Amazingly, I'm Back!

The 4th of July weekend is upon us and it has cooled down from the triple digits to the nineties which seem much cooler in comparison.  We were even able to open all the windows last night, which I love to be able to do.  

I continue to work on my autumn cross stitch picture and here's where I was earlier today:

Isn't that just the cutest house?  As I mentioned in my last post, simple but with details that take it a step above primitive.  

And here are a couple pictures of the completed Christmas tree quilt top.  So glad to finally be done with it! I do like it very much in spite of the fussy nature of all the triangles.  

Of course it still needs to be quilted, but I can wait on that.  Now it's on to making Daniel some new boxers for his jammies.  They're all cut out and ready to go.  

Maybe I'll get going on them tomorrow. That sounds like a good 4th of July project!  Too hot to be outside much and my sewing room is air conditioned.  :-)  

And that's it from the resort today!  ♥

What Have I Been Up To?

Well, what have I been up to lately?  Usually January is knitting month, but not this year.  I pondered a new project, but then declined.  I've been back at my counted cross stitch.  Apparently cross stitching is having a big moment.  Maybe the virus?  At any rate, it's a big deal crafting wise, and there are all kinds of related things tied to it.  Flosstubes?  What in the world?  Turns out it's videos on YouTube featuring ladies who stitch, either professionally or just for fun, or both.  I've finally watched one or two.  Interesting, but I don't think I'm signing up for the full stitch deal.  

What's that you ask?  Well, pricey fabrics to stitch on.  Hand dyed flosses, some in silk.  Fancy ways to store your flosses for the project you are working on.  Oh, and project bags to store your in-progress works.  I kinda feel old school with my old tin box filled with envelopes marked on the front (some in my daughter's middle school handwriting) with the color number.  And I haven't spent $10 for a magnetic needleminder as running my needle through a corner of the (not pricey) fabrics works just fine.  As a matter of fact, I think I'm taking perverse pleasure in my old school ways.  

On the other hand, I have found some lovely ways to finish my work and that pleases me.  There are some very clever and talented people out there and I'm so happy they are sharing their talents.  I have been stitching the Prairie Schooler yearly Santas for years. I framed four of them years and years ago and now have eight, almost nine that are stitched but homeless.  They deserve to see the light of day for the two months of the year that my house is decorated for Christmas.  Ideas are forming!

This first one is now finished.

And this one below is now in process (note needle stored in upper left corner).

I love the colors used in them and I think of them more as St. Nicholas's rather than Santas, regardless of their titles.  (Rest assured, the one just above will have two arms when done!)

And other than the usual home chores, that's what I've been up to lately! ♥

When Technology Fails

Saturday night both Dan and I were on our computers, on the internet, when WHAM, we weren't.  We are at the end of the cable line, our source for our high-speed internet (our only source due to the location of our house), so it happens occasionally.  Usually we wait a while and it comes back.  So we waited.  And finally went to bed.  We checked again in the morning before we went to church, but alas, no internet.  And none when we returned.  We were also without land-line service for our phone.  Thank goodness for our new phones!

It's amazing how often a need arises to check on something.  What is so and so up to on their blog?  What are the words to that song?  And where can I find the wooden plaque that stitcher used to frame her cross stitch (just what I was looking up when the internet went down)?

We tried rebooting our modem numerous times and after a phone call with Eric, we finally were moved to call our carrier.  I will say that Spectrum, our provider, has always been very helpful, and once again they were.  I spent considerable time with a real person who was patient as he asked us to try several different things.  Finally realizing that it was indeed the modem and that it had died, he set us up with an appointment the very next morning (Monday). Couldn't ask for better than that!

The technician arrived shortly before ten, installed the new modem, and was done before ten-thirty.  We were back in business!!  

Meanwhile, I'm deep into taking down all the remaining Christmas decorations.  Yes, I know it's January 26th.  I read a recent comment by a Norwegian lady who said her mother always kept her things up for twenty days after Christmas, and that her mother-in-law kept hers up until Candlemas (had to look that up), so I guess it's the Norwegian in me that keeps things up to long.  I've been vindicated!!

Phones

Waaay back in the last century, when I was young, as in a child, homes had one centrally located black phone, usually in the kitchen, which was attached to the wall.  I did know a family or two who had a desk phone, also located near, if not in, the kitchen.  The handset was attached to the base by a cord, so the user was limited to a few square feet around the phone when using it. Pulling up a kitchen chair or stool while conversing was helpful in long conversations.  And long distance? Only for special occasions or emergencies.  

