Scenes from Bethlehem

 

I don't think that I have ever featured Nativity-themed Christmas cards, so I thought I would share a few Bethlehem scenes from my personal collection and my Etsy shop.  I'll just share scans and simple captions and hope you will enjoy seeing these vintage treasures.

I know, the wise men weren't at the manger.  But I had to include this gorgeous card.  The colors in the saddle blankets are amazing.

Love the colors in this one.

This little woodland nativity is so sweet!

From a Christmas carol book

Also from a vintage carol book

Page from a vintage carol book I got from somewhere

This shepherd scene is in the center of a snowflake-shaped card

Hope these vintage images have been a blessing to you!

Christmasy progress as of today

 

Lots of festive things happening in the Christmas kitchen and in other rooms of the house too.  Here's a rundown of happenings lately:

🎄  Mr. T has finished baking nearly every cookie on the tentative baking list.   The only other variety on the list is my Christmas no-bakes, which I top with a half marshmallow, some melted chocolate and crushed candy canes.  He prefers that I do these, which is fine.  I may make some cut-out cookies and possibly my mother's date-oatmeal cookies, just for old times' sake.  We will see.

🎄 Three candies on the tentative candy list are completed, plus some that weren't on the list.

🎄 Nearly all of our gifts are now purchased or ordered, and quite a few are wrapped.

🎄 I ordered materials last evening for some last-minute crafted gifts that I need to make.

🎄  I made a double batch of granola today for a friend who's having a houseful of family over Christmas.

🎄The last boxes for Nevada are packed and will go out today.

 🎄  The Christmas tree is now completely decorated and is looking good.

I'm sure there is more, but that is a good update for now.

Book review: Gooseberry Patch Christmas book 9

 

Today's post is a book review of a Gooseberry Patch Christmas  craft and cookbook titled Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book 9.  It's an older book, but a  hardcover version in very good condition may be found at ThriftBooks.com for less than $5.  Here's the link: Christmas Book 9.

Most of my readers know how much I love Gooseberry Patch books.  I have gotten many of them for free in return for recipes, memories,  or craft ideas.  The larger format Christmas books like this one are simply filled with wonderful ideas, but I like to review one now and then so readers will know what to expect if they buy these as used books. 

 This particular book, Christmas Book 9, was published in 2007 by Oxmoor House and it is a nice addition to my collection of Christmas books.  My copy is a paperback and I'm pretty sure I bought it at Walmart.  There are dozens of good recipes and craft ideas and some glorious photography, plus the patterns for many of the craft projects.

There are 15 chapters:

1.  Sweet Memories
 This chapter is filled with ideas for hosting a cookie decorating party and for decorating with cookies and candy.  The sweet ideas are absolutely gorgeous.  Graham cracker houses (displayed under a cloche) are one project.

2.  Welcome Home
This chapter is filled with lovely ideas for using vintage linens and fabrics, along with vintage ornaments. 

3.  Polka-Dot Christmas
This chapter shares ideas for applying festive red and green polka dots on everything in sight -- stockings, candle holders, a table runner, tags and gift boxes.  Very cute. 

4.  Simply Stenciled
Here are many ideas for stenciling old-fashioned designs of snowflakes, Santas and sleighs on windows and more -- like felt banners, tree skirts, ornaments, and stockings.

5.  Game Night
Ideas here for all sorts of table-game accessories, along with some recipes for game night snacks.

6.  All the Creatures Were Stirring
Gifts for pets and a special pet-themed Christmas tree that uses a shiny new dog bowl as a tree stand.

7.  Christmas Paper Fun ... Cards, Tags & More
This is one of the largest chapters, with directions for ornaments, tags, gift wrap and gift tag holders, photo albums and even a shadow box, all paper crafted.  The paper bag album is a craft I want to try.

8.  From Hand to Heart
Lots of lovely handcrafted gifts here, including a scrap afghan which I have actually started making.  (Sample motifs in photo below.)  Also things like pajamas, a knitting tote, a gift wrap organizer and more.

9.  Just-Right Gifts from the Kitchen
Recipes for all sorts of mixes and other kitchen gifts, plus great and innovative ways to package and present them.  The cranberry cider mix, packaged in red fabric bags with green ribbon "leaves" and cinnamon stick stems, is a case in point.

10.  A Farmhouse Dinner
Cider Baked Ham, Spinach-Pecan Salad, Homestyle Green Beans, Corn Pudding and more -- and of course a nice selection of desserts here.

