Merry Christmas 2011

Source: nathanielandlilly.blogspot.com via Ryan N Mandy on Pinterest

"But in this season it is
well to reassert that the hope of
mankind rests in faith.

*As man thinketh, so he is.*

Nothing much happens unless you
believe in it,
and believing in it there is hope
for the world is a way
to move toward it."
~Gladys Taber

Source: google.com via Julie on Pinterest

Recipe
for a
Happy Christmas

Fill a house with equal parts of
Love, Hope, & Peace
Add the Joy of Children &
the Strength of Older People
Season with the Music of
Laughter & some
Mistletoe Kisses
Warm before a Cracklin Fire
& serve with Tidings
of Comfort & Joy!

Source: Uploaded by user via Julie on Pinterest

May you all, each of you, have a wonderful Christmas filled with lots of peace, joy, love and blessings beyond measure.

Poetry Saturday . . . The Christmas Guest

Source: aquieterstorm.tumblr.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

When I was a child I loved to hear
This story my grandma told each year,
She told it in her native tongue,
And I was very, very young,
But yet this story seemed to be
Filled with wonderment for me.
For in my childish heart there grew
The dream that I might see Him, too,
For He might call on me this way
So I must watch for Him each day,
And that is why "The Christmas Guest"
Is still the story I love best . . .
And I retell it to you now,
For I can't help but feel somehow
That children everywhere should hear
The story Grandma told each year . . .
For Christmas Day is doubly blest
When Jesus is our Christmas guest . . .

Source: aquieterstorm.tumblr.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

The Story of the Christmas Guest

It happened one day at the year's white end . . . two neighbors called on an old time friend . . . and they found his ship so meager and mean . . . made bright with a thousand boughs of green . . . and Conrad was sitting with a face a-shine . . . when he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine . . . and said, "Old friends, at dawn today . . . when the cock was crowing the night away . . . the Lord appeared in a dream to me . . . and said, 'I am coming your Guest to be'. . . so I've been busy with feet astir . . . strewing my shop with branches of fir . . . the table is spread and the kettle shined . . . and over the rafters the holly twined . . . and now I will wait for my Lord to appear . . . and listen closely so I will hear . . . His step as He nears my humble place . . . and I open the door and look in His face."

Source: whimsydecor.blogspot.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

So his friends went home and left Conrad alone . . . for this was the happiest day he had known . . . for, long since, his family had passed away . . . and Conrad had spent a sad Christmas Day . . . but he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest . . . this Christmas would be the dearest and best . . . and he listend with only joy in his heart . . . and with every sound he would rise with a start . . . and look for the Lord to be standing there . . . in answer to his earnest prayer.

Source: whimsydecor.blogspot.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

So he ran to the window after hearing a sound . . . but all that he saw on the snow-covered ground . . . was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn . . . and all of his clothes were ragged and worn . . . So Conrad was touched and went to the door . . . and he said, "Your feet must be frozen and sore . . . and I have some shoes in my shop for you . . . and a coat that will keep you warmer, too" . . . So with grateful heart the man went away . . . but Conrad noticed the time of day . . . and he wondered what made the dear Lord so late . . . and how much longer he'd have to wait . . . when he heard a knock and ran to the door . . . but it was only a stranger once more . . . a bent, old woman with a shawl of black . . . a bundle of twigs piled on her back . . . she asked for only a place to rest . . . but her voice seemed to plead, "Don't send me away . . . let me rest for a while on Christmas Day" . . . So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup . . . and told her to sit at the table and sup.

Source: flickr.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

But after she left he was filled with dismay . . . for he saw that the hours were passing away . . . and the Lord had not come as He said He would . . . and Conrad felt sure he had misunderstoood . . . when out of the stillness he heard a cry . . . "Please help me and tell me where am I" . . . So again he opened his friendly door . . . and stood disappointed as twice before . . . it was only a child who had wandered away . . . and was lost from her family on Christmas Day . . . Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad . . . but he knew he would make this little child glad . . . so he called her in and wiped her tears . . . and quieted all her childish fears . . . then he led her back to her home once more . . . but as he entered his own darkened door . . . he knew that the Lord was not coming today . . . for the hours of Christmas had passed away.

Source: frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

So he went to his room and knelt down to pray . . . and he said, "Dear Lord, why did You delay? . . . What kept You from coming to call on me? . . . For I wanted so much Your face to see" . . . when soft in the silence a voice he heard . . . "Lift up your head for I kept My word . . . Three times My shadow crossed your floor . . . Three times I came to your lonely door . . . for I was the beggar with bruised cold feet . . . I was the woman you gave to eat . . . and I was the child on the homeless street."