I remember our first cordless phone, probably fifteen or so years into our marriage.  Oh the convenience!  I could wander, sit on the sofa, stir the soup.  Amazing!!  And then we got an answering machine! (This was before all the pesky robo-calls and what we call "spam" calls. . .) 

And now?  Most everyone is getting rid of those "land lines" and going to cell phones.  Talk about portable!  Anywhere we go, not just at home. Voice mail, texting, and even the internet at our fingertips! Even calls across the globe! Things the little girl at 5491 could never have imagined.  

Which brings me to this Christmas.  Dan and I both got new phones.  Apple iPhones.  We've been Android for years, thanks to Keaton and Eric gifting us with their phones when they upgraded some years ago.  They were getting old, though, and some apps were super slow in loading.  Eric kept saying we needed new phones but Dan and I waffled, not wanting to have to make decisions on what to buy.  So, Ann and Eric took matters into their own hands and moved us into a new age. Thankfully they both have iPhones now and were able to set us up, even to transferring all our info from old phones to new.  

So, I am the proud owner of a beautiful new white iPhone.  Knowing us well, they picked a simple model and we're adjusting pretty quickly.  When I can't figure something out, I've learned to say, "Hey Siri, how do I . . . " and she leads me to the answer.  Amazing!!

Here is my new toy. 

I ordered a clear case with shiny red edges so I could see that pretty white back which I love.  ♥

And the Tree Comes Down

Yes, I mean the Christmas tree.  We don't usually put up the tree until a week or less before Christmas although all the rest of the house is decorated.  I love the lights in the dark days of the end of December and the beginning of January when we need cheering after the hubbub of the holidays. 

So, today was the day.  I said goodbye to the tree last night and thanked it for being such a lovely one. Longtime readers will know that I always do that.  And it was a beautiful tree although its shape was quite a different one.  Not so tall and quite wide, although it is taller than it looks.  

It was perfect for hanging lots of ornaments, but not for garlands.  It would have looked like a balloon with ruffles.  It was a very sturdy tree and took even heavy ornaments well.  We had our usual mishmash of elegant and goofy.  Treasured and just fun.  Some go back to Dan's and my childhood and then our first years of marriage and ones the kids made when very small, like a red walnut with just a few lingering pieces of glitter. See, treasures!  

It's been the perfect day to take it down--blue sky and sunshine.  We opened the slider and as Dan cut off the branches, I carried them across the deck and tossed them over the side.  We vacuumed up the fallen needles and now he's watching the Packers play football and I'm about to take a little nap.  ♥

As December Ends

Well, I don't think anyone will be sorry to see this year end.  It's been a strange one for certain.  But then I have to remind myself that almost every generation has strange years.  Black plague? World wars? And on and on.  So, we count our blessings, keep moving forward and remind ourselves of what's truly important. And I'm sure it's not "stuff", but people that count.

We've been inundated with snow today.  Lots and lots of snow, and wind, so it's hard to tell just how much snow has actually fallen.  Dan plowed this early evening and now we've settled in for the night beside the fire. We are supposed to get more snow overnight so we'll see what the morning brings.  I made a big ham and split pea soup for supper in the Instant Pot, just the thing for a wintery day and there's lots left over for the next few days.  

When I was downstairs earlier I realized I didn't take any pictures of the family room to share so here's one:

That's the sewing machine I learned to sew on.  I haven't tried it since bringing it up when we cleared out Mom and Dad's house, but one of these days I will.  I probably need to take it out of the cabinet and have it gone through first, though. 

Happy New Year to one and all!! ♥

Merry Christmas!!

We've had a lovely day! After stockings (after eight a.m. for all but Daniel), we had a leisurely present opening as we ate our breakfast casserole, sipped coffee and visited.  Such fun! 

The rest of the day was spent snacking and playing with our new toys and napping.  We watched Home Alone I tonight at Daniel's request as he'd only seen it once before, two Christmases ago.  Some mentioned they weren't going to watch it again, but were later found to be in the audience.  :-)

And now it's almost ten-thirty.  Daniel is sound asleep; Eric, Cam and Keat are playing a game Cam got, and Ann and Dan are reading.  Perfect!

Merry Christmas to one and all!  

Success!

We did it!! Our Buche de Noel is a success!  

