Hello Holiday Monday

Hello friends. It's crunch time with just ten days until Christmas. Is your to-do list done? Nope? Well pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and let's talk about our weekends because why not? It's late in the day for blogging, but does anybody really know what time it is? Or what day it is for that matter?

Linking with Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) for their regular Monday hop. 

Honestly this last week everyday felt like the weekend. We had two holiday dinners, I had a luncheon with my volunteer team, a book club party and a neighborhood party. I have just a handful of pictures, mostly food-sorry!, but it's the holiday season and there are lots of yummy bites to be had. I won't post all the pics from our wine dinner last Wednesday, but this appetizer-

Lump crab, compressed cucumber, and a delicate coconut lime vinaigrette. Scrumptious! Hubs knows the chef, and about a month ago they got to chatting and next thing you know hubs had invited him to dinner at our house. It will be fun, and best of all he said he'd cook the quail we have in the freezer. Whoop! I told him if he wants to bring a repeat of this app he should feel free. 

Four of us were in black velvet that night, which needed documenting. 

Friday was a day date kind of day, episode ten if you're keeping track. We went out for breakfast which is one of my favorite things, and then walked over to Hobby Lobby (also a favorite) and then drove downtown to a couple of little shops there. 

Is everyone finished with their shopping because I still need a few bits and pieces to truly call it done. I'm ready to have all the buying behind me, and hopefully tomorrow will be the day. There's a lot of us. 

Hubs didn't even blink when I said we needed a picture in the middle of Hobby Lobby. 

Friday evening we went back into town to watch our two oldest grands in their school Christmas program. Is there anything sweeter on planet Earth? No there is not. Each grade performed a song and then scripture was read between the various class group performances. Max's class sang O Christmas Tree and the Mancub's class sang Little Drummer Boy. 

If that doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit nothing will. 

Watching a child scan the audience for his mom and dad, then knowing when they finally spy them from across the room because their eyes light up and an enormous smile spreads across their face, well it will turn your heart to pure mush. 

I spent all of Saturday morning wrapping gifts. I'm still not done, but I made a lot of progress. We were invited to a neighbor's house Saturday afternoon with several other neighborhood couples to watch the Army-Navy game. Our host made so many yummy snacks along with a delicious turkey chili, plus everyone brought something so a very full table. 

I made the cranberry-jalapeno dip we love to have this time of year (recipe here) and you use a slotted spoon to pour it over a brick of cream cheese. It's the perfect combination of sweet and spicy, plus a mix of textures too. So good! 

The game was actually really exciting and I was rooting for Navy.  My dad was a Marine and attended the Naval Academy, plus hubs and I lived in Annapolis for nine years (non-military) so my loyalty is there. It was a close game with quite the finish. 

Sunday was church, then I hit the grocery store. Hubs vacuumed the whole house and polished the wood floors. I did some prep work for the luncheon I was hosting on Monday (today) and I finally cleared off the dining room table which is where I've been wrapping and writing cards and doing pretty much everything Christmas related. It's been making hubs twitch so he was happy. 

I meant to take pics of the luncheon set up, but I was busy luncheoning. I had nine friends for lunch including my daughter. So fun! She arrived a few minutes early (thankfully!) and helped me with last minute stuff, of which there was somehow a lot lol. 

I made hot chicken salad, a veggie tray, a Christmas fruit salad, and cranberry bread. Everyone brought three dozen cookies to swap and I bought these cute containers for the take-home goodies. The cookies were beautiful and we did not have any doubles.

And that was the weekend. Hope your week ahead is merry and bright! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 633

Hello Hodgepodgers. Here are the questions to this week's link up. Hop back here on Wednesday (December 17th) to share your answers. 

Please note: The Hodgepodge will be on Christmas break next week, so no link up on December 24th. We'll return to our normal Wednesday hop on December 31st. In the meantime, here's what we're answering this week...

1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee? 

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why. 

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Festive Friday Favorites

I've been a Monday-Wednesday blogger all year lately, but thought today I'd join in the Friday Favorites link up (hosted by Erika and Andrea) with a few bits of holiday miscellany. 

