Christmas Pudding

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:30:00.000-04:00

Hello dear bloggers and welcome to my last post of 2011. I just finished up my A-Z of Christmas which I hope you all enjoyed. It was a lot of work but very enjoyable just the same.

Today I will share a couple of little things I received for Christmas this year. I hope you enjoy!

My newest SnowBaby, a gift from my hubby.

She is called the Goddess of Chocolate.

SnowBabies are little figurines I have been collecting for years. I have each one named after a member of my family.
This newest one is named for my little granddaughter, Jenna Lynn. She wears a real string of pearls, a tutu, a real knitted hat with a rosette on it, and holds a chocolate cupcake in her hand. In her other hand, she carries a tote with more chocolate in it. She's very cute, isn't she?
My granddaughter is only a year old but I know someday she will love hats like her grandmother. And if she's anything like other little girls, she will want to wear a tutu and she will love chocolate!

These are my SnowBabies playing beneath one of my Christmas trees.

This is the very first figurine I received. Two of my boys playing in a gift box.

Another gift from my family.

Now that the holidays have come to an end, I will be posting very little on Christmas Pudding. However, as I have done in previous years, I will post something whenever I find a new ornament or something festive to blog about.

So, from my home to yours ~ A Happy & Healthy New Year to you and those you love.

Until next time, I'm ....

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ Z

2011-12-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the last letter of the A-Z of Christmas.

is for....
Zzzzzzzz.

As well as the sleep of anticipation on Christmas Eve, it is likely that in every household at least one member of the family will find themselves settling down to a well-deserved nap while others play charades, try to squeeze in one more mince pie, or cozy up to a treasured and much-watched film. {Excerpt from An English Christmas, a supplement of The English Home magazine}.

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As we celebrate this most beautiful and generous time of year, I pray we will all make room in our hearts for the Reason for the Season who is Jesus. The Lord be with you and bless you and your loved ones not just during this holiday season but all year long!

I hope you have enjoyed the A-Z of Christmas and I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." - Luke 2:11-12

"The light that shines from the humble manger is strong enough to lighten our way to the end of our days." ~ Unknown

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ Y

2011-12-23T09:15:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another A-Z of Christmas. Today's letter is Y.

is for...
Yule log.

The Yule log is an ancient tradition that has its roots in celebrations of the winter solstice. Later it also began to have connotations with not only the light of the sun, but also the light of Christ, to give it religious symbolism.

In England, a log so large that it had to be dragged by horses would be brought into great country houses and burned for the twelve days of Christmas. A remnant of the log would be kept to light the next year's log. The lighting of the log on Christmas Eve would commence the celebrations of Christmas.

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Today this practice is not so common, although it is often honoured in the way the French do, with a Buche de Noel, a chocolate cake shaped and decorated to look like a log. {Excerpt from An English Christmas, a supplement of The English Home}

Please come back tomorrow for the final letter of the A-Z of Christmas, the letter Z.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A-Z of Christmas ~ X

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

Today's letter is X.

is for...
Xmas.

The term "Xmas" is a bone of contention for many since it seems an informal and crass abbreviation of what is a very traditional and celebrated event.

The X stems from the Greek word for Christ, so the abbreviation is accurate, however it is a term that is discouraged since it seems to gloss over the importance of Jesus. While the term was used on occasion by the likes of Lord Byron, Samuel Coleridge and Lewis Carroll, in secular society it is also considered rather abhorrent by many, including myself.

I feel it is of the utmost importance to write Merry Christmas on your Christmas cards and not Xmas.

Source

Please keep Christ in CHRISTmas.
Therefore, I wish you all a Very Merry CHRISTmas!

I'm keeping CHRISTmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

W - The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the letter...W.

is for...
Wreaths, White Christmas, Wish List.

Wreaths are used at Christmas time as a welcoming adornment on front doors and as part of the advent wreath which encircles five candles - that are lit in the four weeks before Christmas and on Christmas Eve.

As a never-ending circle, wreaths are symbolic of eternal life and strength.

I love a wreath and especially at this time of year. I have them in my home, greeting you at the door, hanging on mirrors and cabinet drawers, even around a hurricane lamp on a table.

I think they make a most welcome and delightful decoration in one's home, don't you?

The wreath above is one I fashioned for the front door which also matches a little tree in my dining room.

I made this little wreath for the front of the aqua chest which sits in the front room.

And this is lovely wreath shows off the hurricane lamp on the coffee table.

We have had little snow so far this season but it's beginning to look like a White Christmas now as we've had some of the white stuff come down a couple of days ago. I'm sure most folks are happy about this new blanket of snow; particularly the children.

Thomas Kincade painting

White Christmas is one of the most famous and popular of all the Christmas songs. The music and lyrics were written by Irving Berlin in 1942. The lyrics of White Christmas struck a chord with the soldiers fighting in the Second World War and their families who were waiting for them back home.

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 all 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 all your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white.

A Wish List is one which children of all ages love to write out for Santa.

My hubby insists on me making a list out for him every year for Christmas. How about you? Do you make out your Christmas list for anyone?

I hope you enjoyed my take on the letter W and tomorrow you will join me for the letter X.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas - V

2011-12-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to the A-Z of Christmas. The days and letters before Christmas are winding down. Are you ready for the big day? Today's letter is V.

is for...
Visions of Sugar Plums.

Christmas Eve is a time of anticipation, excitement and magic, as children drift into dreams, hoping that come morning their stockings will be full of everything on their wish list.

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This sentiment is immortalized in Clement Moore's poem, "The Night Before Christmas" when he writes, "the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads."

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It also echoes the story of "The Nutcracker," a family favourite, which tells of the adventure of a young girl who finds herself in a magical world that culminates in the Kingdom of Sweets with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The ballet is based upon a book, "The Nutcracker and The Mouse King," written in 1816 by E. T. A. Hoffmann.
A sparkling performance of The Nutcracker is performed by the Royal Ballet and other wonderful ballet companies around the world especially at this time of year.

Source

Closer to home, this is my little sugar plum fairy atop my little white Christmas tree.

Those of you who are grandparents or those who simply love little ones, will forgive me for sharing a picture of my real live little Sugar plum fairy.

Jenna Lynn just had her first birthday and this is her holding her birthday present, her first dollie.

Thank you for joining me today for another letter of Christmas A-Z. Please come back tomorrow for the letter W.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year long~ Sandi

A-Z of Christmas ~ "U"

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to another A-Z of Christmas. Today we're doing the letter....

is for...
Under the Christmas Tree.

The custom for a beautifully decorated fir tree encircled by piles of presents was introduced by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, who had both experienced the tradition as children.

Source Internet

The origins are thought to date back to the legend of Thor, when St. Boniface cut down the sacred tree of the god, in the German town of Geismar, and replaced it with a fir tree. This practice was repeated each year and the custom evolved as part of the Christmas traditions, beginning with a tree in each town decorated with garlands and later candles, to the popular practice of today bringing a fir tree indoors and adorning it with baubles and twinkling lights. The tree is now a focus of Christmas morning as children excitedly discover what Father Christmas has delivered. {Excerpt from "An English Christmas, a 2011 supplement of English Home magazine}

Underneath my tree you will find my collection of dolls and teddy bears as well as a rocking horse or two which wait patiently before the gifts are placed underneath its branches.

Please join me tomorrow for the letter V.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year long ~ Sandi

A-Z of Christmas ~ T

2011-12-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Hello bloggy friends and welcome to another A-Z of Christmas. Today's letter is T.

is for...

Tinsel, Toy trains, Toboggans, Christmas Tree, Tradition, Turkey.

Did you know that the Christmas tree originated in Germany?

Queen Victoria and her beloved German Prince Albert introduced Christmas trees with the intricate ornaments to England in 1840. Glass ornaments, decorative beads, paper baskets with sugared almonds and hot air balloons adorned the trees.

And did you know that the early Christmas trees were typically trimmed with real candles, wafers, gingerbread cookies, fruit such as apples and garlands of cranberries, candy, as well as paper flowers and tinsels fashioned from tin and silver?

This is my Christmas tree which I have up in the Family room. It is decorated with ornaments and decorations collected from nearly forty years.

Toy Trains~ I have always been fascinated with toy trains. My father had a wonderful train set when I was growing up and I have always loved them. I always dreamed of having a train set of my own, running around beneath the tree.

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I think they have a most charming quality about them. Someday I hope to have one.

Turkey~ What is Christmas dinner without a turkey? When I was growing up, my family always had a turkey and I still have a turkey to this day for Christmas dinner. It's called Tradition and I'm very big on tradition, especially at Christmastime.

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I make my dressing using bread crumbs, potatoes, onion, summer savory, salt and pepper, and I cook it outside the bird. I add the drippings from the turkey to it which makes it very tasty.

I think one of the nicest compliments I ever received from my mother was that she once told me that my dressing tasted just like her mother's; my grandmother's. I adored my grandmother so whenever I make my dressing now, I always think of my Granny. I like to think that she would be pleased with her granddaughter.

Please come back tomorrow for the letter U.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The Letter S

2011-12-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Christmas Pudding and the A-Z of Christmas! Today's letter is...

is for....
Star of Bethlehem, Silver Bells, Snowflakes, Stockings, Saviour.

"And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
And they came to the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh." ~ Matthew 2:10-11

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." ~ Luke 2: 11

"Silver Bells" is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livinston and Ray Evans.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Snowflakes~ The magical thing about snowflakes, is that there are no two alike. Each one is unique and beautifully created.

Each one of you is like a lovely snowflake. You are beautiful and unique, and there is no other like you in all the world. God has made only one like you and you are precious to Him.
During this beautiful Christmas season, I invite you to get to know Him. He is the reason we are celebrating Christmas and the best you could give Him, is yourself.

