Let's get to Christmas Eve day...
An afternoon celebration at Aunt Helen and Uncle Larry's home:
Their beautiful tree.
An excuse to dress up!
Wow, it's mom and dad, dressed up and in ONE shot!
I look like I've got a wavy perm, but it's not...
Amanda worked her magic with her 'hair straightener'.
Yup, a straightener.
It's magical and I can't reveal the process!!
And onto the southern food tradition...the dessert table!
All yummy. Pecan pie, Jelly cream cheese, caramel cake,
chocolate cupcakes.
And a 3 tier cookie holder (behind the caramel cake),
filled with homemade cookies by Aunt Helen.
Shall we start with dessert???
Nope! Here's a sampling of the southern main food:
From left: glazed sweet potatos, green beans, corn, mashed potatos, black-eyed peas.
No picture of the turkey slices and dressing and gravy.
And cranberry sauce...right from the can. a cylinder of sliced goodness.
And ham. And meat balls.
And the race begins into the kitchen!
LOOK, the desserts are left unguarded...let's grab some first!!
As we drove away in the evening dusk, a single shining star burned bright.
My dear mother was part of the celebration.
THOSE CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES
The baking station:
Dough, now cold and firm enough to roll
Flour to keep the dough from sticking to the counter
Cookie cutters, waiting to be chosen.
(The rolling pin was my grandmothers, so there's luck there.)
A fine selection from my childhood and Amanda's.
(An eye-spy game: Can you find the boot?)
The snowman is the first to be pressed!
All the dough that's rolled needs a cookie mold.
There's the Santa boot!
And another cookie...
looks like the old-timey christmas tree.
Transferring VERY CAREFULLY to the baking pan.
And onto the next roll-out!
(That is NOT a pitch-fork cookie...what IS it??! Think Arizona Desert)
Into the oven at 425 degrees, carefully monitored...
with all the sugar and butter these will burn in a second!
Although the burnt ones aren't all that bad...they were my mom's favorite!
Success!!
No time to step back now...there's still more dough!
A counter level view...and look at the time...just 17 minutes to Christmas Day!!
It means that Santa WILL get his traditional sugar cookie in the St. Nick of time. (HA!)
CHRISTMAS DAY
The Mantle
My Skinny Santa collection (except for the pouty gnome on the right)!
I try not to buy new decorations...try.
But this one was just too perfect...Santa in his sleigh, flying over the town!!
(While the ducks fly and my carolers sing in the background.)
You see? when you push down on the sleigh, it bounces as if riding the air.
I wonder which reindeer he chose for this ride?
Comet?
The cookie has been eaten, some milk has been drunk...
Santa's been here! And his elves:
mom and dad
and Amanda.
He found the stockings.
The Meerkats thought it would be fun to tag along,
they arrived on a Christmas long ago
and wondered if things have changed much.
Not really, except that everyone is.....uh.....more mature looking.
"My, what big eyes you have", said the reindeer twins.
Cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
The cook wears camo for Christmas.
AND NOW TO CLEAR AWAY ALL THAT
STUFF AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE
THEN A RIDE OUT OF THE HOUSE
To Mamaw
To Grandpa
Driving home under a beautiful evening sky.
...to watch the last few minutes of "A Christmas Story".
THANKS FOR JOINING US!!
STAY TUNED FOR THESE IMPORTANT WORDS.....
Meowy Christmas to all and to all
a Good Nap!!