1. I spent all day yesterday baking. It was such a joy to be at home, no where to go, nothing to do but spend the whole day in my kitchen. I know that doesn't appeal to everyone, but it's definitely my jam. I also did five loads of laundry,  and sorted out some Christmas gifts and decor that needed sorting. I made two kinds of cookies, two loaves of cranberry bread, and a chicken pot pie for our dinner. 

2. My daughter called on her way home from school pick up and asked if we were around and if so they'd drop by and say hi. It's one of the happiest parts of life right now y'all. A daughter living close enough to drop by. 

Also, I played at least 47 games of tic-tac-toe upon their arrival. My sister-in-law sent this fun set at Thanksgiving and the boys love it. So fun! 

3. I bought two of these little spoon rests at Hobby Lobby back in November and it's a sweet addition to my coffee set up. The other is by my stove. 

I bought these mugs the year hubs and I got married and while there are so many super cute Christmas mugs out there, these remain a sentimental favorite. There are four in the set illustrating the twelve days of Christmas. 

4. I like to leave a box on my front porch for my friends aka the Amazon-UPS-Fed Ex drivers. 

They're here often this time of year, and I know the days are long. I put bottled water and some snacks inside-chips, bars, clementines...that sort of thing. It gets taken so I think it's appreciated. 

5. I took the dog out this morning and was greeted with this-

Let heaven and nature sing!

Ho-Ho-Hodgepodging

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday  Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Hope your day is merry and bright! Now here we go...

 -

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over?

It's disappointing but I don't know that I struggle with it. I stay in my circle this time of year. I concentrate on my family, and the people whose paths cross mine. Less news, more Jesus and the miracle of His birth.  

I enjoy the message of advent~hope-peace-love and I love the traditional Christmas hymns whose lyrics are timeless. I like sitting beside the tree in the early morning quiet with my Bible. I stay out of the stores as much as possible.  

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

The excitement my grandchildren feel about everything. We Facetimed with my youngest grandson the other day and when hubs asked him how he was he said 'Christmas isn't today.' : ) 

They love the lights and examining all the ornaments on the tree, spotting Santa, watching the Grinch, and sneaking a just baked cookie or three. It's all magical and their excitement is contagious. 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

I love Christmas cards, both the giving and the receiving. We have friends and family scattered here there and everywhere and I enjoy hearing from them at Christmas especially. A photo included or as part of the card is nice too. 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

My least favorite holiday related task is the wrapping. Does anyone else get a backache when they wrap presents? I try hard not to save it all for the end, but I'm not always successful at wrapping ahead. 

My favorite is probably baking because I enjoy making cookies and I enjoy giving them away. I love choosing our Christmas card each year too. 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• shopping
• baking or decorating
• baking
• eggnog or wassail
• wassail
• real tree or artificial
• real, but we usually have artificial
• turkey or ham
• ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• both! 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• cinnamon
• presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
• Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Who watched the Kevin Costner special on the birth of Jesus (The First Christmas)? What did you think? There were about a million commercials but overall I thought it was very well done. I'm  happy (and not gonna lie, a little surprised) to see the gospel story presented on ABC of all places. If you missed it I think you can still find it on streaming services and Hulu. 

Merry Wednesday everyone! 

Merry Monday

Good morning friends. Recapping a fun weekend here today and linking it all with Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah's (Sunshine and Books)  Hello Monday blog hop. Here's how ours looked-

Many months ago I saw that a band I love was going to be in Knoxville in December, and somewhat spontaneously we bought tickets and invited hubs and his brother and sister-in-law to join us. In hindsight, spending a weekend away in the month of December might have added to the busy-ness of the season, but it also added to the fun festive feel we long for this time of year. 

Hubs and I drove over the mountain and through the construction woods to his brother's lake house on Friday. The ride through Asheville and also through the ongoing construction on the Tennessee border went pretty smoothly and we made it to their house early afternoon. The little brown dog is always so excited to see one of his favorite people, aka my sister-in-law. 

