Dear Sunday Letter friends,
Ho ho ho! ‘Tis the week before Christmas which means we finalize menus and grocery shop, prep dishes, finish wrapping gifts, await family (and Santa Claus) coming into town.
Anticipation is a huge part of Christmas for me.
My husband often points out that I am a big kid, not that he thinks there’s anything wrong with that. Christmas is my favorite for many reasons—the sparkle and twinkle, the carols, the tastes and aromas, the memories of family and church and a time when magic tasted as real as the chocolate candy in my stocking. Yes, memories are probably at the root of my seasonal joy. From the time school was out for Christmas until the first week of January, family (led by Momma) always made the holidays extra special. And I do my best to carry those traditions with me throughout the season and into the new year.
Decking the Porches!
This past week, we finished our outside lighting, bringing Frosty to the porch and wrapping the railings with lights. Also, I wanted some sort of lighting on our upstairs sleeping porch, something visible from the street.
We debated several options and decided a wreath would be perfect. But we didn’t want to buy a green faux one that would require storing. Sooooo, we settled on a basic grapevine wreath and wrapped it in lights.
Our new wreath brightens the sleeping porch (and the entire upstairs) and looks so festive from outside. And, bonus, when the holidays are over, we can remove the lights and continue displaying the grapevine wreath.
Christmas crafting doesn’t get much easier than this.
Christmas-ready!
Thrift Store Find
I love a good thrift store find, and for $2 this oversized Santa mug was a real score. I’ve noticed succulents planted in Santa mugs, and I always love them. BUT even as much as I adore Christmas, I wouldn’t want a Santa mug on my windowsill in the spring. (Shhh! Don’t tell the jolly guy…)
Instead, used as a planter with a tinsel tree inside, my new (old) Santa mug makes a fun decoration.
I discovered this one at Potter’s House in Fayetteville. Win-win!
Sparkling Sugared Cranberries
Dining with Debbie has the perfect holiday recipe for sugared cranberries. I plan to make a batch of these for our Christmas Eve meal. Sprinkled around my buttermilk pie, they will be decoration as well as another dessert choice.
Do you remember how visions of sugarplums danced in the children’s head on the night before Christmas? Well, I think if Mama in her ‘kerchief had ever made sugared cranberries, the kids would have been dreaming of these instead.
Click HERE for Dining with Debbie’s recipe.
photo credit: Dining with Debbie
By the way, sugarplums are not sugared plums. They are made by mixing bits of nuts and dried fruit (such as prunes and raisins) in a food processor, forming the ‘dough’ into plum-shaped balls, and rolling them in sugar. Yes, I imagine they are good too.
Taste of Home has a recipe and a photo if you’d like to see.
Did you know that prunes are a type of plum (but not all plums are prunes)? It’s true.
A Christmas Apology
I love getting Christmas cards from friends and family, and even the libraries I visit throughout the year. If you sent me a card, please know I truly appreciate it. I display them throughout the holiday, and in January I upcycle them into Christmas tags for the following year.
Last year’s display.
BUT oh my, I am terribly inconsistent about mailing out Christmas cards, and this year I didn’t mail a single one. I promise this isn’t a bah-humbug thing, I just never got around to it.
Receiving without giving goes against my nature.
Maybe you could consider this Sunday Letter my Christmas card and keep me on your good list for next year?
Santa Claus Humor
Speaking of Santa, this glass made me laugh out loud. If anyone needs a last minute gift, I saw it at ‘Stache in Fayetteville. (And ‘Stache has an online shop.)
Things Momma Says:
You know, it can be too cold to snow.
❄
We may be testing out Momma’s snow theory this week because frigid weather is headed our way. Bundle up, everyone!
For those traveling, I wish you safety.
Merry Christmas to my Sunday Letter friends!
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
I love the grapevine wreath. The house looks very festive. Merry Christmas 🎄 to you, John and your family.
Thank you! You too, Kelly!
Thanks for sharing the sugared cranberries. Hope you enjoy them🎄❤️🎄
Thank you! Merry Christmas.
Your home is beautiful, Talya. Merry, merry to you and your family.
Merry Christmas to you and your family too. We sure miss you. Come see us!
Merry Christmas!
Loved your letter and festive pictures. I can so identify with loving to receive cards but not getting them sent out, which was the case last year. I still have hopes of getting a few out this year. But if you don’t receive one, you’ll know once again last minute shopping and errands got in the way.
So here’s wishing you, John, and the rest of your crowd a Very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!
Lovely Sunday letter! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Talya . Love the grapevine wreath!
I just discovered your books, and I love reading them. My husband grew up in Mississippi County (Keiser), and we lived in Memphis over 40 years. It was really fun to read about familiar places and people. Bernice seemed to have my brain in her head. How did you know exactly how an 81 year old thinks? I am 82, and its been a long time since I have enjoyed a book as much.
Hi, Nancy. I’m so glad you have discovered my books and blog! Oh, Keiser. Definitely home sweet home for me. Thank you for your kind words about Bernice. I’m 60 now, so 81 is not that far away. Hanging out with my 85 year-old mother (and not that long ago my 90 year-old father-in-law) trained me to be inside Bernice’s head.
Merry Christmas to you!