Christmas Casual

We’ve been enjoying Christmas Casual in our Kitchen/Dining area. I bought those fun button up napkin rings at Crate and Barrel and I think they go perfectly with the napkins Judy from My Front Porch gifted me with last Christmas. I have 2 of each napkin design.

Our meal out for our anniversary was nice but it’s one of those places that we won’t rush back to. I did try a couple things I’ve never had before and was not disappointed. I had never had Farro grains before and they were prepared nicely with salted beets and lemon. The dishes were small enough that we decided to also have dessert which was a panna cotta with hazelnuts.

I’m happy to report I got our Christmas letter done. Now to address and mail the cards…

We’ve gotten a few Christmas cards already. Since I took this photo there are a few more hanging. One new addition this year that we are enjoying are our remote controlled battery operated candles that I bought at Costco. It’s fun to light them all with one push of the button and knowing they don’t need to be watched as carefully as traditional candles.

Hope you are already experiencing Christmas blessings…

The Perfect Scene…

…to display beneath the star.

I bought this flag at the Evergreen Fair a couple years ago and realized that flying it wouldn’t allow anyone to really see the scene.

We decided to try it attached to the window below the star. We liked how it looked during the day and we waited to see what it would look like at night.

We were happy with the result.

I went with decorating light with the tree this year. I pulled out very few of our collected ornaments. Since the majority of our kids aren’t arriving to celebrate till after Christmas I think light is good.

Now to the mundane…something is going on with my back which is slowing things down around here. Another good reason to go “light”. I haven’t uploaded photos from our anniversary dinner out yet so I’ll share on another day. I’ll also take some photos of our tree to show. No baking in my kitchen yet. How are your festivities and decorating shaping up.

The Mystery Tree…

…the tradition continues!

Mystery tree rules…

Go to nearest most convenient place that sells lots of trees. We went to Home Depot.

Pick a bundled tree, throw it on the cart and pay for it. Do not unwrap it!

Bring it home as is and saw off a little of the bottom of the trunk and bring it into the house to the desired tree location.

Cut off the string.

Voila! See what you got! Not bad. Pour water in the Christmas tree stand.

See if the angel fits on top…

Put the lights on the tree. Vacuum excess dry needles off floor. I’ll be waiting a day to let the branches settle a bit before I put on the rest of the decorations and the tree skirt.

This is the best stress free Christmas tree purchasing method that we have enjoyed for the last few years. We had the years of going to Christmas tree lots trying to find the perfect tree at the best price. I would make Dear pull out tree after tree and turn it this way and that. You get the picture. Oye! A few years when the kids were little we trekked out to a Christmas tree farm and cut down the tree we chose. That was fun when the kids were little. Now in our empty nest years I find this method to be very relaxing…

Tonight we are going out to a new to us restaurant called Cantinetta for our Anniversary Dinner. Another mystery that I’m sure will end up as good as our tree! Hope you have a good week…

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

John 1:14 (ESV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

Refrain

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

Refrain

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Refrain

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

Refrain

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home,
Saying Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

Words: Emily E. Elliott, 1864.

This hymn was first used at St. Mark’s Church in Brighton, England, where Elliott’s father was rector. In 1870, it was published in the Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor, which Elliott edited.

Ht: Cyberhymnal

The Star…

Star of Bethlehem

Star of Bethlehem, shining bright,
Long ago by thy holy light
Sages met in praise to bring
Eastern gifts to their newborn King.

Star of Bethlehem, thou didst show
Wond’ring shepherds the way to go,
Thus revealing by thy ray
Where the infant Redeemer lay.

Star of Bethlehem, heav’nly guide,
Take us all to our Savior’s side,
There to kneel and there to bring
Loving hearts as our offering.

Words: Edna R. Worrell, 1914.

We got our star up on our shop/garage. I like having a star shining at Christmas time.

I was inspired to get a lit star on our shop/garage by Gumbo Lily’s Star on her barn here.

It’s hard to tell from this photo but the star is 2-1/2 stories up from the ground. I now have a plan for the window under the star and time will tell if it works.

Thank you all for your nice comments on Dear and my anniversary post. We both appreciate them. We had our small group over last night for our regular meeting. Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner out. Do you have a busy weekend coming up?

