Festive Family Fun

Let's talk Christmas. I hope yours was merry and bright. We're still enjoying morning coffee by the light of the tree. It will come down this weekend or whenever those little fairies show up to make it happen. Whenever they come is fine...I'm not in a hurry.

Except I kind of am because January looms and we have a lot of travel on the calendar. Fun stuff, which right now feels a little overwhelming, but then I sit by the Christmas tree and remember all is calm and all is bright.

How 'bout we back up a little, because we always start out in reverse on This Side of the Pond. When last we spoke the painters were on their way and they've come and gone so no more blue tape. Whoohoo! The ice man came and jiggled something in the ice maker which necessitated a part order which means he's coming back tomorrow to complete the job. My laundry room countertop was replaced so that's done. Oh and hubs hung a few more pictures. Just ask Daughter2...he was hammering outside her bedroom door at 9:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve Eve.

Or as she would say 'the crack of dawn'!

Speaking of daughter2, she finally got here on Wednesday morning because we had a little drama with her sweet pup that required a trip to the specialty vet the week before Christmas. Meanwhile hubs and I both had our cars in for service and it all felt a little bit crazy and in fact was a little bit crazy. Merry Christmas to us-ha!

Daughter2 was her usual cookie baking rock star self and we sipped tea on the porch and went for side by side manicures and talked recipes, kindergarten, and the meaning of
life. The three of us enjoyed a lovely dinner out with Daughter1's in-laws and close friends before heading to the mountains for a Tennessee Christmas with hubs side of the family.

Christmas with hubs side of the family means Angel Pie and she deserves her own mention here. Carry on. 

We were all so missing Daughter1 and the Dr. Captain this year, so it was extra nice to have a whole houseful of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents to fill the mountain cabin with love, laughter and chatter. Especially chatter. We are world champion chatterers.

Hubs brother and sister both own cabins in the Smokies, as close to one another as the crow flies. Does that expression mean what I think it means? Anyway, they're close in proximity to one another so we bop between the two when we visit.

Everyone trekked down the mountain on Christmas Eve for a big family dinner out before church, and then sat side by each in two pews singing Silent Night to the glow of a dripping candle.

Christmas Day was filled with the usual gift giving and receiving, game playing, and a celebratory toast to my in-law's 60th wedding anniversary which had taken place earlier in the month.

The nephews helped my mother in law experience a little virtual reality...

And I think she liked it.

These glasses are freaky y'all. I felt like I was in some other dimension of time and space, which I think is the point of virtual reality, but still...super freaky and very cool.

We had rain all day on Christmas Eve, but Christmas and the day after were both ridiculously warm. 70 degrees up on top of the mountain, and nobody complained.

photo credit: my sis-in-law

Monday we trekked back down the mountain to see my sister and brother-in-law's new home which is almost complete. We've been sharing the angst of building a home from the ground up for more than a year, and we're excited for theirs to be finished now too. Also, aunts are special people and my girls have a whole squad they dearly love.

Because it's against the laws of family togetherness to skip a meal we stopped in town for a pizza lunch with the grandparents, selfie style-

photo credit: my sis-in-law

We headed home on Tuesday morning because we had visitors coming by around lunchtime on Wednesday and there were gifts to put away, groceries to be purchased, and floors to be vacuumed. We enjoyed our company and then hubs, Daughter2 and I finally watched Home Alone last night which is a holiday tradition we hadn't managed to squeeze in before Christmas.

We went to bed knowing there was absolutely nothing on the must-do list for today and in my mind that's as good as sugarplums any old day.

Merry Hodgepodge!

Welcome to the Hodgepodge, our final edition before the calendar rolls into the new year. I've declared next week Christmas break here, so look for another installment on January 4th. If you've answered the questions today add your link at the end of my post and be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you. Grab your cocoa and let's go-

1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list?

Watch A Christmas Story. My daughter and I will do a teensy bit more baking and there's one or two gifts to be wrapped, but other than that I think my Christmas to-dos are mostly done. 

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter?

The first snowfall, boots, Christmas, a starry night sky, warm soup on a cold day, and the slower pace. Autumn is still my favorite, but there's something to love in every season. 

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not.

I'm just going to go ahead and say it-Christmas. I am kind of a baby about the holiday and cling tightly to all my long held traditions. I read something on the incourage Facebook page recently that said, 'Nix the expected and embrace the meaningful.' Trying to really take that to heart this Christmas.

