I know this is a funny picture to use for a weather report, but I am NOT going outside today.  It is currently 10 degrees here.  

 

And yesterday it only got up to 24.  So we stayed inside and cooked.  

 

We already made Christmas cookies, so we made this fabulous Cast iron Skillet Blueberry cake.  The recipe came from Cook's Country and uses 2 cups of raspberries and ginger, but there is also a version that uses 2 cups of blueberries and cardamom.  It is a great recipe.  Let me know if you want me to add it to the recipe section.  

 

 

HOPE YOU'RE STAYING WARM!!!

 

We love making these cookies too.  We only make them at Christmas, and share them with friends.  The recipe makes 60, and they generally last way into January, because we aren't really sweet eaters.  I guess we're sweet enough.  

 

Anyway, they're easy and fun to make, so we do it for the fun.  

 

 

HAPPY COOKING!!!!

 

 

 

 

I love to make stuff.  I especially love making stuff using the glue gun.  

 

I have a big box full of craft materials that I turn into Christmas ornaments.  I use chenille stems, wiggle eyes, ribbon, twine, pompoms, and lots and lots of glue sticks.  These ornaments are for the ladies in my Tuesday morning yoga class.  I bought a couple dozen candy canes and turned them into reindeer.  I have also used C5 outdoor light bulbs, chunks of potpourri, and cinnamon sticks to make reindeer.

 

Oh yeah, we also have a ton of corks.  I make reindeer out of them too.

 

Here's my cute story:  One of my three year old students made a hand puppet using a scrap of fur.  She shared it at Show and Tell one day, and told us that she made him with Arts and Craps.  That was 25 years ago, and we still talk about making stuff with arts and craps.  

 

 

HAPPY CRAFTING Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

Julie sent me a couple pix of her silver bell tree.  Sorry I cut off the top, but I wanted you to see the beautiful silver bells and angels that she hangs on this tree.  Looks like somebody has been busy with the silver polish.

 

Julie reminded me of the story behind the first silver bell gift in our family.  She was working at Spertner Jewelers in Norfolk, and bought the first bell.  She had it engraved with Daddy's initials:  GHT and the year:  1974.  

 

When Momma stopped putting up a Christmas tree, she distributed the bells to each one of us.  We chose the years that had special significance to us, and Julie got the first one.  Momma continued buying us silver bells for years after that.  Julie has 25, I have at least that many, Betsy and Linda have the rest.  Even Momma's grandchildren have silver bells for their Christmas trees.  What sweet memories they hold for all of us.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS DECORATING!!!

 

This may not look like anything to many people, but to the Trout girls it means Momma's birthday!!!

 

We always make cheese biscuits on Momma's birthday, because that's what she did on her birthday.  That and put the candles in the windows.  Well, our candles are already up, so the next thing is to make cheese biscuits.

 

If you would like to make them too, you can find the recipe in the "neighbors sharing" section of this website.  There is also a great picture of Momma on her 94th birthday, making cheese biscuits.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMA!!!

 

Here are some of my fun ornaments.  Laser cut hummingbirds, shells, s'more snowmen, straw angels, cayenne peppers, gifts from students, glass reindeer from New Mexico, and this cute gourd angel.  

 

If you would like to email me some Christmas memories that hang on your tree, I will be happy to share them here.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Look how rich we are!!!  We have hundreds of ornaments collected over the years.  I have some from Momma's childhood Christmas tree, some from my life in Germany, some from other places we have been.  This is why it takes so long to put them on the tree:  I have to stop and remember how I came to own each one.  What a fun few days it has been traveling along our Memory Lane.

 

I hope you are having fun remembering Christmases past.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Well, it only took me a week to get it done.  Hey, sometimes life hits the fan, and everything goes every which way.

 

We are back on track:   still happy and healthy,  and our Christmas tree is decorated, to within an inch of its life.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

 

 

So far:  the tree is still standing, and Gizmo seems at ease with it in the house.

 

No ornaments on it yet;  we've been a little preoccupied, but maybe today will be the day for decorating our new tree.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Here it is all put together.  Actually, it is prettier than this picture;  I just want you to see how tall it is.  I love it.  I had no idea that an artificial tree could be so pretty.

 

The first night, Gizmo did check it out, but didn't climb it.  He slept an hour under it on the soft red tree skirt, but hasn't bothered with it since.  We will see how he likes all the sparkly ornaments.  

 

Stay tuned.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!