Christmas Time’s A Comin’

A few of my favorite things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

My friend, Mary,  triggered memories today when she sent me an email  about black walnut divinity.  I started thinking about my favorite Christmas memories when I was a child.  Here are some of them.

• Big, fragrant oranges and grapefruits, a whole box full of them
• Nuts and an old fashioned nut cracker, watching tv,  and picking out my favorite ones, pecans and brazil nuts
• Snow ice cream
• Drinking steaming mugs of hot cocoa after playing outside in the cold
• Orange rinds and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove
• Russian tea, Mother always made it with Tang, spices and instant iced tea, then we would spoon the mix into mugs of hot water to drink
• Lebkuchen, we made those wonderful, spicy cookies every November and then stored them in big tin containers until Christmas, they were so good, I have the recipe, handed down for generations, I need to make them again…
• Chex Mix, cousin Sue’s was always the best, chocked full of pecans and cashews, not only Chex cereal, but Cheerios and Kix, too,  and Bugles and pretzels, and seasoned with garlic, and spicy hot with lots of Tabasco
• Midnight mass on Christmas eve, the candles, the poinsettas, it was just magic when I was a child
• Opening gifts on Christmas eve, the anticipation of what doll I would get for Christmas. That was the best part, I always got a new doll, every year…
• Aunt Ruby’s Mexican Wedding Cookies, still a family tradition
• Homemade candy, my favorite was called bologna candy, it was a date nut roll, we made it every year.  And that wonderful black walnut divinity and homemade fudge, chocolate and my favorite, peanut butter

As I reread my list, it was all about food, wasn’t it? And it’s still all about the food…  That little girl never quite grew up, and this year I have a new doll to play with, a real, live one.  Baby Abby’s first Christmas.  What a wonderful Christmas this is for our family….

A Christmas present that won’t cost you anything….

I’ve gotten older, hopefully a bit wiser, and my life experiences have made me realize that this moment is all we have, seize it, live it, tomorrow may be too late.

One of the things that I do, and I’ve touched on this before, is that when I say goodbye, I always tell my family I love them, always.

I never leave them without hugging them and telling them “I love you,” and I never hang up the phone without saying it.  It comes as natural to me as saying “goodbye” does.  You may think, “my family doesn’t do this, I would feel awkward, or embarrassed.”  So, what if you do?  And so what if it’s awkward, or maybe even uncomfortable at first, you’re telling them what’s in your heart.

And you don’t do it once and quit, you keep doing it over and over again until it’s as natural for you to say it as it is to say goodbye.  And I’ll just bet you that they will start saying it back to you, and maybe even saying it first.

It’s a wonderful gift you can give the people you love, it doesn’t cost you anything, and the rewards are amazing.  And if, god forbid, it’s the last time you see or talk to them, they will always remember what your last words to them were. 

If you never try anything new, you will always get the same old results, but if you go out on a limb, and take a chance, a whole new world opens up. 

Just take a deep breath and say it, ”I love you,”  it’s a wonderful gift.

~ jan

Rub-a-dub-dub, look who just got out of the tub…

This Grammie stuff  just ROCKS!!!!!  Oh, Abby Leigh, what a sweet little soul, you are….

Thanks for the giggle this morning, Hooterville…

Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house
Tiger Woods came a flyin', chased by his spouse.
She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry,
Cause a bimbo’s phone number was in his Blackberry.
He’d been cheatin' on Elin, and the story progressed.
Woman after woman stepped up and confessed.
He’d been cheatin’ with Holly, Jaimee, Linda and Cori,
With Joselyn, and Kalika. The world had the story.
From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues,
Tiger’s sad sordid tale was all over the news.
With hostesses, waitresses, he had lots of sex,
When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts.
Despite all his cryin’ and beggin' and pleadin',
Tiger’s wife went investin' -- a new home in Sweden.
And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade,
"If you’re gettin' laid then I’m gettin' paid." 
She’s not pouting, in fact, she is of jolly good cheer,
Her prenup made Christmas come early this year.