We chatted and caught up, then headed into town to meet a college friend for dinner. It was a fun night in a festive venue and we were seated just beside one of their pretty trees. 

Saturday morning we watched some College Game Day, then made our way to a Christmas market being held at Maryville College. Such a lovely campus and we enjoyed browsing the stalls there. This little hot chocolate truck, a remodeled horse wagon, was adorable-

We bought a couple of stocking stuffers then stopped in to see the RT Lodge we've heard so much about. It's stunning! I've added it to my list of places I need to spend a night. R.T. Lodge has an interesting history dating back to 1932 when Susan Wiley Cooper Walker, the widow of Andrew Carnegie's business associate John Walker moved to Maryville. 

She fell in love with the wooded grounds surrounding the campus and persuaded the administration to allow the building of a residence in those woods if she agreed to will the home to the College upon her death. 

She passed away in 1950 and the college President lived in the home for a time. In 1997 Ruby Tuesday leased with the university to develop the property as a training facility and retreat center. 

They restored the main lodge, carriage house, and grounds and added two additional buildings to the property. 

Insert sidebar here-we need these super long skewers and the containers for our firepit. Carry on. 

SANTA!! I KNOW HIM!!

The Lodge operation has expanded to become a hotel, restaurant, spa, and special event center and it is an absolutely beautiful facility. We tried to book dinner there for this weekend quite a while back, but there wasn't availability. Definitely going to do that another time though. 

We came home and watched some football before picking up hubs mom for dinner in another great spot in town-The Walnut Kitchen. 

They seated us beside the tree here too which made it feel very Christmasy. Sunday morning we went to church with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and then Sunday night was show time. 

SHOW TIME! 

Also Episode 9 in our dating chronicles. 

We saw Needtobreathe at the Tennessee Theatre and they were, as always, fantastic. It was actually a double date, but that counts too. Hubs brother and sister-in-law went with us, and we all had a great time. 

The band has roots in our neck of the woods, and my girls saw them play at fraternity parties on their college campus long before they became well known. 

In a funny small world sort of thing, we ran into a couple who are neighbors of ours in SC. Turns out they're good friends with the parents of the band's bass player and he's leaving the band, so they came over to TN with his parents to see this last show. I love when these kind of unexpected connections happen. The venue is beautiful and I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. 

Also, the band is so good. 

We'll head home this morning so we're back in time to regroup before our Monday evening event. 'Tis the season! 

What kind of fun did you get into this weekend?

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 632

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (December 10th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Share Your Shelf-November

Hello friends. It's the first Thursday of the month which means it's time to share what we've read the month prior. For me it was not a lot, or at least not as much as I would have liked. 'Tis a busy season and time normally spent reading has been spent on other pursuits. 

Share Your Shelf is hosted by Tanya (The Other Side of the Road), Joanne (Slices of Life), Marilyn (Memphis Bridges), and Jenn (My Joyful Life) so hop over if you want to add your own link or see what others are reading. 

Here's how my November looked-

1. Horse by Geraldine Brooks

This was our book club's November selection and I mostly enjoyed it. The story is told with three timelines, the Civil War era timeline being the longest and in my opinion the best. There's a brief 1950's interlude and a modern day (2019) timeline too.  The modern day story  annoyed me in a number of ways, and it was the part of the book where I felt like this wonderfully talented author took the opportunity to push an agenda.

But! The older story line was so good and a delight to read. 

Horse is primarily a work of fiction, but is based on the true story of the record breaking horse called Lexington, a successful racehorse but an even more successful sire. 

In 2019, grad student Theo and Smithsonian osteologist Jess follow separate clues—a discarded horse portrait and a forgotten skeleton—that draw them together in both research and romance. In 1850, enslaved teen Jarret forges an extraordinary bond with the racehorse Lexington, a relationship documented in the diary entries of artist Thomas J. Scott as horse and handler are sold across the South. And in 1954, gallery owner Martha Jackson is stunned to learn that a painting brought to her for appraisal depicts Lexington himself, a horse tied to her own family’s past. 

