Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post about their favorite gifts.   As I was reading the comments, memories of many of those same gifts came flooding back to me.  Some were gifts that I got, some were gifts that siblings or cousins got.  Either way, it brought back lots of fun memories. 

 

Today the topic of the day is a Christmas Tree story. 

I have been wracking my brain for a good tree story and there is only one that I can think of.  I’ve been trying to come up with another one to share, because if I tell this one, it will embarrass one of my siblings.  But, since I can’t come up with anything else, I will tell the story and leave out the name of which sibling to protect the guilty party.

Our Christmas tree was always set up in the far corner of the living room.  One day my Grandma Visser was over and she and my mom were sitting in the living room visiting.   They heard a rustling noise coming from behind the Christmas tree, followed by the sound of tinkling ornaments as the tree crashed into the center of the living room.  Behind the tree hid a certain little brother or sister of mine, with a red face and pained expression.  Can you guess what my sibling was doing?  What do little kids usually do when they hide?  Did I mention this kid was still in diapers?  I think you get the idea.  There were ornaments and tinsel scattered across the living room, in addition to scaring the bejeebers out of Grandma.  After getting over being startled, Mom and Grandma had a good laugh over it.  I still think it’s funny too -  So any guesses who it was?   You have a fifty/fifty chance at guessing . . . . .

Our featured blogger of the day is the very talented Pat Sloan.  I’m sure many of you already follow her blog, but just in case, here is the link to head on over to her blog to see what she has in store for you today!  Make sure to leave a comment on her blog to be eligible for the Grand Prizes!  The  hop on over to the other blogs on the hop to read their tree stories.  Here are the links:

  Gudrun from GE Designs,  Sandy from Pieces from my Heart,  Terry from Atkinson Designs,  Pat from Pat Sloan and Co,  Pam from Pam Kitty Morning,  Kari from New Leaf Stitches,  Terri from Whimsicals,  Sherri from This and That Pattern Co,   Carrie from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co,  Roseann from Rosebud’s Cottage and  Linda Lum DeBono

 

 

Today is day 3 of our Cross Country Christmas Blog Hop and our featured designer of the day is Terry Atkinson from Atkinson Designs.  She’s another MN gal, but is well known all over for her quilting designs!   Be sure to visit her blog today for a fun project.

In addition to Terry’s project, each of the designers will be sharing about our favorite Christmas gifts.  I was at my Mom’s house the other day, looking through old photo albums in the hopes that I would find some pictures of me opening gifts on Christmas.  I was hoping it would help me remember what my favorite Christmas gift was!  I told Mom I have lots of memories of Christmas, just no specific ones of gifts.  My Aunt Lynn happened to be visiting and she remembered right away what my favorite Christmas gift was – my shopping cart.

I still have it in a closet in the basement, but I happened to find a picture of this one on Ebay that was in a little better shape.  My shopping cart has strapping tape holding the handle in place!  Turns out I could get fifty bucks for it on Ebay – but not in a million years would I sell this favorite gift!  – Even though it is a little small for me.

My Aunt Lynn is known as the family historian.  She remembers everything!  In fact, my husband has nicknamed her the family oracle.  She remembers how excited I was about this gift.  She also remembers me telling everyone, “My name is Headder Modo and just wub my sopping cart.”  I hope I spelled that right, but you get the idea.  My great grandma Anka had that kind of memory also (You can read about her here), and I always wished I had that kind of memory too.  Thank goodness we have Aunt Lynn to fall back on!

The only other specific gift I remember getting was a stereo.  It wasn’t just a little boom box – it was a dual tape player, 5 disc changer, radio with 3-foot tall 100 watt speaker kind of stereo.  It was the year I turned 18 (which is part of the reason I remember it) and it was a combination birthday, christmas, and graduation gift.  I also chipped some of my savings to pay the rest.  I still can’t believe my parents helped buy me this.   I wasn’t the type to listen to anything peaceful or classical.  I also didn’t listen to anything soft or quiet.  Plus I had to turn it up even louder to hear it over my sewing machine or my quilting machine.  I loved it and got many, many hours of use out of it!   My poor family . . . . had to put up with that for a few years until I moved out.

Do you have a favorite Christmas gift?  Or possibly a family historian you can talk to?

Today is day 2 of the Cross Country Christmas Blog Hop.   If you missed the kick off of the blog hop, just scroll down to yesterday’s post to read how it all works.  Today Sandy Gervais from Pieces from my Heart is our featured designer.  Be sure to stop by her blog to see what she is sharing with you today.  For those of you who don’t know Sandy,  she has been in the business for quite a while, has designed tons of patterns, and does wonderful fabric lines for Moda fabrics.  I have designed many of my own patterns around her fabric lines and I am anxiously awaiting her next line. 

She always has one of the most creative booths at market too – Check out this picture from this past market -

(pictures taken from Sandy’s Blog)

 

In addition to the project that Sandy is sharing with you today, the rest of the bloggers on the blog hop will be sharing a favorite holiday recipe with you.  There are so many good holiday recipes out there, that it was hard to pick – but since we are all quilters, I decided to share two recipes that I would make if I was having my hand-stitching group over in the month of December. 

The first is my MIL’s recipe for Christmas Tea.  It’s so good that I start making it a month early!

Start by brewing 6 tea bags in 1 quart of boiling water.  Set aside.

Simmer Together:

3/4 cup brown sugar

4 orange slices with whole cloves

4 cinnamon sticks

1/2 tsp nutmeg

3 cups cranapple juice

Combine tea and spiced juice.  Serve warm.

 

For dessert I would serve this Peppermint Dazzle Dessert:

First Layer:  Mix 2 c. graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup butter.  Spread in 9 x 13 pan and set aside.

 

Second Layer:  Cream together :

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. butter

 5 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

3 beaten eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Beat until smooth, then cool until firm.  Spread over graham cracker crust.

 

Last Layer: 

Whip 1 pint whipping cream

Mix in 2 1/2 c. miniature marshmallows and 1 tsp vanilla

Spread over chocolate mixture and garnish with 8 crushed peppermint sticks.

Refrigerate for 3-4 hours before serving.

 

I wish I had a picture of this dessert, as it looks pretty and festive!  Suddenly I’m craving something sweet . . . .

 Be sure to hit up the other blogs on the hop for more fun holiday recipes!