~Helen Steiner Rice, Christmas Blessings

Source: flickr.com via Mary Beth on Pinterest

Nobody does Christmas Poetry better than Helen Steiner Rice. I have been saving this one up for you to show you on this day, Christmas Eve. I know it's long, but I think it is so beautiful and a wonderful reminder to each of us that the Saviour visits each of us daily in small and simple ways.



Another piece to show you today. Will this be my last piece of 2011??? I somehow think not, but we are getting close to the end of the year. I just love seeing how my work is changing and developing through the years. What do you think???

A final Christmas recipe for you that you just might be able to get done today. Sometime sweet to snack on this evening as you relax in front of your fire with your family . . . coz we all know that you have everything done, right??? It's all sorted and now all you have to do is to sit back and enjoy the day . . . well . . . maybe not, but one can dream can they not? We're actually going to take a bus into Chester City today and face the maddening crowds! Call us crazy!! Merry Christmas everyone!



*White Chocolate and Cherry Fudge*
Makes 3 dozen squares
Printable Recipe

A classic combination made with white chocolate and dried cherries. Topped with a garnish of maraschino cherries and mint they are both beautiful to behold and delicious to the taste!

2 1/2 cups icing sugar
3/4 cup of half and half
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into 4 equal pieces
12 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups dried cherries
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
18 maraschino cherries
2 bunches fresh mint

Line the bottom of an 8 inch square cake pan with parchment paper.

In a sauce pan combine the icing sugar and half and half over medium heat. Add the butter and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches the boil, stop stirring and allow to cook for 5 minutes. It will be thick.

Reduce the heat to low and stir in the white chocolate, whisking it in until smooth. Stir in the dried cherries and vanilla extract. Pour into the prepared pan and then place into the refrigerator to chill until firm, about 2 hours.

Invert the chilled fudge onto a cutting board. Peel off the paper. Cut the fudge into 1-inch squares. Cut the maraschino cherries in half. Remove sevently two mint leaves from the springs. (Use the smaller ones if you can.) Decorate each piece of fudge with a cherry half, cut side down, pressing gently into the fudge to help it to adhere and press two mint leaves at the top of the cherry to represent cherry leaves.

Note: You can store in an airtight container for up to 1 week, without the mint leaves, adding them just prior to serving if you wish.



In The English Kitchen today, some delicious Ginger Cutouts!

Christmas is the Warmth of Friendships, letter writing, card sending, news exciting, goodwill extending, neighbors gathering, friendly greetings, manger scenes . . . community meetings.
~VJR

Sometimes I think . . .

Source: myrevelment.com via Marie on Pinterest

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
~Psalm 32:10

During my life here on earth, there have been many times when I have been forced to take an honest look at how much I trust my Heavenly Father . . . or how large my faith is. This test manifests itself in my life via the challenges life throws at me.

Let's face it . . . we live in the visible world, which is tangible and all too real. Despite the fact that I believe and trust in the invisible world, ie. the Kingdom of God . . . this world I deal with every day is far more real and something that I must live in . . .

We are all faced with bills we have problems paying, or diagnosis we did not expect. We live in a world that is bombarded daily with messages about how to take care of our health, our families, our futures, our pasts . . . and it can sometimes be very difficult to remember that ultimately God is in control. Of course we must always use common sense and responsability when making decisions . . . but the final outcome in anything and everything rests in God's hands . . .

Source: goawaycomeback.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

A Doctor can make an educated guess, but it is our Heavenly Father who loves us so much that He has numbered the hairs on our heads . . . and He alone knows how long the race is that we must fight. A financial planner might be able to offer us very good advice, but at the end of the day only God knows what tomorrow brings.

Being able to trust in that sure knowledge in Him requires faith, pure and simple trust . . . the great news is that He has promised that if we do, He can lead and guide us through anything that life throws our way. I know this to be true.

Source: vi.sualize.us via Marie on Pinterest

I am off to the Doctors early this morning. Nothing out of the ordinary really, just to get the results of my last blood tests and see if the newest prescription they have given me is doing what it is supposed to do, and if so to have it refilled! I baked gingerbread men yesterday for the children of the ladies I visit teach and then yesterday when Todd was out watching the car our next door neighbour remarked to him how delicious a certain cake was that I had baked for him and his wife yonks ago, and how much they had enjoyed it . . . so I think I will bake another one for them today, just as a bit of Christmas Cheer. They are awfully good neighbours, which can be somewhat of a rarity in these modern times!

