National Christmas Card Day

Who knew there was such a thing?  Apparently it was December 9, so I'm a bit late.  But I'm very well acquainted with Christmas cards, having an Etsy shop full of them and boxes of them yet to list.  Joyce, over at From this Side of the Pond, asks:

Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? 

I do still send Christmas cards. 

Our cards do not include a photo.   I guess you would say we send cards that are more traditional.  I like all sorts of scenes on Christmas cards, but the one I chose for this year is a real favorite.  I just like all  of the elements -- the birds, the holly and berries, the twig frame, the sheet music and winter scene, the shadowy deer and holly in the background.

 
I have made homemade Christmas cards, but it's been a long time.

I think the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays is wonderful.  I understand postage has gone up over the years, and it can be a real expense.  But I also think that it's a relatively inexpensive way to stay in touch with people one seldom sees, and it's much more personal than an ecard.  (Although I have nothing against ecards, and often send them for birthdays, praying for you occasions, and more, I just like to send a Christmas card through the mail.)  

Most of the people we send cards to must feel the same, because we receive about as many Christmas cards as we send!

 

 

A question of gingerbread

 

 I am picking just one question from this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce and the gang at From This Side of the Pond.  It's this one:

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition?

Life is busy and I'm flying "by the seat of my pants" as I try to post here daily during the month of December.  So snagging a question from the Hodgepodge works well for me today.

We do like gingerbread.   If you do a search for "gingerbread" here in my Christmas kitchen, you will find many recipes: gingerbread men, blueberry gingerbread muffins, chocolate chip gingerbread muffins, gingerbread coffee syrup, gingerbread chocolate thumbprint cookies, gingerbread coffeecake cookies, gingerbread blackberry muffins, and more.  In fact, I am thinking now that I really need to go back and add a gingerbread label to these posts so they can be found more easily.

Gingerbread houses have not been a frequent part of our holiday traditions, but we have made several over the years and enjoyed it very much.  

Mr. T is baking as I write and oh -- I have to remind him of those gingerbread chocolate thumbprints.  An amazing recipe that has become a must-make!

Down Candy Cane Lane

 

For fun, I borrowed a few questions from Joyce's Hodgepodge at .From This Side of the Pond this past week. Some of the questions lent themselves to being turned into blog posts, so here goes with the first one.

 Do you like peppermint? Peppermint mocha, a candy cane, peppermint bark, peppermint tea, York Peppermint Pattie, peppermint ice cream...of the peppermint treats listed, which one is your favorite? Will you bake anything featuring peppermint this holiday season? 

I do like peppermint, very much. Peppermint mocha ... a lovely flavor combination.  The peppermint mocha coffee creamer is so delicious, but so very unhealthy that I don't buy it anymore.  If I encounter it at someone's home, however, I will use it.

 Candy canes are not my favorite candy, but I do love their festive look and flavor.

 Peppermint bark ... yes, it's scrumptious.  I have made this for kitchen gifts a few times in the past.

Peppermint tea ... my hubby and I love Candy Cane Lane by Celestial Seasonings.  A few years back I tried White Christmas (from Stash, I think) which is a white tea with peppermint that I found very tasty.  I don't like plain peppermint tea, though.

 York Peppermint Patties ... yes, those are wonderful.  Ever made the brownies that have a layer of the peppermint patties in the middle?

I'm not really into peppermint ice cream, but I surely wouldn't turn down a dish of it drizzled with hot fudge sauce.

Yes, it's quite likely I'll bake something featuring peppermint this holiday season.  It's a flavor that simply says "Merry Christmas"!

A Merry Little Christmas Hodgepodge!

Again this week I am joining in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  She asks the questions, other bloggers  answer, and it's just fun getting to know one another more. 

🎄1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list? 

Do you really want to know? Quite a bit.  Let's see: one batch of cookies (possibly more); 2 kinds of candy; 2 gifts to buy; several kitchen gifts yet to make (hot cocoa mix, bran muffins, little apricot cakes).  Still some decorating to finish.  A bit of cleaning would be nice, too.

Some kitchen gifts from 2013

On the plus side, nearly all of the wrapping is done and all of the out-of-town cards have been sent or are ready to send. 

🎄2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter? 

The beauty of freshly fallen snow, or snow that is falling softly.  (As long as I don't have to drive in it!)  I also love seeing the beautiful winter night sky.  The stars are amazing!