11.  Christmas Brunch
Country Breakfast Skillet, Pecan French Toast, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Spiced Fruit, and many more wonderful looking recipes to help you with your Christmas breakfast or brunch!

12.  Cooking Ahead for the Holidays
Comfort food to make ahead and freeze for when you have a houseful of Christmas guests.

13. Cookie Exchange
Nice recipes for Christmas cookies -- Jolly Lime Thumbprints, Vanilla-Dipped Gingersnaps, Chocolate Swirl Cookies and much more.

14.  Kate's Chocolate Cure-Alls
All things chocolate to cure what ails you!  Everything from Buckeye Brownies to White Hot Chocolate and a Pan O'Fudge.  Lots of chocolate therapy in this section.

15.  A Club Christmas
This chapter includes ideas and recipes for entertaining groups like your book club, knitting group, and more.

All in all, I find this to be a useful, inspiring, and beautiful book.  Why not check ThriftBooks, Amazon, or another used-book venue for a copy of Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book 9?  I don't think you will be disappointed!

A simple craft project

 

The other day when four of our local grandkids came over to make candy, I suggested maybe we would do a simple craft as well.  I was thinking that when we came to parts of recipes where things needed to chill or set for awhile, a little craft might be a good way to pass the time.  

Some years ago, I received this gift tag as a tuck-in in a Christmas card exchange:

Front of tag

Back of tag

 
As you can see, it's creatively made from a game card; a Dutch Blitz card, to be specific.

I didn't use it, but held onto it thinking I might like to use the idea to make some tags of my own.  From what I can tell, the creator of this tag stamped the snowman motif onto a small tag shape made from white card stock, then glued it to the Dutch Blitz card and punched a hole through both layers to add the striped twine.  There's a strip of washi tape along the bottom of the tag.  The back simply looks as if it has been scuffed up with sandpaper and "to" and "from" added with alphabet stamps.

I decided to try this project with the grands.  I'm pretty sure that I have some Dutch Blitz cards found at the homestead, but couldn't find them so used Uno cards (from the same source, set aside for the purpose) instead.  

 I then put out washi tape, card stock and scrapbook paper, rubber stamps and stamp pads, hole punch and twine, along with glue sticks and old Christmas cards.  And also, very important, the transfer art images shown at the top of the post.  The kids had a blast with this idea and produced some very creative tags.

Below are some of the tags they ended up with.  I was especially taken with the red-and-green striped tag.  Printed cardboard from an old candy cane box was glued to a red Uno card and details added with the paint transfer rub-ons.  "Open" was stamped on using alphabet stamps, and "Dec 25" was added using a library card-type stamp.  They are all great, though, and are different on both sides.  They would even make fun ornaments or would look nice as part of a garland or banner.

I'm impressed with their creativity using very simple materials.  Now I can't wait to try this project for myself, as I didn't have time to do so that day.

Poem: Song for Christmas

 

 Time for a Christmas poem.  I've shared so many of these, over the years, that I always have to do a search of my own blogs just to be sure I'm not inadvertently repeating one.  This is a poem I found in an Ideals Christmas magazine from 2010.  It's by Sudie Stuart Hager.

Song for Christmas

I love the Yuletide's radiant things --
The treetop angel's spun-glass wings,
Each scarlet ball and tinseled limb,
The tapers sputtering, soft and dim,
The light in happy children's eyes,
A bright-faced doll that talks and cries,
The log that sparkles on the grate,
The glow that follows through the gate,
A neighboring window's candle-wreath,
The snow, like burnished gold, beneath,
And the sky, bright jeweled o'erhead,
As on that night above His bed.

-- Sudie Stuart Hager

These poets always say it so much better than I could.  So many of them say just what I would like to say if I had only been able to put my thoughts together in verse.  When I read this poem I can vividly picture so much of what she has shared.  We have a glass angel -- not a treetop one, but a small glass angel playing a glass flute.  So pretty and a lovely reminder of our youngest daughter who plays the flute.

The phrase "each scarlet ball and tinseled limb" brings such clear memories of my grandmother's Christmas trees, with glowing glass balls and limbs liberally tinseled and icicled.  Oh, I could go through every phrase of this poem and conjure up a picture or a memory.  Think of that next-to-last phrase about the sky being "bright jeweled" overhead.  How many times have I seen the night sky simply sparkling with stars against a black velvet background?  My heart aches for people who have never seen this.