I just love Portugese Custard Tarts. I am not overly fond of the British Custard Tarts, although Todd loves them. They always seem a bit eggy to me . . . I guess my North American tastes go for things that are a lot sweeter. This is my favourite recipe for Portugese Custard Tarts. They're very easy to make. I don' t know why I don't make them more often??? Actually it's probably a good thing that I DON'T make them more often. I think they are far too, too tempting!



*Portuguese Custard Tarts*
Makes six
Printable Recipe


It only takes three letters to describe these delectable little creations W-O-W!! Try them for yourself and you’ll see what I’m talking about! Very quick and easy to make, and very impressive . . .

1 (9 1/4 X 10) inch sheet of puff pastry, thawed (about 9 ounces)
4 large egg yolks
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 TBS cornflour
the finely grated zest of 1 lemon
a pinch of salt



Preheat the oven to 260*C/500*F. Take the puff pasty and roll it into as tight a coil as you can, starting from the short side. Cut the coil into 1 1/2 inch wide strips. Put the pieces, cut sides down, into six muffin cups. Wet your fingers with a bit of cold water and press the pastry over the bottoms and up the sides to make a thin shell. It's ok if they extend a bit beyond the rim. Put into the freezer to chill while you make the custard.

Whisk the egg yolks, cream, sugar, cornflour, lemon zest and salt together in a medium saucepan. Place over medium high heat and cook, whisking constantly until the custard begins to thicken. This will take about 6 1/2 minutes. It will look quite thin until you have been wisking for about six minutes and then in the last 30 seconds will thicken just enough, like magic! It should be as thick as lemon curd. You don't need to boil it.

Remove your muffin tin from the freezer and divide the custard equally among the prepared tartlet shells. (If you are using a 12 cup muffin tin, fill the empty cups half full of water so they don't burn, trust me)

Bake until the tops are slightly browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Run a sharp knife around them and loosen them so that you can remove them from the pan and finish cooling them on a wire rack before devouring! (about 30 minutes . . . for the cooling, not the devouring . . . that shouldn't take all that long!)

What do do with the leftover egg whites???? Why Pavlova of course!



In The English Kitchen today, a delicious assortment of Christmas Lunch Side Dishes!

A wise Christian once urged, “Let us not spend Christmas … but let us keep Christmas in our hearts and in our lives.”
~President Thomas S Monson, Christmas Devotional 2011

Some Festive memories . . .

Source: msbinglesvintagechristmas.com via Marie on Pinterest

We've had a rather busy couple of days this week, with last minute preparations and all the normal goings on in life. Yesterday afternoon I took myself off up to my craft room and whiled away an hour or so looking at old Catalogues . . . Christmas Wish Books from the early sixties and late fifties. Oh my but they did bring back a lot of memories from way back when . . .

We could hardly wait for the Sear's and Eaton's Catalogues to arrive each autumn. We then had several months to pour over it and dream . . . just enough time to write out our Christmas List for Santa Claus. Not that we ever really got much off of our lists . . . we didn't . . . but I also can't remember ever being really disappointed about anything we did get. We were always pretty happy about our gifts no matter what they were!!

I know that my parents didn't have a lot of money and they did the best that they could with what they had and I have some very lovely memories of the gifts I did receive. When I was about five or six I wanted a Chatty Cathy doll with all of my little girl heart. They were very expensive . . . and I never did get one, but I got a Little Miss Eaton Doll, which came with her own little wardrobe, which contained about 4 changes of clothes, including night clothes. I loved her every bit as much as I would have loved a Chatty Cathy. I do remember tying a string around her neck and pretending she was Chatty Cathy, which was actually a lot better than a Chatty Cathy, because my Little Miss Eaton Doll had a lot more things to say than Chatty Cathy ever did! Imaginations are powerful things, and I had a good one!

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

One gift I remember very fondly was a baking set that I got one year. I had longed for an Easy Bake Oven . . . but come Christmas morning, the bake set brought me just as much joy. There were tiny cake tins and acoutrements, just the right size for little girl hands. I believe it was a Robin Hood bake set and there was a lovely assortment of cake mixes, icings and sprinkles, etc. I do remember even eating some of them raw, just with the water mixed in. (ever the glutton, what can I say????)

