Christmas Traditions

Here at The Old Parsonage we have the tradition of the Christmas Pickle ornament. The supposed source of the Christmas Pickle is the story of the Weihnachtsgurke, where Germans would hide a pickle in the tree, and the observant child who found it would get a special gift, while the first adult to notice it would have a year of good fortune. Apparently the Germans never heard of this:)

Another reader sent me a link to "20 Different Christmas Traditions from around the world." I thought you might be interested...

According to the article traditional Scottish Christmases involve big bonfires, whiskey, good food and lots of company. Scottish families decorate their homes with evergreens, which symbolize the renewal of life, and mistletoe that is said to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits when hung from ceilings and in doorways.


In China the holidays kick off with fireworks, festivals and feasting. Many fill their homes with evergreens, posters, bright paper chains and cut-out red pagodas to put on the windows. Paper lanterns are hung and Christmas trees, or "trees of light," are decorated with flowers, lanterns and red paper chains.

In Germany a candle is lit each Sunday, followed by caroling and eating cookies. German Christmas markets and bakeries are a sight to see with their lovely window displays, decorative toys and decadent treats. German children write their wish lists to St. Nicholas or the Christ Child, who is dressed in white with golden wings and a golden crown.

I got a lot accomplished yesterday. All of the boxes are unpacked and I'm pretty much just tweaking today. Although, I think that I'm missing a box of vintage paper mache Santa boots. Looks like one more trip to the attic for the final box.

What are some of your traditions?

Christmas Treasures from years Past?

Anna Miller, one of our followers gave me a link "10 Regrettable Christmas Toy Crazes" to a recent article they published. I thought this might bring back memories for some of you. How many of you were on the hunt for any of these treasures from Christmas' past?



I know my Mum bought me a Cabbage Patch baby thinking it may be worth money some day. It's still in the original box in the attic of our barn:) Think I'll be a millionaire one day? This is not mine, I found the image on the net.

I just finished decorating the outside, although I'm always tweaking here and there. I have all the boxes down out of the attic and have started in the living room. I've also put out some of those cinnamon scented pine cones to add to the scents of the season. I've been burning my Sleigh Bells Yankee Candle all day. It smells just like our Christmas tree - a little citrus-y!

I have to start thinking about supper - although since I'm actually on vacation today I don't think that I should have to cook. It may be a take out night:)

Enjoy the season!

Celebrate

According to Organized Christmas. you should finish your Christmas cards this week. I put ours in our mailbox on Saturday, but I guess the mailman didn't see all the stacks as there are a few left. Oh well, I guess he'll get them tomorrow.




I'll start my baking this week. I have 9 orders that are due by the 12th so that's when I'll hand out the ones as gifts to family and friends. There's nothing like a handmade gift.

Is you calendar filling up with parties, teas, cookie exchanges? I know our is, and it's not even December yet! This is why I try to be organized for Christmas, so that I can enjoy everything as it comes.




We got our tree on Saturday morning. What fun it was to see the joy in little faces as the horses pulled the wagon. I'm missing this little face (now a grown man). The kids aren't going to be able to come home for Christmas - maybe January. We'll see...



Fly Boy and Chelsea just left to go back to school. It was so great to have him home. I love our late night chats. I just about have the outside decorated. Just need some fresh greens and that can be checked off my list. I have off tomorrow and Tuesday so I'm hoping to finish up the inside including the tree.

Do you keep your decorations the same year after year?

The Best laid plans

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday! A little bit of snow in the morning gave way to rain the rest of the day, but the day was filled with so much love and laughter, that we didn't mind the rain at all.


And, it seems Mother Nature had other ideas for our day today too. It rained the entire morning so we decided not to go for our Christmas tree, the fields would have been total mud. Instead we headed to Denver, PA, to The Green Dragon (an outdoor Farmer's Market). I got the raw peanuts I need for my peanut brittle.


These are a few shots of our finished Christmas cards and envelopes. I love how old-fashioned the images are and I found the best mini-tinsel from my friend Kelli who sells Stampin' Up! I didn't have a "joy" stamp so I hand wrote every one.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I'm wishing you all the joys of the season my friends!

Busy...Busy...Busy...

I finally got around to planting my amaryllis for this year. Here's hoping it blooms in time for Christmas. It usually takes a good six weeks to bloom...fingers crossed. This is a photo from two years ago - not sure where last year's photo is.


Does anyone do the Elf on a Shelf? We didn't and now that I know about the tradition, I wished I knew about it when the boys were little. I do keep this little sweetie out all year round.

This was one heck of a busy weekend. Up at 7 am yesterday and off to breakfast, the supermarket and an Open House by 10 am. Then by 12:15 to a hair appointment and home by 3pm ( I needed a highlight). Supper was something quick here at home and then I finished addressing our Christmas Cards.


