The Angel and the Elf

One day and angel happened upon a little elf who had a tendency to cause mischief everywhere he went. The little elf was talking to the angel and he was so excited that Christmas was coming soon. He had been busy at work helping make the toys, but Santa soon realized that he was an excitable little fellow and had a reputation of hopping from job to job, wanting to work on everything and just getting a little too excitement about the upcoming "big night." 

So Santa let the little elf head into the real world. He was telling the angel about all the wonderful things that Santa had planned for the good girls and boys on Christmas eve. He went on and on about toys and candy canes and stocking filled with goodies. Finally, the angel asked him why he thought Christmas was so special. 

The little elf quickly replied because you get presents. The angel sadly shook her head and told the little elf that Christmas is so much more about getting presents.It's about mercy and grace and peace and joy. It's about a love so great that God sent His one and only Son to be born in a lowly manger. He sent that tiny little baby into this world of sin and hatred so that the tiny little baby could grow up and tell about the love and works of God. 

God did all this knowing that one day that baby would die a violent death to save the very people who mocked Him and hurt him. But that baby did it all with great gladness, because He knew the plans God had for our lives. 

See little elf. While you are busy planning your fun and thinking about the presents you will get, God sits on his throne and remembers the night that His precious heavenly son became earthly. He remembers with fondness the sweet mother and father that watched over that precious gift and guarded it and raised it and guided it through childhood until that little tiny baby was ready to return to the throne of God where He belonged.

So enjoy your presents little elf. Enjoy the hustle and the bustle, the lights and the tinsel. For their truly is a reason to be celebrating the Christmas season. Just don't let go of what that real reason is for the celebrations that abound. 

A continuation of prayer...

Our church family lost a very dear man this week. He always had a smile and a kind word. I remember many times seeing him out at the local grocery store and his face would light up with a hello when he saw anybody he knew. He was a quiet, gentle, kind man. The type that could create calm, but you know if you ever needed anything you could ask. He and his wife are very beloved at the church. He will be missed greatly.

I think back on all the prayers that have been prayed for him and his wife during his illness. I like to think that we will all continue to pray for his wife and the family as they struggle through the days ahead to make sense of a life without him. So please keep this dear family in your prayers. 

Yesterday on Facebook, a friend of mine wrote a post that I asked her if I could share it on my blog. She gladly agreed. She said if her words could help someone else then she would have done a good deed for the day. I will call her "Jane". Jane lost one of her twin sons in September, just a few weeks short of his 21st birthday. He had battled cancer for a couple of years. He would beat it against all odds only to have it come back again with a vengeance. His twin brother did a bone marrow transplant to help prolong the young man's life. But it was not to be. He suffered great pain many times through his ordeal, yet he never gave up hope. He trusted 100% that God's will would be done. 

But despite all the marvels of modern medicine, God soon called him home. Jane has been battling daily to come to terms with her grief at losing one of her sons at such a young age to such a horrible disease. She is struggling with her pain and trusting God daily. Please keep her in your prayers. Here is her post in her own words from Facebook yesterday:

"I go to the grave almost daily. The other day someone told me when I was upset that he'snot in that grave, its just an old shell and that his spirit is in Heaven. I politely said I know but deep down I was hurting bad. But what they'd  forgotten, in their desire to be helpful was that "shell" was precious to me . I had carried that "shell" in my body. I was there when that "shell" breathed his first breath. I taught that "shell" how to walk and talk and ride a bike. I bathed that "shell". I loved the way his red hair curled and his feet were shaped like his mommy's. I stood over that "shell" in an intensive care unit for weeks. And then I watched that "shell" take his last breath and then I kissed a cold "shell" forehead before they closed his casket. I know they were trying to help but maternally and emotionally, I wanted to scream. I did everything for that precious "shell" I knew to do and it stopped breathing and its now in a grave. That hurts so bad. I love you all. Pray for us."

Her words touched my heart so much. She has been a dear friend since we were about 3 or 4 years old. It is painful to see her going through so much hurt. Yet, her faith in God remains strong. But her post made me stop and think. God answers prayers, even when they aren't the answer we want. When a loved one passes on, we must as Christian brothers and sisters continue to pray for those left behind to carry on. There ordeal is not over, it is just beginning. We mustn't forget that their pain is still here. They still face daily struggles. So let us continue to pray for those who need our prayers. 