Thank you for visiting today. I hope you will stop by again tomorrow as I do the letter T.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

R- The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-16T10:10:00.000-04:00

Hello friends. Today's A-Z of Christmas is the letter R.

is for...
Robins, Roasted chestnuts, Rocking horses, Rudolph, Reindeer.

source

The Legend of Robin Redbreast

On that first Christmas, it is said, the night was wrapped in a bitter chill. The small fire in the stable was nearly out, and the mother Mary worried that her Baby would be cold. She turned to the animals about her and asked them to help.

"Could you blow on the embers," she asked the ox, "so the fire might continue to keep my Son warm?"

But the ox lay sound asleep on the stable floor and did not hear her. Next Mary asked the donkey to breathe life back into the fire but the donkey did not hear Mary either. Nor did the horse or the sheep. She wondered what to do.

Suddenly, Mary heard a fluttering of little wings. Looking up, she saw a plain, brown-coloured little robin fly into the stall. This robin had heard Mary calling to the animals and had come to help her himself. He went over to the dying fire and flapped his wings hard.

His wings were like little bellows, huffing and puffing air onto the embers, until they glowed bright red again. He continued to fan the fire, singing all the while, until the ashes began to kindle.

With his beak, the robin picked up some fresh, dry sticks and tossed them into the fire. As he did, a flame suddenly burst forth and burned the little bird's breast a bright red. But the robin simply continued to fan the fire until it crackled brightly and warmed the entire stable. The Baby Jesus slept happily.

Mary thanked and praised the robin for all he had done. She looked tenderly at his red breast, burned by the flame, and said, "From now on, let your red breast be a blessed reminder of your noble deed."

And to this day, the robin's red breast covers his humble heart.

FROM~ "A Christmas Stocking" by Louise Betts Egan

Christmas Robin by Pat Carlton

Robins are one of the only UK birds to be heard singing in the garden on Christmas Day. This is because they hold their territories all year round, defending against intruders with song. Males often hold the same territory throughout their lives, and they will even attack a bundle of red feathers or their own reflection, mistaking it for another bird. Their melodious voices, along with their cocky little attitudes, have endeared robin red breasts to the British public, and in 1960 they were crowned the UK's national bird.

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire."

Source

I love rocking horses and I own a small collection of them. I'm not sure where my fascination of them comes from; most likely my childhood. The following photos are some from my collection.

I hope you enjoy seeing them.

This wooden horse sits by the fireplace and was a gift from my hubby last Christmas.

This is my newest rocking horse and he is made of metal.

This little ornament hangs on the Christmas tree every year;

a gift from my son when he was nine years old.

This adorable little porcelain deer, or reindeer was a gift from my mother many years ago. I bring him out every Christmas.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." - Norman Vincent Peale

Thank you for joining me today. Please come back tomorrow as I do the letter S.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Q - The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-15T09:45:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. If you have been following along, you know that today's letter of the A-Z of Christmas is Q.
There is not a lot for Q but this is what I came up with.

is for....
The Queen's Speech.
For some, watching the Queen's speech at 3pm on Christmas Day, is an integral part of the traditions of the day. I know my mother never misses it.
The first broadcast from the monarch began during the reign of the present Queen's grandfather, King George V, who in 1932 spoke in the 'wireless' from an office in Sandringham.

The tradition was maintained by his son King George VI, who became king following his brother's abdication and continued by the Queen.

Source

Have a delightful day and please join me again tomorrow for the letter R.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A-Z of Christmas ~ P

2011-12-14T11:10:00.000-04:00

Hello bloggie friends and wecome to the letter P of the A-Z of Christmas.

is for...
Plum pudding, Prince of Peace, Pine cones, Peace on earth, A Partridge In A Pear Tree.

One of the best things about Christmas dinner, besides the family sitting around the table eating turkey, is Plum Pudding.
Much like mince pies, plum pudding was not only an indulgent Christmas food, but it was also steeped in religious meaning.

Source Internet

This is some interesting information I found on this delightful pudding...
As with mincemeat, the mix should contain 13 ingredients, and the pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, or stir-up Sunday as it has come to be known, since every member of the family should take a turn to stir the mixture from east to west to honour the journey of the wise men. A silver coin is mixed in and the guest who finds it in his slice is said to have good fortune in the coming year. The pudding itself is normally the finale of Christmas dinner and is served topped with holly and doused in brandy, which is then lit and brought to the table with much ceremony and to a great applause.

I have always loved plum pudding myself and when I was growing up my mother always served it on Christmas Day. But my own family didn't much care for it so I made pumpkin pie instead. These days, I make pumpkin pie along with a Sticky Date Pudding with a Toffee Sauce which everyone enjoys.

You can find the recipe for it here.

I really like Pine cones and I love to use them in decorating.
These are the pine cones I did up this year by applying white paint and glitter. I used my egg cups for their pots. Cute?

Prince of Peace is one of the many names given to our Saviour. Eight hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah prophesied -

"For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called, Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

Please join me tomorrow for the letter Q.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The O of the A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-13T13:15:00.000-04:00

Hello Christmas buddies. Today I am doing the letter O.

is for...
Oranges, O Come All Ye Faithful, Open House.

When I was growing up, I arose on Christmas morning to find my stocking bulging with treats. There were barley toys, ribbon candy, gumdrops, a big shiny red apple, and a huge Christmas orange in the toe. Were they ever good!

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Have you ever wondered why children receive an orange in their stocking on Christmas morning?

This is one of the most most relevant stories I came across about Bishop Nicholas. He had learned of a poor man with three daughters who had no dowries and hence could not marry. The next night Nicholas returned and tossed three bags of gold for the daughters' dowries through the chimney which happened to land in the stockings of the three maidens which they had hung to dry in front of the fireplace. The bags of gold turned into balls of gold which are now symbolized by oranges.

Source

"O come All Ye Faithful"

The text to the Carol O Come All Ye Faithful was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn, it is attributed to John Wade, an Englishman. The music to O Come All Ye Faithful was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published in a collection known as "Cantus Diversi" in 1751. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar translation of O Come All Ye Faithful which replaced the older Latin lyrics "Adeste Fideles".

I love this Christmas carol and it's always a welcome song we sing this time of year! The strains of the instrumental move me every time I hear it.

O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Over the weekend, my hubby and I were pleased to attend several Open Houses.
There were four homes in all and each one was lovely in its own way and the proceeds went to a very worthy cause; Muscular Dystrophy.
We visited Carolyn of Aiken House and Gardens for an old fashioned Christmas. It was lovely and Carolyn's touches can be seen throughout her charming home and little cottage.
One other home we visited, my husband found the owner to be a relative of his, so there was time spent visiting. It was altogether a very enjoyable outing.

Do you ever have or attend an Open House?

Thank you for stopping by today. Please join me again tomorrow as we do the letter P.

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas - N

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

Hello friends and welcome to the A-Z of Christmas. Today, I'm doing the letter N.

is for...
Nativity, Noel, Nutcracker.

My nativity, I have already shared with you but I want to share it once more.
It was built for me by a gentleman in our last church.
I added gold garland for the straw and set in my porcelain figurines.
Each figurine is made by Avon and they date from 1981-1989.
They were all collected as gifts from family members and friends over the years and they hold much sentimental value.

I keep the little Bible open at Luke 2 for the Christmas story.

Usually the Nativity is simply, but charmingly, performed in the school or local church. An adorable cast of young children re-enact the story of Jesus' birth. While a couple of children may land the starring role of Mary and Joseph, a chorus is made up of various shepherds, angels, kings, and animals who usually wear an array of homemade headdreses and posterboard crowns.

Noel (or noël) is an alternate word for Christmas. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas" which derives from the Old French word noël, a variant of nael. The Latin origin is the word natalis ("birth").

A Nutcracker is a mechanical device for cracking nuts. The earliest use of the term nutcracker in English dates to 1481.

Of course, we all love the famous ballet, Nutcracker.
I have a few nutcrackers myself although I do not have them all out this year. I have not decorated as much this year as I normally do. My grandson Brent claims his favourite Christmas decorations are nutcrackers!

Source Internet

Nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmastime. The ballet The Nutcracker derives its name from this festive holiday decoration.

This is one of my nutcrackers I have hanging on the tree.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back tomorrow for the letter O.

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Natasha's 12 Days of Christmas Party

2011-12-11T20:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my blog! Natasha at Keeping the Spirit of Christmas Alive 365 invited me to do a guest post for her 12 Days of Christmas Party and I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the importance of the real Reason for the Season.

Christmas is a most wonderful time of the year! I truly enjoy the music and the lovely decorations we see everywhere. I love the food, the gift giving, and joyous times with family and friends. All the traditions we enjoy as a family somehow have the ability to whisk me back to my childhood and every year at this time, I feel the little girl within me come alive once more.

But Christmas is so much more than that!
If not for Jesus Christ coming to earth as a Babe in a stable long ago, we would not be celebrating this beautiful season at all.

When my hubby and I were pastoring our church, we held an Advent service every week beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Each Sunday, a candle was lit followed by some scripture and we loved getting the congregation involved.

An Advent wreath of evergreens was made, representing eternity, and I arranged five candles in it.
Each candle represented an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Source Internet

Advent Wreath Candles

Four candles are arranged in a wreath: three purple candles and one pink candle. In the center of the wreath sits a white candle. As a whole, these candles represent the coming of the Light of Christ into the world.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents Hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

On the second day of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents Love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger.

On the third day of Advent, the pink, or rose-colored candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle" and it represents Joy.

