I would like to wish everyone (family, friends, and cyber
friends I have yet to meet) who finds their way to my Christmas Page a
Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope you enjoy my page
and you are welcome to come back and visit anytime. Don't forget
to sign my guest book on my main page before you leave. *smile*
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
Charles Dickens.
"There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice
as your neighbor's"
Clyde Moore
Christmastime is my favorite time of the year. The
soft snow falling down to cover the earth in its beauty; the oddly shaped
snowmen on the front lawns of the neighbors; the hustle and bustle of the
shoppers running about the mall in search of the perfect present for that
special someone. There is always a different atmosphere at this time
of year. The words Christmas and stress go hand in hand during the
holidays but as a rule, people are friendly and caring. It's nice
to see the faces on young children sitting on Santa's lap and telling him
what they want Santa to bring them for Christmas "IF" they were good boys
and girls.
Each year, my husband and I head out to the local tree
farm to pick out the perfect tree for our home. Decorating the family
Christmas tree with all the wonderful ornaments collected over the years
is a joyous time, picking each one out of the box and remembering from
where it came and gently putting it on the tree being careful not to put
the most precious ones too low for Domino
to hit it with her paw. The chore of decking the outside with bright
lights and decorations gets bigger and bigger each year as I gather more
decorations to use, but not too much to outdo the neighbor's display.
In November, I start my holiday baking for my family.
I have four sisters and two brothers and my husband has one brother and
one sister. Each year it is a tradition for me to bake holiday sweets
and deliver them to each family during Christmas Eve. I have done
this for 25 years, ever since we were married, and one I will do until
I am unable to. The scent of Christmas cookies baking in the oven,
the warmth of the cozy fire in the wood stove in the kitchen, the aromatic
scents of the candles burning on the mantel and the holiday movies playing
on the VCR. Oh what a wonderful feeling this gives me. After
the cookies or bars are all cooked, they are stored in the freezer waiting
for Christmas Eve to come so they can be delivered. Each year I design
a new way of packaging these special cookies. The families are always
anxious to see what the package of the year will be. It is fun and
exciting to see what they think.
One December, my husband and I went on a horse driven
bob sled ride in our community. It was a fun experience and one in
which I would like to repeat every year. Someone played the guitar
and everyone sang Christmas carols. We were served hot apple cider
or hot chocolate.
Each year I also go to the mall and visit our "Angel Tree"
which is hosted by the Salvation Army and my favorite local Country Radio
station WQCB-Q 106.5. In December,
they display names of children who are in need. With the help of
local patrons like me "and" you, they will have a present from Santa under
their tree on Christmas morning. It gives me great pleasure to make
the Christmas dreams of one or two children come true.
" I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! "
Longfellow
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS
CAROLS
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on, our troubles will be miles away.
Here were are as in olden days,
happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
gather near to us once more.
Through the years we all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, 1943
I'll be Home for Christmas
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
and presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
White Christmas
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
Irving Berlin, 1942
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting...)
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping on your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is going to spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although its been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
Visit this site to listen to some Christmas Carols on
your own computer.
http://kaypoe.the-webplace.com/index.html
If you refuse a mince pie at Christmas dinner, you will
have bad luck for the coming day.
MY MINCEMEAT PIE RECIPE
l pound suet (fat) cut up in pieces in fry pan and let
melt
Remove pieces that have not melted and put fat in large
kettle.
Fry 2 pounds ground beef (or deer meat) up in small pieces.
Add the ground beef to the fat in kettle.
10 pounds of apples (McIntosh) cored, peeled and ground
up
2 pounds raisins ground alternately with apples
Put apples and raisins in kettle
Add following ingredients:
3 pounds brown sugar
2 quarts apple cider
4 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons ground cloves
4 teaspoons nutmeg
6 teaspoons cinnamon
Stir all ingredients together in kettle and simmer 2-3
hours on low.
Store in freezer containers. Makes about 6 quarts.
When making pie, use your favorite two crust pie recipe
or use mine below
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
enough very cold water to hold together
Roll out half the recipe for the bottom layer, fill crust
with mincemeat
rolls out remainder of crust and put on top
Flute edges and rub top of pie with milk to brown
ENJOY!!
Check out these sites for some Fun things
to do at Christmas
Christmas
with the Kranks
Fun
and games for kids
Kids
Domain
North Pole
More fun and games
I hope you enjoyed my Christmas page as I have enjoyed
making it.....and please check out my other pages.
 
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