Christmas...the finale ( I promise )

First off...the men indulged me with another family photo.... twas truly a Christmas miracle

We went to my in-laws for Christmas dinner....this is one of 5 tables as there were 32 people there (my husband comes from a family of 5 children...now there are 12 grandchildren...and 9 great-grandchildren...phew...).  My mother-in-law who is 81 makes the entire meal...we try to convince her to let some of us younger ones take it over...to no avail.

Oh...and I should add that she also makes 6 different kinds of homemade pies...

there were new babies to snuggle...

and texting "big kids"...

I managed to get a picture of my boys with their grandmother (the one who makes this super Christmas dinner) she still had her Christmas apron on ...she is quite a dynamo at 81. She hates to have her picture taken...this one cracks me up because she was looking at Cameron saying "you are so tall and handsome"......what a super gram she is.

The paddle ball from the dollar store was as popular as any present....well except this one:

This is the new Canadian one hundred dollar bill.  It is made of a new plastic polymer that is very hard to counterfeit (shucks) and is so durable it can even go through the laundry.  Not that I usually have a pocket full of $100 bills.

Christmas ...part two

Christmas Eve it snowed...the fluffiest, most beautiful snow ever.  I took so many pictures...you are about to be bored..(I warned you)

The yard simply glowed...it was dreamy...

Eventually I had to come inside and make homemade pizzas...(strange tradition..I know) but Christmas Day we have a turkey extravaganza ( more on this in an upcoming post) at my in-laws so pizza it is on Christmas Eve.  This year we had a fairly small group at our house which included our family of 4 along with  my in-laws, my mother, and  one of my sisters and her husband.
 

Christmas morning I woke up really early and snapped this picture...it was still lovely out.  I tried to wake the teenagers....but had little success...so Scott and I enjoyed this breakfast quietly...and soon they smelled food...and got up (works like a charm).



I think I have an obsession with everything eggnog...is that wrong?

Yarn Along December 2011

I'm participating in Yarn Along ,a chance to share what you are knitting and reading...although I haven't managed to get this hat on the needles yet today.   I did knit 5 of them for Christmas presents last year and they turned out really well , I love this pattern.  I have a few pottery buttons that I use but a wooden one would be nice as well. The wool is from Brigg's and Little which is the oldest woolen mill in Canada...and just happens to be located not far from my home.  


I'm only two chapters into the book but so far, so good.

Christmas ...part one

We kicked off the season with our annual yankee swap at my aunt's house.  The theme this year was "pyjama party"...and those elastic waists came in handy after the potluck.  It is my favourite Christmas event as I get to see all my aunts, uncles and cousins...and this year we had two new babies to snuggle.  We always have to get a group shot...which seems to get harder every year.

these "nose cups" were the hit of the party...

I felt so festive when I got home from the party...I trimmed the bird feeder...the birds didn't seem to notice though

Nanaimo bars

We interrupt this blog break to bring you....Nanaimo bars...my most favourite Christmas treat.  I only make them once a year because I can't resist them (and they are 3 layers and I am a bit lazy).  They were invented in Nanaimo, British Columbia (hence the name) by Michael Buble's grandmother (totally joking on the Michael Buble's grandmother thing...although I'm sure someone's grandmother invented them).

Here is the recipe:

Base: 2 cups graham wafer crumbs

1 cup coconut

1/2 cup walnuts 

5 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

5 TBS white sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 beaten egg

1 tsp vanilla

Filling:

1/4 cup butter

2 cups icing sugar

3 TBS milk

2 TBS Bird's Custard powder (use instant vanilla pudding powder if you can't find custard powder)

Topping:

4 squares melted semi-sweet chocolate

Method:  In a saucepan combine sugar, cocoa, butter, vanilla and egg and stir over medium heat until butter melts and mixture thickens like pudding (approx 5 minutes)

Remove from heat and add coconut, walnuts, and graham crumbs

 Press mixture into an 8 inch square pan (mine is shown in a 9X11 pan).  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile mix up your filling ingredients

 Spread filling over base and put it back in the fridge for another 30 minutes

Melt chocolate and spread over the top.  I usually leave it for about 10 minutes  for the chocolate to partially set then cut into squares while the chocolate is still soft.  Refrigerate for an hour or so before you lift the squares out.