Geraldine Brooks is a gifted writer, she won the Pulitzer for her book March.  I struggled to rate this one, mainly because the present day storyline didn't work for me. There was still much about the book I did enjoy, so a mixed review. 

2. Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

This is one that had been on my Goodreads list a long time. In fact, I marked it as 'to-read' ten years ago, and I'm trying to go back and read some of those early titles now. This was a very enjoyable book, and another that lands in the historical fiction category. 

The story follows two sisters in wartime England, Emmeline and Julia Downtree, who are separated from each other during the Blitz. Before the Blitz began Emmy dreamed of designing wedding dresses. That dream was about to become a reality when Emmy made a choice that changed the course of her life, and the life of her sister. 

There's a modern storyline as well, but it's minimal and is used to tie everything together. I enjoyed the setting and the characters were well developed. The reader cares about them and I want to care. Four stars for me. 

3. Theo of Golden: A Novel  by Allen Levi

Oh my. What a beautiful book. Truly one of the best I've read in a long long time. I loved it so much I bought copies for all the readers in my family for Christmas. 

A man known only as Theo arrives one spring morning in the small southern town of Golden. He stops by the neighborhood coffee shop, and is drawn to the ninety-two pencil portraits hanging on the walls there. The portraits are sketches of Golden's residents, drawn by a local artist. One by one Theo buys the portraits and returns them to the people depicted. Each handoff sparks a story, begins a friendship, and changes a life. 

A heartwarming, emotionally rich story that had me from page one. It's the kind of book I wish I could read for the first time again. I gave it five stars. 

Have you read anything good lately? If so please share. 

A Holiday Hodgepodge

Welcome to December and to the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a merry comment for your neighbor there. Here we go...

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I think it's related to the sense of excitement and anticipation we feel this time of year. It's wanting to go the extra mile in terms of generosity and kindness. It's purposely slowing down to count my blessings in the midst of all the hustle and bustle. 

Some years that holiday spirit is hard to find, but this year I'm going to say mine is at a 7. There's so much to love and look forward to, but there's also a lot to do. 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch has always been a favorite. Hubs and I watched Home Alone the other night, and how can you not love Kevin McAllister? 

I love Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the friend who finds the good in the scrappy tree and who when Charlie asks 'Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?' replies by reciting Jesus birth as recounted in the book of Luke. 

Linus, who carries his security blanket everywhere, drops it when he gets to the part that reads 'Fear not; for behold I bring you tidings of great joy". This little cartoon that first aired sixty years ago is still so powerful, so sweet, so loved. 

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

I do like gingerbread. I don't think it was a favorite growing up, but I love it now. 

We have done gingerbread houses from time to time. That activity isn't on the calendar this year. 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

sprinkles-lightning bugs-soda-sneakers-subs unless what I'm eating is an actual hoagie (iykyk)-highway- icing-sauce if we're talking pasta, but gravy if we're talking meat and potatoes 

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

The season didn't start until December and I think it was definitely simpler. Most people had just one tree, and we'd go to the local nursery to choose ours. It didn't go up until closer to Christmas and we all helped with the decorating. 

There was a lot of cookie baking done beside my mom in the month of December. 

The feeling of anticipation on Christmas morning. My sister and I (we shared a room) waking up super early and the excitement we felt as we lay in our beds talking while waiting for the street lights to go off so we could wake up my parents. That was the rule-no getting up while the street lights were still on. 

Then sitting on the steps with my brother and sisters as we waited some more for my dad to start the fire in the fireplace, make the coffee, and take our picture. Finally walking in to the living room and seeing all the beautifully wrapped gifts and my stocking in 'my chair'. So many surprises...I rarely knew what I'd be getting. 

I had a doll I loved and every year my mom would take her from my room after I'd gone to sleep on Christmas Eve, and dress her in a new outfit. She'd be sitting beside my stocking when I came down on Christmas morning.

My mama made Christmas morning so magical. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

It wouldn't officially be the Christmas season without me posting this song on my blog. This carol wasn't a particular favorite of mine as a child, but it has become a favorite in my adult years. The lyrics are so meaningful, so very relevant to the world in which we live...