Saturday's Report

Oreo, how do I love these. Let me count the ways. Well, there's chocolate, and vanilla and as of yesterday my newest addiction...GINGERBREAD. You need to rush out to your local store and grab these up while they are available. I'm going to stock up on some. This has to be one of the best gingerbread desserts ever. I found mine at Walmart. I didn't see them at my grocery store yet.

Something else I found at Walmart yesterday was peppermint mini-marshmallows. Remember my peppermint hot chocolate? Well, I'm replacing plain marshmallows with these. Wow. Can't wait to try them.

When we got home from the store yesterday there was a delivery package on the porch. I opened it up and a very precious friend of mine had sent me a gift. 

I love the boxes. They were so elegant that I hated to open them. 

But was I glad I did. Check out these gorgeous chocolate covered strawberries.

The other box was cake pops. How cute are these. 

I hate to eat them they are so adorable. But I am breaking into them today. 

It wasn't Edgar that was being mischievous yesterday. It was hubby. He just had to sample the strawberry. 

Speaking of gifts, I couldn't remember if I posted my latest goodie from my secret sister. Aren't these too precious for words.  

I got up this morning and I kept hearing "Pssst. Over here." Sure enough, Edgar was up to no good. In all the decorating I did last weekend, I still haven't gotten around to decorating the little tree in my office. I can't decide how I want to decorate it so I just haven't done it. Okay, Edgar, you win. I promise I will get it done today. 

Tomorrow morning is our church choir musical Changed by a Baby Boy. I am really excited about it because there are some pretty neat songs in it. There's one with an island feel that we all love and singing Go Tell along with Brian in our choir is one of the fun moments of the program. It has some beautiful lyrics in all the songs and we are all looking forward to the program.

Then after church is a big moment for me. It is the spring premier of Thirty-One's new spring products. It's a really big deal. It is held at a local theater and there will be a lot of celebration with the unveiling. This is my first one I will be attending in the theater setting. I can't wait. 

I've got my pretty pink ticket and I am ready to see what they are going to have for spring.

Well, I'm off to do some Christmas shopping today. Have a great weekend.

It's Cookie Time

It's that time of year when cookies are almost always baking in my oven. It starts tomorrow when I bake some for It's a GRAND Christmas at Sunday School class. I love baking now that I have more mixing bowls in my vintage Pyrex collection. Growing up, Mom had the primary bowls and now I have found me some of them. Like her, I use the red for mixing my chocolate cake icing and the yellow is always used to mix the homemade peanut butter dough and let it chill in the refrigerator for a few hours. Best peanut butter cookie recipe in the world. 

All my other cookies will be mixed in my Hamilton Beach Pyrex mixing bowl that I waited so long to find. At least I will try to mix cookies in it this year if somebody will stay out of it. (Edgar, get out! I need the bowl tomorrow.)

Hubby and I had the great cookies discussion last night as to what I'm baking and who is getting what. If you have ever heard of the famous orange cookies, you will recall they are only made once a year and make about 6 - 7 dozen cookies that each have to be individually iced with the orange frosting. Well this year, hubby added so many people to the cookie gift list that WE (translated I since all hubby does is help move them from the cookie sheets to the frosting area. It's a process.) So I guess I will be making about 12 dozen orange cookies this year. 

I have a lot of recipes for family favorites. I need to narrow it down and see which ones I'm going to make. Plus I have a new cookie recipe book and some cute cookie cutters I want to use this year. I guess Edgar doesn't want Ginger to help with the cookies. (Edgar, let go. Get back in your bowl!)

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

We slept with the temp down a little lower last night so I woke up to a little chill. I cranked the heat up, put on my warm house shoes and decided it would be a good day to have my first cup of peppermint hot chocolate of the season. Edgar (I finally gave him a name since he seems to keep hanging around) decided to help me out. He got the candy canes for us....

While I grabbed two packs of instant hot cocoa. I like a lot of chocolate flavor in it. Plus I have a big cup. 

I got out the container of miniature marshmallows. What is hot chocolate without marshmallow? 

Of course I had to get out my favorite cup. I find it ironic that I choose Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix to drink in a Hershey's mug. 

I get my trusty Pampered Chef microplane zester. You would be amazed at the uses I find for these thing. In this case we are going to make peppermint dust.

Once you add your chocolate and boiling water, stir until mixed well and cover the top with mini marshmallows. Then take the zester and grade the candy cane over the top of the cup and you have peppermint dust. 