The other day when our grandchildren were with us, a John McDermott CD was playing and my 13-year-old grandson and I were talking of the song "Christmas Memories".  He commented that it almost made him sad for people who have never had such Christmas memories as his family has had.  And I am feeling the same way as I read and discuss this poem with you all.  How very blessed we have been! 

Sunday Scripture

 

Here is our second Sunday Scripture for December.  Remember, I am writing these posts from an Advent study that I did with Good Morning Girls in 2013.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download, so if you are interested head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image similar to the illustration above, and the pdf should open right up.

Just a note too that I am also doing Sunday Scripture posts over at my regular blog, Across My Kitchen Table -- and I am using different verses (from the same study) in those Sunday posts.  So if you really want some biblical encouragement during this Christmas season, you might enjoy reading at both blogs.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  The verses for this second week are focused on Love. 

 For today, the verses to focus on are Mark 12:28-30.   If you happen to be following along with this study on your own, it will be the verses for December 10 that I am using.

S=  "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that [Jesus] had answered [the Sadducees] well, asked Him, Which is the first [that is, most important] commandment of all? 
"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord;
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Mark 12:28-30)

O= The speaker in verse 28 is "one of the scribes".  He had been listening as Jesus answered the Sadducees (and possibly as He answered the Herodians also -- it doesn't specify).  This scribe perceived that Jesus had "answered them well", so he asked a question of his own: "Which is the first commandment of all?"

The next two verses are part of Jesus' reply to the scribe, as He plainly states that the first, or most important, commandment is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

A=  It's easy sometimes to think of "commandments" as being related to the Old Testament -- to law rather than grace.  Yet here in these verses Jesus clearly states that the most important commandment is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength ... with our entire being ... with all that we are and all that we have.  Am I doing that?

P= "Lord, I thank You for these verses that go straight from the heart of Jesus to my heart.  I thank You that His words are clear and forthright.  There is no ambiguity, no question about what is being said.  I'm to love You with all my heart -- with an undivided heart.  I'm to love You with all my soul; with all my mind, thinking the thoughts that please You and thinking on the truths of who You are.  And I am to love You with all my strength.  I think of a line from the carol 'O Holy Night' which goes something like this: 'Let all within us praise His holy name.'  May I love You with all that is within me!  

"I thank You and praise You for Your great love for me that redeemed my life from destruction and crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

There is our Advent study for December 12!  I hope it was a blessing to you today.

A few photos from Friday

 

Yesterday we got together with four of our local grands for a fun day, much of it taking place right here at our house.  I'll only share a few photos now in the interest of having a December 11 post here in the Christmas kitchen, and will hope to write a more detailed post for Monday, likely on my Kitchen Table blog.

We ate breakfast together, which I failed to get any photos of.  Then the boys got the lights on the tree, and we spent the rest of the morning decorating, making fudge and candy, and working on a simple craft.

Ari stirring Rocky Road fudge

Julia preparing to place Rocky Road in the pan; Ari scraping a chocolaty saucepan

Josiah measuring sugar for Creamsicle fudge as Sam looks on

Oops!  No yellow food coloring, so we couldn't turn the Creamsicle fudge orange!  Green to the rescue; we'll pretend it's lime.

Julia, Ari and Josiah working on crafts

 It was certainly a festive mess around our house yesterday, but we all had a good time!

Around 1 pm we headed out for Kellerhaus, a favorite traditional Christmas destination of ours, for the ice cream buffet.  Photo is from a previous year, but it is no less magical today.

After getting home, we cut and packaged the fudge and other candy so they could take a good portion of it home.  While Mr. T and I worked at this, the kids finished up their craft projects.

And that was our Friday!  What a wonderful day it was!

Candle glow

 

 Glowing candles are some of the most meaningful images on Christmas cards, especially the vintage ones.  The ones on the card above are a case in point.  (I really love the Christmas pastels, but that will be a post for another day.)  But just look at those glowing flames, wavering in the air, and the glittery halos around them.  So, so pretty.

This Christmas season I have been thinking a lot about candles.  As I mentioned in my Hodgepodge post at my Kitchen Table blog, one line from a Christmas tune has kept jumping out at me as I occasionally listen to our more-or-less local Christmas music station.  "I've got the candles glowing in the dark."  Times seem dark lately, do they not?  How important it is to keep the candles glowing. 