One year my mother saved up all of her grocery store stamps to buy us a little table and chair set. That table was everything under the sun to us! It was a fort and a hiding place, a space ship from Mars . . . sometimes it was even a table! I remember the legs and chairs being made of red metal and the table top was in a pretty print, again metal. Oh , it was lovely, or we thought it so at any rate!

Another favourite gift received was a blackboard, just like the teacher had at school, albeit a bit smaller! I don't know what that blackboard wasn't to us, and remember even using it as a slide on several occasions! Of course when we played school, I was always the teacher and I can remember a lot of lessons played out on that blackboard . . .

Source: freeprettythingsforyou.com via Marie on Pinterest

One year my sister and I received each a set of hard little rubber dolls, dressed up in costumes from around the world. Each doll looked identical . . . but each had on clothes that were unique from the other which were from a different country. Some of them even had hats. I can still remember the smell of vinyl and felt . . . and Christmas newness that they had.

Another year . . . we were a bit older then . . . my sister and I each received a fashion doll. It wasn't Barbie, but it was one of the first fashion dolls to have moveable/poseable limbs. The joints were very apparent on her, but it didn't matter. She was of hard plastic as well, not vinyl, but that was also ok. She had a blonde bubble hair do and came complete with her own bed and dressing table. The dressing table had a mirror that lifted up and drawers that opened, which contained everything a beauty queen needed to be beautiful. Little pretend plastic lipsticks and combs and brushes, and even little manicure scissors. There was a little tufted seat that went along with it . . . the seat popped off and you could store all the beauty stuff inside. My mother had also gotten a neighbour woman to crochet or knit us some really pretty dresses for the dolls. They were done with a glittery yarn and had little pearls worked into the bodices. They were so very special . . .

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

We never ever got Chatty Cathy's or Tammy dolls. There wasn't ever a Tressy, or Easy Bake Oven, or Light Brite, or bicycle beneath the tree . . . no Christmas Stockings hung up with care . . . compared to lots of other children what we did receive probably seemed pretty meagre . . . but we didn't seem to be all that bothered. What we did receive was wrapped up in more than paper and bows . . . it was wrapped up in love and we felt it. That was what really counted. We were a family, and we loved each other deeply. We may not have had what the world considered to be the best, but we had the best of all things that truly mattered . . . each other. It was a simpler time . . . a kinder time, and I am so grateful for all those beautiful memories built.

There is still nobody that can cook a turkey like my mom . . . or make stuffing like she did. My dad was the best putter on-er of Christmas tree lights ever. Our tree was always the prettiest. My brother and sister were the best childhood companions you could ever want to have . . . and the Christmas memories and family traditions that live on in my head are probably some of the sweetest and most blessed that anyone has ever had.

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

If you have gotten this far, I want to thankyou for indulging me this morning . . . y'all are the best. I would so love to read about some of your Christmas memories . . . special things that may have stood out from when you were growing up. I know each one's experience is unique and would love it if you shared . . . that could be your Christmas Gift to me? What do you say? Just leave a comment below. I can't wait to read what you write!

We finally found out yesterday what is wrong with Todd. Apparently he has diverticulitis. It's been documented in his health records and he's had it for some time???? And nobody thought to tell him???? Outrageous! In any case he is on anti-biotics and some other tablets for it now and I am making changes in our diets too. Diverticulitis can be quite serious and I am really quite miffed that it has gone this long without anyone telling him about it.

Speaking of illness . . . this is the season of sniffles and colds and this ginger syrup I have here today is one of the best cure-alls for when you are feeling a bit stuffed up and ill. Well, we like it, and it helps to make us feel better!!



*Ginger Syrup*
Makes about 1 1/2 cups
Printable Recipe

Ginger Syrup is easy to make and versatile in use. You can mix it into club soda or seltzer and serve it cold as Gingerale, or serve it hot as tea. Makes a wonderful drink when you have the sniffles or can feel them coming on.

1 cup of white sugar
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of peeled fresh gingerroot, thinly sliced
2 TBS lemon juice

First make a simple syrup by mixing the sugar and the water in a sauce pan. Bring it to a boil. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Add the fresh ginger. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, then add 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice. Strain into a container and refrigerate until ready to use.

*Note - you can use the ginger left in the pan to make a gingercake if you wish. Just blitz it in a food processor until it is finely chopped and stir it into your favourite gingercake batter.