The fourth and last purple candle, oftentimes called the "Angels Candle," represents Peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent. I oftentimes lit the pink candle the week before the white candle was lit.

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the white center candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the Life of Christ that has come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Saviour. Also, those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

May we all remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON.

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger. " ~ Luke 2:11-12

This stable was specially built for me by a gentleman in our last church. All the figurines are from Avon and they date from about 1981-1989. Each one was a gift from a family member or friend so they all hold sentimental value. Every year I display my nativity in the china cabinet.

"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant;
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the Kings of angels.
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."

Let us be glad and rejoice because Christ has come!
Thank you Natasha for having me. From my home to yours~

Merry Christmas!

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

M- The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-11T12:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another A-Z of Christmas. Today's letter is...M.

is for...

Mantel, mincemeat, mistletoe, mulled apple juice, and Merry Christmas.

I always make mincemeat pie or tarts for Christmas. To me, you just can't have the holidays without this wonderfully spicy filling in a flaky crust.

I have been loving this delectable pastry ever since I was a little girl when my mother used to make it.

Mistletoe ....why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

Mistletoe was used by the Druid priests 200 years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the plant since it had no roots yet remained green during the cold months of winter.

The ancient Celtics believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and used it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward of evil spirits. The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace.

Scandinavians associated the plant with Frigga, their goddess of love, and it may be from this that we derive the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed under the mistletoe had the promise of happiness and good luck in the following year. {Excerpt from the Internet}

Mulled Apple Juice
This is very nice hot beverage we enjoy in the wintertime; especially during the holidays.

Heat 1- 48 oz. can of good apple juice in the top of a double boiler with 6-8 whole cloves and a 4-5 inch piece of stick cinnamon. Remove the spices after 30 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 8 servings.

This is my fireplace mantel all decked out for Christmas. I have used fairy lights, gorgeous pink balls, pinecones, glittered pink poinsettias, and mercury glass votives on crystal candlesticks.

In the daytime, it looks like this....

And this is what it looks like at night.

Close-up view.

I hope you will join me tomorrow as I do the letter N.

From my home to yours ~ Merry Christmas!

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The "L " of Christmas

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning Christmas loving friends ~ Welcome to the letter L of Christmas.

is for...
Lights, Laying of the table.

What's a Christmas tree without its lights? Whether you use multi-coloured, or white, or all one colour, a Christmas tree looks much more festive with the twinkle and glow of lights on it.

Source Internet

For a few years I used all white lights with pastel ornaments and it looked beautiful. The men in my family didn't like it so I went back to using different coloured lights.
I still like all white lights indoors and coloured lights outdoors. What colour lights do you put on your tree?

This was my tree last year without the tree topper.

I changed the ribbon to a sheer burgundy and gold this year.

This is my white tree all decked out in pink.

One wonderful exercise we ladies get to do at Christmastime is the laying of the table. This is the time to pull out all your best china, crystal, and silverware. I don't have a set of Christmas china but I know many of you do. Christmas dinner always looks better and tastes better on a beautifully laid table, don't you agree?

Whether you use traditional colours...

Source Internet

Or a softer colour palette...

Source Internet

Dinner will taste better on a beautifully laid table. The centerpiece can be as elaborate as you please with candles, flowers, or a simple bowl of Christmas ornaments. This is where we get to use our imaginations.

One can even dress up the chairs. Aren't these festive!

Source Internet

So, how do you dress up your dinner table for Christmas? I would love to know!

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you will come back tomorrow for the letter M.

I will also be doing a guest post for Natasha for her 12 Days of Christmas Party, so please join me then.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ K

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. Hope you're all having a good week. Today I am doing the letter K.

is for...
Kissing ball, We Three Kings.

This is my Kissing ball which hangs in the kitchen window over the sink. It is made up of sprigs of evergreen, glittered balls, pinecones, glittery poinsettias, and ribbon. Hubby helps me with the dishes and we often steal a kiss while we are working together to clean up the kitchen.

We Three Kings
"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863. John Henry Hopkins, Jr., then an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church,^[1] was instrumental in organizing an elaborate holiday pageant (which featured this hymn) for the students of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857 while serving as the seminary's music director. In 1872 Hopkins was ordained an Episcopal priest and later served as rector at Christ Episcopal Church (Williamsport, PA).^[2]

Source

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

J - The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hello friends~ Today we are doing the letter J.

is for...
Jesus, Jingle Bells, Joy To The World.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Eight hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah.

"For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857. Even though it is commonly thought of as a Christmas song, it was actually written and sung for Thanksgiving.^[1]

"Joy to the World"
The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. Watts wrote the words of "Joy to the World" as a hymn glorifying Christ's triumphant return at the end of the age,^[1] rather than a Christmas song celebrating his first coming as a babe born in a stable. Only the second half of Watts' lyrics are still used today.^[2]
The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which was then believed to have originated from Handel, not least because the theme of the refrain (And heaven and nature sing...) appears in the orchestra opening and accompaniment of the recitative Comfort ye from Handel's Messiah, and the first four notes match the beginning of the choruses Lift up your heads and Glory to God from the same oratorio. However, Handel did not compose the entire tune.^[3] The name "Antioch" is generally used for the tune.
As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.^[4]

I hope you are enjoying the A-Z of Christmas. Tomorrow I will do the letter K.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A-Z of Christmas - I

2011-12-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the letter I of the A-Z of Christmas.
Before I get into our letter for today, I would like to extend a hearty Welcome to all my new Followers! Both my old and new blog buddies have made this Christmas blog so worth while and I just want to say Thank you for commenting and being the wonderful support that you are. It's simply lovely there are so many of you out there who enjoy Christmas as much as I do! Now, on to the letter...

is for...
Icicles, ice skating, Immanuel.

Icicles can be both beautiful and harmful. This photo below is one example of how beautiful they can be.

Source

However, I do recall a time when my little brother and I were playing outdoors in the wintertime and we were knocking icicles off the eves of the house. We were about six and eight years old at the time. One icicle fell off the house and went through my brother's lip which then required stitches. It gave us all quite a scare at the time and needless to say, we found other things to do after that.

Ice skating has always been a popular pasttime here on the Island in the wintertime.

Internet

My father used to take my brother and me skating at the rink and on outdoor ponds when we were growing up. And my hubby grew up playing hockey on outdoor ponds.

Immanuel is another name for our Saviour when He came to earth as a Babe in the stable. As most of you know, it means "God with us."

Photo courtesy of The Nativity Story

Thank you for visiting today and please join me again tomorrow when I talk about the letter J.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

H ~ The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome Christmas friends to the A-Z of Christmas. Today's letter is H...

is for...
The Holly and the Ivy, Holy Night, Happy Holidays.

As an evergreen plant that bears vibrant berries even in the dead of Winter, holly is a natural choice for decorative foliage for Christmas. Its symbolic importance stems back to Druid times who considered the holly to have magical properties.

Source

Holly is associated with males and as such is considered to bring men good luck, whereas ivy is the female counterpart, so be sure to decorate with both to have a fortuitous Christmas for the whole family.

Happy Holidays is a greeting used everywhere nowadays instead of Merry Christmas. It is thought that in using the term Happy Holidays, one would not offend others who don't celebrate the holiday, Christmas. Personally, I greet everyone with a big smile and wish them a Merry Christmas because it is Christmas I am celebrating. If the Lord had not yet come, we wouldn't even be celebrating!

O Holy Night is one of my favourite Christmas carols.

"O Holy Night" ("Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by Placide Cappeau (1808–1877), a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem. A minister, John Sullivan Dwight,^[2] editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, created a singing edition based on Cappeau's French text in 1855. In both the French original and in the two familiar English versions of the carol, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of mankind's redemption.

O Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

What is your favourite Christmas carol? Please join me tomorrow for the letter I.

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

G ~ The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning Christmas lovin friends. Today I am doing the letter G.

is for....

Glad Tidings, gingerbread, gold, frankincense, myrrh, and good will toward men.

Gingerbread cookies and houses are a long time favourite at Christmastime. When my boys were growing up I made gingerbread boys every year. I still enjoy them although I no longer bake them. They are such charming cookies!

These days, I have a ceramic Gingerbread House which I purchased at Hallmark a few years ago. It has wonderful gumdrops on it which light up and keep time to the music that plays when you ring the doorbell. It plays a most delightful rendition of The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.

My grandchildren love it and they take turns ringing the door bell! The past couple of years I have also been making a gumdrop tree which stands next to the Gingerbread House. The children take the tree home with them after their visit to enjoy the treats.

I also enjoy old fashioned Gingerbread cake served with apple sauce, whipped cream, or a wonderful vinegar sauce which was my grandmother's recipe. Yes, Vinegar Sauce; and it's delicious!

Please come back tomorrow for the letter H.

Till then, I'm keeping...

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

F ~ The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

Hello friends and welcome to another A-Z of Christmas. Today we are doing the letter F...

is for....
Father Christmas, family, fruitcake, fudge, frosty walks.

The central figure of most secular celebrations of Christmas is a jolly fellow who delivers presents to well behaved children on Christmas Eve.

He goes by several names; Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, among others. In England, this jolly gent is known as Father Christmas.

I really like this figurine and I find it very endearing. Father Christmas kneeling in worship before the Saviour.

Years ago, I had made a friend of mine a figurine very much like this one. I wish I had made myself one too because I think it says it all.

Every Christmas, I make fruitcake and fudge among other things. This year, I will make both a dark and a sultana cake. My middle son and his wife as well as myself, prefer the dark cake, whereas the rest of my family prefers the sultana.

