Christmas Day 2024

On Christmas Eve after our Church service our Colville kids got ready for Santa’s arrival.

They enjoyed Christmas morning on their own before Jamie’s family arrived for Christmas breakfast and gift exchange.

We were at our home preparing for Christmas dinner and waiting for our westside and Colville kids to arrive for our festivities.

Our westside kids pulled into the driveway minutes apart at 2:13 and 2:26 on Christmas day.

Our Colville kids headed to our place at about 2:51. By 3:15 we were all together and ready for our Christmas Meal.

Gramps read the Christmas story from the Bible in Luke 2 while we waited for the Yorkshire Pudding to cook. After our prayer for our meal we served up our Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, Creamed Corn, Roasted Vegetables, and Brussels Sprouts salad and enjoyed this once a year treat together.

Before dessert we opened stockings and presents.

After all the presents were opened it was time for dessert.

Jamie with some inspiration from Addy and JJ made a Happy Birthday Cake for Jesus with a chocolate creche and marshmallow and candy Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Shepherd, sheep, shepherd crooks (candy canes), and the three wise men still on their journey.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

We also enjoyed the Russian Roolyet (nut roll) that we (Jamie, Addy, JJ and me) made on Monday afternoon.

After dessert we took photos and enjoyed playing with some of the gifts.

We enjoyed every minute with each other and we made plans for our traditional breakfast on Boxing day before our Colville kids headed home for the night and our household retired for the evening. It is always a treat to have our guest bedrooms full with our children from the Westside.

More posts coming for our Boxing day adventures, Katie’s birthday, and our Saturday finale before our westside kids traveled over the mountains for home.

A Merry Hodgepodge to You

It’s Wednesday and time for the Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce From This Side of the Pond for the questions!

1. What does Christmas mean to you?

First and foremost that Jesus, the Son of God came to earth as a babe/man because we were all held captive and separated from God because of sin. Jesus was sent to pay the ransom for our sins so that we could be forgiven and freed from the bondage of sin. His death paid our debt to God in full. He could pay that debt because he was the perfect/unblemished/pure Lamb of God. Sin is the reason for the season and Christ’s worthy life and sacrifice is the solution and the amazing ransom gift of the season. This makes for the merriest reason to celebrate with joy and gladness and light. Be merry you who believe and have your sins forgiven completely and in full!! For anyone else believe and receive life in Jesus Christ the Lord, who was sent, who lived, who died for the sins of the world and rose victorious over sin and death. You can have new life in Him. The best gift of Christmas.

2. What’s your favorite cozy holiday activity?

Dressed in my comfy clothes and having nothing to do but put together a jigsaw puzzle with Christmas carols playing in the background.

3. Is all your shopping-wrapping-baking done?

No…no…no.

Tell us about your holiday plans.

Our kids from the west will travel to the east opposite direction from the Wise Men. Our Colville kids and our Westside kids will all be together Christmas late afternoon and evening for stockings, a prime rib dinner (tradition) and all things jolly and bright.

4. If you were Santa what treat would you like to have left for you (it doesn’t have to be milk and cookies!) What sweet or savory treat do you most look forward to indulging in around the holidays?

My mom’s Roolyet (Russian nut roll)

5. Next Wednesday is the first official day of winter (in the northern hemisphere). How does that make you feel?

It’s makes me feel like we’ve been way ahead of the game since Winter arrived here early in November.

Tell us what you love most about winter?

I love winter clothing over summer clothing.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This photo from 2017 shows our sweet granddaughter (her first Christmas) with the best dog around children, Rayna. We got the sad news that Rayna died on December 6th. We were on the road at our breakfast stop in Cle Elum. I shed a good amount of tears and the waitress was probably wondering what was going on. I tear up even now.

Rayna checking out the new human that came home to her house.

Such a wonderful gentle dog that our grandchildren were safe around. Our daughter-in-law, Jamie, rescued Rayna when she was 9 months old. Our son married Jamie in 2015 and Rayna came along with that union.

Rayna on our deck a couple summers back while we doggy sat her when our Colville kids went away for a few days.

I think Ember is missing Rayna, too.

Rayna found a way into all our hearts. This photo above was in September with the new puppy Ember. Rayna was able to give some good doggy training to the new young pup. Rayna will be missed.

Joy and sorrow seem to always coexist in this world we live in.

Merry Christmas to all my Hodgepodging friends since the next Hodgepodge will be the Wednesday after Christmas. Hope you enjoy times of wonder and love and joy!

