy on the lights.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? L O V E I T !

12. Can you ice skate? Umm, this is Arkansas. So no...but I sure can roller skate!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My engagement ring on Christmas eve. I cried.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.'

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? COOKIES! I love, love, love cookies. I cannot imagine a Christmas season without lots of baking, lots of cookies, and major purchases of flour, sugar, and oleo.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? We've got a few. Christmas morning together, just we three (me, Jimmy, Sheppie). The fact that my husband enjoys decorating the trees together. It belongs to 'us.' Evenings around a fire, singing Christmas carols.

17. What tops your tree? An old fashioned spire in red...I love it.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving. Receiving would be next.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Just one? It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. Followed closely by Carol of the Bells, Coventry Carol, In the Bleak Midwinter, Silver Bells...well, better just stop there!

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? To look at -Yum! To eat - kinda blech.

The gift list

We collect lantern and 'lamplight' ornaments for our trees. Can you guess why? Actually, I'm also a big lover of 'little lamps.' We have quite a few small lamps, electric and non-electric. I need to take some pictures and post them...maybe in January!

Actually, I can't believe how calm I feel about Christmas gifts this year. We have bought almost nothing so far. But then again, we don't have a ton of stuff to buy. It's a short list of people we exchange gifts with, other than passing on cookies and baked goods, which I love, love, love doing. It truly would not be Christmas without cookies! (Well, okay it would be Christmas...I mean it comes no matter what mood you're in...but you know what I mean.)

But back to gifts. I've made a couple of things already, and right now I'm working on this, which Katie kindly offered. It's going well (very well, considering this is my 2nd official knitting project and my first working in the round!), and I should have it done and pictures of it by the weekend. When I saw it I knew it was perfect for our little nephew. His mom loves to put him in hats!

Then there's the washcloths, one is done, the other is over half done. Pictures coming when they are finished, too. There is this scarf, for another relative. And maybe one more hat before time falls too short. And plenty of cookies for everyone!

Wrap style

I love wrapping paper...as my husband will tell you. We always have to look at the wrapping paper selection in every store. However, I am also very picky. And there is a lot of tacky wrapping paper out there. I love toile wrapping papers and I've saved a couple of pieces from some rolls we had several years ago. Why? I'm always thinking I'm going to make some...something...to preserve my little wrapping paper memories and the beautiful-ness of the paper. But what...I have yet to decide. But one day...ding! I'll have the idea and they will be preserved in all their glory. Meanwhile, the stack of scraps grows. and grows.
But I must have pretty papers. Really, I must. I found a sort of toile-y paper in Hobby Lobby this year. Then I looked at the price...$6.00. What!? The 'thrifter' in me jumped out...six dollars! For paper! (yes, I am that cheap. it was actually a pretty thick roll) However, I thought it over and went back to get it...only 3 rolls were left. Yesss! (You can see it in the picture, it's still got the plastic wrap on it.)
I miss having a K-mart in our town. The one we had closed about 3 years ago. They have such great Martha paper and tags and such. I bought some last year on a trip to Little Rock. Do they sell online? I need to check that out.
The next thing is to have something to wrap! I need to get busy buying a few gifts. I'm also making a few things, but nothing too difficult. I do, however, plan to put my newfound crochet skills to work making lots of gifts for next year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Woosh! I'm still full! I hope everyone had a wonderfully bountiful and restful Thanksgiving. Jimmy and I took a few days off to enjoy the time after the holiday. As much as I love Christmas and everything that goes along with it, I love Thanksgiving for the fact that there is no pressure. No expectations. Except food!

I haven't visited many blogs until this morning, and I can see everyone has been very busy! I love seeing how everyone personalizes their Christmas celebration.

So we broke out the Christmas trees the day after...and the multitude of boxes! We have 2 trees, and lots of set-around stuff. And apparently, enough ornaments to decorate about six trees...yikers! We've had white lights on our trees for years and years, and last year we decided that this year we'd put colored lights on for a change. I'm loving it! It seems so very old fashioned. I'll have to wait for a sunny day to get some pics of the entire trees. But in the meantime, here's a peek at a few of our favorite things.

I found these little boxes of vintage ornaments this year at a flea market in Branson! I just love them! They say 25 cents in the corners.

A few ornaments from the tree and part of our village lined up on the mantle. My Mom and I painted all the village buildings years ago, and my husband (bless his heart!) just adores them. I'm pining to make some of the cardboard glittered ones I keep seeing around, but we already have this one, and do I really want to make more work for myself right now?

This is one of our many Santas! A tiny one, as you can tell by the mouse. But very cute.

Oh, and the ribbon candy up top; we found that over the weekend at a tea shop. I remember my mom's best friend always having ribbon candy out, and we'd actually eat it! I told Jimmy "for display only!" We'll see how that goes.

And.....ta-da! A finished knitting project. My very first. I'm proud...probably beyond reason. I even did a few rows of seed stitch at the top. Luckily, it's a fuzzy yarn, because it's not perfect seed stitch. Oh, yeah...it's a pouch. You couldn't tell?

I'm planning to lace a silk ribbon through it and put a bag of bath salts in it and sit it on a shelf, oh so cutely, in our bathroom. Maybe a couple of pom poms at the ends of the ribbon? We'll see. Very decadent stuff.

Thankful

Come, ye thankful people, come
Raise the song of harvest home...

The picture above is a crazy quilt given to me by a member of my church. It's over 100 years old and I love it. It's about 20" square with a velvet binding and tons of beautiful stitches. I've been scared to use it, but I got it out this fall and put it over a chair that sits by our sideboard.

I have lots to be thankful for, and I hope you do too!
Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a great weekend!