Category: Christmas

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The Doll House Man

On our last trip to the local Farmer’s Market in Provo, we met this lovely fellow. His name is John Jackson, but I’m just going to call him the Doll House Man. For the last 6 or 7 years this cute guy has been making the doll houses of every girl’s dreams. He actually reminded me of my sweet daddy, only instead of making cakes–he makes furniture and houses for little folks.

Miss Chompy could not take her eyes off the lavender one with all it’s pretty little tables and chairs and hutches and bunkbeds…

and couches and love seats. I was amazed at how sturdy and solid every piece was. For me, there’s just something about hand made toys that tugs at my heart. It feels like some sort of connection to something bigger just to hold them in my hands.

Chompy particularly loved this rocking chair…so we sort of, kind of, you know…bought it. Oh, it was just too cute to leave behind. Besides, it was just the perfect size for her Strawberry Shortcake dolly back home.

It was all so pretty. I mean– just look at the sweet little shutters on every window.

I really loved the idea of the drawers at the bottom of the house too. That’s right, keep all those dolly clothes up off the floor! That makes mommas very happy.

Now you know that I rarely say the words “you should get this” on my blog. Well, sometimes about yarn…and maybe Cheetoes…but that can’t be helped. I would never want to make my friends crazy with ads and things, but, when we met Mr. Jackson, I was so impressed with his sturdy, beautiful doll houses that I kept thinking, “my children’s grandchildren would be able to play with this.”  No lie.

So, if you have a little sweetheart that would love to find something like this under her Christmas Tree, I hope you’ll give Mr. Jackson a call. He is adorable and if you’re anything like us–you’ll love him…and his pretty little doll houses.  :}

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Egg Nog Fudge

If you’re like me, and still have a bit of Egg Nog left in the fridge and you’re just dying to figure out something clever to do with it– here’s a lovely idea.

Smooth, creamy, Egg Nog fudge. Incredible. In fact, you may just faint and wake up to find half the pan gone.

Yeah…not responsible for that.

Heh, heh.

 

 

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup eggnog

10.5 oz. white chocolate chips

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

7 oz. marshmallow cream

1 tsp. rum extract

Butter a 8 x 8 Pyrex pan. In a 3 quart sauce pan, combine sugar, butter and eggnog. Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in white chocolate chips a little at a time until melted and smooth add nutmeg. Move to mixer and add marshmallow cream and rum extract. Beat until well blended and pour into pan. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of nutmeg over the top. Allow to cool then cut into squares.

Egg Nog Fudge
 
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:
Ingredients
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup eggnog
  • 10.5 oz. white chocolate chips
  • ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 7 oz. marshmallow cream
  • 1 tsp. rum extract
Instructions
  1. Butter a 8 x 8 Pyrex pan.
  2. In a 3 quart sauce pan, combine sugar, butter and eggnog.
  3. Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 8 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir in white chocolate chips a little at a time until melted and smooth
  6. Add nutmeg.
  7. Move to mixer and add marshmallow cream and rum extract.
  8. Beat until well blended and pour into pan.
  9. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of nutmeg over the top.
  10. Allow to cool then cut into squares.

 

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Blessings of the Day

This Christmas there were- oh so many blessings, too many to count…but I’ll do my best.

~Blurry, shaky giggles at seeing all those presents around the tree.

~Sweet little cousins, becoming sweet little friends.

~Finally, finally–Uncle “Bald Kid” dolls. Wondered if they’d ever get finished! Phew…

~That sweet little surprise we’ll be adding to our baby collection soon.

~ Realizing that even little folks can appreciate really good chocolate…from England.

Thanks Sarah!

~Sharing Christmas day joy with our new little sweetheart, Kortney.

~Hugs from the best little Aunt in the world.  :}

~ The calm, easy, comforting pace that gift sharing is taking these days.

~ Talking to and seeing my dear boy in far away Siberia–for one whole hour! Thank you, thank you– Skype! More on that later.

~ Christmas day secrets.

~Speaking of which–look at the best kept secret on earth, from my sweet kids–to ME! My friends, things are about to become much…ummm…clearer around here. Hee, heee!

~ Just in time to help us remember the reason for all of it.

 

 

What are some of your Christmas blessings?

 

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{ Babe of Bethlehem }

“Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it ‘means a little bit more.’ And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before….

“I, like you, need to remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world. Only when we see that sacred, unadorned child of our devotion—the Babe of Bethlehem—will we know why… the giving of gifts is so appropriate”

Jeffrey R. Holland