Cinnamon Rolls and Coffee

That thought is intended to bring you comfort on a Monday morning! This is a feel-good post, intended to make you imagine you have on your favorite slippers.

I do believe our household has a new Christmas morning tradition. Sister Schubert -move on over because I now can make the world's best cinnamon rolls. I can thank Uncommon Blonde for doing the test run of Pioneer Woman's recipe because she figured out what to do and what not to do in this messy undertaking she posted as Kitchen Follies. (I stole her photo from that post.) She told me that afternoon that the rolls would have to sprout $100 bills while baking to make them worth the trouble. The next day's report was that the rolls had sprouted. And I can tell you, these are the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had in my life. We had fun making them together and more fun eating them. Our son had to report for work at the fire station on Christmas morning and it made me really happy to start their morning off with these rolls too.

Now to top it all off, I won a give-away over at Shelly's for a free pound of coffee from "I Have a Bean." She tells the fascinating story of this company in this post. A company on a mission to help people by selling great coffee - I'm sold! They impressed me by sending my coffee Fed Ex, arriving just in time to go with my cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.

Ahhhh - the memory is fresh and the coffee is on. What was something new you did for the holidays?

The Creatures are Stirring in this House!

I am so excited! I have some more presents to wrap and the grocery shopping to do tomorrow and then everyone starts arriving tomorrow night and Thursday! The best part of all the celebrating is being with family. I am so grateful.

Cupcake came home last weekend (she had to go back to work a few more days) and she scurried around cleaning out closets and such. So funny to me... I wasn't even considering that and she quipped, "you're just out of control with saving things." Ha- she sounds like my mom. And like I do with my mom, I said "have at it, I'll provide the bags for trash and one for Goodwill." It took more than one, trust me.

I doubt if I'll make it back here before Christmas, so just want to share this favorite poem...

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

1993 Bethany Farms, Carrollton, IL
Merry Christmas to All! Love you much.

Saturated in Love. And Butter

Watching “The Sound of Music” on TV tonight brings back memories of watching this movie on Christmas night with my dad. Many times. I think we both loved it equally. This past week has been so special. Rosebud adds so much joy to our family. Like many families, we alternate who goes where for Christmas and this was our year when all our children and my mom and sister were here.

I was busy baking in the kitchen on Thurs. afternoon when my sister kept calling me to come open a present. I needed to get the chocolate sheath cake in the oven but she was insistent and persistent so I finally relented. I was totally surprised when I opened a Kitchen Aid Mix Master from my mom!! WooHoo! I’ve always wanted one! We set it up and I used it to make the cake. Other than my one mishap with adding the powdered sugar and turning it to Speed 4 instead of “stir”, it was amazing. (I won’t make that mistake again. Trust me.)

Thanks for everything, Mom!

Uncommon Blonde gave me Pioneer Woman’s cookbook, so I’m sensing continuing temptation in the food department. Sigh.

I am altogether blessed. Hope your Christmas was saturated in love. And butter.

Two Roses in the Kitchen (They share the middle name "Rose")

The Forecast was for Fun - Never Mind the Rain

I'm thankful that the only moisture we experienced in New York last week was a bit of rain. This week it’s ice and snow… a little harder to maneuver in, I daresay. (That is theoretical and speculative as I have very little actual experience in the matter.)

When we hit the streets on Day 2, we realized the rain forecast was accurate. Our Broadway Show tickets were for the evening of Day 3, but we knew about the Ticket Booth in Times Square where you could stand in line to buy half price tickets to shows for that day. I had really wanted to take in 2 shows on our trip so here was the opportunity. We got matinee tickets to see Chicago - way to multiply our travel dollars.
The girls were excited to learn that Ashlee Simpson (Jessica’s sister) is starring in the show. She did a great job. I loved the jazz music and the dancing - it was well done theater. Quite different from the show we saw the next day and I love variety.

We met up with one of the girls’ friends who’s a model in New York. It was fun going to her apartment – a walk-up – and seeing how New Yorkers live. When we walked out of the Mexican restaurant after a fun and delicious meal, the rain had stopped, making it a perfect time to go to Rockefeller Plaza. We did a little window shopping along the way. No problem that these stores were closed. I think a necklace cost more than my car.

Empire State Building at Night

Across from Rockefeller Square, I was captivated by Saks Fifth Avenue’s “singing building”. Every 15 minutes, the building came to life with flashing snowflakes, dancing to a brilliant arrangement of “Ring Christmas Bells” that resonated in the crisp, freshly washed air. I had to watch it three times!!
I’ve always heard about the energy in New York and it was so much fun experiencing the city that never sleeps. I’ll wrap up the trip on my next post with some of my very favorite photos from the trip.