 
I may have mentioned this before, I'm not sure.  But last winter we did a lot of traveling to and from the home of friends for Bible study and a meal.  It became a very familiar route and we were usually traveling after dark at least for the trip home.  We so enjoyed seeing all of the lights glowing from people's homes.  There were lighted trees in windows, candles in windows, lights illuminating porches and outlining roofs,  lighted trees in people's yards.  One house that always caught my eye had long windows on either side of the front door, and long swathes of light spilled out onto the snow.  As the winter went on, Christmas and New Year's passed by and most people left their lights up.  It was a delight to see and I came to see it as a way of pushing back against the dark winter we had been promised.  It would only be dark if we allowed it to be!

This thought has stayed with me.  Mr. T and I need to do more with lights at our own home.  We have white lights up year-round inside in our bedroom and the living room, but I would like for us to do more, maybe with candles in the windows.  One thing we have done, even though our little camp is a very seasonal place and we won't spend much time there during the winter, is to place a lighted Christmas tree (with lights on a timer) in the loft window.  There are four windows in the living room below and, although these do not have window sills as such, Mr. T has plans to make a small temporary shelf below each one to hold an electric candle.  I will post photos if I am able to get them from the road.

 This Christmas season, as well as all through the dark winter, let's be sure our lights are glowing in the dark!

Displaying the new project

 

Yesterday I described framing a gift bag to create a new decorative Christmas picture.

I mentioned that I planned to use it in decorating, though I really didn't know where.  Below, you can see what I ended up doing.  In our living room we have a cabinet that used to be office furniture at my parents'.  It has a shelf above and bookshelves behind doors below.  I often display things on the top of this unit.

I had arranged a few Christmasy items here but wasn't quite sure how I liked the arrangement.  I started with a mini Christmas runner I had sewed from a fabric scrap years ago

A detail from the sweet runner fabric!

and had placed the cute little jar scene

 

 atop it.  

I placed the lantern with tea light to the right.  

On the left I had put a tin and wood house atop a round of wood.  It looked fine but seemed to be missing something.

Enter my new "I'll Be Home for Christmas" art.  I took away the house, moved the wood round to beneath the jar scene, and placed the new framed piece where the house had been.  

 

What a difference!  I love this little Christmas display now.

An easy little Christmas decor project!

 Here's a little decorating project that I came across last year and saved it to share for December Daily.  It's so quick, easy, and inexpensive that you could make a bunch if you wanted to.  The idea is for turning dollar store gift bags -- gift bags! -- into Christmas wall art.  You can read about it here: Dollar Store Christmas wall art.

Photo by Aimee at The Crazy Craft Lady

If you ever go into dollar stores at Christmas time (or even Walmart or other stores, such as Ocean State Job Lot in our area), you have no doubt noticed some really lovely gift bags that are frame-worthy.  I sure have, and often snap them up after Christmas, so I decided in the interests of my blog readers to try this project for myself.  However, I had a bunch of nice Christmas bags in my gift wrapping stash, but none that really fit frames that I had on hand.

I finally decided to utilize a fun little frame our daughter had given us years ago.  It is intended to frame a 4x6 photo.  Well, I had a couple of very small gift bags, purchased after Christmas at Walmart some time ago.  They may have cost 25¢ or less.  I bought them because I loved the illustration, but they are too small for most gifts.  One of these bags would be just perfect for the frame I intended to use.

I had wondered what Aimee did with the handles of the gift bags when framing them.  Her post didn't seem to say.  So I tried cutting them off (these handles were made of twisted kraft paper).  That didn't solve the issue, however, as the handles extended far down into the bag -- a great feature making for a sturdy gift bag, but a bit of a problem as far as making a frame fit well.  They were sandwiched in between 2 pieces of white paper and glued inside the bag on both sides.  I ended up very carefully trying to pull the paper/handle unit off the insides, and it finally did come free.  Then I had to cut a little bit -- maybe 1/8 inch -- on the top and bottom of the bag to make it fit well in the frame.  

My project didn't turn out quite as well as I hoped, but it is cute enough and I plan to use it in my decorating this year. 

A fun vintage addition to my Etsy shop

 

Recently I listed some fun vintage handmades to my Etsy shop, A New Hampshire Attic.  These are some felt mitten ornaments (or maybe they are package toppers) that I came across in my cleaning out of the old homestead.  They would also be a nifty way to give a gift of cash or to package very small gifts.  

 These mittens are about 4 3/4 inches long and about 3 inches across at the widest point.  They were handmade by an elderly lady in the 1980s and gifted to a child or children, probably with candy canes tucked inside.  They're made of felt and hand-stitched together, probably with embroidery floss. 

