Hodgepodge Wednesday: A real hodgepodge this time

Once again our Faithful Joyce over at From This Side Of The Pond has come up with a real hodgepodge of questions that allow us all a chance to understand each other better.  To play press the button at the top and head over to her blog. Visit each of us listed there and even leave a comment to let us know you stopped by, we love comments.

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'?

WOW what a question! This could be an entire blog by itself - in fact it will be soon, so come back for the full story. To me having the Christmas Spirit is about understanding the greatest gift of all. Jesus. He gave up being with God, living in Heaven with the Father, and came down here to live as a man with all the problems that comes with a human body. He did it knowing that at some point he would die for my sins.He did it because He loved me and  wanted me to live with Him some day.  Having a Christmas Spirit is about having a Thankful - Loving - Tender Spirit that appreciates that kind of gift.

2. What sits atop your tree (s)? Why?
We have an angel that lights up the ceiling as well. I can't remember when we got it but it was "Years and Years ago" according to Hubby.  I love the child like face and glow she gives off. I can image her at the birth of Jesus and her glow lighting up the sky!

What a charming face!

Look at the glow on the ceiling!

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?
Some time last week I made a really good omelet for Hubby.  Most of the time I have the heat up too high and it will not flip over nicely or slide out of the pan still in shape.  But this time, it looked really good and I wish I had taken a picture of it.

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

Touch. I react to the cold fast so the sense of touch is hyper sensitive right now.Sometimes I can't stand the feel of my clothes against my skin. Or the covers over me.  Sometimes even the loving touch of Hubby holding my hand hurts. And after a few really cold days, I can lose  all the feeling in my feet. Having Raynaud's Disease is no fun. Add that to Fibromyalgia and touch is truly the most sensitive this time of year. Now I know that there are a lot of people with far worst medical conditions so I am not complaining, just answering the question.

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

Coffee cups! I seem to have so many that have cute and funny sayings on them but many do not into the microwave so I really should get rid of them. I wonder where old non microwaveable cups go- or cups with radio stations adds?? These 2 are keepers!

Just simply make me smile! 

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?
Christmas Eve we have Take out a lot, Chinese most of the time. We watch movies, and at midnight we open 1 gift each. It's called "Our Little Christmas". We wish Jesus Happy Birthday and read the story of his birth which is our greatest gift. Now if hubby is working 11pm-7am the Little Christmas moves up a few hours which ALL BY ME!
Christmas Day changes from year to year because of Hubby's work schedule. He is a police officer and often works that day so we will eat around his schedule and also around the daughter's schedule. she is not working that day but she is "GREAT WITH CHILD" and has a 20 month old, she may want to sleep in for a bit.  So we could be eating breakfast, brunch, or early dinner, it's all good right?

7. What is the best thing about winter?
Knowing that on December on 22 we start to get longer days in terms of sunlight!  I do like looking at winter from inside,- with a cup of something hot and sweet, -with a fire going, -in my pj's,- cuddling with Hubby and Becke the wonder dog, -watching something on TV, -or sewing, -or knitting,- or cross stitching. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My cousin is married to a Fireman, I hang this ornament every year for him. Stay safe Randy! 

And this is Christmas shirt #20!

OK so now it's your turn!  Thank you again Joyce for a great Hodgepodge!

Recipe of the Week: Pumpkin Pie (crust less)

Outfit # 19
This is a new on that I just got in Small, it still looks baggie and big!

This is the time of year when there are lots of goodies floating around. I went into work the other day and there were home make cookies, fudge, as well as bags of candy, chocolates and donuts! Oh my was that a hard day to walk around the building and not grab a hand full of anything!  By time I got home I wanted something sweet as well but without the guilt and carbs. Crust less pumpkin pie is just the thing to fill me up without filling me out!

Crust Less Pumpkin Pie
15 oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup Splenda (I use 1/4 cup Splenda and a 1/4 cup of the store brand)
2 eggs
1/2 heavy cream
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Mix it all in a bowl and pour into a greased pie pan. Cook at 350 for about 1 hour.  Top with whipped cream if you like.
5 Carbs each serving.

Enjoy!

A little bit of whipped cream makes it extra special

OK all of you out there - how are you avoiding all the temptation that just shows up this time of year?

Week End Review: The Christmas Outfit Count Continues

Saturday's Outfit # 16

Well this was a wonderfully quiet weekend.  Saturday was full of  food shopping, walking Becke, and picking up a few things here and there. The rest of the day was working on the quilt for the new baby.  I made this outfit years ago and was a size that I liked. I'm so glad it still fits.