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016?

That seasons of 'waiting' show us things about ourselves we might not see-know-learn without the wait. 

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings?

I love shrimp, fried included. My  favorite is peel and eat boiled shrimp with a squeeze of lemon and a spicy cocktail sauce for dipping. I don't think shrimp is on our holiday menu, but I might get my daughter2 to make a recipe of the Pioneer Woman's Spicy Lemon Garlic Shrimp the week after Christmas. It's easy and delicious!

6. What sound lulls you to sleep?

Hubs would say any sound-ha! I can fall asleep in complete silence or while a ten piece band plays three feet from my head, makes no difference. I love the sound of water lapping the sides of a boat or shoreline, but most often it's the TV playing softly in the background. 

7. What one word best describes your 2016?

Construction!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I want to thank you for sticking with the Hodgepodge this year. I know it's been a little hit or miss, but I still very much enjoy this little mid-week happy and the people who visit here. Merry Christmas!

"For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 291

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.
Because nobody has anything else to do four days before Christmas, right?

Of course not. Let's declare next week (Dec. 28) Christmas vacation in the Hodgepodge and come back with a fresh edition in the brand new year (Jan 4). In the meantime, answer today's questions on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list? 

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter? 

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not. 

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016? 

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings? 

6. What sound lulls you to sleep? 

7. What one word best describes your 2016? 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Hey 19

So how are your to-do's looking on this 19th day of December? Mine are mostly done, or at least I think they're done, Christmas wise anyway. House wise is a whole 'nother story.

Who moves in the middle of November? Ka-razy!

Every day I do a little wrapping, a little baking, and a little rearranging of our household goods. Still trying to decide on where to place a few miscellaneous tables, lamps, and assorted keepsakes. Still need to buy a few things and still need to hang more pictures, but Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was this house. I figure if it took fourteen months to get here I can give myself two or three to organize.

Painters come tomorrow and I will be so happy to say goodbye to all the blue tape. For those not in the know, when you move into a brand new house you slap a piece of blue tape everywhere there's a ding-scuff-oops-mark of any kind and then the painter knows right where to go with his brush. Let's just say hubs has a super keen eye and there is mucho blue tape round here.

Somebody will also be here tomorrow to replace my laundry room counter top because they originally cut the counter out of the material meant for my garage counter and put my laundry room material in the garage. Bother.

Note to self-clear off laundry counter. Also-do laundry.

Somebody is also supposed to come jiggle something or other in the icemaker downstairs so it doesn't sound like a jackhammer running. We've never had a stand alone ice maker before, but I'm pretty sure that's not how they're supposed to sound.

And somebody is supposed to come replace a thing-y in our indoor fireplace and that's all I know about that. Except not to turn it on until they've been here. That's important.

While all the nonsense is happening on the home front I'll be getting a hair cut. I could not have timed the appointment any better if I'd tried. Hubs will be here managing things and I will be catching up with my stylist while she works her magic on my hair.

This girl gets here tomorrow too-

Okay so she's really more this girl now-

But in my mind she's always that girl.

Last night hubs and I watched The Sound of Music. It was playing on TV and kind of made my heart ache for little girls in the house.

Little girls who grab clothes from the dress up box and act out the 'So-long, farewell' routine with their parents as audience.

Little girls who giggle and snuggle and burrow their way into one another's hearts as only sisters can.

Little girls who haven't spent a Christmas apart in twenty six years, but who will adult like the bosses they are from either side of the country come December 25th.

Miles apart, but close in heart we'll ponder that long ago silent night. We'll welcome the day that love came down...

...and give thanks for the ties that bind.

Have a Holly Jolly Hodgepodge

Welcome to the holly jolly Hodgepodge! If you've answered the questions, add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. We're all about spreading Christmas cheer here on Wednesdays.

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate. 

Hmmm...that depends on the task and the people. Sometimes a task just needs to be done, and sometimes people need people. I do love a good list and am something of a take charge personality, but I also care more about people than my to-dos so will always opt to put off a task if a deadline isn't involved. When you're 'retired', there's rarely a deadline involved. 

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day...do you own/wear pearls? If you're a man answering the question, does your sweetheart own or wear pearls? Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.

I love pearls and own a couple of strands. When your thoughtful hubs regularly travels to Asia you happily own pearls. 