This morning I was up by 5 am making chocolate chip scones for the two of us. It was a nice treat and went great with a steaming mug of coffee! I did a few loads of laundry before talking to my parents and church. This afternoon I had a Pampered Chef party to go to, so I grabbed some stuffed cabbage from the freezer and threw that in the oven on low for supper tonight. I love having these go to meals when I'm rushed for time. The Santa's above are just a sampling of my collection. I get a few new ones every year from friends and family. It's fun to see the all the different ones. Not sure why the left corner one looks pink, it's a real red. The baby doll with the saggy head is pretty old. I just love him!


I have everything that I need for Thanksgiving, now just need to do a little prep work every night and we're all set. Tonight I'll set the table and cover it with a clean sheet so it won't get dusty. Tomorrow night I'll break-up my bread for stuffing. I buy french bread and tear it into small pieces and let it sit out "covered" by a tea towel to get stale. Then Tuesday night I'll make the brine for the turkey, and Wednesday night I'll bake (pumpkin log, pumpkin pie and pecan pie). I'll also make the stuffing (keeping it in a bowl in the fridge) until I'm ready to stuff the bird in the am.

Friday we'll have breakfast out and then head to Varner's to cut down our Christmas tree. I'm so glad that Fly-boy and Chelsea will be home to carry on the tradition. It will be soo different without our Fireman and My Jade. Varner's is a magical place at Christmas. They take you out to the trees in a horse-drawn wagon. We typically get a Frasier Fir, it has a great citrus-y pine smell and the needles last 'til January. After we cut choose the tree (everyone gets a vote), we ride back and get our free cup of hot cocoa or hot cider. They have a wonderful gift shop with handmade ornaments, apples, cider, roping, wreaths, toy candy and other old-fashioned goodies for sale.

Getting the tree is the start of Christmas decorating. As much as I love Christmas, I just can't decorate for it until after Thanksgiving. When do you start your decorating?

A fun Project

Not sure if you remember me making these fun ornaments last year, but they are back on my radar for this year's craft list.


I'm having a slumber party with (2) of our nieces in December and I thought that these would be fun to make with them.


And, what do you know they have little pink cheeks. One even has a pink bow tie.


My favorite is the one with his mouth open!


I'd like to thank Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting Pink Saturday so that we can all share in some yummy pink love. Be sure to stop by and visit to see what she and other are are sharing for this week's Pink Saturday!


Enjoy your weekend!

Girls just wanna have Fun!

We had such fun on Saturday. It all started here, at The Windmill Restaurant... breakfast was wonderful - very "Dutchy." Three of us had creamed dried beef as part of breakfast (not me).


These 3 photo's are the only ones that I remembered to take. We got to laughing and carrying on so much that the camera was long forgotten. This is Pam (my cousin who had the back surgery - they went in through her neck - she took off the collar for this pic) and Roberta (she's actually my Mum's cousin, and my second cousin (I think that's how it goes).


This is still at the restaurant. My Mum on the left, me and my Aunt Cathy (Pam's Mum). I'm thinking that I look extra large in the photo because my arms are around them and it's such a close up - right:)

We had a blast. I bought a few more Christmas gifts and added them to my gift wrap area -it's actually Fly-boy's desk. He won't be home for Thanksgiving until next Wednesday night, so it's mine 'til then. My best deal of the day were 2 huge heads of cabbage for $1. It was our last stop of the day (at a road side stand coming home)...they had cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. It was run by children who couldn't have been much older than 8 or 10. They were soo sweet and polite, talk about salesmen?!

Hope that you are all enjoying your week!

Week 4 Cooking and Baking

Only 2 weeks left on our countdown. If you've been following along, then you should be well on your way to an Organized Christmas. As I mentioned earlier this week I finished making our cards, so I need to play a little catch-up with getting them addressed, etc. - they should all be addressed by next week. I'll mail them out right after Thanksgiving (remember I ordered my stamps on-line).


I've got my Thanksgiving Menu all planned and it's already stuck to the fridge so that I can refer to it when making my lists for the supermarket and setting the table next Sunday. Yes, I plan on setting the table next Sunday. I'll cover the dishes with a clean top sheet so that it doesn't get dusty - this will be one less thing to do on Thanksgiving eve or morning.

Yesterday's shopping extravaganza had me buying bulk oatmeal and raisins for our holiday baking. Then today I bought a ton of things from Costco for baking and cookie making: 25lbs of flour, 10lbs of white sugar, 7lbs each of brown and 10x sugar, plus walnuts, pecans and almonds. I just need to buy peanuts for my brittle, macadamias, milk and dark chocolate for candy making, as well as some other odd ingredients.


I've also started menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas breakfast and dinner. This way, as I see things on special, I'll be able to pick them up. Costco actually had poinsettias and fresh wreaths for sale. It seems a bit early to me. But...to each their one I say!