The recipe called for rosemary leaves but we have the real thing thanks to Papa Dan and his trees! Even a pine cone! Ann and I are so excited and proud of ourselves because last night we almost decided not to try it.  We're so glad we did.  

The table is set and the tree is waiting.  

Have a blessed Christmas! ♥

Buche de Noel

Ann and I decided to try to make a Buche de Noel for our Christmas Eve dinner.  We found a recipe from the Pioneer Woman and tonight we began. We read and reread the recipe. Then we pulled out bowls (many), mixers (two), and measuring cups and spoons.  Oh, and a fine mesh strainer to sift with.  There are many parts to making a Buche de Noel.

Ann separated the eggs and worked with the yolks while I did the whites.

Then we sifted, mixed and poured.

And finally baked!  

And part of the resulting mess--just keeping it real!

We forgot to take any more pictures as we rolled and filled.  We were too busy trying not to make any mistakes!  Tomorrow we'll make the frosting and cut and assemble. Hopefully we'll have more pictures to share then! ♥

We're Almost There!

Tomorrow is the official start of our Christmas celebrations.  Our intown gang will arrive in time for dinner (Papa Murphy's pizza) and we'll all settle in.  The presents are wrapped but are downstairs because while the tree is in, somehow it hasn't been decorated yet! I have a little more baking to do (the carolers came Saturday night and I passed out the Puddin' Head Gingerbread so we're down to just a few, which will never do).  

Ann and I are going to attempt to make a Buche de Noel or Yule Log tomorrow night for our Christmas Eve dinner.  Here's hoping! 

Here are a couple more pictures of Christmas decorations.  First up is the downstairs guest bath, just a little holiday fun in the corner of the counter.

The little "candle light" flickers and is so cute! A gift from a family back in my teaching days.

And here is a corner of my laundry room.  A lovely green chest of drawers purchased before Matt was born and painted and antiqued by me (anybody remember those antiquing days?).  

I made the gingerbread boy on the wall probably forty years ago and he's still so cute.  The little wooden doll in the corner was painted and dressed by me, but the doll itself was made by my friend Cyndie's husband, John.  The round box held Starbucks goodies, again from a family back in my teaching days.  The goodies are long gone, but the box was too cute to throw away.  It makes a perfect decoration.

And last, here's the dresser in the downstairs guest room, just waiting for its occupants' arrival tomorrow.

I love that old rocker in the corner.  It was a wedding present to Dan's grandparents back in 1911.  I think the original seat cover was leather, but we had it redone when it came to us in 1985. ♥ 

Cookies

It was the Christmas of l963 that Mom and I baked and baked and baked. Some out-of-town friends of Mom and Dad's dropped by one day and the wife brought a plate of Christmas treats. Hmmm, perhaps we could make some of our own was a thought that came to my mind.  Meanwhile, Mom picked up the latest issues of Woman's Day and Family Circle, inexpensive but good magazines available at the grocery store.  The Woman's Day always had a tear-out section of recipes and this month's was, of course, Christmas cookies.  Right into the palms of my hands! I was a freshman in high school and old enough to handle recipes on my own.

As far back as I could remember there had been a Dormeyer stand mixer just like the one pictured below in the cupboard over the stove.  

I don't remember it ever being used.  When I asked Mom about it she said it didn't work.  Then why did we have it? No answer.  However, we were about to embark on some heavy duty baking, so Mom borrowed a hand mixer from our neighbor, Goldie, and we went to work.  (Dad gave Mom a hand mixer for Christmas that year so we didn't have to borrow ever again.)

Mom and I continued this tradition for the next few years.  I don't remember if I baked when I came home from college on Christmas break, but I know Mom pretty much gave it up.  She did, however, turn into a manic fudge maker.  As I've mentioned, she was never much of a baker, and she loved chocolate, so fudge was a natural for her.  Pans and pans of it, which she shared with the neighbors.  

I made some white candy-coated pretzels last night and today I made another batch of cookies--frosted soft vanilla sugar cookies. The recipe comes from the Six Sisters and can be found here. I discovered the recipe last year and loved the ease of it.  Dan loves frosted sugar cookies but I confess to being too lazy to make them if I have to roll and cut. 

A cookie decorator I'm not, but the Christmas sprinkles make them look festive. They're yummy, trust me.  ♥

Christmas Thoughts, or More Pondering

Just got back from Sunday night Bible study with Pastor and realized my fingers smelled like smoked steelhead.  "Huh?" you say?  Yes, one of the men loves to fish and he brought a plate of very delicious smoked fish. The funny thing is, he doesn't like fish, but he loves to fish. And so he shares, and we all got an early Christmas gift.  

