MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!

I HOPE YOU SPEND A WONDERFUL DAY CARRYING OUT THE TRADITIONS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO YOUR FAMILY AND MAKING NEW MEMORIES IN THE PROCESS!!!  ALL THE VERY BEST!

As promised, I’m also posting the lucky winner of the “Pioneer Woman Cooks” cookbook give-away.

Congratulations to Kristin, who left the following message on December 13:

“Kristin Says: December 13, 2009 at 10:28 am e

I would love the book because I am not only a fan of Pioneer Woman, I am also a fan yours and your daughters blogs.”

Kristin~please send me an e-mail at:  everydaywomanusa@aol.com to claim your prize!  I’ll need a mailing address so that I can get your prize off to you ASAP!  (I didn’t find any contact info. attached to your name, so please e-mail me and let me know.)

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR LEAVING COMMENTS; I WISH I HAD ONE FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR GIVE-AWAYS IN THE FUTURE!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

“Everydaywoman” (aka Ruth)

Snow began to fall softly as the North Pole Express pulled into the station, as if right on cue.

Children, bundled up in pajamas and hoods, clamored around the station, waiting to board Santa’s train.

Destination:  North Pole!

ALL ABOARD!!!

As we traveled, our conductor told us Christmas stories and shared the story of the “Polar Express.”

The Baker served up the biggest and most delicious gingerbread cookies I’ve ever seen and tasted, along with creamy, rich hot chocolate. . .

A hobo even managed to sneak onto the train . . .

In the spirit of Christmas, we invited him to join us . . .

And, then, the main attraction. . . we reached the North Pole and Santa boarded the train!

Mrs. Claus even joined him . . .

. . . and some of the elves came along, too!

Santa offered the first gifts of Christmas to passengers on the train, as he held up a shiny silver bell from his sleigh . . .

The bell that Santa handed me makes the most glorious jingling sound . . .

As we headed toward home, Santa’s Christmas wish continued to ring in my ears, Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

To see who else is strolling on this December Sunday, head on over to The Quiet Country House.

Give my son a “manlift,” a fancy stapling gun, and loads of lights, and look what he can do!

The Waterwheel Barn is complete with chaser lights on the waterwheel, which makes it look like it’s spinning, and the icycle lights are the water running down the trough onto the wheel.

If only I could get him to do this for me at home.  It’s usually me—by myself—dangling from a ladder as I attempt to hang white icycle lights around our house.

Are YOU in the mood for holiday decorating?

Hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you enjoyed your day as much as Duke did!  He LOVED what Santa left him under the tree!

How did it happen?  Can it possibly be Xmas Eve already?

I just wish it was snowing instead of raining right now!  Our snow is shrinking by the moment and I hear we’re in for a December “thaw” next week.  Just when the kids will be out of school and ready to play in the snow!

Whatever the weather is in your neck of the woods, I hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and that the New Year brings you peace, joy, and good health!

(My favorite, “new” Christmas tree ornament, fashioned from found materials: a spiral shell and sea glass, that I found at a church fair this season.)

As promised, I’m posting some pix of our favorite Snowball Cookies.  As the snow/ice/rain/sleet swirled around outside this weekend, transforming us into a true winter wonderland (or a terrible, slippery/slidy mess–depending on how you look at it!) I finally popped a batch in the oven.

Trouble is, in a few moments, there were . . .

GONE!!!!

Fortunately, I did take my own advice and tripled the batch, so I have more dough in the fridge.  My 3 guys decided they like them best warm and when there were looking for some more last night, I popped another batch in the oven and they were again devoured at breakneck speed.  Problem is, at this rate, there will be NONE for Christmas!  But, they’re enjoying them now!  Hope you do, too!

My weekend took me to an unexpected place: the icy, Northeast Kingdom!  I wasn’t expecting to post a Sunday Stroll and had a zillion things to do at home, but due to the necessity of checking on a questionable furnace at our family’s northern home during recent winter ice and snow storms, we made a mad dash to this polar wonderland.

Despite the -1 F temps, I totally enjoyed this experience—especially the incredible sights.  I know that everything will still be awaiting me at home, but it was well worth it!

Icicles galore!

Duke totally enjoyed himself, making his own kind of snow angels . . .

Fortunately, my multi-talented DH was able to clean a screen on the furnace and restart it before any pipes had frozen, and was also able to shovel snow. . .

After getting the chalet in order, we  took in some Christmas-y sights at a nearby, larger town . . .

and, then, enjoyed the fire!

GOOD NIGHT!

To see who else strolled this Sunday, visit the Quiet Country House.

OK, I just couldn’t resist trying out a new banner, that’s very Christmas-y, on this weekend after Thanksgiving, right before the first of December!

It was a tad ridiculous when I saw Christmas items in the stores before Halloween–and I was rather surprised when I saw the spruce on the green all lit up when leaving school one night–but now I’m ready for it.  I almost couldn’t wait to rip off the autumnal brown/orange/sienna tablecloth on the diningroom table, complete with cornucopia as soon as Thanksgiving dinner was served–OK, actually the next day–so I could garnish with some crimson and greens!

How cute is this little Charlie Brown Christmas tree?  Just couldn’t resist . . .

Just seeing the very first, few flakes of snow early this morning (which quickly dissolved into hail, then rain) helped put me in the mood!

I already had the white candles in the windows for Thanksgiving and a few white lights on the palm tree inside, but now I’m aching for a family viewing of Christmas Vacation or even Christmas with the Kranks.  My daughter has already warmed me to lose the holiday vest!  (Maybe it’s just the luxury of having had a few days home before I jump headfirst into school responsibilities and activities tomorrow and forget that it’s even December!)

What are you doing to change gears from autumn to winter?  Do you have some favorite traditions that your family likes to share as you usher in this magical season?  Please share . . .

I was inspired by Joyce, over at Tall Grass Worship, to reflect on all the many things we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season.  What a perfect opportunity to reflect and revisit some of my earlier “Thankful Thursday” posts.

To read about the women in my life that I’m thankful for, click on:

http://everydaywomanusa.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/thankful-thursday-2/

I’m also thankful for some simple things:

http://everydaywomanusa.wordpress.com/thankful-thursday/

To read about being thankful for ”going topless,” click here:

http://everydaywomanusa.wordpress.com/tag/thankful-thursday/

This particular Thursday, this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for all these things and more.  Mostly, I’m thankful that as the winds swirl outside, I have a warm fire to warm my close family as we enjoy a meal together and share memories of holidays past and when our grown children act like kids again.  I’m grateful when what all the news shows lately is gloom and doom, we feel safe and warm in our little family circle.  I wish the same for you and your family.  And who knows, maybe I can even convince my family to usher in the Christmas season by enjoying a classic movie like “Christmas Vacation” or “Christmas with the Kranks” over leftovers and dessert tonight.  Wait . . . let me get my Christmas vest!

What are you feeling particularly thankful for today?  Please share it here, or on your own blog by posting a link.  Enjoy the day and thanks for taking a minute to reflect with me!