'and in despair I bowed my head, There is no peace on earth I said, For hate is strong and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men...'

The story behind this particular song is a good one (you can read it here), and this Casting Crowns version is absolutely beautiful-

'Then rang the bells, more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth He sleep, The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men...'

Episodes Seven and Eight

Linking today with Joanne for Talking About It Tuesdays 

If you've been reading here you know hubs and I are aiming for 52 dates in 52 (ish) weeks. I'm recording them here because I think it might be fun to put them all in a photo book at the end of the year. 

I'm two episodes behind because the days are flying and full and writing it all down isn't happening the way it used to. Today will be a two for one kind of post. 

Day date episode seven. Here it is-

Backing up two weeks to this day, which was part of a week where we had stuff on the calendar every single day. Now some of that 'stuff' meant we spent time together, but I'm trying to make these moments we mark as just for us. 

Lunch at McAllisters it was. 

Hubs had an appointment in the city and I had an appointment to get my nails done. We met for lunch on his way home, after I left the salon and also after I stopped to mail a package, but before I hit the grocery store which happened to be in the same shopping center as McAllisters. 

Some weeks are like this, and I'm going to say simple is very welcome in the middle of busy.

I like their food and we each got a half sandwich with their broccoli cheddar soup which was delish. We had a nice time and talked about some of the day date places we might go and see and do in the new year. 

Day date episode eight happened on Saturday. Originally we had decided on Wednesday, but then the weather was spectacular and it made more sense for hubs to get the outside lights up while he could wear shorts since cooler weather was on the way for the weekend. 

We pivoted to Saturday and we bundled up. Actually it felt festive to put on my furry boots and my 'Canada coat' as it's been dubbed because hubs bought it for me in Canada more than 25 years ago. People still stop me whenever I wear it to ask where I got it. The boots I got in France, not quite 20 years ago but they're still a favorite and so warm. 

We headed into the city to check out a small Christmas market. When I see hubs in his hat I feel like it should have a post of its own.  He bought the hat in Austria after much hard selling on the part of the vendor. She told him she'd add the Edelweiss pin for free if he purchased so he said yes. This hat has been such a fun thing all these many years, the start of many a conversation with people everywhere who spy a pin from a place they love, or who are just curious about what the pins represent. 

The pins (currently numbering 53) started mostly by accident. He added one when he bought the hat, then ended up adding another on that same trip, and then another the next place we went, and so on and so on, and suddenly it became a thing. He's traveled all around the world adding pins to mark the miles, and now this hat tells the story of a most interesting life. 

I love going in to the city this time of year. The past few years we've gone to a Christmas show at the theatre there, but this year we can't make it work, so this might be it. 

The market was set up just outside of The Grand Bohemian Lodge, a luxury hotel whose architecture was inspired by the National Parks. Lots of stone and cedar and it's really beautiful. Besides lodging they have a spa, restaurant, bar, and an art collection featuring both local and internationally known artists. 

The Bohemian has been around for about three years now, but we've never stayed overnight or eaten in their restaurant. It was a chilly day, but we enjoyed browsing the stalls and made a couple of gift purchases before heading inside to warm up and have lunch.  

We sat at the bar, and per usual hubs immediately made friends with the people beside us. It's one of his very best qualities and something I love about him. It can also be annoying but mostly I love it. 

They had a brunch menu with some lunch options and I ordered eggs benedict because if it's on the menu that's what I order. Hubs got shrimp and grits for the same reason. Both were delicious. 

We also had to try an order of their deviled eggs which were so good-pickled mustard seeds, crispy maple duck confit, and chives. 

We walked through town and went in a couple of shops too. It wasn't overly crowded because locals were all inside somewhere watching the Clemson-South Carolina game. Yay Tigers! We were home in time to watch Tennessee play Vandy which was super painful, but we did finish decorating the tree while the madness happened and that helped. 

And now here we are, another week filled to the brim with happenings. Our next date might just be be that trip to Costco with lunch somewhere after since we've put it on the calendar. This is retirement. And December. And our life in this season. 

Which is actually pretty sweet.