4 Fabulous Days

My face hurts from smiling. My feet hurt from walking miles and miles of city streets in boots. My heart is warm from treasured moments travelling with 2 of my beautiful daughters.

The sounds of a lonely sax playing Christmas carols from a doorway, the rush of holiday crowds, the ice skaters at Rockefeller Plaza, the amazing window displays at Macy’s and Saks and the love of family have contributed to submerging me in Christmas happiness.

I’ve been asked, “what was the best thing?” I can’t answer that, as it was ALL good. Planes even ran early – is that not a miracle??

My plan is to give you 4 Fabulous Days in 4 installments.… did I say 4 days in a row? no promises. : )

Day 1. Checked in to the Affinia Manhattan at noon. Hop on the subway and head to the southern point of Manhattan to work our way North.

Memorial wreaths placed at Baattery Park in memory of those who died in 9/11 and soldiers who've given thier lives for our country in the war against terrorism.

The fraternity of the Fire Department. We visited New York's finest and got t-shirts for our guys.

Ice Skaters at Bryant Park. We ate at a wonderful spot overlooking the ice rink & wandered through the boutiques.

TIMES SQUARE!
The ads in Times Square are BIG!
I had wanted to see these my first day (windows at Macy's) and we walked right by them on the way back to the hotel. Location was a key in choosing the hotel we did. It worked out well for us. And this was just the first day!! We made every moment count.

The Gift of Love

I don't know who authored this, but it brought peace and a smile to me today so I thought I'd share:

First Corinthians 13, The Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shining balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crystal snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

My note: We can only freely give that which we have received. Have you stopped to absorb the magnificence of His great love for you today? Maybe that's why you stopped by here - for the gentle reminder - God loves YOU!!!!!

Her Taste is All in Her Mouth

Our grown children have had a playful battle ever since I can remember over favored ornaments vs. ugly ornaments. They constantly move the ornaments they don’t like to the back of the tree and strategically place their favorites front and center.

To me, there is no such thing as an ugly ornament and my tree bears witness to that. I admire themed trees that glisten with all gold or all silver or Victorian pieces or whatever. But as “eclectic” describes my house, so it describes my tree. A generous mix of old and new, silly and elegant.

I’m attending an ornament exchange party this week and in my quest for a distinctive ornament I visited a local gift shop. I was delighted to find birds and butterflies that I thought were fabulous. I bought extras for additional gifts.

I proudly showed them to my daughters who tried to be polite but burst into laughter. Cupcake’s comment was “those are the ugliest ornaments I’ve ever seen.” In order not to embarrass myself, I exchanged them. I had to keep a butterfly as I still think it’s beautiful. Aren’t ornaments supposed to be sparkly and fanciful?

My mom has always had an expression, “her taste is all in her mouth.” It took me until I was an adult to “get” that. Personal preferences are influenced by an indeterminate number of things and I think when it comes to admiring Christmas decorations, I will always be 5 years old. Growing older is inavoidable, growing up is optional.

I’m not going for a run this morning. I’m going to skip the whole way.

Christmas Tour - Techincal Difficulties and All

I'm having issues with lights this year so I wasn’t going to participate in BooMama’s tour of homes. But then it occurred to me that surely someone who stops by will have the answer to my pre-lit tree dilemma.

It was only about or 4 years ago I gave into buying an artificial tree. My primary reasons were that I could have it up longer and put it by the fireplace, where I had always wanted to place the tree. This year, AFTER the tree was decorated, the lights started going out. One. Strand. At . A. Time. The first strand, I simply bought some more lights and put them in place. Then the second strand went out. When I got home from the store with that replacement strand and plugged in the tree, there was a THIRD strand of lights out. Have you ever tried to put lights on a tree that is already decorated? I’m sure that I share this quandary with others, so if you have a solution, I’m all ears. Here’s the tree:

How about this needlepoint nativity set my Mom made??!! I love it. (She loves Christmas decorations but likes to collect them for ME! How convenient is that?) No lights involved here. I like that.

And this one is just waiting for little hands to play with it when I have grandchildren one day.

I love the North Pole Village that my mom collected for me over the years. It’s not all out and it’s in 2 places!

I have lighting issues on my front porch too this year… I’ll spare you the details.

I was asked to provide food (a recipe!) for your visit but I've been too busy going back and forth to the store buying lights to cook. If you go tour some other homes, I'm sure you'll be full when you're finished!

From my less-than perfect home that is filled with love, I wish you a Merry Christmas!