The big news….

 ….where we are is SNOW!  

We rarely have much snow in our area, the best some flurries or enough for a bare ground cover.  This is one of those very unusual occasions for more than just a simple ground cover!

This was the view from our front door on Monday morning about 7:30 a.m.

About the middle of the day on Monday, we had this view.

This morning, Tuesday, this is the view out the bedroom window.  The bird bath looks like a giant ice cream cone to me!

This is our view from the front door.  We haven’t been outside to attempt to measure it, though nearby friends have measured and report eight inches!  The wind chill is enough to convince us to stay indoors where it’s warm.  We have all we need, and we are grateful there has been no power outage at this point.

Do you have snow where you are?  Stay safe and warm!

Before the New Year comes….

 ….I want to review a few things that were special during the Christmas season.

One of three Angel Trees at our church.  Church members provided Christmas gifts for 120 families this season.

The festive table setting at my Circle Christmas luncheon.

There was plenty of good food available.

This jolly soul held his place at a visible corner.

Decoration at our church.

The Nativity set out at the beginning of the Christmas season.  

It would appear that Santa found our house this year!

Lovely and delicious gluten-free cake with cranberry compote brought by Muncho Mom for dessert after Christmas dinner.

Wishing you and yours a New Year with many joyous moments!  Take care! 

Before Christmas….

 ….we celebrate birthdays!

That’s right!  It was 49 years ago that we welcomed TWO babies instead of the expected ONE on December 23, one day before our due date of the 24th.  Muncho Mom and Country Girl joined their 20-month old big sister, City Girl.  

There are a few dietary concerns to be considered these days, and Muncho Mom came up with this specially-baked cake….

It was perfect with peppermint stick ice cream! 

Now….it’s on to the next celebration!

Merry, merry wishes to all!

A new Advent activity….

 On a visit to Williamsburg, VA in October, we ventured into the Bruton Parish Church gift shop.  Always looking for a souvenir from our travels, my attention was drawn to this Advent puzzle….

This is the scene that will show in the finished puzzle.

The puzzle box is filled with these 24 small boxes.

Each box is filled with puzzle pieces that will fit in a section specifically numbered for the correct day.  Here, I had just begun the puzzle, and all the pieces have the number 1 on them.

This is the progress after three days.  

This shows the progress on the seventh day.  It will require assembly on Christmas Eve to have the puzzle fully complete. 

It has been quite awhile ago, but I featured some of the jigsaw puzzles that I have assembled on this blog.  A number of them have been framed and are hanging in different areas of the house.  I think I’ll be interested in framing this one, and it is likely that I’ll be looking for another Advent puzzle next year!  

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on this one!

Remember to slow down and enjoy the beauty around you each and every day!  

Stay well! 

The baking continues….

 How about you?  Have you been baking for the holidays?  This was the view here on Saturday….

Tried a new recipe for Red Velvet cake, and this one made three layers!  Here they are cooling before being assembled….

Here is the finished cake.  Its destination was my Circle lunch on Sunday following our church service.  Guests were invited, and The Husband was able to go along with me.

I think it’s safe to say that it was well-received.  This is what came home with us, and I was happy to be able to share it with a neighbor!  

Be sure you are taking time to enjoy the beauty of the season!

This is happening….

 Let the cookie baking begin!

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it’s time for cookies at our house! 

The Husband was ready for one before they were even out of the oven!  I convinced him to wait until they had cooled just a bit on the baking pan!

Have you begun any holiday baking?   Were you among the shoppers on this “Black Friday?”  

Wishes for a happy time ahead! 

Autumn’s arrival….

 Images from the first day of Autumn….

The morning sun was good to emphasize the glorious blue sky!

Some necessary work has been done to eliminate a spruce tree that had grown so much it blocked the sidewalk!  Now, we’ll need to pressure wash the sidewalk!  Maintenance keeps us busy!

This is my favorite season of the year!  I love the fall colors and flavors, the celebration of Thanksgiving, and it is the forerunner of Christmas, that much-loved holiday!  

We held to a tradition of enjoying Cream of Rice with dried cranberries and walnuts for breakfast.  I confess that I added a taste of butter.  The Husband even drizzled honey over his!  It’s time to enjoy Susan Branch’s Autumn mug!

Have the colors of fall arrived where you are?