This is my Sultana cake which is my mother's recipe. It is a wonderful light and buttery cake made with a delectable mixture of fruit and flavourings. Yum!

What about you? Do you make a special cake for the holidays?

I am linking this post with Natasha for her 12 Days of Christmas Party.
Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

E ~ The A-Z of Christmas

2011-12-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone and welcome to E of the A-Z of Christmas.

is for...Ebenezer Scooge, eggnog, Emmanuel, evergreens, Christmas EVE...
Eggnog is one of the many treats of the festive season. It is said to have its origins in medieval times and was later enjoyed by the English aristocracy who could both afford the expensive ingredients, and keep the milk chilled.
The drink itself varies from country to country and even amongst families.

Source

The drink reached the shores of America in the eighteenth century and rum or 'grog' was used to lace the mixture, with the name abbreviated from egg and grog to that used today.
However, good eggnog is made as a punch and should contain a large amount of eggs, milk, and spices such as vanilla and nutmeg. I don't use alcohol although I know many do.

Evergreens have long been used to decorate our homes for the Christmas season. Not only are they beautiful but their pungent fragrance fills one's home with the lovely scent of the outdoors. Many use artificial evergreens today because allergies are such a problem.

My parents always used real evergreens to decorate the doorways and windows of their home as well as using the big evergreen Christmas tree. I miss that nowadays as we use an artificial tree. The main reason for that is so that I can leave the tree up longer.

Emmanuel or Immanuel, is the name given to our beloved Saviour Jesus Christ, when He came to earth as a Babe in the stable so long ago. The prophecy was given in Isaiah 7:14.

"Behold, the virgin shall be with Child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which translated means, 'God is with us.'" - Matthew 1:23

How do you spend your Christmas Eve? In years gone by, we usually had a church service and then spent the rest of the evening with our family. We always enjoyed my pate after the service which is a savoury meat pie. Of course later that evening, the beautiful strains of Christmas music would be playing while we finished wrapping gifts and filling stockings.

Come back tomorrow for the letter F.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ D

2011-12-02T11:15:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another A-Z of Christmas.
Today's letter is D.

is for....
Dickens, Deck the Halls, Dolls, Donuts...

I'm sure most of you have begun your holiday baking and decorating your home for the season.

Source Internet

My father and I had a tradition of making Christmas donuts together. I would mix up the batter, cut them out, and he was in charge of cooking them in the fat. We always left half the batch plain and sugared the other half. He would keep half the donuts for my mother and himself while I would take the other half home to my family. It was my grandmother's recipe and were they ever good!
Today, I make them by myself but not that often any more. I really miss those times with my Daddy!

Christmas is also about Dickens...
The Victorian era was when many of the traditions were established. Prince Albert introduced the German tradition of the Christmas tree during Dickensian times, and the Royal family promoted the idea of family Christmases.

This paired with the novella written by Charles Dickens, cemented the ideologies of Christmas that we uphold today. 'A Christmas Carol' is not only an illustration of Christmas during Victorian times, it promoted many of the sentiments of what the season meant to secular society.

The story is rich with the importance of family and love as well as merriment, enjoying food, dancing, and playing games, but also most importantly, goodwill to all men and generosity of spirit.

This is part of my Christmas Village. All the characters are dressed in Victorian garments.

When I was a little girl, I loved dolls, and I couldn't imagine never playing with them. Then I grew up and had my own. Unfortunately, they grew up on me. So, I began collecting dolls. The two I'm sharing with you today I had received for Christmas a number of years ago.

This porcelain Little Drummer Boy, was gifted to me by my hubby the year my youngest son played The Little Drummer Boy in the school band. I named him Yarden which is Jewish for Jordan. He is outfitted in his shepherd garments complete with sandals, and plays his drum to the music of The Little Drummer Boy.

This sweet little girl was a gift from my middle son and his wife for Christmas one year. She is out walking her doggy and carrying her lantern. She is dressed in her lovely velvet forest green coat which is trimmed with fur. Underneath her coat, she is wearing her little tartan dress. Topping off her beautiful tresses is a matching fur hat. Isn't she adorable?

Thank you for visiting today. See you tomorrow for the letter E.....

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ C

2011-12-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome friends to another A-Z of Christmas.
Today's letter is ~

is for Candy canes, carols, cards, charity, Christ Child, concerts....

Source

There are many stories and legends about the cany cane. I will share this one today.

The Story of the Candy Cane

Once upon a time, an Indiana candymaker decided to create a new kind of candy that would witness to his Christian faith. He began with a stick of pure, white, hard candy–white to symbolize Jesus’ Virgin Birth and sinless life, and hard to symbolize the firmness of the promises of God, the Rock of our salvation.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent both the precious name of Jesus and the staff used by the “Good Shepherd” to gently bring back His stray lambs. Thinking this candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker decorated it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have eternal life.

Although the candy cane is for many simply another Christmas decoration, its true meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear.”

Did you know that Christmas cards first originated in ancient Rome? However the first earliest known designer of a Christmas card was Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was both the Penny Post postal service in 1840 and the industrialization of the printing industry however, that led to the popularity of sending Christmas cards. By 1846, one thousand were sold at one shilling each. Cards in unsealed envelopes could be posted for half a penny.

I like the old fashioned way of sending a lovely card to family and friends as it is much more personal. It is fast becoming a thing of the past however, with the use of email. I don't know about you, but I enjoy receiving a lovely card in the mail. How about you, do you send Christmas cards?

Although there are plenty of formal carol concerts, there is something charming about carollers singing on one's doorstep. In the name of charity and goodwill to all men, groups make their way from door to door or gather beneath a street lamp to sing. It is both a charming and romantic sight this time of year.

Please join me tomorrow for the letter D.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year long ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ B

2011-11-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to the A-Z of Christmas.

is for....Baking, Boxing Day, Baubles, Bethlehem...

When my children were growing up, I did a lot of baking for the holidays. In fact, I used to make fifteen kinds of sweets every Christmas.

Included in all that baking were pies, tarts, cookies, including gingerbread boys, two fruit cakes, fudge, and peanut brittle. I also made pate which is a rich meat pie that I still make every year. I usually make it with a bannock crust.

We had a lot of company in those days and it always gave me such pleasure to serve my goodies to special family members and friends!

The day after Christmas Day is called Boxing Day and it is a holiday which is celebrated in many countries, including Australia, Canada, and England, etc.
There are any number of explanations for the name, however, most relate to the giving of a box of food or money to the needy. Christmas is a time for charity and good will toward men.

Here in Canada, Boxing Day allows us some down time after the busy Christmas preparations. It is a rather relaxed affair and is usually spent with extended family and friends. Usually there are leftovers from Christmas dinner to be savoured.

For Boxing Day this year, we will be having our oldest son and his family in for coffee and dessert. Then we will all gather around the webcam and talk to our other two sons and family members out in Vancouver, BC.

This is one of the many Baubles on my Christmas tree. It is a Limoges ornament which was given to me by my mother years ago. It is a beautiful porcelain ornament of pink and white encircled with bows, butterflies, and flowers. It is topped by a little blue butterfly.

More baubles. Many of my ornaments are gifts from family and friends

and hold much sentimental value like this lovely lace one trimmed with a rose and berries.

'O Little Town of Bethlehem' is a popular Christmas carol which was penned by Phillips Brooks in 1867 and the music was composed by Lewis H. Redner in 1868.

Thank you for visiting today. I hope you will join me again tomorrow as we talk about the C of Christmas.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The A-Z of Christmas ~ A

2011-11-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the A-Z of Christmas!
Each day, beginning today through to Christmas, I will be sharing some decorations, traditions, and Christmas memories. I hope you will join me every day and be inspired.

Today's letter is the first letter of the alphabet. A is for...
....Advent, angels, Away In A Manger...

Although Advent Sunday begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, in secular society the keeping of an Advent calendar is a popular tradition which usually begins on December 1.

When my hubby was in the Ministry, we always celebrated Advent in our church with the lighting of a candle each week. There were five candles in all; each candle represented a prophesy foretold of the coming of the Saviour. The fifth candle was the Christ candle which was lit on Christmas Day.
It brought a special touch to each service leading up to Christmas and it was a wonderful way to get the congregation involved in the service.

When my children were growing up, I used to make my own Advent calendar. Like most young families, money was tight so I had to make do with what I had. I used my art skills quite a bit in those days as well as my imagination.

I made my Advent calendar, which was a large Christmas tree, cut out of cardboard. I covered the tree with green foil wrapping paper and then I drew 25 little ornaments each with the number corresponding to that day on the calendar tree. I drew Christmas balls, angels, trains, toy soldiers, candy canes, etc. You get the picture!

Each day, one of the boys would take their turn placing an ornament on the tree. The 25th of course, was always the Nativity. It was great fun and the boys always enjoyed it. We made lots of memories.

This is the angel which I used for over twenty years on top of our Christmas tree.

The song, Away In a Manger, is usually the first carol that children are taught. It was originally published in 1885 and the author of the first two stanzas is unknown. The third stanza was penned by John T. McFarland. The music to the song was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1885. There are actually two melodies to the song.

Adoration of the Shepherds- Gerard van Honthorst {1590-1656}

AWAY IN A MANGER

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will join me again tomorrow for the letter B of Christmas. Wishing you all a delightful day. Till then, I'm keeping ...

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Christmas Pinks For Pink Saturday

2011-11-25T15:00:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. I hope you are all enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend.

A month from today is Christmas Day! Imagine that, it will be here before we know it!

I have a couple of Christmas pinks to share with you.
The first is the little Christmas cottage I painted up and set inside a cloche.
White and pink paint as well as some glitter and snow made this little cottage sparkle for the holidays.