From our house to yours Merry Christmas!

Our Mom’s Roolyet (Russian Nut Roll)

Roll the “R” when you try to pronounce the name of this nut roll that is a family favorite from my childhood and adult life, too. Our mom’s Roolyet was the best. We’ve just managed to perfect a recipe that brings back the memory of our mom’s roll. I think she would give us at least an A maybe not an A+ yet. Our pop got teary eyed when he bit into his piece because it reminded him of his beloved bride who died four years ago. (Since I published this post back in 2017 our dear Pop was called up to heaven in June of 2018.)

My sister Vera and I perfected this in 2017 while I was visiting in Southern California. I posted this recipe on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog but decided now to add it here for my own easy access.

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 cup milk, scalded
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
1/2 cup milk
2 egg yolks (set aside egg whites)
1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly, reserve 1 tablespoon
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup flour

For Rolling Surface:

1/4 cup powdered/icing sugar

For Filling:

2 1/2 cups ground walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites

Method:

In a small bowl dissolve the 2 teaspoons sugar with the scalded milk, add the yeast and mix well.
In medium bowl mix the 1/2 cup milk, egg yolks, melted butter minus the tablespoon you set aside, and vanilla then add in the yeast mixture and mix well.
Sift the 1 3/4 cup flour, salt, and 3 tablespoons sugar together.
Add sifted ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly while mixing, the dough will be sticky.
Prepare kneading surface with a light dusting of flour.
Knead the dough adding as much of the 1/4 cup of flour needed during this process to make the dough less sticky, knead the dough for 10 minutes then form into a ball.
Place the dough into a lightly greased stainless bowl that is 3 times the size of the dough and cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and place in a warm spot without drafts.
Leave the dough to rise to double its size, 1-2 hours.
While dough is rising prepare the filling by mixing the 2 1/2 cups ground walnuts, egg whites, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, mixing well.
Divide the filling into two equal portions.
Once the dough is doubled in size prepare the work surface where you will be rolling out the dough, dusting it with the powdered/icing sugar.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Punch down the dough and divide it into 2 equal portions.
Roll each portion of the dough separately into a rectangle approximately 1/4 inch thick.
Spread the filling evenly over the rectangle of dough leaving 1/2 inch free of filling along the edges.
Starting at the long edge fold over the dough carefully and keep rolling into a tight roll.
Pinch the seam well and pinch the ends to prevent the filling from leaking.
Place the roll seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper.
Repeat the process for the second roll and add it to the baking sheet keeping the rolls at least 3 inches apart.
Use the reserved tablespoon of melted butter to brush the tops and sides of the rolls evenly.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool and cut into slices to enjoy.

Yield: 2 twelve inch long rolls

Notes: We found that 3 cups of whole walnuts make 2-1/2 cups of ground walnuts.
We used a slightly warm oven to let the dough rise in.
Use a serrated/bread knife to cut the roll.

Christmas Spirit Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge questions that Joyce From This Side of the Pond asks each week are not surprisingly Christmas themed in December. Here we go…

1. What do you think it means to have the holiday spirit?

Going deep on this one and deferring to my hubby:

“It’s having the Spirit of Christ, who convicts of sin and enables faith in that Jesus is who He says He is and has done what He has says He has done. Without the work of the Spirit of Christ we would have no hope for forgiveness, for eternity with Him, for glory.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

2. What’s one thing you’ve baked this month?

I baked a Chocolate Decadent Bundt cake last week for our card night.

Have you eaten the finished product?

Yes, at the card night last Friday night. It got very good reviews from those who ate it.

How much baking do you do around the holidays?

This varies from year to year. Some years I don’t make any cookies…shock!

What baked sweet something does your family insist is on the menu during this season of the year?

Roolyet is a Russian treat our mom would make every Christmas. A yeast dough rolled with a walnut filling (walnuts, sugar, egg whites and vanilla). Now that my sister and I perfected the recipe I should make it every Christmas, too.

3. Your most recent ‘half-baked’ idea?

How about thoroughly baked. In January I clicked on the buy button for plane tickets from Seattle to London for September of this year. Then COVID-19 struck us all. Plane tickets, Air BnB deposits and many plans made that had to all be cancelled. Thankfully all was refunded.

4. Where were you the last time you ‘baked’ in the sun?

In my own backyard pulling weeds.

The top ten sunniest destinations in the world (most sun from January-December according to this site) are Dubai, Bali Indonesia, Los Angeles CA, Miami FL, Barbados, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Mauritius, Antiqua, and the Canary Islands Spain. Have you been to any of the cities listed?