Shanghai, 2012

A pearl of wisdom for today? How about this-

"Ground yourself in the real meaning of the season and let this focus bring calm and purpose to all the Christmas preparations surrounding you." Kathryn Shirey, Pray Deep for Advent

3. Speaking of pearls...oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little? 

I like oysters. They're not my favorite seafood, but I like them. Best way? 

tonging for oysters, Prince Edward Island

Right out of the water. 

4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?

How about the men and women in blue? Or our nation's firefighters? Both have physically demanding, emotionally draining, incredibly important jobs to do and both have had an especially hard year protecting and serving this land we love, the people and the landscape.  

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced and it's a vibrant green, aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the color. 

I love it! I don't have the color in my home, but see it all around just outside my windows. I would definitely wear this color, and have a top that's close to it. I might look for something in this particular shade because I like to wear green. 

6. Today I've had too much__________________.

Coffee? I don't normally drink more than a cup or two, but I was on the phone a good bit of the morning and got a little carried away with the coffee.

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.

'...Then rang the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth He sleep...'

...A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...'

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

We don't have a lot of decorations outside this year, but I did put a tree on the screened porch, and I love it. I want to make it more woodland themed going forward, but this year I put anything that felt like it belonged out of doors on its branches. Right now a cardinal hangs beside skiing Santa, and that works for me! 

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Enjoying Home And The Holly Days

If you're looking for this week's Hodgepodge questions, you'll find them here. 

I spent Monday at the mall.

I think I deserve a medal.

I'm not a mall shopper, but we do what we must for the people we love, especially at Christmas. I do most of my shopping in boutiques away from the mall, on ETSY, and in various other online retailers because dealing with the mall puts a chink in my Christmas spirit. It's actually not the mall so much as the mall parking lot. As my grandma used to say, 'Land sakes alive!' 

By the way, I'm just going to go ahead and add some Christmassy house pics to this post because if not now, when?

view into the great room from entry hall

I'm hoping I won't have to make another trip to the mall between now and the 25th, but never say never. I'm trying to get it together here, but we're still hanging pictures, moving furniture, and soiree-ing with friends so it's possible I've dropped a ball or two along the way.

Friday night our builder and his wife came over for dinner which apparently is something of a construction miracle. Several people I've mentioned this too told me they weren't on speaking terms with their builder by the time their home was completed, or possibly even a few months prior to completion. We still love ours, and had a really nice evening.

great room fireplace

They helped us hang pictures and will bring the last of our window treatments out sometime after Christmas. Mrs. Bob the Builder is having a chair recovered for me and we look forward to more dinners, and boat rides too once boating weather returns.

barn doors with the telly hidden behind 

On Saturday hubs and I dashed down to Atlanta to celebrate the university graduation of a friend's daughter. It was a lot of fun and I'm determined to make time for people and not just my to-dos in this season especially.

fireplace in the keeping room

The house isn't dark, although most of these were taken at night, but it's tricky getting a good photo in here. When I turn on more lighting there's too much reflection, so dark pics it is. I really need to get my good camera repaired...I suspect that would help.

a peek into the kitchen 

In other news, I have not wrapped a thing. True story. Wrapping is on the agenda for Tuesday, then getting the long distance gifts boxed up and posted can happen Wednesday.

Or Thursday.
Depends how I feel about facing the post office. 

                                                                  range hood all decked out for Christmas

Daughter1 and her hubs will be celebrating Christmas on the west coast this year which means mailing packages. I will resist inserting a boo hoo here because I need to set a good example, but boo hoo. On the bright side, we have a west coast trip planned for early in the new year and that helps a lot. 

I will have my Daughter2 here to spoil over the holidays and she's always a comfort. Plus she bakes like a rock star so bonus points. I'm loving my new range so much, but still haven't mastered all the bells and whistles. Daughter2 and I are going to figure it out together, because according to the owner's manual I can bake five trays of cookies at the same time without shuffling a single tray or rack. We shall see. 

 the dock

In the meantime...stay holly and jolly friends! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 290

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then ski back here tomorrow to share answers and some Christmas cheer. See you there!

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate.

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day...do you own/wear pearls? If you're a man answering the question, does your sweetheart own or wear pearls? Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.

3. Speaking of pearls...oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little?

4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced, and it's a vibrant green aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the color.

6. Today I've had too much________________________.

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
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