 The decorations on each one are simply inexpensive stickers, and I have no idea how they have stayed in place, stored in the variable temperatures of an attic, for all these years.

It's really amazing that these mittens have held up so well over time.  The only issue is that the felt hanging loops are a bit wrinkly.

 There are a couple of stockings, as well.   We will see how these do in the shop.  Meanwhile, they might be a fun little project to try yourself if you enjoy working with felt!

A quick soup to make on a busy night

 We eat a lot of soup at our house, especially in the winter.  It's also a great supper choice for the busy Christmas season.  The soup of the day will stay hot either in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, or can be easily reheated if necessary.  With any soup, I usually just serve something very simple, like bread, cornbread, or biscuits. 

In 2013 I tried (and blogged about on my Kitchen Table blog) this Quick Bean Soup recipe which I had copied down in my handwritten cookbook but had never previously tried.  It was from a Country Woman magazine over 20 years ago.  We really liked this soup a lot.  This time, I used a wonderful smoked kielbasa (and only half the amount called for) and it was still delicious.  It really was easy and quick to prepare other than chopping and slicing the vegetables, which took a little time.  Another thing I did this time was to leave out the carrots and use cubed winter squash instead.  It was outstanding! The recipe makes a lot, but if you have a larger family it looks as if it could very easily be doubled. 

Hope you enjoy this hearty soup if you try it!  This soup is so easy and delicious that I'm sure my readers will forgive me for having previously published it at my other blog.  What is your family's favorite winter soup?

Sunday Scripture

 

As promised, here is our first Sunday Scripture for December.  Remember, I am writing these posts from an Advent study that I did with Good Morning Girls in 2013.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download, so if you are interested head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image similar to the illustration above, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  This first week's verses are focused on Hope. 

For today's Scripture I chose to focus in on John 1:9-12.  In the actual study, this one was from December 3 -- just in case you downloaded the study and are following along with it.

S= "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
"He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."  (John 1:9-12)

O= In the Scofield Reference Bible, C.I. Scofield has titled this section of John 1 as "Jesus Christ: the true Light rejected and received".  

The first verse in this passage (verse 9) identifies Jesus as "the true Light" and verse 10 notes that "the world was made by Him".  These statements affirm that Jesus is God.  

The second part of verse 10, plus verse 11, show us that the world as a whole does not understand this.  Verses 11-12 show us a contrast of two different responses to Jesus:
1) His own, that is, the people whom He had created, did not receive Him;
2) Those who did receive Him were given power by Him to become the children of God through belief in His name.

A=  I know and understand well that Jesus is the true Light.  Yet there are many in the world -- a world that was made by Him -- who don't know or recognize who He is.  At this time of year, the world is usually more receptive to hearing about Jesus.  May the Lord give me opportunities to share Him -- the One who came to enlighten our darkness -- this season!

P=  "Lord Jesus, I praise You that You, the true Light, willingly came and dwelt in this fallen world to enlighten our darkness.  I praise You that when we receive You as Savior, believing on Your name, You enable us to become Your children.  You will do this for any and all who will come to You!  Help me in this light-filled season to share the True Light with those who don't know You.  May they be able to see Your light and Your power at work in my life, and be drawn to You.  I praise You for all that You are doing and will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And that is today's Sunday Scripture.  I pray that it was a blessing to someone today.

Tentative candy list for 2021

 

Lastly for my Christmas kitchen planning, I make a separate candy list.  Above is the one for this year.  I jotted down a couple of extra ideas -- the ones with the question marks -- because I am thinking we may possibly make some Christmas candy with some of the grandkids.

Double Decker Fudge (aka Heavenly Delight, in our family), is a layered chocolate-peanut butter fudge that is a huge favorite in our family.  

 I mentioned Special Holiday Fudge, with nuts and raisins, yesterday.  It tastes somewhat like an old-fashioned Chunky bar.  Arlene's Easy Fudge is another favorite of ours. 

The  Chocolate-Dipped Orange Slices

have become a must for our family and friends.  I like to add them to a cookie tray for interest. 

I don't have a photo of the Date-Nut Casserole Cookies, but they are much more of a candy than a cookie -- a confection, you might say.  The batter is baked in a casserole, cooled slightly and rolled into balls, dipped in sugar.   Essentially, date balls.

If you have more than one type of candy that you like to make, or candy recipes that you think you might try,  you will likely want to make a candy list too.  And again, look those recipes over to see what ingredients you might need, and add those ingredients to your shopping list to be sure that you have them on hand. 

