Putting Away Christmas

I saw these two salt dough ornaments at the top of the box. I’d made and baked these in the mid 1970’s. I’d created all my family in salt dough. That’s my sister (holding a NYC map as she still lives in Manhattan) on the right and the one on the left was a likeness of Marjorie Lutkins holding a crossword puzzle. She was a generous family friend who’d join us on holidays with another friend Naomi Zieber Naomi was a real Charles Dickens fan and had a full set of Royal Doulton China figures and mugs of all the characters from his books

That these ornaments have survived 5 decades amazes me. Recently I found Naomi with her head broken off but I glued it back.

So there are three surviving salt dough ornaments that are fifty years old.

A Ten Second Video

Click link below to watch it rotate due to the heat of the candles

https://youtube.com/shorts/yNAByL6tong?si=bJgsDk2vHomuhWVz

Holy Family in a Tree

From the archives. Columbus Ohio. In a shop window.

The Countdown Begins

My friend Jen lent us her festive Advent Calendar as I’ve three grandchildren living with me right now. (And their parents) I’m sure the excitement level will increase as each day draws closer.

I was hard pressed to think of what to put in the pocket for the first day.

Ahhh, I’d purchased some Christmas colored M&Ms the other day at Aldi. Fortunately I had a lot of little mesh bags ( thank you for tip, Joanne)

I usually put my homemade knitting markers in the bags for knitting friends.

My five year old granddaughter said the calendar was good for math !

This evening we went to Nine lessons and Carols for Advent and the music was so beautiful at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside.

First Sunday of Advent Candle

Coming and Going

Christmas Dog on Christopher Street NYC

My sister helped me out by sending me this fun photo today. Thanks Mary

A Bit of a Retro Vibe

Christmas Window

Jack’s Discount Videos in Millvale PA

A Grump Tree?

My DIL received this at a holiday party gift exchange. A Grump Tree is a Lemon Cypress tree.

Instagram account @TraderJoesList announced the highly-anticipated arrival of the Trader Joe’s Grump Trees on Nov. 11, noting that each tree, wrapped in a red burlap sack (à la the Santa Claus toy sack the Grinch hauls with him around Whoville), topped with a sparkly Christmas ornament, and adorned in red ribbon, is selling for $8.99.”

Grump tree says it will grow fifteen to thirty feet tall and twenty feet wide
if planted in the right location (California?)

The Last Package of Lebkuchen

When I got to Laura’s house there were three packages of Lebkuchen by the guest bed. My daughter knows me well. These are from Germany.

Unfortunately, Oscar the dog got one package and ate some (no ill effects even though he got a chocolate covered one)

but he didn’t get my favorite kind.

I just opened it tonight. One a day for six days and then will have to wait until next Christmas

Kind of a soft gingerbread with a blend of spices, nuts and peel, not too sweet.

Lots of Lebkuchen links below

Lebkuchen ice cream in Berlin

Lebkuchen ice cream at home

Aunt Rhea’s Recipe post from her mother’s father.

Friends in Florida and Massachusetts Bake Aubt Rhea’s Lebkuchen recipe a double guest blog

Annual Lebkuchen Baking

And if you want to experiment with different recipes here’s the blend of Lebkuchen spices

Writing Prompt Photo