Christmas in Dixie

This was the first white Christmas in Mayberry in over 100 years, so they say.   Dick and I made it safely over to Haley’s house for her annual Christmas morning brunch for the family, but it was slow going getting back home in the already accumulated snow.

Maytag Man turned plow man and spent the whole afternoon pushing snow off our driveway, the local road, a neighboring road…pulling folks out of ditches…and generally staying cold and wet!  Diane was up visiting sister Susie, now a neighbor, and they rewarded Dick (and lucky me) with a very nice dinner as thank you for clearing their road.  And maybe mainly for getting John and Mark safely up to the house???  Whatever, it was fun seeing them.  Diane and I met as roommates in Bethesda Memorial Hospital in FL when we birthed our first borns, um, just a few years ago.  Do we have a little history together?  You bet!

Brian’s truck had gotten stuck at the very top of that photo, and Jason had to pull him up several feet to get on level ground…while Dick was away clearing the main roads.  Everybody cooperates during times of bad weather.  And they TRY to stay home…and keep warm.  And hope/pray the power stays on!  Snow laden tree limbs are beautiful to the eye, but not so welcome when they break and fall onto power lines.

How did you spend Christmas Day?  Stay warm, y’all!

Merry Christmas to you!

From our home to yours!

Update:  The snow just began falling at 8ish AM.  We finally are getting a White Christmas here in Mayberry!!!

Dick and I love Switzerland, so at his request, we would like to share a little bit of  'real' snow, and that country with you.

This photo was taken atop the Schilthorn a few years ago.  This area is in the Bernese Alps, high above the small village of Murren.  You take a series of cable cars to reach the summit from the valley floor below, where you’ll find the Piz Gloria Restaurant.  A James Bond movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, was set here.  The restaurant revolves a full 360 degrees every 55 minutes.  And the food is pretty good...the views are outstanding!

For your continued viewing and listening pleasure, click here.  Most of the pictures are from the valleys above Interlaken, Switzerland.  For those of you who have been to Switzerland, you will recognize many of these places.  But more importantly, for all of you who love great music, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli are always worth listening to and enjoying.  You won’t be disappointed!  Go click up there…

We wish you a blessed Christmas, and a very happy and healthy New Year!

"O Holy Night"

These ladies are awesome--Celtic Woman (don't ask me why it is singular--woman--instead of plural--womEn--when there are clearly several women on the stage).  However you spell it or say it, they are fabulous singers and musicians.  Period.

So, today is finish everything and food prep for after church.  Here is the recipe for Tortellini Soup, and it is simply delicious and will be ready for when we get home:

1 lb Italian sausage (with the casings taken off)
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 tsp oregano
½ tsp basil
1 Tbsp dried parsley
½ cup water
½ cup red wine
5 cups of beef broth
2 cups chopped, peeled tomato (I don't peel them)
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 ½ cup sliced zucchini
1 med green pepper, chopped (optional)
8 oz. tortellini

In a large kettle, brown meat, onion, garlic. Drain. Combine rest of ingredients. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Top with Parmesan cheese when serving.

Serve along with hot bread, and a wonderful dessert. Tortellini Soup is a much requested favorite. This is a large volume recipe.

Remember that JESUS is the reason for the season.  Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve eve

Yes, it is already the day before Christmas Eve, and I’m still making a few things that will be under the tree tomorrow night.   I need to remember to take photos of a couple of items before they are wrapped up.  I’m already too late on one thing already.  Dang.  Unless I unwrap/rewrap…Naw.

And I need to go to the market today for soup makings.  Yes I do.  I’ll post the recipe tomorrow if I can keep my brain straight.

Check out Haley and Faith in matching sweaters here on my birthday !

 

Doodlebug was into trucks, not fashion…and sticking close to mom.

 

 

 

Faith and lil Haley have been over making fiber-art scarves, and rightly discovered I needed some vertical storage for all my stuff!  Brian was a great assistant  Thanks bunches.  Y’all come on back and help me sort and fill up those drawers!!!

All in all, it was a great birthday season.  It was fun being the Birthday Queen.  The greatest gift of all was family and friends…and an abundance of love and hugs all around!  And presents.  I got presents!

Life is good, y’all!!!

Christmas traditions

Family traditions.  We all have them, to one degree or another.

When our three were little, December 21 marked not only my birthday, but the day that they could begin opening ONE present under the tree daily until Christmas Eve.  They would spend serious time weighing thoughts on just which present to open.  They would appreciate this one gift, without all the frenzy that happens when multiple gifts are opened.

Moving on to Christmas Eve, we would all attend the family church service, then go home and open up all the rest of the presents under the tree, giving Santa a clear area for the next morning.  Each child picked out the spot where Santa should leave his/her loot (everything arrived unwrapped…Santa doesn’t believe in wasting wrapping paper!).  Location is everything…no dispute over ownership when your property is staked out.  No sirree.

Fast forward to our now empty nest.   We still attend the family church service on Christmas Eve (it is the children’s pageant, and the older ‘grands’ are in it—priceless).  A crockpot of soup (more on that on another post) awaits the church goers  when the whole family gathers here to eat and open up all the gifts.  That leaves the kids free to visit their other families the next day.  Just peachy.

So…please share some of your family Christmas traditions.  I love reading about them.  Seriously.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, y’all!  I’ll be beading…again.

Party people

Jennie sent me a few photos of the cast of characters:

Dick and the Birthday Queen

Jim and Janet, our chauffeurs

Helen, and hostess-with-the-mostest JOAN

Dinah, moi, Haley

hugs from Amy

and Joy…

And a good time was had by all!  This “birthday season” is awesome.  I’m celebrating good times…and am very blessed.

Monday, Monday...

...can't trust that day.  Mamas & the Papas...remember them?

Apparently I can't trust my hubby, children and friends either!  They got me good with a surprise party last night.  I was totally clueless.  Totally.  Until we pulled up at Dan and Joan's house to supposedly drop off Dan's vest that was left here at our house last Thursday night.  This little scheme had been in the works for a LONG time, people...and they all managed not to spill the beans.  But the abundance of recognizable vehicles in the driveway finally busted them. 

Note to Joan--just wait for the other shoe to drop, girl friend.  Joy and Jennie:  you two are sneaky!  As are my family.

Dick made clam dip to take to Joan as a gift, and was dropping it off, along with the vest.  I fell for that.  Joan and Dan couldn't go to dinner with us and Jim and Janet because they were finishing up leftovers last night, but they said to stop by for a drink first and leave Dan's vest.  I fell for that.  It was all in good fun...and a fun evening it was.

Chef Joan prepared a dinner fit for a king.  Or queen, in this particular case.  Dinah remarked during our fabulous dinner that she has eaten in lots of good restaurants, but that meal last night rated right up there with any five-star restaurant.  And for dessert, Amy made a carrot cake, and Haley made triple chocolate cake.  Jason and I were the winners in our birthday season!

The food...the decorations...the camaraderie...the laughter...WOW.  Everything was great.  But most important of all to me is your love. 

Thank you, guys and gals.  I love y'all.  Now send me some photos to post or your names are MUD!

Life is definitely GOOD.