Virtual Advent Tour-Day 8

Welcome to Day 8
2011 Virtual Advent Tour

Don't forget to check out the blog for all the tour stops.


It's not even December yet as I write this, haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet! This is my first year participating and as I haven't read any of the entries from this year, or {blush} the others, I'm hoping this is what you were looking for.

This will be our 26th Christmas together and little has changed, except the size of the crowd! We like to put our Christmas tree up the second weekend of December. We started with a small tree because we were in an apartment then with the arrival of Daughter, the small tree went on top of something to keep her out of it. As the years went by, and with the addition of Son, a card table fit perfectly into a playpen and worked really well, for the dog. Children would push a chair next to the playpen! Several of my favorite ornaments will have been around since year one, glass bells and ceramic doves being at the top of the list. I made the kids stockings but only one hangs now, Daughter took hers with her when she moved out :)

We have so many ornaments collected through the years and made each year in school, that we started switching decorations. One year we'd have a smaller tree with the glass and other delicate decorations. The next year we'd get a big tree and put everything we could on it. The children each receive an ornament from grandparents and I started doing this also. Daughter has a nice collection for the tree in her apartment. Son's collection is still mixed up with ours.

Stockings: Traditionally, there is an chocolate orange in the toe reminiscent of the orange Husband had in his stocking growing up. At the beginning, it was a real orange but the kids didn't eat it so we switched. And share with extended family. Chocolate, nuts, fruit wraps and small toys filled up the rest. As the kids got older, the extras were placed in bowls on the table. And the toys got too big for the stockings ;)

Both of our parents live close so holidays are split between the two. We've started spending Christmas Eve with my folks so there was no need to eat and run. Mostly it's just me and mine now as we're the only ones living close but I remember having a video camera set up at the end of the room to record the unwrapping....what we got most of was each of our "back sides" bending over at the far side of the room. That's where my dad kept the See's Candy box! Yum yum. My parents, their three adult children, spouses and grandchildren all took a turn, or two, going to the end of the room and bending over that box of See's. Then we opened the next box!

As the extended family grew we started drawing names on the Husband's side of the family. First just the adults then in later years the kids drew kid names too but now everyone gets thrown in the hat so you never know who you'll be buying a gift for until Thanksgiving.

Christmas is like Thanksgiving, all about food and family, except there are gifts! The kids who have moved away have a longer break to come home to visit. And in some cases, we haven't seen them for a couple of years.

Several years ago, my sister-in-law introduced me to a salsa at Thanksgiving. It has become a favorite "winter" salsa and I've been known to eat the whole recipe by myself. It took several days but I'm not sorry and I'll do it again if I'm given half a chance. {evil grin}

Cassie's Cranberry Salsa

1 package (16 oz) fresh Cranberries
1/2 Jalapeno without seeds
1/2 bunch green onion
2-4 tsp Cilantro

Chop & mix together

Stir in
1/2 tsp cumin
3/4 C sugar

Serve over cream cheese with crackers

I omit the Cilantro and green onion and use a food processor for all of it. Thinking of using a sugar substitute but haven't tried that yet. I place a block of cream cheese in the middle of a serving plate and dump all the salsa on top of it. Wheat Thins are my cracker of choice and are placed in a nearby bowl. We had this at Thanksgiving this year but I forgot to take a picture. Gosh, darn, I had to mix up another batch to photograph. It was Delicious

As Christmas is on a Sunday this year, we'll be starting the day in church. With just the three of us living here now and Son being much older, we'll purchase a big thing for the family. Last year it was a new television. I think that this year it will be a sound system. There may be small gifts but mostly we just get the one big thing. Daughter will get something since she won't be able to use the sound system, and the extended family.

Next year I'll ask for a date later in the month so I can get pictures of the tree and other decorations. Or, maybe, I'll get the pictures taken this year and will remember where they are to post next year!

Have a very Merry Christmas. Be Safe. Be Loved.

Happy Reading,

Gina, a book dragon
because books are a treasure worth protecting

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011