Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2015

One week and a few days before Christmas and I'm in a mad rush.  The years when Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday in December are getting harder and harder to manage.  Adding to that I'm not sure if I'm glad or sad the temperature outside is so warm.  I'm kind of looking forward to some cold weather so I can wear my new winter coat and scarf and make hot cocoa with marshmallows!

But no matter what, the decorating has to get done.

Over Thanksgiving we visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.  It was a fun, memorable day trip.  I was told to go there during the first weekend in December when the Christmas tree is lit and the holiday festivities begin. It was really crowded there when we visited as it was, so visiting the weekend before worked out well for us!

When we arrived, we caught a short library talk and tour of the museum.  It was interesting to find out that most of the people in the paintings lived in town and posed for Rockwell while he lived there.  The very famous work below is of the actual town of Stockbridge.  If you look down the street, you can still see the shops most of which still have the same names.  On the first weekend of festivities, a part of that strip is re-created to look exactly like the painting.  It must look magnificent especially if there's snow on the ground.

When I told my friend Mary Ellen from quilt group that we were going she suggested lunching at The Red Lion Inn.  It was wonderful!

After lunch, we did some shopping and took in the beautiful homes on the main street.  This is a Bed and Breakfast.

OK, back home Santa is waiting to pop down the chimney!

This is the only project I made this Christmas.  I'm sad to say life got in the way AGAIN!  It's a felt candle mat from a book I bought at Camille's store in Barrington, NH in the Fall.

...but I'm using it as a Christmas tree mat!

This dolly got a bit of a make-over for Christmas. 

 Do these two pixies look familiar?  Yes, their Maileg!  I love these dolls.  This pair was an early Christmas present to myself.

YES I got a little carried away and bought this lovely trio too!!  I haven't bought a doll in years so these beautiful treasures are a big treat for me!

So true!!

But we all hear it over and over - IN MODERATION!  Not sure if I've ever been able to moderate Christmas!  I'm always hopeful but always fall into the same old pattern of excess!

I was so happy when Jessi gave us this peppermint bark candy!  Little did we know she made it in her dorm!!  So no excuses for those of us who have kitchens!  Best of all she saw this recipe on one of my Facebook posts!  We'll be making this too Jessi because we ate all of yours already!!  It was so delicious!!

From: 12 Tomatoes

EASY PEPPERMINT BARK RECIPE

(makes one 9×13 pan of bark)

Ingredients

• 1 bag chocolate chips
• 1 bag white chocolate chips
• 24 mini candy canes

Directions

1. Put the candy canes in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin or tenderizing mallet to crush the candy canes. Don’t use a blender or food processor, because we want those nice uneven bits that look great right on top.
2. Line a 9″x13″ pan with parchment paper, including the sides, leaving enough extra so you will be able to lift the peppermint bark right out of the pan.
3. Pour the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 30-second increments (stirring the chips between each microwave session) until the chocolate has melted, and the mixture is smooth.
4. Spread the chocolate evenly into the lined pan.
5. Place the pan into the freezer for 20 minutes.
6. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave just as you did with the previous chocolate chips. If the white chocolate chips to not melt smooth, stir in 2 tablespoons of shortening.
7. While the white chocolate is still smooth, stir in half the crushed candy canes into the mixture.
8. Allow the white chocolate to cool for about a minute, then remove the pan from the freezer and spread the white chocolate mixture on top of the chocolate layer, making it as smooth as possible.
9. Top with remaining crushed candy canes, and press them in the the back of a spatula.
10. Return the pan to the freezer for another 20 minutes.
11. To serve, remove the parchment paper from the pan and break into pieces (or cut with a butter knife).
12. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

 Thanks so much for visiting and always letting me know you're still there!

See you in 2016!!