Enjoy...maybe invite Micheal Buble over for coffee..or whatever..

Merry Christmas

I will be taking a few days away from this blog  to enjoy the season finish wrapping presents and get some Christmas baking done.  I hope you all have a lovely  holiday and I look forward to lots of Christmas pictures next week.

Calvin is resting up for the festivities.

Recap

All the Christmas preparations have left the pets exhausted...there has been plenty of napping

After much waiting...and watching..Calvin was rewarded when.....

The partridge made another appearance....(well camouflaged)

We had a light dusting of snow...which quickly melted

We had a little party for my Mom's 68th birthday...

My aunts and sisters got together for Mom's birthday (we even allowed my uncle Mitchell to stay).  We had wine...and coffee...and chocolate...it got loud.  One time when Scott and I were watching tv "The View" came on...Scott said "this show reminds me of when the ladies in your family get together"...enough said.

The List of Doom

Last night before I went to bed I made the following list:

Finish Christmas cards

Make Mom a B-day cake

Wrap Presents

Put lights on the Piano

Clean out Fridge 

Take dog to groomer

Go for a run

Go to the bank, hardware store and post office

Make home made soup

This morning I re-read the list...the groomer lives 30 miles from our house.  This list is not reasonable....

As luck would have it, Scott has a meeting this morning not far from the groomer's house so I sent the dog with him. 

 This felt ...strangely amazing...I have the house completely to myself. 

 I don't want to clean the @#$% fridge

  I don't care about going to the bank...or hardware store

I found a frozen pizza in the freezer

I will make the birthday cake

I might go for a run

I wonder if Scott will stop and pick up Tampax?  Better not push my luck.

Here is the "before" pic of Calvin...I'll post his glamour shot tomorrow

She's baaaaaack!

It's that time of year again when I dig "Alice" out of the cupboard.  I named the slow-cooker Alice after the housekeeper on the "Brady Bunch" because as we are out in the world doing other things "Alice" is at home working on supper.

I'm not a huge fan of meals made in the slow cooker.....I prefer stir-frys, sushi, chicken skewers...but not Alice...she kicks it old school; stew, chili, pot roast...what I like to call "invalid food"... but we have worked out a truce.  I go out to hockey games, work in the studio, book club etc...and Alice keeps 

the home fires burning..supper cooking. Thanks Alice...

10 on the 10th December

I'm joining Rebecca today for 10 on the 10th.  Today's pictures have a Christmas theme as it was the day we put up our tree.  I hope you enjoy them!

#1 At the neighbour's tree farm

#2 So many choices...

#3 Still searching....

#4 ....trying to get a picture of the snowflakes on my jacket...

#5 Love these berries growing everywhere at the tree farm

#6 Back inside...little felt houses glowing...

#7 Little village

# 8 Helper

#9 All trimmed

#10 Goodnight

Friday..the good, the bad..and the ugly

So today's post is a bit of a mixed bag...first the good.  I fell in love with these little felt houses and decided to give them a try

I haven't applied the "stiffener" yet so they aren't quite finished.  I have a big stack left to sew together so I'm taking it easy this afternoon....which brings me to the bad;

I think I have an ulcer...again.  My brother-in-law sent me some meds today so I'm planning to be on the mend very soon {oh, don't worry...he's a doctor).

And now for the ugly; we had the septic tank guy come today to pump out our tank

in the words of Cousin Eddy "shitter's full"...{I hope you are all "Christmas Vacation" fans or you are really going to wonder about the previous quote}

That's all I've got....