Robyn Carr’s Virgin River Series…

I’m a total trash reader, I always read women, too, I never read men as I don’t care for the way they write romance novels. I’m always looking for new authors, because when I find someone I like, I read everything they have ever written.

I’m hooked on Robyn Carr and her Virgin River Series.  There are seven books in this collection so far, and this woman weaves wonderful stories.  She incorporates several families into each book, instead of focusing on one relationship, and taking the whole book to establish it, she forms relationships early on and then moves on to other people.  It’s a great twist, the way she writes, and the town of Virgin River, population 600, and it’s cast of characters is totally entertaining.

If you haven’t read her, give her a read, or if you’re a fan already, tell us what your favorite books are.  If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, the first book in her Virgin River series would be a great idea….

~ jan

This is spectacular, thanks Barb for sending it…

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Abby’s first playdate….

This is Abby on the left, with Julieanne.  Looks like she wore her little friend out.

Oh little girl babies are just too cute for words!!!!!

Hungry Girl Liquid S’Mores

I posted this on my Eating Right Blog, it looks absolutely to-die-for…

It’s a healthy version of Liquid S’Mores. Everything we love, hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate chips, graham crackers.

 

Here’s the click to them, you’re going to want to try this one…

~ jan

Thanks for the laugh, Seana…. oh this is a good one, girls….

Such bliss……

There’s been a lot of cuddling going on. Home tomorrow….

Having baby time…

We’re in Lexington for a couple of days.  Oh my, how Abby has changed just since Thanksgiving.  She breaks into big smiles now, follows us with her eyes.

She’s like a soft little bundle of heaven.  I’m finding out what a lot of you already know, what a wonderful gift grandchildren are.

I’ll be back, with a new picture soon.  Pinky swear.

~ jan

I’m in love….

What was your favorite Christmas gift as a child?

With me, it was always dolls.  Oh, I loved my dolls, played with them constantly, never had a doubt that I would be a good mother, because I always loved dolls and baby animals so much as a child.

When I was seven, I got a little red trunk, filled with doll clothes and a bride doll.  I can still remember how I felt when I opened that trunk and saw that doll.  It was pure magic…

Update…

Carlene just emailed me to ask, “why no blogging?”  Just like the rest of you, I’ve been super busy.  I did redo the header, that other one was pretty lame, so I got up this morning at 4am, redid the header and got the link up for the holiday recipes.

If you’re new to the blog, this recipe collection is another goodie.  All my friends tried and true favorites. 

Baby Abby is just doing great.  She’s smiling now and trying to laugh, we’re going to visit for a couple of days next week.  It’s just so hard to stay away from her.

Check out my Christmas recipes, if you’re looking for something new to try this year.  I’ll be back, soon.  I’m starting to get a handle on things.

~ jan

A doggy Christmas surprise

I saw this on Hooterville’s blog earlier today.  Had to snag it to share.  This is positively adorable!!!

 

Baby, it's cold outside...

We've had a blustery day in Heavensville, 50 mph winds, falling temperatures.  I've had a tri-state boomer of a headache all day.  Stayed in, made soup, read by the fire, cuddled the M&M's.  It was a perfect day for this.

I did some Christmas shopping online, too. Don't you just love sitting around in your jammies ordering things? 

Poor Deanna is flying into Nashville tonight in this windy weather, I'll be glad when she arrives safely.

And that's it from my little corner of the world.  I hope you and yours are tucked in safely tonight...

As The World Turns is biting the dust…

I just read tonight that CBS is cancelling As The World Turns.  And Bonnie Hunt is getting cancelled, too.  Is The Young and the Restless next?

I still have fond memories of Carol Burnett parodying, “As The Stomach Churns.”   No more sitting around Emma’s farmhouse table, no hospital talk with Bob and Kim, all the familiar faces will be gone, soon.

I don’t like all these changes.  I want things to stay the same, and they never do.

It’s kind of sad, even though I seldom watch it anymore.  The end of an era.  But they had a great run, I believe I read 76 years, starting on the radio and then going on to television.

I can remember watching it in black and white when I was a little girl.  I used to be a sucker for the soaps, but that was before the computer, I seldom watch anything anymore….  I guess even I am changing with the times.

This is pretty funny…