I was born in East Los Angeles and raised in the “burbs” of Los Angeles and spent many summers baking on Southern California beaches slathered in Coconut Butter. Craziness!

Which one on the list appeals to you the most?

We do not choose sunny destinations these days. We do not lay in the sun. We look for shade and head straight to an umbrella when the sun is out and the air is hot. The only reason L.A. is appealing these days is because of our loved ones who live there and who we enjoy spending time with.

If the world were not upside down crazy and you could lie on a beach anywhere right now where would you go?

Never mind lying on the beaches, I would choose Jolly Old England any time of the year, walking down a lane instead of lying on a beach!

Now that said, we do enjoy walking on the beach at dawn in the summer and any time of day in the Winter.

5. Today I wish I had more _____________________.

Options for shopping in my little town of Colville.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This past Sunday to Monday we enjoyed a 46th Anniversary night at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Dinner at Beverly’s on the 7th floor made us feel like normal before all this craziness came upon us all.

Our complimentary Anniversary dessert! Vanilla ice cream wrapped in cotton candy with some fruit and dessert bark.

When the Christmas cards are all signed, sealed and delivered to the Post Office I feel like I should get an award. Do you still send cards?

My Mom’s Roolyet

I posted the recipe that we finally perfected that tastes like my mom’s nut roll. Head over to the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog to see the recipe and instructions. Click here.

I’m happy to have arrived home safe and sound from Southern California on Wednesday morning. Now I’m doing laundry and sorting through some mail. I’m hoping to get around to some blogs soon.

It was so good to see family and friends over my seven days in Orange County. I arrived on Wednesday and we had a birthday dinner for my pop on Thursday at my sister Kathy’s. Then on Friday we had a sister day in Huntington Beach. On Saturday we had another family gathering at my sister Vera’s and we honored my sister Kathy, my pop and niece Debbee who all have May birthdays.

On Sunday evening Vera and I had a lovely time at Ken and Heidi’s. Heidi was my best friend and partner in crime in my college years and beyond. She and Ken met and were engaged during a period of time that Heidi was living with Dear and me. We have been good friends for all these years and it was nice to enjoy an evening together.

Ken and Heidi have a slice of paradise home with an outdoor space that really reminds you of something you would call a tropical paradise.

Our fellowship, the weather, the setting and the food were wonderful. While we were eating outside a Bobcat chose to walk across the far side of their outdoor space with no interest in us, thankfully. I heard recently that bobcats really aren’t interested in attacking humans.

On Memorial day we enjoyed a barbecue at my niece Debbee and Lenny’s home in Huntington Beach. Red, white and blue were the colors of choice on this day. Before we ate a friend of the family prayed and thanked God for those who served and gave their lives for us and the freedoms we enjoy. We enjoyed burgers, ribs, corn on the cob, salads, sweet watermelon and a few desserts. Thank you Lenny and Debbee!

On my last evening in Southern California Vera and I met up with Dear’s brother, sister-in-law and two of three nieces. It was another good time to catch up with what is going on in their lives. Cell phone photos are hit and miss in the darker restaurant.

Thank you Vera for letting me crash at your place and for being my private chauffeur while I was in Southern California.

Hello June! We are starting the month off with rain here in the Puget Sound area. We’ll see how long June gloom lasts. I have gloomy things to do inside so I’ll go with the flow and soldier on with sorting, trashing, shredding and recycling things I should never have stored away! Addy’s expression in this next photo just about covers the task set before me.

I love her expressions! Thank you modern technology. Snap and send has never been more appreciated!

Huntington Beach

On Thursday the 25th of May my sister Vera and I had a walk in Huntington Beach and on the pier.

It was fun to see the pelicans. They look so prehistoric, don’t they?

We took the obligatory selfie.

On Friday Kathy joined Vera and me in Huntington Beach for a sister morning. We had breakfast and did some shopping together.Our youngest sister, Lana, is traveling in Scotland right now.

Before Kathy left we took another sister selfie.

On Saturday we are going to have another family gathering with more of our family at my sister Vera’s. It will be nice to see two of my brothers and my sister-in-laws. Vera and I will be baking again on Saturday morning because our dear old pop told us it would be good if we baked another roolyet (nut roll) for our family gathering.

I’ll be posting the recipe of this family favorite on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook on the 31st of May.

Hope you are having a good long weekend and can pause to remember those who have fallen in service to our country.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

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