Monday 23 December 2013

December Fun

 Here's December (so far) in picture mode...

Walking for my Mama in the Arthritis Jingle Bell Walk/Run, we are Oma's Angels.

Yahoo, we did it!  Unfortunately, without my angel friends from last year.  
Way too many surgeries going on!

DJ directed me to youtube to find out how to make these scarfs...  
Redskins vs Cowboys.  Oh, the things I do for my family/friends!

Spike, our elf, has kept us a little busy following him around.

Shopping in historic Ellicott City with DJ, this was our view from one of the windows in the antique shop.

Fun at St. Nick Night, making crafts.

Great sledding hill at the house for our first snow of the season.

Aww, our first ornament together, first one on the tree.

I finally made my Mom's German hazelnut cookies, I thought they turned out pretty good!

Nathan's "C" for Christmas, singing with the scouts at a nursing home.

Our annual visit to the National Christmas tree in DC.

The lake house tree up and ready for presents!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and for the first time in I don't know how many years, I finished wrapping everything last week and can relax and make Santa his favourite cookies when he comes to the house - iced sugar cookies!

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Day 11 of the Advent Calendar Blog Hop

 Oh boy, it's that time of year again, Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching is having her annual Advent Blog Hop and I'm Day 11!

Now I know I'm supposed to show you something I've stitched, but I wanted to honour my Mom and show you what she stitched before her rheumatoid arthritis ruined her beautiful hands.  My Dad has these hanging up in the house all year round, as well as the ones I have made them.
 



As for my festive food story, I've got nothing!  Well, maybe a hodgepodge of some small stuff... 
Growing up, we ALWAYS had turkey for Christmas dinner.  One year my brother was home from boarding school and wanted another turkey after we finished the first one.  I think we ended up having three or four total - can you say turkey overload?!  Since I've been married, every Christmas dinner is different.  DH gets to choose our main meal and we work the sides around it.  We've had steak, lasagna, Swedish meatballs, pork loin, just to name a few.  He'd better get thinking for this year, I've got to start planning.
As for the sweets, there's always iced sugar cookies for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve.  It's his favourite at our house!  My Mother used to make these awesome German hazelnut cookies, but it's been years since she's made them.  She gave me the recipe and this year I'm going to attempt to recreate them, wish me luck!
I normally bake bread as gifts - zucchini, lemon, and/or cranberry orange.  I've made banana bread in a jar before for teachers and I'm planning on making some this year.  On Boxing Day at my parents house, we always have Christmas Pudding with brandied whipped cream.  Or should I say my parents and I always have it, DH and the boys don't like it very much!  Oh well, more for us.

Thanks again, Jo, for organising this!  It's always fun to see everyone's stitching and maybe get some new ideas. 

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and an Amazing New Year!

Wednesday 4 December 2013

December TUSAL

 I have totally been slacking in my TUSAL reports this year, but here's December. 
 
Ok, here's a better picture - got a little goofy on the first one.

LOVE this pic!  I can't remember where I found it, but I think it could be a t-shirt and now I want one!