While shopping yesterday, I picked up some small inexpensive things for those unexpected visitors and hostess gifts, you know how I love to be prepared. I ordered our Turkey this weekend for Thanksgiving - a 27 pounder. Mmm...can't wait.


Today is our Fireman's birthday - 24 years! We just talked to him on the phone a little bit ago. He sounds well. This is the first time that we won't see him on his birthday:( Why is TX sooo far away?!!

What's everyone making for Thanksgiving?

Barbie Pink

It's been a few years since I bought a Barbie. What fun it was to be in that isle in Target the other night. So much pink, it was a trip! My new little niece-to-be "Ella" just has to have a Barbie from Auntie and Uncle this Christmas. She just turned 4 this past weekend and a Barbie is right in order.

There are so many different dolls to choose from and I don't even want to talk about the clothes and accessories - wow! I went for the plain doll so that I can get her a few books or crafts too. This Sleeping Beauty is now sitting in my gift wrapping station waiting to be wrapped.

Thanks Beverly for another wonderful Pink Saturday! I'm out shopping today with my aunts, cousins and Mum, so I'll be around to visit sometime soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Finally

I'm happy to report that the coffee FINALLY came yesterday afternoon. This is the first time in years that we actually ran out. We are on automatic delivery, so apparently we must have been drinking just a wee bit more.


I love Gevalia. I buy the whole bean and grind it fresh every morning. Mmm...the house smells wonderful. I'm having a big old cup of it now! I don't have too many "Thanksgiving" specific decorations, just basically fall things that go from Halloween to Thanksgiving. I do love this little Eldreth Pottery Turkey though. I also have a set of 2 small Pilgrims and Indians that I made in ceramics in the early 80's that make an appearance every year too.

I FINALLY finished making our Christmas Cards last night. Now to write them out and address them. Do you send out Christmas Cards? If so, have you started addressing them? Or, are you too busy planning Thanksgiving dinner?

A bowl full of color

Just look at the beautiful felt flowers that I won from Rhonna Farrer. She is so darn creative - I love her blog. Sometimes she co-hosts on the Heidi Swapp Webshow that I talked about last week. When these two women get together silliness abounds. DH calls them the woo hoo girls. Actually it's Rhonna who does the woo hooing.

I've seen these flowers clipped onto a headband for some added sas or pinned to a sweater (I did this with the orange one today).And if you just can't stand to be without one or two of these gorgeous felt flowers she has them for sale. Rhonna is leading a great 21 day challenge. Pop on over to see what it's all about, and don't worry, you can start anytime

I'm off to make a few visits before heading off to bed - and drat the coffee still didn't come:(

The Future

Is this not the sweetest little thing? I saw it at Jake's Flea Market several weeks ago and walked by it three times before I asked, "how much?" Twenty bucks later it was mine! And, as an added bonus DH carried it around for 1hr before we got back to the CRV!


When I told to our Firefighter in TX that I bought it he said, "Mum (long pause) what for?" I replied, "For the future, some day I expect to have grandbabies. Three at a time from you and My Jade if nature continues it course." (Jade's Mum is a triplet and this is a standing joke in our family) For now, it's going to hold magazines in my studio and if the future doesn't bring darling grand daughters who want to put their baby dolls in this sweet crib, I'd be happy to store tonka trucks in it - I'm just sayin...

I"m a little slo-mo this morning - we ran out of coffee yesterday. We are on direct delivery from Gevalia and our order is on it's way, so I didn't run to the store to pick up any. But, man...I can't wait to get to the office and get some there! I love a cold glass of apple cider, but this just isn't cutting it this morning:)

Dried Beauty

Remember the beautiful roses from DH? I'm loving how they look all tied together and drying upside down on the Hooiser. It's been crisp and cold here in the mornings, but by the afternoon things seem to warm up quite a bit. All in all, I'd say that fall is here to stay.


This week I'm setting up my Christmas wrapping station. As gifts are delivered (UPS, etc.), or purchased I will start wrapping them. I have a nice little pile to start with.

This Saturday the women in our family are having another Lancaster Shopping Extravaganza. We're leaving at 7am, headed to breakfast, then it's an all out day of shopping, laughing and fun! Can't wait...

Letters

Last night, AC Moore had a 25% off sale from 6pm-9pm. With a craft list a mile long, of course I took advantage of this. Who wouldn't? Right? I signed up for Beth and Karla's Romantic White Christmas workshop and got almost everything I needed last night.

My cousin Pam went with me. She's still wearing her neck brace (from the surgery), but other than that, and being bored, she's on her way to recovery. AC Moore is right next to Target, so after our craft shopping, we just had to pop in Target for a little shopping there too! I bought the kids their Christmas pj's. It's a tradition that I love doing, even though they are in their 20's!