A wee bit of pink peeks through the snow on the roof and the door is painted pink.

I have my little Christmas tree decorated and sitting in the front room this year.

It is decorated with silver and pinks balls, pink and gold sheer ribbon, and glittery birdies.

A couple of bunnies sit in the snow beneath the branches. And my adorable little Christmas fairy adorns the
top of the tree.

For more pinks please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Please come back next week as I will be sharing the A-Z of Christmas, beginning Tuesday, the 29th of November. Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Christmas Blogging Ideas

2011-11-23T18:10:00.000-04:00

"For Christmas is tradition time -
Traditions that recall
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all." ~ Helen Lowrie Marshall

Hello Christmas buddies~ I have been perusing some wonderful magazines to glean a few ideas for the holidays this year.

One wonderful magazine, The English Home, is filled with Christmas delights and it has given me an idea which I would like to share on this blog.

The festive season is such a magical time, steeped in tradition from centuries old, to the wonderful family traditions of today. We all have our own traditions and memories of special Christmases and I want to celebrate every day leading up to it.

I thought it would be fun to do the A-Z of Christmas. So, beginning on Tuesday, November 29, I will do a post every day up until Christmas Eve.

Each day, I will share one letter of the alphabet and include something which begins with that letter. There will be a delightfully festive potpourri of Christmas inspired decorations, recipes, my own Christmas memories, and so much more. I hope you will pop by every day to see what I've shared and if you feel so inclined, I would love for you to share as well.

In the meantime I will be keeping ....

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A Decadent Little Coffee Break

2011-11-21T13:10:00.000-04:00

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!" ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Hello everyone ~ I hope you all had a great weekend! I have some ideas bouncing around in my head for the coming weeks. I have already started preparing my posts for it and I hope you will stop by to see what I'm up to.

It's a very busy time of the year, what with baking, decorating, shopping, etc., not to mention the concerts, parties, and everything else that goes along with the holiday season.

One needs to take a break and enjoy what you have accomplished so far. So, why not sit down and pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea in a pretty cup and indulge yourself in a simple but yummy treat.

Just taking a few moments can rejuvenate you from top to bottom.

Raspberry Fool is one dessert which is very easy and pretty too. Why not make some for dinner this evening but try testing it first. :)

It is as simple as folding some pureed raspberries into whipped cream. Serve it in a festive dish and, Yum! A delectable little treat to enjoy before you get back into the swing of things once again. Your family will love it too!

Take some time for yourself and until next time, I'm keeping...

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

The Story of the Cloche and the Christmas Balls

2011-11-16T11:35:00.000-04:00

Hubby always brings coffee home after work and we sit and talk about his day before dinner.
Last evening we were sitting in front of the fireplace with only the wreath and candles lit while we sipped on our coffee. He was exhausted after a hard day's work and hadn't even noticed that I had the wreath up over the fireplace.
So I asked him, "Well, what do you think?" He looked up and saw the candles lit and the cloche on the mantel. He commented on how nice the cloche looked!

I laughed and told him I had the wreath up! He said it was nice but he really liked the cloche filled with Christmas balls. Isn't that just like a man!

I had gotten the pink balls a couple of days ago and they had been sitting on the kitchen table so I dumped them into a cloche and set it on the mantel just to get them out of the way! They do look pretty so I may leave them in there but set them somewhere else in the room. I haven't even started decorating the mantel yet. Anyway, I guess you know what colour scheme I'm going with in the living room this year!

"I'm dreaming of a pink Christmas..."

What colour have you chosen to decorate with this year?

I'm linking this post with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.
Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Rocking Horses

2011-11-03T13:00:00.000-03:00

Hello everyone. Are you thinking about Christmas? Me too! Actually, I'm not only thinking about it, I'm picking up little things here and there in my travels around the shops. I'm still looking for a new angel for the tree top and I'm starting to bring out my wreaths to spruce them up for the holidays.

Some of you may know that I love rocking horses and I have a small collection of them. The other day, I acquired another one and this one is made of metal. I am loving the design on him. Isn't he cute?

These would make lovely gifts for three young ladies I know!

Yes, I have one little tree up already!

This is a rocking horse Hubby gifted me with for Christmas last year. I just love him! Some have suggested that I paint him but my hubby likes him the way he is. I'm not sure where my love of rocking horses comes from. Must simply be the little girl in me.

I am a collector of many things; rocking horses is just one of them. Do you collect anything special? I would love to see it!

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Hunting For An Angel

2011-10-30T21:21:00.002-03:00

Hello everyone ~
I have had this lovely angel for the tree top for over twenty years. Last year, when I set her up where she watches over the decorating of the tree, she didn't light up. I asked my DIL to try to fix her but alas, she could only get her lit half way. She put a new string of lights up under her gown but it just didn't look right to me. You can see what she looked like on top of last year's tree in a few posts down.
I was so disappointed! I will still use her in a centerpiece or on a shelf but she will be missed on the tree top!

In my hunt for a new angel, I found this one which changes colour.

Lovely, isn't she? I really liked her fur-trimmed robe and feather wings.

I was not happy with her however as she seemed a bit too large for the tree and she wasn't as demure as the other one so I returned her.

I used a star one year and I've seen some lovely bows as tree toppers but I still prefer an angel. So, I'm still on the hunt for a new angel. Wish me luck, won't you?

What do you have for your tree topper?

Till next time....
Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Blossoms All Glittered Up for Christmas

2011-10-25T10:30:00.000-03:00

Hello friends~ Well, here we are only two months away from Christmas and I am thinking about my decorating scheme for the living room. Generally, I don't decorate my home the same way more than two or three years in a row. I picked up these gorgeous peachy-pink and gold glittered blossoms at Michaels awhile back. They will be lending a lovely floral theme to my Christmas mantel this year. Aren't they purty? I will have to get a couple more for a wreath and perhaps a centerpiece for the coffee table.

Is there anything prettier than a magnolia blossom dressed up in pink and glitter? Gold encrusted petals and glittered berries make them simply irresistable; especially when you have a pink theme in mind!

Have you picked up anything for your Christmas mantel yet? I'd love to see it!

This is a peek at my centerpiece from last year. Till next time...

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-10-09T12:54:00.001-03:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!

Hello everyone! Well, here we are only 77 days away from Christmas and we Canadians are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend.

Families are gathering around their tables to enjoy a bountiful feast and fellowship with one another. It is a time to enjoy the harvest and to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives.

Another wonderful thing about this time of year is that one can walk into a store and see Christmas decorations on the shelves. I love it! Already I have picked up some pretties for my Christmas decor this year. My camera is being recharged at the moment so I'll have to show you the items later.

I'll be back soon. In the meantime, enjoy this day and remember to give thanks for it. The next breath you take is a gift from God and you should thank Him for it!

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Christmas in July

2011-07-25T09:37:00.002-03:00

Hey everyone! Five months from today, it's Christmas! Like every other year, for as long as I can remember, I'm thinking about Christmas this time of year. Why is that? So, I am sharing a favourite cloche today to celebrate.

My little girl angel had fallen and her wings got broken off so she's being glued back together right now. Don't they look cute kissing under glass?

Have a beautiful day, everyone! Until next time, I'm keeping...
Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A Recipe for Bread Pudding

2011-05-02T10:00:00.001-03:00

Hello my lovely friends. How are you all doing? It was a bit cool over the weekend so I got a hankering for some comfort food. Actually, it was Bread Pudding I was craving. I had seen it on someones blog the other day and I just couldn't seem to shake the lust for it. So, here's my recipe for it and I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!

BREAD PUDDING
10 slices white bread, cut into cubes
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 - 1 cup of raisins {your preference}
1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine the bread, melted butter, raisins, and cinnamon. Mix well and transfer to a 2 quart baking dish. Use the same bowl to beat the eggs in.

6 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups hot milk
1 pinch nutmeg

Heat oven to 375.
Stir sugar, salt, and vanilla into the beaten eggs until dissolved. Slowly whisk in the hot milk. Pour the hot milk mixture over the bread cubes. Sprinkle with nutmeg and set aside to soak for a few minutes.
Bake in pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes.

I made the sauce while the pudding was baking.

QUICK VANILLA SAUCE
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Gradually stir in 2 cups of boiling water
Bring to a boil and cook until smoothly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in-
2 tablespoons butter
1 - 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Yield~ 2 cups sauce

This sauce goes well with almost anything; cake or baked pudding. My DIL claims she would have it over crackers, she likes it so much!

Dish out a substantial serving of pudding into a lovely bowl and pour the hot sauce over it.

Enjoy it with a nice cup of tea.

Until next time, take care, and remember to keep Christmas in your heart all year round! Hugs to you!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

A New Angel

2011-01-19T14:33:00.000-04:00

Hi friends! As promised, I said I would share anything new I found and here it is.
This angel was less than half price. She is very tall and covered with glitter from the tip of her wings to the hem of her garment. I couldn't resist her! I love angels and I love glitter, so...

Her garment has a couple of cardinals and evergreens etched into it and she holds a chorus book in her hands. She sparkles from head to toe and I couldn't resist bringing her home!

Till next time....
Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Happy New Year!

2011-01-06T10:52:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone ~ I trust you all enjoyed a lovely Christmas season surrounded by family and friends.
Once again the holidays are behind us. For some reason it was busier this year in our household. My youngest son was home for the holidays and we so enjoyed his presence with us! All too soon, the season is over and he has left us once again to return to university in Toronto. We always miss him when he's gone!

I am in the midst of taking all my Christmas down and putting it away for another year. It is kind of sad as I love it so. However the spirit of Christmas shall remain in my heart all year round. I always have a little sparkle around especially during the Wintertime.