🎄3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not. 

Many areas, I'm afraid.  I hate driving in winter, or in cities, or for long distances, or tight parking spaces.  Have you sensed that I dislike driving?

🎄4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016? 

The word I picked for 2016 was faithfulness.  In choosing it I was thinking of the need for me to be faithful in all that God has given me to do.   I was also thinking of God's faithfulness to me and how He would continue to be faithful through every trial and test.  Both aspects of the word held true.  There were many challenges and difficulties that could have caused me to disregard the need for faithfulness in my God-given tasks.  And through every one, I saw God's great faithfulness to me and to His people.

🎄5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings? 

I enjoy fried shrimp.  Our local seafood restaurant has a fried shrimp special that is wonderful.  I enjoy shrimp in other ways as well.  Probably my favorite might be just cold cooked shrimp served with cocktail sauce.  I don't have shrimp on any of my menus for the holidays.

🎄6. What sound lulls you to sleep? 

Rain on the roof.

🎄7. What one word best describes your 2016? 

Challenging. (Since I can only pick one word.)

🎄8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I still don't have the Christmas tree completely decorated, so I'll share a picture or two from a previous year.   I tried very hard to be much more organized with my planning this year -- and I followed my hubby's advice about not crafting after November 30 -- but life sort of went crazy for awhile there anyway.

2010

2015

Merry Christmas to all of you! 

A Holly Jolly Hodgepodge

Again this week I am linking up to the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This week, I thought it would be fun to post the answers to Joyce's questions in my Christmas blog.  Here we go!

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate. 

Good question. I tend to be more people oriented, I think, in general.  I make a plan for every day and do what I can, but really, it's all about people.  If something on my list doesn't get done because God brought along someone to reach out to or to encourage, it's fine.  It helps me to consider my overall goal for life -- bringing glory to God with all that He has given me.  Part of the way I'm to do that is by touching the lives of other people.  Tasks are part of it too, but the people are more important.

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day...do you own/wear pearls?  Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.

I own pearls but haven't worn them for a long time. As a teen, I asked for a pearl ring for Christmas -- the type with two pearls entwined together -- and received it, too.  Hadn't thought of that in a long time, so the reminder was fun.

Here's a Christmasy pearl of wisdom:

Christmas will always be in the hearts of God's children everywhere as they extend a helping hand to a friend in need ... as they go about reflecting God's goodness in the little quiet and unheralded expressions of a loving heart ... as they share the light of the world with those who live in darkness."

-- Jane Hillsmen

3. Speaking of pearls...oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little? 

I like oysters all right. They're not my favorite seafood, and I wouldn't go out of my way to eat them, but I like them okay.  My favorite way to eat them would be in oyster stew.  My dad used to love oyster stew and my mother would sometimes make it for him.  I was allowed, usually, to just have a bowl of broth, because I loved the flavor, but leave the oysters for my dad.  I don't think any of my siblings liked oyster stew.   

4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?

I would have to say our police officers who have had to carry on under some very difficult pressures and some very bad press, plus the very real possibility of being murdered themselves -- and those firefighters who have been fighting the many horrendous wildfires we've seen this year.  And all of those professionals who've had to deal with the riots and protests and other childishness of those disappointed by election results.

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced and it's a vibrant green, aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the color. 

I love this color.   I don't have this color in my home (yet) but I do wear this color, and in fact have a shirt this color. Green is one of my favorite colors to wear.  It never used to be, but has become a favorite in recent years.

6. Today I've had too much__________________.

Coffee, I guess.  Yesterday I had too many Christmas cookies -- Chocolate Mint Crisps, to be specific.  They are wonderful!

photo from Taste of Home

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.

I like both of those that Joyce mentioned: '...Then rang the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth He sleep...'

'...A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...'

Our world is so weary and it so badly needs that thrill of hope today.  May we who truly have hope be faithful about showing it in our daily lives!

And this one: "Who is He in yonder stall at whose feet the shepherds fall?  'Tis the Lord, O wondrous story, 'tis the Lord, the King of Glory.  At His feet we humbly fall; crown Him, crown Him Lord of all."

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

 Today's forecast was for partly sunny weather.  Patches of blue sky up there, but at this point it's mostly cloudy and snowing lightly.  I detest winter driving!

Thanks to Joyce for these thought-provoking questions.  I'm thrilled to be participating in the Hodgepodge again this week!