V is for village

and the local cat giant.

T is for Tree, U is for Under

T is for Tree. Part of the Christmas giving to me was a surprise. Husband agreed to cut down this huge pine tree. Actually I love the tree but it is starting to lean and will take away part of the house when it falls. So . . . we are waiting for the tree guys. They could not come last week due to rain. Supposed to be here at 8 this morning but it is frigidly cold here in VA. Luckily the tree is only leaning a little so we have time.

Christmas trees look so much better in person than they do in photos. Guess it's the magic that can't be captured. But this is to talk about what is under the tree.

The sales after Thanksgiving were insane and after years of dealing with the printer we have, I decided to buy myself a new one. Yes, I did. S1 set it up last night and today we have to get some ink so that he can make his girlfriend a photo album.

S is for Stars

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

**Photo by S1.

R is for random.

Today and tomorrow are catch up days and all of the things in each room that need getting done or fine tuning will hopefully get done. Hence the word Random.

Cookies are being decorated, last minute decorations being added and a house that is being cleaned. Thank goodness for days off from my paid job!!

Q is for Quiet

P is for

Presents

and Peppermints

O is for Ornaments

made by children now grown.
Given to commemorate an event or passion.
Made by grandmas and a mom when she was little.
Bought for no purpose other than because they were beautiful.
New this year are butterflies - just added for the magic.

N is for Naughty

One of these is terrorizing siblings. One bit me and left nice sized bite marks on my hand and arm. And ONE ate part of a Christmas present that was mine. A whole lot of naughty at the little blue house.

M is for

Manger. This nativity set belonged to my grandparents and I absolutely love the colors and the simplicity of it. The pig with angel wings came from Hallstatt Austria.

Mexican Wedding Cakes

These are great with a glass of milk!!

1/2 cup butter (at room temp)
1/2 cup crisco
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 1/4 cup flour

Mix ingredients. Roll in granulated sugars. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes
**Remember - if you use parchment paper it's like giving yourself a gift :-)

L is for Love and Loss

I was at Arlington National Cemetery today with many other people putting out wreaths and flowers. So moving to see the wreaths. And so very sad

Decking the Halls

While the cats and I are stringing popcorn (well, Heinz watching through sleepy eyes and Wishbone actually sticking her head in the bowl and eating it) we are listening to great Christmas music.

My new purchase this year is The Irish Rovers - An Irish Christmas. My two favorites on that one are Christmas Caroling and Christmas in Killarney which I sang to my class the other day :-). I also love anything by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. S1 and I saw them in person a few years ago and well worth the ticket price. Tonight I'm also listening to John Berry. His version of O Come All Ye Faithful is one of the best ever.

What are you listening to?

K is for Kids

We used to make the boys stay at the top of the stairs and wait until we had the coffee pot going, cinnamon rolls out, candles lit and lights turned on the tree.

The other tradition was that each Christmas, in my stocking, I got underwear from husband Nothing odd looking but something nice as I didn't buy nice things for myself. Every year ( including last year) I would open the packages and yell "Look what I got". The boys would look and then there would be groans and eye rolling.

Yes, I know. Too much information. But it has been funny. Wondering if I can pull it off again this year :-)!

J is for Joyous Music

This year marked the 41st anniversary of the Messiah Sing Along at the local university. The same gentleman has been leading the group for all of these years.

For the price of a $5 ticket anyone who wants to come and sing or play and instrument may. And we do sing and play. Songs are practiced until we get them right. But it is done with a sense of humor and respect for the conductor.

I is for Icicles

We ended up not being able to get a tree at the usual spot but here is a photo of the ice on the side of the mountain.

H is for Handy Husband

Our mudroom area has always looked awful. Near husband's head (on the right side) you can see part of the wallpaper that was on the walls. It was horrible and this is coming from a person who really likes wallpaper. But this was dingy, coming away from the walls in part. There is little natural light in this area of the house which added to the feeling of yuch when we came in the back door.

My wish has always been to make the room look like it came from a farm house. And now my dream is coming true. We found great beadboard that snaps together and you can glue and then nail it to the wall. I have visions of semi gloss white painted in this area. And maybe warm cozy feelings when we enter the house.

F is also for

a furry friend to watch football with.

F and G are for

Falling snow of flakes that are fine.

Fir trees that in summer hold wonderful little nests.

Gifts that come in small packages sometimes are best.

E is for Elves

A child informed me today that he had an elf at home. When I said that I needed one L looked at me and told where I could go buy one.

But I want real elves. I need a group of them. Not to do the shopping, baking, decorating or any of the fun stuff. I need a group of them to help me out by finding out the location of the cookie press that I so thoughtfully packed away last Christmas, or to make me some chicken soup for my chest cold, to fill up the hot water bottle for the same cold. Or to put the disgusting carcuss that Snoopy was chewing on this morning into the trash can (ick!!).

D is for

Darling husband who is bringing home takeout for dinner tonight. Gyros - so yummy

Dog. I could feel the stress of a few things creeping into my body. My shoulder and neck have been stiff for a few days, so today Snoopy and I decided that it was time for a walk. We saw a couple of Herons out for a flight (at least that is what I think that they are - the birds are huge). Snoopy found all sorts of delicious smells and got some love from a few grade school boys.

Decorations. Holly and fir branches from the local nursery make a simple statement on a small table in the diningroom. Santa no longer freaks the cats out when he moves. But they don't get too close just in case.

C is for Christmas Cactus and Candy Cane Cookies

I love candy canes and I'm crazy about peppermint flavoring. They were a part of my Christmas - my mother's parents would hang candy canes from their tree that came from the woods. That, along with the little feather Christmas angels on the tree are a pleasant memory.

My mother introduced me to these cookies and my kids love them.

Candy Cane Cookies

1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp red food coloring

Topping:

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
1/2 cup sugar

Mix sugar, butter, shortening, egg, extracts, flour and salt until well blended. Divide dough in half and add red food coloring to one half of dough. Mix dough until completely red.

Take a piece of the white dough and make into a thin rope. Do the same with the red dough. Take both pieces and roll them together like a candy cane. Take four inches of the dough and form into a cane. Put cookies on a cookie sheet with parchment paper on it ( you will so thank yourself later!!). Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes. Sprinkle immediately with topping when cookies are removed from oven.