This is a birdcage I decorated this year and will probably leave it out for a while yet. The white birdie is snuggled in nice and warm among the evergreen branches. I always leave the door open so he can come and go as he pleases!

Here it is with the fairy lights lit.

The winter months here on the Island are cold and snowy and it's lovely to put my feet up with a cup of tea in front of my new fireplace. A fireplace has been on the top of my Wishlist for several years and this year, my wish came true! Thank you to my wonderful hubby!

I won't be on here much until next Christmas. But like I did last year; should I happen upon a Christmas ornament or something festive, I will share it with you. In the meantime, I will be blogging on my other blog, Rose Chintz Cottage, which you can find on my sidebar.

Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!
God bless you, every one!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Christmas Decorating

2010-12-21T10:36:00.008-04:00

Hello everyone~ I have a few photos of my Christmas decor to share with you. Because I had sprained my wrist I had to cut way back this year.

I wanted to do a spectacular mantel this year but I wasn't able to. The top of my angel burnt out too so she's not as pretty as she should be! Most of the decor in this room is in pink.

Tea by the tree.Every Christmas I make a Sultana fruit cake which is my mother's recipe.Kitchen window. The little deer was a gift from my mother years ago, the little girl was a gift from my son and DIL, and the snowman with the children was gifted to me by my hubby.A little basket in the bathroom which was something I put together this year. I painted and glittered up the birdhouse.
Well, that's it for today. We are having a very stormy day and I was still awake at 5 AM because of the wind howling. So, I'm very tired today. I will try to show you more later. Have a lovely day everyone.

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A Little Pink Tree Got Some Twinkle

2010-12-18T09:43:00.008-04:00

Hi everyone! How is everyone doing? Hope you're all ready for the holidays!

Do you remember the little tree that got a makeover? From this ......to this!Well, I have decided to had some twinkle as well. I had a small set of fairy lights and added them too.

I also made a little vignette with my toile bunny sitting close by. This bunny usually sits on a chair in the living room but I thought he would look cute next to the little tree and have some gifts placed around him. What do you think?

I made a gumdrop tree for my three little grandsons to enjoy during the holidays. It suggles up to the gingerbread house which plays the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy and the gumdrops light up and keep time to the music. Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a week filled with joy. Merry Christmas!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

The Reason for the Season Party

2010-12-14T13:34:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone~ Today I am joining Lynn @ Happier Than A Pig In Mud for her Reason for the Season Party.

I meant to post my offering for the party on this blog but I made a mistake and posted on my other blog, Rose Chintz Cottage. You may click here http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/ to go visit my post for this wonderful party.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

My Granddaughter's Christmas Tree

2010-12-06T11:34:00.007-04:00

Good morning everyone~ Well we had an exciting event take place in our family over the weekend! My little granddaughter arrived on Saturday afternoon instead of Christmas Eve!

She is beautiful and her mom, my sweet DIL Carina, is doing well. 'Jenna-Lynn' Carina was born December 4 at 4:00 PM in Vancouver, BC. They are both home now and all is well.

I will not get to hold Jenna-Lynn until we fly out to visit her until probably in the springtime.

As you know I have decorated my little white Christmas tree in honour of Jenna-Lynn and here it is for your pleasure. I debated whether or not to hang the little tea set which will one day go to her. I decided it looked fine the way it is - Pink and silver balls, glittery white birdies, pink sheer bows, and the little fairy at the top with my collection of Snow Babies beneath the tree. I think she would like it if she could see it!

Have a beautiful day dear friends! Merry Christmas!

Celebrating Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Pink Saturday & Christmas Poinsettia Party

2010-12-03T18:30:00.001-04:00

Hello bloggy friends and welcome to Beverly's Pink Saturday & Beth's Christmas Poinsettia Party.

Well, I sprained my wrist a couple of days ago so I've had to wrap up my decorating. I am only about half done and the mantel will have to do the way it is! Oh, well, better than no mantel at all!

I love this Christmas Star or Winter Rose as it is sometimes called. It originated in Mexico and was brought to the US by Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1825.

I have had almost every colour of poinsettia in my home to decorate with; blue, burgundy, cream, pink, red, and white. I love the pink but then I will see a red one that just takes my breath away! The white one is also lovely.....

One year a flower shop was on my hubby's mail route and one day a big pot of gorgeous pink poinsettias was delivered to our home. What a wonderful surprise and they were exquisite!

These are some of the ways in which I have incorporated these beautiful flowers into my home over the past couple of years. Pink poinsettias and glittery roses snuggle up to a pillar candle in this swag. The pink toile angel stands gracefully by.
My crystal hurricane lamp sits on the coffee table surrounded by a wreath of pink poinsettias, pine cones, pink ribbon, and pink Christmas balls.I also like it with a pink pillar candle.Burgundy adorns the wreath hanging on the door.A white poinsettia sets off a white church birdhouse.A couple of years ago, I had red on the window sill.And I always adorn my Nativity with a white poinsettia.

Those of you who know me, know that I am a teapot collector and of course I had to have a teapot spruced up for Christmas! This is my Rose Chintz teapot and she is looking pretty festive with the pink rose, poinsettia, and pine cone.

Beverly asked us to share a recipe as well today. Mine is very easy.

Mincemeat Tarts

Choose your favourite mincemeat and fill unbaked tart shells. Pop into the oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Quick and tasty little tarts for this Christmas season.

If you would like to participate in Beth's Christmas Poinsettia Party, just click on the link -
http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com/

If you would like to visit all of Beverly's pink bloggerettes please click on this link - http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Thank you for visiting today and I wish you a lovely weekend.

Celebrating Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

A Lovely Gift Idea

2010-11-29T11:50:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday everyone!

We had our Christmas Banquet last week for our bible study group and our wonderful group presented Hubby and me with a lovely basket of goodies.

I wish I could have taken a picture of it before it was opened because it was wrapped so beautifully but they insisted on our opening it that evening.

The festive basket held a tube of my hubby's favourite chips which are conspicuously missing from the basket because he ate them already! My favourite Lindor chocolates were in it as well as a gift card to one of our nicer restaurants in Charlottetown.

There were bottles of home made mustard pickles, Lady Ross mustard pickles, apple sauce, and a large bottle of Strawberry-Apple sauce. All of these were made by a lady in our group.

There was a box of crackers and an assortment of Gourmet coffees. A boxed set of Hot Pepper Jelly and Wild Blueberry Lemon Spreadable fruit from our own Prince Edward Island Preserve Co. was also in the basket.

I was delighted to receive this because I do entertain quite a bit and these items will all come in handy. We are blessed to lead this lovely group of friends.

I also wanted to share with you a little ceramic village I have set up in the bathroom. It lights up and looks very cute in there.
I like little surprises in unexpected places, don't you?

Well, till next time, take some time for yourself with a nice cup of tea and enjoy the Season. I host a tea party every week on my other blog Rose Chintz Cottage http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/ and I invite you to stop by and join me. Have a lovely day everyone!

Celebrating Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

My New Christmas Wreath

2010-11-14T16:57:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends~ Well, I have finally finished my Christmas wreath. Those of you who have been following my Christmas blog know that I did a little tree over and I have made a wreath to match. You can view the tree below a couple of posts down and how it has been changed up.

I used an assortment of decorations including silver, gold, white, and pink balls, pinecones, berries, some silvery branches, and ribbon.

I have placed the tree in a toile hat box and the wreath is hanging on the front door. Now I have a centerpiece to work on. So much to do; so little time!

Hope you enjoy my creations. Until next time.......

Keeping Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A Special Little Tree Topper

2010-11-08T13:04:00.008-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! I have been keeping my eye out for some cuteness to decorate my little white Christmas tree with. This year, I am decorating it in honour of my new granddaughter who is supposed to make her appearance around Christmas Eve.

I wanted something sweet and girly and I found just the topper a couple of weeks ago.
Here she is hanging on one of my trees. This is not the tree she will go on. I just tried her on this one to see how pretty she would be surrounded by Christmas pretties.

This little ice fairy is happy and dreaming of sugar plums in her head. I couldn't resist her! What do you think, isn't she adorable?

Hasn't she got the cutest little face? I love her sparkly wings and little frock!

Till next time, have a scrumptious day!

Keeping the spirit of Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

A Little Christmas Tree All Dressed In Pink!

2010-10-25T10:00:00.000-03:00

Hello Christmas buddies~ Believe it or not, two months from today is Christmas Day and I am working on some Christmas crafts. Today's is this little Christmas tree. I have had this little tree for a couple of years and it used to look like this.
It actually came this way; just some red sparkly ornamentation on it; berries, pine cones, and red balls. I had it sitting in the laundry room-half bath window. Cute but a little too country for what I'm wanting this year!

Here is the new look. I told you I was dreaming of a pink Christmas this year! This will now grace the dining room. Pink and gold sheer ribbon, white and silver balls, some hydrangeas and other floral picks and, Viola!
Next, I am working on a wreath to match. I am not finished with the wreath yet and when I am, I'll share that with you too.

What are you working on these days?

Remember, the world would be a much nicer place if we kept ...

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Christmas Collector's Party

2010-10-04T11:57:00.007-03:00

Hello all my Christmas lovin friends~ I thought I would share one of my Christmas collections for Denise Marie's Christmas Collector's Alley Party!

Years ago, I had spied these adorable SnowBabies and I just fell in love with them. That same year, my sweet hubby gifted me with one for Christmas. Since then, I have received several more, mostly from my youngest son. I have them all named after members of my family. I don't have them all yet but I'm getting there. There is a new member of the family arriving at Christmastime so I will have to get one for her too!