Over in The English Kitchen today, a delicious Banana Loaf, even if it did get slightly cremated. (Don't ask . . . )


“Christmas is such a wonderful time. No doubt it is all Christendom’s favorite season. Child and adult alike look forward to this time, a time when our best self shines through. What makes it so special? Certainly it is our love for family and friends. But at the heart of it all is remembering the birth of the Savior.”
~President James E Faust, Christmas address, 1998

A most unusual story of love . . .

Source: threeoclockbears.typepad.com via Marie on Pinterest

Once upon a time, what seems now . . . like long, long ago . . . my sister and I used to make Teddy Bears, and from time to time get together at Craft Sales and sell them at a booth we would share. Happy times . . . Our bears ranged in size from a tiny 3 inch bear right on up to a bear that was large enough to wear size 3 children's clothing, each one being a real labour of love on our parts. The best part though . . . was in the doing of it together.

I recently read about a woman named Frannie Pew Hayes. She had a rather large family, which included an abundance of grandchildren and so one year the family came to the decision that it was just not practical anymore to buy Christmas Gifts for everyone and so they would draw names . . . each person then only having one present to buy and exchange.

Her grandson, David, who was only five at the time drew her name and inquired of her what she would like to receive. She chose elastic bands and paper clips. He didn't like that idea, wanting her to pick out something nicer and so, realizing that it was the Chinese Year of the Bear, she finally requested a Teddy Bear.

Source: threeoclockbears.typepad.com via Marie on Pinterest

That very first bear she received from her young grandson delighted her so completely that a Teddy Bear Collection soon began and multiplied . . . with Teddy Bears acquired as gifts from family and friends . . . and collected from her own travels.

Soon there were bears of all shapes and sizes and requests from people of all ages to come and see them began to pour in. This the idea for a Teddy Bear Museum was born.

The Teddy Bear Museum in Naples Florida opened in 1990 with a collection that had expanded to around 5,500 individual bears until the museum closed in 2005, a year after the death of Mrs Hayes.

When I read this story my heart was warmed . . . indeed big oaks from tiny acorns do grow! What began as the tiny gift of a M&M's bear from a young grandson to his much beloved grandmother because something that brought joy and pleasure to so many visitors worldwide. It's a shame that it had to close . . .

Source: threeoclockbears.typepad.com via Marie on Pinterest

I have always loved teddy bears myself. I had a lovely one that I carried with me throughout my life from my infancy . . . but which sadly disappeared during one of my many military moves in my last marriage. I now have three . . . a bear that the young daughter of a friend gave to Todd a few years back, one that I bought for one of my grandchildren, but which ended up too big to post and so I kept it (Winnie the Pooh in a cute sweater) and a lovely little smooshie pink one that my dear friend Lura gave me, each one special and unique in it's own special way. Kinda like us I guess! Unique, special and very much beloved!


These lovely squares have always been our Amanda's favourite treat. She may watch her weight really closely but the girl does have a bit of a sweet tooth. She comes by that honestly as her father has the biggest sweet tooth in the world. It is a Ramsay trait as my ex MIL also has a big sweet tooth. I remember going to a Brunch Buffet with her once and she had no less than 6 desserts. In fact that's all she had . . . dessert!



*Butterscotch Mallow Bars*
Makes about 36
Printable Recipe

These are so easy to do and quick to throw together as well. They are quite sweet, but a real favourite of children. They look really pretty on the Christmas cookie tray though!

1 (12 ounce) package of butterscotch chips (or an equal amount of milk chocolate, good quality, cut into bits. I recommend Green and Blacks)
¼ cup butter
1 cup smooth peanut butter (you can use crunchy if you want little bits of nuts in them. I prefer the smooth myself)
1 package of small multi coloured marshmallows (about 4 cups)
*Note if you are making the milk chocolate ones, white marshmallows are the best to use.

Combine the butter, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips in a saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir until melted and completely amalgamated. Remove from the heat and let cool to warm before stirring in the marshmallows. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch square cake tin that you have lined with cling film. Spread evenly into the pan and press the mixture down. Refrigerate until cold and then cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.



Over in The English Kitchen today a delicious Marzipan and Mincemeat Tea Loaf!

There was a song in a film years ago with the line “Have yourself a merry little Christmas.” Well, you can give a great and wonderful Christmas if you remember the gifts God has given you and, as best you can, offer them to others as He would. That is the spirit of Christmas and of true happiness every day.
~President Henry B Eyring, The Gifts of Christmas 2011