Archive for December, 2010

Wow, it’s time to wrap things up and in a hurry!

Today I’m running to the grocery store, cooking, and CLEANING.  Then I need to get a little wrapping and sewing done.  I am hoping to channel the kids nervous energy by having them scrub a few sinks and floors.

Today I need to make a last batch of Orange-Glazed Poppy Seed Bread for gifts and sugar cookies to decorate tomorrow.  Tomorrow I’ll be making my FAVORITE dessert, maybe of all time, Croissant Bread Pudding for our Christmas Eve dinner.

Yesterday we checked one more thing off the list by heading up to Mamaw’s to felt our Christmas Eve slippers.  Have you done that before?

These slippers are also on my list of favorite things.  I am lucky enough to have my husband’s mother who is willing to knit them for us.

I should have put my hand in the shot because you can’t tell from the picture, but these slippers would fit Hagrid!

But not for long.  We throw the wool slippers into a hot water washing machine.  Then you stay close by and set the timer to check their progress.  Once they start felting you check them often or they will shrink too small.  I am happy to say yesterday’s felting was a great success.

These slippers are incredibly warm and wonderful.  They takes two to three days to dry so hopefully they will be ready by Christmas Eve.  (Hopefully too the Christmas Eve cozies (PJ pants) will be ready too!)

I’m sure your check lists are as full as mine!  I wish you all a productive day.  I’m getting so excited I can hardly wait.

When I was a little girl, we had a basket of heart ornaments that sat under the Christmas Tree.

I have spent a lot of time this month at my mom’s helping with our family’s business.  I couldn’t help but notice the little felt hearts hanging on my mother’s Christmas Tree.

Seeing those little hearts brought back memories.

My mother stitched each of the ornaments long ago.  At the beginning of the Christmas Season one year she put the basket of hearts under our newly decorated tree.  She explained that these ornaments were special.  They could only be placed on the tree when we had done something nice for someone else in the family.

That year I remember coming into my room to find that my bed had been made and my room had been cleaned by my sister.

I remember little notes and shared treats from my brothers.

I remember looking around my home for sweet things I could do for my family members.

I remember little by little our tree being filled with hearts.

Seeing those hearts hanging on the tree brought back so many warm Christmas memories.

I think next year this is a tradition I need to do with my own family.