Thirty Eight Years and Counting!

Today is Dear and my 38th wedding anniversary. We will be celebrating this weekend. I’m thankful to God for a faithful husband. We decided early on that with God’s help we’d stay together no matter what. We’ve had our ups and downs over the years but giving up was never an option. We like most couples have our “discussions” now and again but we always come back together and press forward. We are thankful that God’s faithfulness to us and our relationship keeps us strong. I have never wanted to spend my life with anyone else but Dear.

Gloomy with Promises…

We’ve been on the gloomy side here in the Pacific Northwest. On Sunday after church we decided it would be good to enjoy brunch out. We headed to the Kirkland Lake Washington waterfront Beachhouse Bar and Grill. You can see the gloominess out the windows. But not to worry because what appeared on our plates was not gloomy at all.

I had the Pecan French Toast and Dear had Eggs Benedict.

It was nice to have a meal put in front of me and have a bit of relaxation after a hectic week.

That was Sunday. On Tuesday we had a wee bit of sunshine and on my way home from Costco I got to see this amazing view. A rainbow filled with promises!

Today is Wednesday and it’s a free day for me for which I am grateful.Thursday is a special day and you’ll see why with my post. On Friday I hope to show you the star I bought wrapped in lights that Dear hung on our garage/shop. I’m waiting for a dry night so I can take a photo outside without getting my camera lens wet! On Saturday we are going to get our tree.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world…

A Small Interruption…

…to my Christmas table decor.

While working on my recipes for our Celebrations Cook book being published at the end of April in 2013 I had to redo one of my recipes which meant I needed to change out my Christmas table. I chose to set the table using my pewter pieces since my entree was a traditional English recipe. Some of my pewter pieces were acquired in England in the 70’s.

The pewter wine goblets and the Coffee service with creamer and sugar containers along with the salt and pepper shakers are from England. I decided to use the coffee pot as a vase on this occasion. The candle holders are Revere ware and the flatware is Gorham pewter. The chargers were gifted to us from our son and DIL for Christmas one year.

The runner is a gift from our son and DIL, too. I liked adding in the green goblets with the pewter.

The dishes are Royal Stafford and I think I purchased them at Marshalls.

I enjoy this table but soon it will be reset to our casual Christmas setting.

Now I need to get busy getting our Christmas cards ready to send out. Do you send out Christmas cards and do you add a personal note or do you type one Christmas letter to be included in all your cards?

We received good news yesterday from North Carolina! Our son-in-law is now a Marine Corporal. We are so proud of his achievement. I’m hoping to get an updated photo of him with his new blood stripes and pins along with his sword soon. Congratulations Marine Corporal Andrew!

Getting Ready…

…for the most wonderful time of the year.

Aren’t these “Wee Forest Folk” cute! They really are little. I only have the angel, a shepherd and 1 wise man.

I might head out on Boxing Day and try to find yet another nativity set on sale. I like the classic designs and some of the more modern designs, too.

John 1:14 (The Message)

The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.

Our pastor is unpacking this one verse in the book of John for the month of December.

John 1:14 (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

How are preparations coming in your home for Christmas? Are you going simple or over the top this year?

Oh, Come, Little Children

Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem’s stable, in Bethlehem’s stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.

Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light
A star throws its beam on this holiest sight.
In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child,
More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild.

Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw;
The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe.
And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love,
While angels are singing sweet songs from above.

Words: Christoph von Schmid, 1794

A friend of ours faxed me the music and words for O Come Little Children in the Russian language. The Fax machine added an unwanted line through the music. I learned this song by heart in Russian and it’s been fun to sing it this week. We have started the Advent Season and I’ll be posting Christmas Music for the rest of the month. Some of the words in Russian translate different than the English version.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Christmas Casual

The Perfect Scene…

…to display beneath the star.

The Mystery Tree…

…the tradition continues!

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

John 1:14 (ESV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

The Star…

Star of Bethlehem

Thirty Eight Years and Counting!

Gloomy with Promises…

A Small Interruption…

…to my Christmas table decor.

Getting Ready…

Oh, Come, Little Children

Oh, Come, Little Children