The Best Christmas Gift Ever

Things are winding down at our house,

My baking is done...praise God,

Although the noshing still remains...have mercy.

Presents are wrapped.

Children are gathering in,

my work holidays begin,

and I can feel that quiet peacefulness

that settles over me during this season.

I always find myself a little nostalgic

during the Christmas season.

And, I think about the last few Christmases past...

filled with remembrances of loss...and grief.

  a bit of it lingers this Christmas season...just a bit.

But, I am reminded, by that sweet soft nudging on my heart strings,

of what this season means...and what it brings.

For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only son,

 that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Yes, the best gift ever.

Wishing you a Christmas filled with the love of the Father, the miracle of Jesus...peace, comfort, and joy.



Being Festive is Killing Me

With all the parties at work...

and with family...

and with friends,

I'll be wearing pajama jeans by the new year.

Yes, with all the food and drink,

being festive is killing me.

I've made these little diddies for years.

I'll be making them again this week.

I. Must. Find. Someone. To. Give. These. To.

Salted Caramel Pecan Bars
 From Southern Living.

1 cup chopped pecans

12 whole graham crackers

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

2 Tbsp whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.

Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper; lightly grease foil. Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in prepared pan, slightly overlapping edges.

Combine sugar, butter, and cream in a medium-size heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans. Pour butter mixture over crackers, spreading to coat.

Bake at 350° for 10 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

Immediately sprinkle with salt, and slide foil/paper from pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely (about 30 minutes). With a knife, cut into bars.

But wait!  Want to know what makes these little yummies even yummier?

Why, add chocolate, of course!

Chocolate-Pecan-Caramel Bar Variation: Prepare recipe as directed until removal from oven. Once removed from oven, top warm bars with 1 cup dark chocolate morsels. Let stand 3 minutes, and spread chocolate over bars, then sprinkle with salt and proceed with recipe as directed. Chill 20 minutes before serving.

Yep...pajama jeans...I just know it.

Holiday Yummy

I love this time of the year.

People are jolly-er...at least most of us.

There is a sense of peace, joy, comfort in this season.

And, lets not forget the food...

Much to the chagrin of my waistline...and backside.

Lord, have mercy.

No wonder Santa's belly is so round.

I wonder if he and the elves have office parties,

Or workshop parties as it may be....

One of my friends and co-workers makes this yummy little treat for us at Christmas.

She brings it in still warm in the mornings.

Sausage & Cream Cheese Croissants

1 lb hot sausage

1 block of cream cheese (8 oz)

2 cans of small croissants or crescent rolls (I prefer the croissants)

Crumble and cook sausage, then drain.

Return sausage to the pan, add the cream cheese,

Stir through until cream cheese is melted and mixture is warm.

Unroll croissants or crescents.

Spoon sausage mixture onto wide area of the croissant.

Roll up the croissant as called for.

Bake as called for on the can of croissants.

Y'all this such a yummy, and easy recipe.

And easily doubled if you're feeding a crowd.

My sweet friend doubles the recipe for our office party, but adds only 1/2 again the amount of cream cheese.

1 1/2 blocks...

So good with a cup of java, or hot tea.

I have a gang of young adult children and nephews heading to my house for the Christmas holiday.  This little yummy will probably grace my breakfast table one or two mornings.

Wishing you a Christmas season filled with the love of the Father, the miracle Jesus, and the comfort of home and  hearth.

White Christmas

I'm pretty much a traditionalist, when it comes to Christmas decor. 

I like pine, cedar, magnolia, natural elements that are found in the north Georgia region where I live.

I enjoy cutting the cypress limbs, and magnolia boughs from the trees down the road,

and collecting pine cones from the deep woods where I live.

But, lately I've been eyeing these

from Google images

from Southern Living

from Google images

White Christmas trees...

This year I find myself longing for a white christmas tree.

White...I've always thought so "fake"...so "cheesy."

One cut above an aluminum silver tree.....

And, I have these....

Vintage Ornaments from my Grandmother and Mother.

Ornaments I remember as a child.

Last year I found a box full, in my dad's attic.

I took them home with me,

 and now they sit in a crystal bowl each year, as part of my Christmas decor.

I'm afraid to hang them from the tree, they're so fragile.

But, I love this idea....

And, I really love the thought of my vintage ornaments....

On a white Christmas tree.

I know I'll never replace my traditional green Christmas tree,

With all the ornaments I've collected through the years.

Ornaments inheirited, ornaments given by family members and friends,

Ornaments that are like seeing old friends each year as I gingerly unwrap them from their boxes.

But, I would like a White Christmas tree, filled with Granny's and Mama's vintage ornaments...

Maybe....in my bedroom.