This was the very first one I received. I named the two little guys after my two oldest boys, who were peeking out of the Christmas box. Sorry the photos aren't clearer as I took this and sized it down from another photo.This is my newest addition, a gift from my hubby. It is me feeding my youngest grandson Zachary while he sits in the hi-chair.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at my SnowBabies and thank you Denise Marie for hosting this fun party. You can visit Denise Marie at her blog by clicking the link.

http://denisemarie-christmas.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas!

2010-09-09T13:33:00.009-03:00

Sugar and spice and all things nice...........

You may wonder why I'm dreaming of a pink Christmas this year! Well, it's simple really! I am going to be blessed with my first little granddaughter at Christmastime this year and I am thrilled! I have three sons and four little grandsons so a granddaughter is sure to bring some excitement our way!

I am pondering about decorating one little tree in a pink or baby theme this year in celebration of this most timely event in our lives.

While perusing the 'Net I came across this darling baby themed tree with lots of pink and blue on it. Photos courtesy of Country Living.

I have so many ideas for a pink tree this year. Perhaps a tree decorated with dollies or a little girl's teacups. Perhaps I'll simply spruce up my teacup tree I had last year. In any case, I'm going to have a wonderful time!

What ideas do you have dancing around in your head this year?

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Look What I Found for Christmas Decorating!

2010-06-02T09:40:00.001-03:00

Hello all my Christmas lovin friends~ In my last post, I promised you that I would be sharing any new treasures I happened to find throughout the year. Well, over the weekend, I went into a shop looking for a new purse and I found this. I didn't have a set of Victorian carollers, believe it or not, other than the little one in my Christmas village, and I was so excited to find this one! It is a foot tall and for 70 % off, I couldn't resist! ! So, it came home with me.
What do you think? Isn't it wonderful?

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Christmas '09 Has Come and Gone

2010-02-21T17:20:00.005-04:00

Hello friends! Well, Christmas '09 has come and gone and all the decorations have sadly been put away for another year.

Christmas was wonderful this past year with our youngest son home for the holidays. He arrived home a little earlier this year so the excitement building up for Christmas was much more enjoyable with him here. Spending time with the grandchildren was a treat as always and we enjoyed spending a day with each one individually.

News Years Day, Hubby and I flew out to Vancouver to visit with our middle son and his family. While there, we went to many places of interest, including Cypress Mountain where some of the 2010 Olympics are now taking place. We made some wonderful memories and it was a wonderful trip, other than I broke a rib two days before we were to fly home. I am healing however.

Now that the Holidays are over, this blog will remain dormant for a while. However, as I come across Christmas ornaments and holiday crafts, I will post them here so I can share them with you. Christmas is never very far from my heart. Just as I end every post with "Christmas in my heart all year round," so it is! Till next time, the Lord bless you and keep you.

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

A Christmas Miracle

2009-12-21T22:12:00.004-04:00

Hello friends~ It has been a busy time getting ready for the holidays. Baking, decorating, and the arrival of my youngest son home for Christmas. The next three days, my son and I will be looking after my three little grandsons which will bring a lot more excitement to my home!

Today I would like to share a story with you. It is a true story and it is long but I hope you will read through it. I hope you will be as blessed as I am to share it with you.

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

The year was 1985, and what had started out as a very promising year, by May, had turned disastrous!

My hubby had lost his job and with the loss of his job, he had also lost the car which had been supplied by the company he had worked for.

He and the number one salesman in the Atlantic region had both been fired because of their honesty. Now one would think that in the work place, integrity would mean everything; not so in that work place! Needless to say, we were devastated by this turn of events.

Then, on top of it all, the beautiful family home we had been renting, had been sold and we were forced to move out to the country where rents were cheaper.

A Christian brother had loaned us a car to drive, and by mid-August, my hubby had started a small business.

I was a 'stay-at-home' mom, so money was tight. For several months our diet consisted mainly of potatoes, peanut butter sandwiches, and whatever I could bake from scratch. We had little money to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, only potatoes. I learned to serve potatoes in many different ways which wasn't a bad thing, still the meals were pretty boring at times.

With the holidays fast approaching, we were concerned about what kind of Christmas we could give our three little boys.

As the weeks flew by, and the Christmas season drew near, the bills were piling up, and we didn't have the money for a big turkey dinner let alone presents for our children.

Peanut butter sandwiches would not be a welcome treat for Christmas dinner, so I brought my petition before the Lord. He knew our circumstances better than anyone and I trusted Him to take care of it. I didn't know it at the time, but He was working on a miracle for us.

Christmas was always a very big deal at our house, and throughout December, excitement ran high. Our home always got trimmed earlier than most and the smell of Christmas baking permeated our home for weeks prior to the big day.

As December approached, we saw the Lord working on our behalf.

One night before Christmas Day, our church delivered a big box of groceries to us. What a delight to look inside that big box and find a turkey and all the fixings to make a nice Christmas dinner. That same week, another box was delivered to our home. That box was filled with chocolates, all sorts of candy, and Christmas baking. There were even some small gifts for the boys. About that same time, we began receiving monetary gifts too.

One generous couple gave us five hundred dollars! Most of those gifts came from anonymous sources and remain a mystery to this day.

Imagine the delight of three wide-eyed little boys when on Christmas morning, they arose to find their stockings bulging with all kinds of goodies.

Our boys had asked for an Atari that year, and they were overjoyed to find one under the tree. We had such an abundance of food that we were able to have friends over for Christmas dinner. There were no peanut butter sandwiches served that day!

I have learned that when we ask the Lord for something, especially when it is good for us, He is faithful to give it to us. Oftentimes, His gifts are more than we asked for and sometimes, they are beyond belief!

The scripture verse from Luke 6:38 remains for me a promise I shall always stand on. ".... and it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they shall pour into your lap..." This is a promise of blessing.

The Lord had provided all we needed for a splendid Christmas; a bountiful feast, which we were able to share with friends, presents for our little ones, and money to pay some outstanding bills. The gifts had indeed been "given, running over, and poured into our lap." Most importantly, He showed us that He cared about all the little everyday things that affect our lives.

If you were to ask my boys what their favourite Christmas memory was, they would tell you it was the Christmas of 1985 when God provided a Christmas miracle.

I pray that your Christmas will be extra special this year and that God's love will fill your heart and your home.

FROM MY HOME TO YOURS, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Counting Down the Days.

2009-12-04T17:59:00.005-04:00

Good evening friends~ Have you noticed what day it is? It's December 4th, and that means Christmas is just around the corner!

It also means that Jordan, my youngest son, will be coming home for the holidays soon; ten more days to be exact! I can't wait to see him!

You see, Jordan is away at university studying for his PhD in Math, and he only gets home at Christmastime. It has been a whole year since his Dad and I have seen him.

So, I'm making lots of preparations; a list of his favourite meals and desserts, and getting the guest room ready. The doll dressed in blue and the pretty birdhouses will all be put away to make room for my son.

Jordan is looking forward to seeing his oldest brother and his family too. My oldest son and his family live about five minutes from here. There will be lots of excitement when the three little nephews see their Uncle Jordan again!

Less than a month from today, my hubby and I are flying out to Vancouver to visit my middle son and his family. I haven't seen them since last February and my youngest grandson is walking now, and doing all the cute little boy things that baby boys do. I have much to look forward to. It's going to be a very busy, but joyous time of celebration!

I have much to be thankful for!

In the midst of all this busyness and preparation, I make sure I make time to ponder the reason why we celebrate this beautiful season, our Saviour Jesus, who came into this world to make a way for us to spend eternity with Him. We owe Him thanks for this beautiful season which we are celebrating. If it hadn't been for His coming, there would be no Christmas! Think about that! No Christmas, no Christmas carols, no Christmas decorations...

I thank Him for all this beauty He has brought us. I thank Him for my wonderful family, and for His coming to us over two thousand years ago.

I also look forward to Him coming again. Next time it won't be as a Holy Child, it will be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! That will be a celebration to end all celebrations!

Celebrating Christmas in my heart, all year round~ Sandi

My Little Christmas Tree

2009-11-24T16:58:00.006-04:00

Hello friends~ One month from today, it is Christmas Eve! It will be here before we know it!
I have myself a little white Christmas tree which I was going to hang teacups on, but the teacups were too heavy. So, I hung them on my big tree instead. The little pink balls with gold glitter do just fine and I arranged some teapots and teacups underneath. This little tree has its place of honour in the dining room. What do you think?
Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

New Christmas Treasures

2009-11-10T14:59:00.009-04:00

Good afternoon everyone~ The other day Hubby and I took our car up to Summerside to get serviced and inspected, and of course we had to go visit The Homestead, a favourite shoppe on the Island. There is so much to look at and drool over in that beautiful old homestead! This time of year especially, they are gearing up for Christmas and I love going in to browse. I found a few things while there. One is an early Christmas present from my hubby. He really is a good sport and doesn't hurry me when I'm in there! I found a few gifts for my daughters-in-law too.

This is an early Christmas present from my sweet hubby. It reminds me of an antique rocking horse that is sitting up in someone's attic waiting to be taken out and displayed for the little ones' enjoyment. I also found these vintage looking birdies. I will be finding the perfect spot for them too.

I LOVE Christmas, don't you?

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Miniature Teacups

2009-11-02T13:36:00.006-04:00

Good afternoon everyone~ I have been wanting to decorate my little Christmas tree with china teacups. Well, I found some miniatures the other day, so I got a couple. I hope to add to my collection and in a couple of weeks I hope to have the tree out on display. What do you think? Aren't they cute?

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Recipe for A Scrumptious Dessert

2009-10-26T16:37:00.004-03:00

Good afternoon everyone~ Some of you had asked for the recipe for Sticky Date Pudding so here it is.

