Well,it's that time again for hot cocoa,cinnamon toast,wrapping in blankets and watching Christmas movies.I keep thinking let it snow..let it snow...let it snow.I have Christmas on my mind It's that time again,the smells and sounds of Christmas. Let me share some of the things that I do to bring about the joys of Christmas for me and mine.
The first essential of Christmas is setting the mood. Potpourri is one of the first things I get.Apple cinnamon,pine,any christmassy smell you enjoy.If you don't have potpourri,improvise.Put  some water on to simmer and pour in the cinnamon,cloves or allspice.If you have a wood stove you can sit it on the top,the heat sets off the smell.Candles,whether they're  'dollar store or Yankee,they're beautiful and smell great.Get some 'oranges and whole cloves,stick them all around the 'orange, and put a ribbon around it,stick it in a bowl and put on the table.I love to do this all winter.
Take a trip to the 'dollar store'.You don't have to buy all those expensive decorations.They have some beautiful things.I got a little nutcracker soldier for just a dollar.You can even find some great deals on presents.Don't worry I won't tell if you won't. And while your there,'pick up' some craft items for the kids(construction paper,glue,glitter,and tape). Walmart is also one of my favorite places to go.I can find my little white twinkle lights.Ofcourse,I keep these lights on all over the house all year.Put them around doorways and windows,and around your bathroom mirror.You can grab some color-lights for the kids room,they love them and Christmas gives them a good excuse to have them up.Also,the electric candles can go in any room,in your window or in your bathroom.I have these little ceramic houses that they sell to put around for Christmas.They have a hole in the bottom,so I put one twinkle light on a string in each house,and set the houses on white glitter cloth.If you have little round mirrors,they can serve as little iceskating ponds in the scene.You can buy some little people with the houses.You might even be able to buy these houses at the 'dollar store',they'd be alot cheaper.It would be great if you had a little electric train to set around the whole scene.
THIS IS MY  CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
CHRISTMAS AFGHAN
This is my favorite afghan.It's just your basic granny squares sewn together and edged in the three colors,dark rose,hunter green and off-white(my favorite decorating colors).And below is my WinterYoYoPines afghan.
HOLIDAY RECIPES
REESE'S CUP:2 cups crushed graham crackers  1 box powd. sugar,2 sticks butter(melted) 12 oz. jar 'peanut butter':mix and form patties.put on wax paper. In double boiler,melt 1/2 'bar parafin wax and 1 package(6 oz)chocolate chips .dip patties in chocolate,cool on waxpaper
CHOCOLATE 'PEANUTBUTTER' BALLS;3 sticks butter,1 cup 'peanut butter',1 1/2  boxes powder sugar.Mix,roll into balls,chill.Melt sweet chocolate  and 1/2 'bar parafin wax in top of double boiler and dip balls into chocolate,sit on wax paper.
POWDERED SUGAR COOKIES: 1 1/2 cup powder sugar, 1 cup butter combine and cream together. Add 1 'egg ,1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp almond flavor ing.Mix together.Combine 2 1/2 cup flour,1 tsp. cream of tartar,1 tsp.soda,mix with creamed mixture.Refrigerate 2-3 hours Divide in half and roll out on floured surface.roll thin,but leave dough thick enough to 'pick up' design from christmas cut outs.Place cut outs on greased pan and bake 7-8 minutes at 375 degrees.Make powdered sugar icing,divide into bowls and add food coloring to icing.spread icing on cooled cookies and add 'holiday sprinkles.
CHEX PARTY MIX: 6 tbsp. butter  1 tsp.seasoned salt 4 tsp.worcestershire sauce  2 cups Corn Chex  2 cups Rice Chex  2 cups Wheat Chex  3/4 cup salted mixed nuts  Put oven on 250 degrees.In 13x9x2 pan heat butter,remove from heat,stir in salt and worcestershire sauce.Add Cereal and nuts,mix till coated.Heat 45 minutes,stir every 15 minutes.cool and put in resealable plastic bags.
BOSTON BROWN BREAD:(SAVE empty coffee tins and cut off top lid)1 'egg,2 cups buttermilk,1 cup molasses,2 tsp.soda, 1 cup cornmeal,1 tsp salt, 2 cup wheat flour,1 cup raisins....Beat 'egg add molasses and milk.sift dry ingred.stir in raisins.grease cans and fill 2/3 full.cover with aluminum foil and place in pan of water to about 1/2 up to can top.cook in water bath about 2 1/2 hours.
HOMEMADE HOTCOCOA: 1 LB.powdered sugar 1 lb. Nestle's quik, 8 quarts dry milk  11 oz.cremora mix and store in airtight container.
CHRISTMAS MARMALADE:Grind one lemon and 3 'oranges.Add 1(20 oz.)can crushed pineapple and 1/2 cup water.Bring this to boil and cool for 1 hour.Add 6 cups sugar and 1 jar marachino cherries,chopped.Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.Cool till it jells.approx.30 minutes.Pour into 6 oz.sterilized jars.Seal and process or refrigerate.
CHRISTMAS SPICED TEA: 2 tsp.cinnamon  1 tsp ground cloves  2 cups sugar  1/2 cup instant tea with lemon  18 oz. jar of tang  mix and store in air-tight container  Add 2 tsp.mix to one cup boiling water
CORNBEEF DIP:2 pkg.8 oz.creamcheese,4 tbsp.milk,1 cup sour cream,4 tbsp. minced onion,3 oz.pkg.corned beef...Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Great dip for 'holiday entertaining.
WINTER TEA:6 cups hot water,1/2 tsp.cloves, 1 stick cinnamon,5 teabags.Steep 5 minutes. strain   Add:3/4 cup 'orange juice,3 tbsp.lemon juice  1/2 cup sugar  heat to boil
CANDY TRAIN:(leave candies wrapped)pack of gum,roll of lifesavers,round mints,caramels 'Hersheys kiss'. Hot glue roll of lifesavers on top of pack of gum,glue round mints(2 each side)for wheels.glue caramel on top for caboose and glue 'hershey's kiss' on front of train.leave paper in kiss,looks like smoke coming from front of train.
CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI; 3 cinnamon sticks  3 bay leaves  1/4 cup whole cloves  1/2 lemon half  1/2 'orange half  1 quart water.Bring to boil,reduce heat and  simmer or use crockpot.Add water when necessary.Can be refrig. several days and reused.
WASSAIL:1 gallon apple juice or cider,1 cup frozen lemon juice,1 quart pineapple juice,1 quart 'orange juice,1/2 cup honey,1 cup brown sugar,1 quart tea,4 sticks cinnamon, 1 tsp. whole cloves,1 tsp.allspice 4 cups water.  BOIL;cinnamon,cloves,allspice and water,combine the rest and serve hot.
Great 'holiday' entertaining idea.Bake little 'holiday breads or 'banana bread' in little little  loaf pans.Wrap in green and red plastic wrap.Tie with ribbon.Buy a package of little 'holiday bags(red or green)place  'holiday foil in bag,put in bread loaf.Then slip in a Christmas card,let it stick out of top of bag a little.
Christmas Mix:Red and Green M&M s,
Peanuts ,White Chocolate covered prezels
BELOW ARE SOME PICS OF MY CHRISTMAS DECORATING FOR  Christmas 2001.Also my potpourri crocheted ornie and snowflakes,popsicle sticks,cinnamon ornie and felt  snowmen.Samples of some of my stitcheries to frame,also.
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