Sundays Outfit # 17

Sunday we had an ice/sleet/freezing rain mix that kept us home from Church in the morning. Parts of the state's highways were closed because even the salt trucks were going off the road. It turned all into very heavy rain in the afternoon.  We didn't have our grand daughter so I sewed, cleaned, cross stitched and stayed dry. Watching the national weather service, we got the calm weather! Looks like the middle of the country got really creamed with heavy snow! Thank you Lord for keeping us safe and dry.   How was your weekend? Love the weekend when I can watch a movie, sip tea and reflect on how blessed I am.

Monday's Outfit # 18

Today the roads are back to normal as the temps are in the 50's today!  I'm waiting in this picture for the morning coffee to be finished. Hubby makes the best coffee! This is another of the growing number of shirts that no longer fits! Oh My!  Have a great day.

  

Quick Tip Friday: Pine Cone Fire Starters

OK, so the Christmas rush is on and you just remembered that you needed a gift for a family member. But your budget is spent - what to do? Or you have a good friend and you would love to make her something that she would use? Or you are a crafter that loves to create. Here is a fun fast craft that would make a great gift as well. If you have friends with fire places who use them then these are fun to make and make a great gift for them. Or make them for yourself and use them watching a Christmas Movie with the ones you love. It's also very easy on the wallet.

Here are the supplies:

Collect pine cones if you live in a area where there are lots just laying around. I had some great friends give me some from there yards.

Gather wax - either store bought or candles that have lost there scent, or too small to burn anymore.

Crayons to color the wax if you want to add color or change the color.

Double boiler for crafts -I use a old coffee pot and put it inside a larger pot with water in it.

Pot holders ----Tongs

Cardboard egg crate plus another egg carton lid -you will need the extra lid only the first time because you can then reuse that lid over and over.

Rainbow Flame Crystal (optional)

Wax paper

Start by putting water in the large pot and your wax/ candles in the smaller pot. Melt the wax/candles on med low heat and watch the water to make sure that it doesn't burn dry.

If needed/wanted add the wax crayons for color

In the meantime, separate the egg carton and place the part that holds the eggs inside the lid. Tear the other lid into small pieces and place those pieces inside the egg cups.

I used 1/2 of the lid for this.

Take the Flame Crystals and pour it into a large ziplock bag.

Once the wax is melted and colored the way you like it, take a pinecone and drop it carefully into the wax. Use the tongs to make sure that the pinecone is completely covered then lift it out and let the excess drop off. Place it in the ziplock bag and shake the bag coating the pinecone and then place it on the wax paper. Do another one till you have enough for each egg cup.

Using pot holders, slowly poor wax into each egg cup on top of the small pieces of lid, and top with the cooled pinecones. Slowly poor a small amount of wax over the top. Let cool completely and then remove the bottom lid and cut the cups apart. You can now place them in a bag or box of your choice and give them as a gift. When you are ready to light them, light the cardboard cup no wick needed! See simple.

You can also coat just the pinecones with wax and the crystals and just let them dry on the wax paper, then toss into a burning fire to add color to it. Put them in cute box (or crate) or bag them in a cute Christmas theme bag a you now have two easy gifts to give to those who have and use there fireplaces. Have fun!

Christmas Outfit #15 of the day: Have a Blessed Weekend everyone.

Last of Home Christmas Decorations

I promise that this is it! The final tour of decorations at our decorated home! I bet you are all done with peeking inside this home. I know Becke is tired of it!

Nut Crackers great you when you enter the living room.

Santa's' tucked by the TV watch guard over the house (my favorite is the policeman Santa) :-)

I put a few decorations in the bathroom. I enjoy a good soak and playing Christmas music, smelling a nice candle, and looking at some nice memories of what makes me smile. Snow men are just so cute and after Christmas, they can stay up for winter so I will enjoy looking at them from the tub.

The shelf over the bathroom "wood stove" holds more breakable treasures. While hanging snow men add fun.

The manger is old! Not as old as me but close. It's the only manger we have and it's simple. Sort of like the birth itself. A simple reminder of the night that changed the world and gave us the greatest gift of all. The birth of the King that would save our souls.

That is a picture of Hubby in his Dress White Uniform. He looks so great in that photo!

This is not our house, remember I don't do very much outside because what goes up must come down and it comes down when it 12 degrees and 5 feet of snow and frozen to the ground and that is not for me. But we went for a drive and found this house that did this in there front yard. It was just so pretty that I took a picture to share with you. You can't even see the house - at all!

So that's the house. Hope you enjoyed the small tour. Now get your decorations out and get them up because I want to peek at your house!

Christmas Outfit # 14