 And you may need to replenish them as the season goes on.  Mr. T had made 3 batches of Heavenly Delight before December even dawned -- and so now we need to buy more chocolate and peanut butter chips!

Making a list for kitchen gifts

 On Wednesday we talked about making a list for Christmas cookie baking.  Today let's consider a list for Christmas kitchen gifts in general.  Mine includes a couple varieties of cookies that specific people on my list particularly enjoy, as well as candy, snack mixes, little fruitcakes, and more.

 Are there certain people on your Christmas gift list to whom you give food gifts every year?  If so, you will want to jot those gifts on this list.  Several folks on my list get cinnamon pretzels and Christmas granola -- which is just my regular granola with pistachios and dried cranberries added.  I usually make hot chocolate mix for certain folks, and Special Holiday Fudge for my youngest daughter.  I had never realized how much she liked that fudge until one Christmas she asked if I could send some.  Of course, I was only too happy to do so, and have continued to do so since that time.

Two special ladies on my list get plates of Eggnog Logs and Sacher Torte Cookies -- I typically find plates on sale after Christmas to use for this purpose-- and my walking partner gets Apricot Cake.  

I have Bran Muffins on the list, as I always give some to my mother-in-law along with a bag of clementines and some hot chocolate mix.  But this year I think I will tweak it and bake different muffins -- maybe something gingerbread-ish or something with cranberries.  I just don't care for that bran muffin recipe anymore myself, so she may be ready for a change as well!

So, after making that list, check it again for needed ingredients and add them to your grocery list, so you can be sure you have those on hand. 

Happy kitchen gifting!

A lovely Blue Christmas card and poem

 

I simply love blue Christmas scenes.  I know they are not for everyone and I absolutely love the traditional Christmas scenes and colors as well, but there is just something about those blue ones!

This gorgeous blue forest scene is from a Christmas card.  I only have the front of the card, the back having been torn off some time ago, likely before it came into my possession.  Still, I felt it was unmistakably a Leanin' Tree card.

You will notice that the artist has signed his or her name simply "GARE".  I was very curious to learn more about the artist, so did a bit of research.  

Here is some of what I found out: Margaret Wynnfred Williams, aka Gare Barks, was born in Hilo, Hawaii. She was born Margaret Wynnfred Williams on December 6, 1917. Since there were two Margarets in her class at school, she elected to use the shortened name of Garé.  She was educated in Honolulu and in Boston, eventually becoming a commercial artist.  In 1954 she married Carl Barks, who was also an artist.  Many of Gare's paintings ended up as greeting cards with Leanin' Tree, and can be seen at the Leanin' Tree Western Art Museum. During the Gulf War, Leanin' Tree chose one of her paintings to send as a greeting card to the troops to remind them of home. Gare Barks died on March 10, 1993.

Isn't this scene beautiful?  If you look closely, back by the evergreen tree in the middle of the picture, there are two deer.

And here is the lovely poem that was inside the cover of this card: 

Hope you have enjoyed this lovely winter forest scene and poem, as well as learning a little bit about the artist!

Come on into the Christmas kitchen!

 

Yes, come on in and let's get started with our planning for 2021's Christmas baking!  I have made a tentative cookie baking list and Mr. T is eager to get started on baking his way through it.  We had our first measurable snow on November 27, and I usually like to start cookie baking the day of the first real snow.  But he was busy that day, so ... 

So, if you are here and you ordinarily bake Christmas cookies and haven't started yet, then obviously the first thing to do is sit down here at my Christmas kitchen table and make a list.  Below is mine.

 It seems like a shockingly short list, but we will see.  Tentative lists are just that, and have a way of being added to and subtracted from.   And of course, each of those cookie varieties listed is likely to be made at least in a double batch, maybe a triple.

So ... you have your cookie list.  I will cover other lists (like the candy list, and the kitchen gifts list) probably Friday, but for now let's consider the cookie list. 

Now, you need to get another piece of paper and begin a shopping list.  You will want to check your pantry and make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients on hand.  Read this post: Check that pantry for the how-to's.  

If you want, you can get a step ahead of me and make a tentative candy list and a tentative kitchen gifts list ( which is for things other than cookies --like breads, scones, snack mixes, spiced nuts, and the like).  

Of course, maybe you are many steps ahead of me and made your lists in October or November.  If so, I heartily applaud you! 

See you here tomorrow in the Christmas kitchen, friends!