Christmas Begins.....

This weekend we had our Christmas with Scott and Nancy and the grandkids. These are little snowmen salt and pepper shakers Nancy gave me. Too cute!


Olivia made these wonderful lavender dryer bags totally by herself! Now I am the only one who can't sew worth a stitch in this family!

Nancy spent hours and hours embroidering this Christmas! Here is just a small part of the elaborate art work on a pillow case for Darrell. Notice the missing thumb!

These are a set of 6 Christmas napkins she created for me. Retro and so pretty!

Close-up of one of the napkins

Micaela found these treasures for us at a second hand store!

Inside the mugs sit quaint lighthouses! You'd have to remember the Old MacDonald farm cups I have with farm animals in them to fully appreciate this gift! I have made hot cocoa in those mugs for the grandkids over the years.

It is always so good to have the family visit! Missing from this year's gathering were Scott A and Bethany L, as they are spending some time on the other side of the mountains with her family for the holidays.

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

I am beginning to dream of Christmas in Hawaii or Mexico. Anybody else seeking some warmth? It was 9 degrees here this morning, and we are officially stuck at home. Can't get up the switchback at all now. Had to call in for work tomorrow. Too bad! ;-) And another storm coming in tonight.....

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter,

Long ago.

~ Christmas Carol

Cold Night's Warmth

Potato-Bean Soup

5 slices bacon, browned and crumbled

1 onion, chopped and sauteed in 2 Tbs butter

4 cups chicken broth

4-6 potatoes, peeled and diced

1-2 cups green beans

Cook until potatoes are tender

Season with salt, pepper, parsley and oregano


Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
~Lewis Carroll

Santa Wants.....

Y O U ! ! !

We still miss 'im !

Winter Beauty Part II

More winter photos from our neighborhood:

Olympics

Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories.

Winter Beauty Part I

Winter around our place:

O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Sneak Peek

If you would have taken a peek into my kitchen this weekend, this is what you would have spied: Merry little folks starting the Christmas baking.

Of course there were the traditional cut-out cookies. Butter and sugar. And lemon extract. Yum!

We paint them with colored egg yolk before baking.

Add sprinkles or red hots or whatever we have on hand.

Scott and Bethany L working away.....

Ryan, too.

Darrell also made fudge.....

.....and almond roca bars. Very good!

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.