STICKY DATE PUDDING

1 cup boiling water

1 cup chopped dates

1 tsp bk. soda

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp bk. powder

1/2 tsp salt

Pour boiling water over pitted dates and bk soda, in a small bowl. Mix and let stand until lukewarm.

Cream butter and sugar in a medium-sized bowl until light and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, bk powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with date mixture, making 3 dry and 2 liquid additions. Mix well.

Spread evenly in a 9 inch square greased pan. Bake 40-45 mins. at 350.

TOFFEE SAUCE

1/2 cup butter

1 cup Brown sugar

3/4 cup whipping cream

1/2 tsp vanilla

Melt butter and dissolve sugar over medium heat. Add cream and vanilla. Simmer 5 mins. until slightly thickened. Serve warm over the date pudding. Enjoy!

I got this recipe from Carolyn at "Aiken House and Gardens." Thank you Carolyn for sharing!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Of Puddings and Pies

2009-10-21T09:50:00.007-03:00

Good day everyone~ For a couple of years I've been hearing about this scrumptious dessert called Sticky Date Pudding with Toffee Sauce. Well, I finally got the recipe and tried it. I knew I would love it because I love anything with dates and a sauce over it!

Yummm! It is a wonderful dessert and perfect for Christmas. Since no one in my family cares for Plum Pudding except me, I'm going to make Sticky Date Pudding this year. Hubby loves it too! Now instead of the usual Pumpkin Pie, I'll serve up this delectable pudding too.

What do you have for dessert after Christmas dinner?

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A Blogiversary Giveaway

2009-10-03T06:10:00.001-03:00

Good morning everyone~ I am celebrating my one year Blogiversary on Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspirations http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/ and I am having a Giveaway to celebrate! Because I love Christmas so much and this blog is yet another venture for me, I am posting about my Giveaway on here too.

This little snowman angel is adorable with his sparkly wings and scarf. He holds another scarf with "Love" written on it across his pink belly. Little snowflakes are sprinkled all over his pretty belly. He would be sweet either hanging on your Christmas tree or in a wreath.

If you would like to win this snowman ornament then please leave a comment saying so on this blog or Rose Chintz Cottage. If you are or become a Follower of either blog, you get two chances to win, and if you post about the Giveaway on your blog linking back to me, it will give you yet another chance to win! I will draw the name of the winner on Friday the 23rd of October and post the winner on my Pink Saturday post on October the 24th.

Thank you for making blogging so much fun and God bless you!

Celebrating Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Gingerbread Houses

2009-09-28T19:54:00.003-03:00

One thing I have never made, believe it or not, is a Gingerbread house! One year my son, who was working at a bakery, brought me home one. But I have never actually made one myself.... Imagine!

I was surfing the 'Net the other day and came across this gorgeous house.

How about you? Have you ever made a Gingerbread house for the holidays? Got any pictures?

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Christmas is Coming!

2009-09-25T18:32:00.015-03:00

Hello everyone~ Did you know that three months from today is Christmas Day? I look around my home and it looks very different from what it will look like in three months time!

It's not too soon to make preparations. I am already making plans; how I will decorate this year, buying presents, and getting my baking list ready. I also look forward to having my youngest son home for the holidays. I am just like a child waiting for Christmas morning as I can't wait to see his sweet face again.

When my boys were growing up, I used to bake fifteen kinds of sweets; cookies, pies, squares, tarts, and so on. I always baked a sultana and a dark fruit cake and I always made fudge and pate. My cookie jars were never empty and there was always company dropping by. Things are different today because my boys have all grown up and are on their own with little families of their own. One boy lives out on the West coast and my youngest son is still unattached but he is off to university in another province. Thank goodness I still have my oldest son living here with his family!

These days, I usually still bake my two fruit cakes, pumpkin pies, mincemeat tarts, and a small assortment of sweets. I still make my pate too. I have loved these savory meat pies since I was a child. And what is Christmas without fudge and plum pudding? What kind of treats do you make for the celebration?

Yes, I love it all; the food, the music, the decorating, the festivities, and most of all, the true meaning of why we celebrate, our Saviour Jesus!

There's just something about that Name! Blessings everyone!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Christmas Collections

2009-09-24T16:33:00.007-03:00

Do you know what day it is? Three months from today is Christmas Eve. It's coming quickly!

I love the Christmas season and this time of year, I'm starting to think seriously about it. Planning the decor, the baking, and the special Christmas festivities are all part of the fun, don't you think?

I like to collect SnowBabies and I have been doing so for quite some time. Between my son Jordan and my hubby, I usually get a new one every year. I think they are so adorable! I have one named for almost every member of the family now.

This is my newest SnowBaby named for my youngest grandbaby, Zachary. Hubby gave him to me for Christmas last year. That is me {Nanny} feeding him in his hi-chair.

Do you have a collection you take out only at Christmastime? I'd love to hear all about it!

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Ornaments With Memories

2009-09-22T13:10:00.002-03:00

Ornaments that have special memories attached to them.

The mirrored star was one of the first ornaments Hubby & I got when we were first married.The drum has been on the tree since my boys were small.The rocking horse was a gift from my middle son.The drummer bear was a gift from my youngest son.One year we had a flooded basement and I lost most of my ornaments. This wooden nativity had been a gift from my sister and it had fallen completely apart. I had to literally glue it all back together again. I've had it almost thirty years. The Limoges butterfly ornament was a gift from my mother.The angels ornament was a gift from my oldest son and his wife.The lace-covered ball was a gift from a good friend. The mirrored pear was also one of the first Christmas ornaments we ever bought. Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

The Story of the Christmas Pudding

2009-09-22T12:19:00.001-03:00

I ran across this little tidbit the other day and thought I would share it with you. I found it very interesting!

Traditional Christmas pudding recipes are said to contain thirteen ingredients representing Jesus and His apostles. What's more, the pudding is made up on "Stir-Up Sunday" which is the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity, the Sunday next before Advent, when each family member takes his or her turn stirring the pudding mixture from east to west to illustrate the journey of the Magi as they followed the Star.

And the pudding must be stirred with a wooden spoon made of wood in remembrance that the Christ Child lay in a simple wooden manger. The traditional sprig of holly garnish represents His Crown of Thorns and healing, and the flaming of the brandy symbolizes the Passion of the Christ.

Once the Christmas Pudding recipe is made, each family member develops their own tradition surrounding the serving of the pudding on Christmas Day.

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

A Special Angel

2009-09-22T09:51:00.000-03:00

This lovely angel was a birthday present from a friend one year. She knows I like angels and she knows I love anything toile, so when she saw this angel, she just had to get it for me. She comes complete with real feather wings. My birthday is right after Christmas, so the gift was perfect! Isn't she beautiful?

Christmas in my heart all year round ~ Sandi

Welcome To Christmas Pudding

2009-09-21T14:19:00.001-03:00

Hello & Welcome to Christmas Pudding ~ a blog about all things Christmasy and the magic that this special season evokes. Just like a Christmas Pudding is a rich mixture of wonderful ingredients, so my blog will be a mixture of sorts; stories, poems, photos, recipes, ect..

I am just getting started so I hope you will be patient and peek in on me from time to time over the next few weeks as I will be updating and adding to it as the Christmas season approaches.

For Your Interest~ Did you know that plum pudding recipes don't call for plums? Apparently, in nineteenth-century England, the raisins used in puddings were commonly called "plums" since medieval puddings often contained dried plums.

Christmas in my heart all year round~ Sandi

Christmas Pudding

Happy New Year!

The A-Z of Christmas ~ Z

The A-Z of Christmas ~ Y

A-Z of Christmas ~ X

W - The A-Z of Christmas

The A-Z of Christmas - V

A-Z of Christmas ~ "U"

A-Z of Christmas ~ T

The Letter S

R- The A-Z of Christmas

Q - The A-Z of Christmas

A-Z of Christmas ~ P

The O of the A-Z of Christmas

The A-Z of Christmas - N

Natasha's 12 Days of Christmas Party

Advent Wreath Candles

M- The A-Z of Christmas

The "L " of Christmas

The A-Z of Christmas ~ K

J - The A-Z of Christmas

A-Z of Christmas - I

H ~ The A-Z of Christmas

G ~ The A-Z of Christmas

F ~ The A-Z of Christmas

E ~ The A-Z of Christmas

The A-Z of Christmas ~ D

The A-Z of Christmas ~ C

The A-Z of Christmas ~ B

The A-Z of Christmas ~ A

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

Christmas Pinks For Pink Saturday

Christmas Blogging Ideas

A Decadent Little Coffee Break

The Story of the Cloche and the Christmas Balls

Rocking Horses

Hunting For An Angel

Blossoms All Glittered Up for Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving

Christmas in July

A Recipe for Bread Pudding

A New Angel

Happy New Year!

Christmas Decorating

A Little Pink Tree Got Some Twinkle

The Reason for the Season Party

My Granddaughter's Christmas Tree

Pink Saturday & Christmas Poinsettia Party

A Lovely Gift Idea

My New Christmas Wreath

A Special Little Tree Topper

A Little Christmas Tree All Dressed In Pink!

Christmas Collector's Party

I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas!

Look What I Found for Christmas Decorating!

Christmas '09 Has Come and Gone

A Christmas Miracle

Counting Down the Days.

My Little Christmas Tree

New Christmas Treasures

Miniature Teacups

Recipe for A Scrumptious Dessert

Of Puddings and Pies

A Blogiversary Giveaway

Gingerbread Houses

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas Collections

Ornaments With Memories

The Story of the Christmas Pudding

A Special Angel

Welcome To Christmas Pudding

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.