Garnish with a candy cane and you have the best, easiest peppermint hot chocolate in the world. I am so addicted to this stuff. It goes great with a couple of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. But hey, it is 6:00 in the morning and I'm fresh out of chocolate chip cookies. 

 I do not like the way Edgar is eyeballing my chocolate. Back off buster. It's mine. Anybody with half a brain knows you never get between a woman and her chocolate!

Some other twists on hot chocolate are to take Hershey's kisses with caramel and add them to the hot chocolate mix when you are pouring the hot water in. Stir vigorously to melt the caramel and chocolate for a rich caramel treat. I like to top this one with whipped cream instead of marshmallows. 

I haven't tried this one yet, but I think my next cup will be with finely chopped or graded malted milk balls and top it with marshmallows. Sounds yummy to me. Who needs coffee when you can have so many flavors in your hot chocolate.  

Time to settle down with my treat and get a start on addressing the Christmas cards. 

Looks like Edgar is wanting me to share my chocolate with him. At least he brought his own cup. 

Lots going on.....

I got in a little trouble with my daughter when I posted my vintage Christmas. The night before, she had sent me pics of her vintage ornaments on the tree. My mom had the red and blue ornaments on her tree for years. Then she passed them on to me and my daughter took borrowed got them from me when she got married. 

She has been decorating this past week and called me Sunday to see if I could make her a no-sew runner for her bar. I had this piece of material and wasn't using it for anything. It made a nice runner. I love her Santa and her centerpiece is gorgeous. Her first craft item she made herself last year. 

I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not, but I am getting a routine going with my Pyrex collecting. So far, if it was a good deal, I would buy it...whether I liked the pattern or not and I didn't worry if I would use it. I am glad I did that. Because now, I have some pieces that I am going to try to trade. I joined two groups on Facebook for Pyrex traders and posted the pic of my little bowl that doesn't have any matching bowls with it. I have the mixing bowl set of these and this was a Cinderella one I picked up this summer for a couple of bucks that I don't use. 

I had also picked up this carafe that I have never found a lid for. I only paid $1.49 for it. 

So I put them in the Facebook trade group and within no time I had traded them both. I traded the little bowl for the second size up of the Cinderella bowl. I am beyond thrilled because I've looked for some of these all summer. I want the entire set in this Colonial Mist pattern. Here's my first piece. 

I traded the carafe for a Pyrex pie plate. But not just any Pyrex pie plate...the flamingo pink one. I am so thrilled about this that words cannot describe it. Flamingo pink is very, very rare in my area. When she offered it up for trade, I snatched it up. 

I am very thrilled with my trades. I'm heading out to the post office to mail the trades off today and will be watching diligently in my mail box every day till my new items get here. I wanted to share my birthday card with you all that my Sunday School class gave me. 

It plays island music when you open it up. Isn't it cute?

Some vintage Christmas

One thing I love about Christmas are all the memories you find when you unpack your goodies. I have several things in my collection that are, I guess, what nowadays we refer to as vintage. I just know that we have had them a long time. I thought I would share some of my memory items with you today.

My favorite Christmas item and the one that I have had the longest is about 50 years old. My Mamaw Eden took me to town on the bus when I was around 5 (give or take). We always went to McCroys Five and Dime. On this particular trip she bought me this little poinsettia basket for 10 cents. It is the first thing I set out every Christmas. 

My Mary and Joseph from Home Interior many years ago.

Another favorite Home Interior piece is my Santa bank. 

This set of angels is one of my favorite Christmas pieces. It, too, was Home Interior. 

And my last Home Interior to share is my little mice. There were cats and dogs too, but I gave those to my kids when they each got married. 

When Allen's grandmother passed away, she had a box of ornaments that she used every year. Hubby got them and they are the first ones we hang each year. Most of them are Shiny Brights we believe. I had never heard of that name until I saw them over at Thrifting Sisters in one of her vintage posts. I'm hoping she will stop by and let me know for sure if these are Shiny Brights. Hubby was born in early 50's and he remember them always being on the tree. Most of them even have the original hooks.  

More of Granny's ornaments. 

And all of Granny's bells. Wondering if these are Shiny Bright as well. 

These are some of my favorite vintage ornaments on our tree. 

These are some ornaments I have had since my first Christmas tree when I got married. Some I bought, some came from Mom. Not sure how old some of them are, but the ones I bought would be 35 years old. 

I have been so excited that I have vintage Pyrex that is Christmas"y". I love the snowflake bowl.  

What favorite vintage item to you put out at Christmas?