In all my talking about decorating and baking, I don't mean to leave out the reason our family celebrates Christmas.  It's because it's the time people in the early church chose to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Yes, it's tied into old pagan celebrations, but that's not what we emphasize. No one knows for certain when Jesus was born, but born he was, so we celebrate the most important birth in the history of the world.  And we do it with joy. 

It's not just about the gift giving and the cookies and the decorations, though they add to the joy. It's about loving those around us as God chose to love us.  

I have a cousin in Norway, Kristen, who is a children's pastor at her local church.  Sometimes we think Christmas is an American holiday, but of course it's not; it's for believers everywhere. She put up pictures today of taking her little daughter, Mathea, to the woods to talk, lay in the snow and look up at the trees.

Here's one of her photos. Isn't it beautiful? 

Look up! For the Lord draws nigh!  ♥

Quick Check-in

Just a note to say the Elf did some shopping and is wrapping Christmas presents and therefore unavailable for brilliant (or not so brilliant) writing.  Hope all is well as we begin the final countdown.  Relax and enjoy!  

♥

Just a Week Until Christmas!

A week from today we will have opened all the presents and by now will be laying around, sated from leftovers and cookies.  Some will be napping, others playing with new toys (and no matter the age, some presents will definitely be "toys"), and others still trying to get the puzzle completed. 

I feel like I have most things done and am pondering any last minute fun things to make or give.   So far no brilliant ideas have emerged.  I have yet to wander any stores, so I might do that.  We'll see. I am out of coffee creamer so that will necessitate a trip to Safeway in a short while or, as I told Dan, tomorrow morning will not be pretty. Sometimes they have interesting things stuck in out of the way places that are gifty.  

I pondered whether to put the recipe for the Puddin' Head gingerbread on here, but a request for it lets me know some are interested.  I got the recipe from a student's mom the spring of 1985 when I took over a classroom in Clarkston for half a year. The student brought me cookies now and then. I really liked this one so her mom was happy to share.  It's called Puddin' Head gingerbread because (gasp) it uses a box of Jello brand cooked butterscotch pudding mix.  Yes, a mix is part of the recipe.  Gives great flavor, more of a spice cookie rather than a true deep gingerbread.  

Puddin' Head Gingerbread

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c brown sugar
1 (3 1/2 oz) regular (not instant) butterscotch pudding mix
1 egg
1 2/3 c flour
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cream butter, brown sugar, and pudding mix.  Add egg; beat well.  Add dry ingredients and chill 10-15 minutes.  Roll out on floured surface to 1/4" thick; cut. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes. If using large cutters, increase time to 10 minutes.  

I usually double the recipe because they are one of my son-in-law Eric's favorite cookies.  Oh, who am I kidding? We all love them! I don't even decorate them, they are good as is.  ♥

Busy Day!

Apparently I recovered my mind after a night's sleep and I've amazed myself at what I've gotten done today.  I cleaned the inside of the frig, removing everything from the door bins and washing them out followed by the shelves and drawers.  It looks so tidy in there now. Orderly even.  At least for a day or so! 

Next up was deep cleaning the main bath upstairs, scouring the sink and the toidy so they sparkle.  So that leads me to my next set of decorating photos.  Christmas, even in the bathrooms.

The little lamp stays on twenty-four hours a day and gives a warm glow to a bath that has no outside window. The door to the bathroom is just to the right of this photo. Below is a view of the other side of the sink area, taken from the doorway. 

Next up is a closeup of the quilted wall hanging I made using my embroidery machine.  I'm still amazed I can do such large designs!

And last, this cute little snowman soap dispenser. Can't remember where I found him, but I love him!

And last, but not least, I made more cookies! A double batch of Puddin' Head gingerbread cutouts.  

I've been making these for thirty-six Christmases! Tradition!!  ♥

No News Wednesday

I'm here in body, if not in mind.  We went grocery shopping this evening to avoid the crowds and now there's not a drop of energy left in my body. Some days I truly feel my age! Anyway, I think we have everything we need for Christmas meals and that's a good feeling.

I'll just put this little picture up and wish you all happy and joyous days as we lead into Christmas Day.  

♥

Laundry, Cookies, and A Little Sewing

Today was a busy day with household chores mixed with Christmas baking and a little mask making.  I began with washing our sheets, the first load of the day, and then finally remembering to make myself a Christmas mask.  The fabric is a classic Mary Engelbreit design.