No, I didn't buy a Cricut last night, DH gave it to me for our 25th anniversary a few weeks ago. That man can read me like a book. Diamonds and furs? Not me. A Cricut machine? You betcha!

He also bought me two cartridges (one came with it). I'm still learning how to use it, and love playing around with it! The type writer keys in the first photo are from the Kutztown Renniger's Extravaganza last month. I still haven't used them, I fear that I never will. I like how they look in a small dish on my cupboard. Do any of you do that - buy craft supplies, vintage or new and then because they are so unique or pretty - hate to use them?

Thanks so much for all of your prayers for our friends and for us. Nicola's memorial service is this Friday. Please continue to lift the family in prayer.

Gifts and Giving

It's the third week of our Countdown to Christmas! Did you all remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors this weekend? I did!

I have about one half of our Christmas Cards almost finished. I'm making 60 of them. I know that sounds like a lot, but I feel like it's one time during the year that we re-connect with some extended family and long-time friends.


If you are following along with the Countdown, then this week, address another fifth of your cards. You should also finish all your catalog shopping. I'm not going to call it quits on this one just yet. We are getting more and more catalogs in the mail and the less time that I have to spend out and about the better.




Are you making any gifts this year? If so, according to our countdown, you should make one fourth of your gifts over the next four weeks. I give cookie trays, and the baking won't start until the weekend after Thanksgiving, so I'll be a little behind on this one. I also sell them so the kitchen becomes a whirlwind of flour and sugar between Thanksgiving and the early weeks of December!


I've already started my Thanksgiving Dinner shopping, as I see things on-sale I buy them. Be sure to plan your menu and keep a copy of it on your fridge. It helps when pulling out your china to know how many bowls and serving platters you'll need. And, you won't forget that jello salad that "Aunt Milly" made in the back of the fridge when you are bustling to get everything on the table.

Our supermarket gave me a free turkey certificate for spending over $250 this month and with an additional $250 they gave me a 6% off coupon to be used from November 26- December 24. Great deals!



I keep track of the gifts that I buy every year in my Christmas Magic notebook, it's fun to make even this part of Christmas planning festive!

If you are looking for download-able forms to customize or use as is for your own notebook, visit Organized Christmas and have fun!

A Loss

The daughter of some close friends died unexpectedly Friday night. Nicola was 19 years old. Her parents are devastated as is the rest of her family.

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25-26

Better than Sliced Bread

Does anyone out there have one of these great craft mats? They are made by Tattered Angels,
and work wonderfully. I recently started using Glimmer Mist (a mist-able tinted shimmer-y spray) on my cards and creations. This mat comes in handy for spraying and stamping cleanup. It's non-stick so you can hot glue on it and it won't stick stick. It's an all around craft mat - however you SHOULD NOT CUT DIRECTLY ON IT! IT IS NOT SELF HEALING! Fortunately, I did not have to learn this from experience. I found a great blog by Heidi Swapp called Still Me, she is a great resource for all kinds of things and she does live web shows on Wednesday nights (there's a link on her blog if you are interested).


Our Christmas cards are still in progress, but my goal is to finish them this weekend. I've got more painting lined up for this weekend too - the upstairs hallway. Shouldn't take too long but there is a lot of cutting in to do with all the doors -5 to be exact. My project list is shrinking, but my regular old to-do list is never ending. I realize what I can and can't get done as far as projects and time-lines and try not to over-estimate what I'll be able to accomplish - and not worry about it. Things always come up, family and friends drop by, or sometimes I just don't feel like doing a darn thing, and that's ok. It doesn't all have to get done - but it sure feels good when it does. Doesn't it?

Beverly has been saying that visiting has been down on Pink Saturdays. I know that I've been really busy and haven't been able to visit much, but I do try to visit during the week if I can't get there on Saturday. So, I'll see you soon my friends...

Pumpkin Palooza

Well, spur of the moment and I do mean spur of the moment - I talked to my darling nieces around 11 am Sunday morning and we decided to do Pumpkin Palooza.

I called my parents and they were able to come down too. We picked the girls up by 11:30 and were carving pumpkins before noon!




It was different without the boys and their girlfriends, much calmer. We really missed them being there.They were happy to hear that we carried on without them.



Flyboy is such a cut-up, he always has everyone laughing and he and our Fireman play off each other. And, then the girlfriends get in on the act.

It was such a beautiful day. A little cool and the pumpkin "guts" were freezing cold. The pumpkins were on the front porch since Applesauce Sunday. Usually, I bring them inside before we carve them, but again this was spur of the moment. So our hand were like icicles.



I'm so glad that we did it. The girls were thrilled and it is tradition don't cha know. And since their parents got a divorce, they like it that we continue with our traditions. They thanked me over and over again.

And, anytime that I get to spend time with these two, is wonderful for me too!