Category: Holidays

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were big days for me cooking. I started early each day and went until late at night. So today, when the meals were over, I just started to collapse.

Okay I will tell you a little about today, before I fall asleep. Mandy and Matt, and Janet and Dave came. Mandy is looking and feeling really good. I had a nice assortment of appetizers on the breakfast counter. Meatballs, cheeses, hot artichoke dip, and chips. Yummy!

We exchanged gifts and that was so much fun! Mandy and I had exchanged gifts a week ago, but we still had little gifts for each other like ornaments and I bought her a pair of silver heart earrings.

Janet and Dave got me several gifts that I really love. My favorite? The best, honestly? An apron! I know, you are all laughing. But I love aprons and I use them all the time.

I made a complete Thanksgiving Turkey, and we all talked about how our favorite meal is a Thanksgiving one!! It really was a good one!

Of course, Fritz really wanted to help.

Dessert was a special item called plum pudding! Thanks Mom for making it!!!

So now I want to get my pajamas on, and curl up and then get off to bed. I am one totally exhausted girl. I promise, once I can relax from the last few days, I write more in depth!

Christmas is a day for dogs, be they little,

or be they large.

Presents are wrapped just waiting for thee,

And the lights are all bright, on the Christmas tree!

So come back tomorrow and I will tell you all then,

about my three day Christmas holiday and the fun we had them!

I’ve been so busy this week and when I reached Friday, I tried to use up all the leftovers, so I could clear the fridge. What did I get? A lot of flack from Hubby. He detested the salmon chowder I made, and tonight I made pierogies with alfredo sauce and chicken and he wasn’t any happier.

Fail.

I did get the presents wrapped and the house organized, so tomorrow I can run the vacuum and dust, but cooking for  me, all around was just one big disaster!

But…I do clean up well. So I tossed the leftover, leftovers into the garbage disposal, put the dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on. Then I came into the family room, sat down and just let it all go.

The past is the past, and now I can look forward to the weekend, fondue, Prime Rib and a turkey dinner.

Tomorrow will be cooking day. Roasting chestnuts in the oven, and making my first pumpkin pie in 4 years!

And lastly, I need to wrap doggy presents. After all, Santa Claws has to make a pit stop here!

“Christmas is here, Christmas is here, bells are ringing, voices singing, happy are are we, sing joyously, and greet each other with thanksgiving!”

Friday Fill-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

Fill in the lyrics…with the correct ones or ones of your own 🙂 Have fun with this, don’t worry if you don’t know ’em…just make up something silly or do a silly one and a serious one! The most important part is to have fun with it. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, happy holidays to you, too!

Here we go!

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, do you hear what I hear.

2. The first Noel, the angel did say, was a certain poor shepherd with fields as they lay.

3. Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh.

4. It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heavens all gracious King!” The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. .

5. When I was small I believed in Santa Claus, though I knew it was my Dad. And I would hang up my stockings at Christmas. Open my presents and I’d be glad..

6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing Right within your heart
.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to clearing out the leftovers in my fridge for our dinner, tomorrow my plans include baking a pumpkin pie, and sharing a wonderful fondue with Hubby and Sunday, I want to make a prime rib for Hubby, as well as baked potatoes, brussel sprouts and then do some prep work for our family celebration on Monday!

The first thing that happened today took me completely by surprise. Our chimney flew needed repair and when the man stopped by to repair it (he had done work for us six years ago) he took one look at me and exclaimed, “Wow! You’ve lost a lot of weight.” That made me feel good and as if the last four and a half years has been totally worth it!

The next thing that occurred in my day was this. We had gone out to get new tires and last minute things for the holidays, and when we got home and put everything away, I went to my chair to sit down and there was Greta, sitting with a Christmas tree decoration she had taken off the tree! She had not chewed it or anything, she just wanted me to know, she was angry I had gone out and left her! lol!!!

Ho-Ho-Ho!

Saturday morning I wore to black ice and a light dusting of snow on my drive and the road below. Oh no! I was due to drive down to meet Mandy at the Mall about 45 miles south of here, and I have gained a new appreciation of black ice after my little skidding accident last year.

So I was just a little nervous about my drive, but so excited about seeing Mandy, and I knew the day would get better, so off I went.

I got about 6 miles from here and found a car that had skidded off the road. The tow trucks were pulling it out, so I did not stop. I simply kept going. On the highway, the breakdown lanes were really bad. Don’t stop on them, or you’d be sunk!

I arrived safe and sound, and there was Mandy! Oh yes, seeing my beautiful daughter makes me catch my breath. It’s just the best! Especially when we are shopping!

It was amazing, but one of our favorite places, “Coldwater Creek” was having a big sale. We bought things for each other for Christmas and for her birthday, and after that we shopped a few more places before stopping for lunch.

After lunch, we went to Target where I got kitchen throw carpets. I found some great ones!

Before I knew it, we had to say goodbye. I drove home, talking to my sister and Hubby on the phone. and then…there I was, being greeted by Fritz and the Dackels!

Home Sweet Home!

Here we are the seventeenth of December, and we have bright green grass in our back yard. It is, starting to get seasonably cold, but we have no real snow scheduled from now until Christmas, so it looks like a non-white Christmas this year.

I do miss it, and yet it makes getting around that much easier for me. And we do know that Santa Claus and his Reindeer can handle any sort of weather. Still, I’m a sucker for freshly falling snow.

I have three days of party’s that I am planning here. Christmas Eve will be Hubby and me, and a pot of yummy fondue. Christmas Day is also Hubby and me and the pups, and I’m doing Prime Rib! The day after Christmas, Mandy, Matt, Janet and Dave are coming and I’m cooking a big turkey and all the fixings!

I know it is a lot of cooking, but I LOVE it! Having my family all around me, just makes me so happy.

And then I day dream about my new grand baby and I think about next year. Oh what fun that will be!

No one tells you when you taste your first bite of Peppermint Bark that it is addicting. It really is, you know, and it’s a terrible thing. Today I watched as several women ran into the store I was in and immediately went to the Peppermint Bark and started loading up their carts. I could see their shaking hands and trembling lips.

You can only buy this at Christmas time.

The bottom is a thick layer of dark chocolate. The next layer is white chocolate, and then there is peppermint stick candy sprinkled all over the top. Oh yeah, this stuff is more addicting than anyone even knows!

I bought myself a small box, years ago, and as I got to the car and tore open the plastic wrapper! I sat there and broke off a small piece of the Peppermint Bark and shoved it into my mouth, the chocolate smeared on my lips and fingers! Heaven!

The joy! Oh the wild happiness I felt. A rush of sheer delight shot through my body. It’s that feeling that makes you want more!!!

I think the candy companies all know that this could really become a problem, which is why they only make it at Christmas.

If they made it year round, well, they would have to open clinics for Peppermint Bark Rehab!

As it is, New Years is really tough candy wise.

Of course I have not had even a piece of Peppermint Bark since I joined Weight Watchers. They tell you that if you find one food that you are simply helpless against, then do not go near it.

Needless to say, when I am in a store, and I spot the Peppermint Bark, I walk quickly the other way!