I continued with laundry and did a little ironing and then turned to cookie making.  This time I went with the little cookie stamps and made  a traditional shortbread recipe and a brown sugar one.  These have been tradition for thirty years or more.  They smell so good! (So far I've resisted eating one . . .)

Dinner was easy--toasted cheese and tomato basil soup.  And now I'm falling in a heap.  ♥

Christmas Baking Starts!

I did it!  I got two kinds of cookies made today. One was kind of a cheater cookie in that it was just a layer and bake--the Magic Bar Cookie made with sweetened condensed milk.  Haven't made those in years and since I had four cans of the milk, decided to "give them a whirl."  Still yummy!

I also made gingerbread cookies.  Several years ago Ann gave me a box of cookie stamps as part of my Christmas.  I've used cookie stamps before, but just small ones on shortbread type dough. These stamps are big!

And they make big cookies.  Very yummy big cookies.  I use the recipe on the box and the first time I made them I was a little leery as they call for a tablespoon of ginger, but they are really, really good cookies.  Guys especially like them! Last year when the men from our church came caroling, I passed out cookies before they drove away in the van.  From the back I heard, "Now THIS a gingerbread cookie!" followed by several assents.  In the photo below you can see some ready for the oven, some baked ones behind, and the stamps to the side.

When I was making the bar cookies I got out my stash of baking chips and realized I might have a problem.  A problem with buying baking chips. Apparently I have no shortage!

I didn't count the bags, but I'm guessing around two dozen.  ♥

Sunday Evening

Well, I just remembered that I'd better pop on and at least say I'm here! It's been a lovely, relaxing day with snow falling throughout.  They said we'd maybe get half an inch, but at least three are down, and since it's still snowing, maybe more by morning.  Dan plowed this afternoon and I napped.  Sounds like a good balance of effort, doesn't it?  :-)

We stopped at Subway to grab a couple of subs for lunch after church. I've found a new one I really like--teriyaki sweet onion.  I get a foot-long and save the other half for lunch the next day. Rats, now that I'm thinking about it, I want to go and eat it now.  Must.Be.Strong. Must.Be.Strong.

Tomorrow I need to get serious about beginning my Christmas baking. Think I'll start with a couple of cookie recipes, one that needs refrigerating, and one I can bake right away.  Now that I've written that, I'll have to be accountable.  

Here's a closeup of the top of the china hutch featuring a little counted cross stitch scene, also designed by The Prairie Schooler. 

Stay warm out there!  Winter seems to have arrived in all its icy beauty. ♥ 

Ponderings

First let me say that my oven is clean again!  I did it last night in case the baking bug bit again today (it didn't).  It's shiny and beautiful once more. Which makes me ponder why, in the twenty-one years I've owned this stove, I've only used the self-clean three times and two of those were in the past month.  And don't kid yourself that it was shiny clean all those years!  

Ponder Two: Kathy and Hallie both commented on my last post about family recipes and asked if we had any.  None. I think I've mentioned this before, but my mom's dad came from Norway in 1906 when he was twenty years old.  I don't think recipes were something he would have brought with him.  (Smile)  He married Grandma in 1920 when he was thirty-four and she was twenty. Very common for male immigrants as they worked to establish themselves before beginning a family. Grandma was half Russian (mother) and half German (father).  So why were there no recipes in mom's collection from Great-Grandma or Grandma? I think they were both instinctive cooks and didn't bother with recipes.

Ponder Three: Christmas traditions.  I grew up with very few.  The Christmas tree was about the only Christmas decoration we had with the exception of displaying Christmas cards as they came in.  (Back in the fifties and sixties, everyone pretty much sent cards, even people right in town that you were likely to see on your way to get the mail.)  I'm sure the fact that both my parents grew up during the depression had a lot to do with the lack of Christmas traditions in their young lives, and carried over into my young life. 

But we all know Christmas traditions are alive and well at my house.  So where did it all come from? I'll tell you.  From my long-time pal Kathy's house. Buddies since kindergarten, I was often in her house during all seasons, but at Christmastime, her house was positively magical.  A huge tree, covered with amazing handcrafted ornaments. Christmas cookies and candies.  The list goes on. I loved every glimpse of it and when I got my own home, began to do the same. 

Enough of the pondering. No photos today because how do you take a picture of pondering? A furrowed brow?  A quizzical pucker?  Nah! ♥