Gumdrop Lights

My trek to Christmas is often a two-pointed jaunt. First to the Ritchies, then home. It is the best way to make the journey. We made a string of gumdrop lights. Amy's theme was Vintage Christmas and she had a candy-themed tree. I took my strings of gumdrops down last night.

I watched this movie for the first time and made these for the first time. We hosted a Christmas tea for Taylor and Rachel Ritchie. They chose their own tea cups. We served sandwiches, Lindt truffles, Shirley Temples, cocoa, and a high number of bowls of goodies. I got a French nativity. A yoga top from someone; yoga pants from another. I love to give gifts. I feel mother embraced each gift I got for Father to give her. She also loved the sewing case and we have put it together together for her sampler class beginning in January. My sister is very easy to shop for. Today I'm presenting a crocheted fabric rug to Donn and Nancy. They arrive after Christmas. Amy wrapped my gifted treasures in fabric ties. Jeff sent the second half of my birthday gift: fabric for a quilt and a pattern.

As is our new habit, we host Christmas Eve and then go to Robin's for Christmas day around 10 am. The more Christmases the better; I'm sure you agree. We settled on brisket (Brian's request as it rhymes with biscuit). We used Jo-Jo's as the dessert base but I felt the word too willy-nilly for the menu. 

Christmas Eve Menu

Tomato Bisque with Toasts

Oven-Simmered Beef Brisket

Gratin Dauphinois

Simple Greens

Peppermint Oreo Dessert with Hot Fudge Sauce

Cookie Cutters

image from www.marthastewart.com

I am not into sugar cookies. I am drawn to their fanciful shapes and even more fanciful icing. They belong on the cover of magazines. Most often sugar cookies are tasteless, floury, and the frosting is too sweet. I take a bite and leave it. Plus, I avoid making roll-out cookies. My sister is my polar opposite in the sugar cookie arena. She loves to eat and make them. I don't know where she came from. She is constantly making new sugar cookie recipes. There have been one or two cookies I like enough to eat; I like the sugar cookies from Milton's. Often they are in the shape of dolphins.

I found this recipe earlier this week and was swayed by fresh nutmeg and the old-fashioned title. These women didn't mess around with fragile dough. I was encouraged and had a small amount of sour cream in the fridge from our chili night. It was a go. I made the dough and popped it in the fridge until today. This afternoon I rolled out without qualm and baked to good effect. I forgot to sprinkle them (my wrapped gifts have no bows or ribbons either.) The cookies are very nice. A good sugar cookie dough. Now, I will move onto frosting . . . .

A St. Nicholas Day Report

illustration by Norman Rockwell

Brian carried the Christmas CD charge for many years. Last year, I offered to relieve him since 2010 was quite a year-end for the fam. This year, mother chose other neighborhood gifties but I made another music CD for my friends. Last year's was highly inspired by Marta's merry mix. I even used her instrux to made CD cases. This year, I exercised self-sufficiency skills and here is my list.

1. in the bleak midwinter • erin bode
2. what are you doing new year's eve? • the carpenters
3. what child is this? (greensleeves) • sarah mclachlan
4. god rest ye merry gentlemen/o come emmanuel (feat. colette butler) • callie moore
5. it's beginning to look a lot like christmas • perry como and the fontane sisters
6. the christmas waltz • she and him
7. white christmas • bing crosby
8. carol of the bells • the bird and the bee
9. the heartache can wait • brandi carlile
10. o holy night • nat king cole
11. the christmas song • catherine feeny
12. we wish you a merry christmas • the brady bunch
13. auld lang syne • james taylor
14. the wexford carol • yo-yo ma, alison krauss, natalie macmaster

It is heavy on the plaintiff girl with a guitar. What can I say?