CHRISTMAS EVE...a magical time of love, laughter and joy...

CHRISTMAS EVE....IT'S FINALLY HERE....

OOO, the fun of it all....

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WHEN I asked my bunch what they would like for their

CHRISTMAS EVE buffet,

the one requested the most....

CROCK POT CHILI

Jennifer's Crock Pot Chili

it simmered and cooked all night long,

just getting all those spices, tomatoes, onions, seasonings, meat to marry each other

and, oh, it is smelling so so good....

THE candy cane cookies are all nestled in their glass domed waiting place...just waiting until the first little hand raises the dome and.......then.....these cookies are HISTORY !

just the way i want them to be!! *smiling

gum drops and raspberry filled hard candies, peanuts, suckers....

a kids treat table if ever i saw one.... ;>O

hot chocolate, spiced teas and spiced cider ready for the minute everyone comes in, freezing hands and feet...we'll build a roaring fire and have our hot drinks while the COOK is in the kitchen, making GOODNESS....

THIS is the time of year that my loving RED really comes together...
using my white then a RED plates and my RED silverware
makes for such a joyous and festive setting...



oH, I am loving my CHRISTMAS TABLE ...

here's a photo showing off my mom's Christmas tablecloth....

I picked RED berried Holly from my front yard to use on my table...
the other little frilly looking berries in front....not sure just what they are but they
MUST be called a CHRISTMAS BUSH because the berries turn RED
right at Christmas time every year....AWESOME...


I used two of my large, vintage canning jars holding the HOLLY on each side of SNOW SANTA..
he requested...well, really he DEMANDED to be center stage on this
CHRISTMAS TABLE this year and I said, "WHY...SURE!"




Yep, I am just about ready for my MAGNIFICENT family to arrive....
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ALWAYS !!

"let it snow..

let it snow..

let it snow........"

my little red kitchen really HAS been a BAKERY all this week....
ummmm, the smells and the taste.....

there's pumpkin pie with REAL whipped creme...

an extra BIG pecan pie with vanilla bean ice creme...

3 batches of Christmas cookies...

2 batches of Christmas candy...

a Carrot Cake with Creme Cheese icing...

possibly taking the place of our JESUS CAKE this year...

all my bunch are so well aware of the REASON FOR THE SEASON,

which is ANOTHER blessing !

There's egg nog, chilling in the fridge, along with bottles of BLACKBERRY WINE...

the egg nog....STORE BOUGHT *gasp........but so so good with a scoop of ice creme and

fresh ground nutmeg sprinkled on top... did someone say WHIPPED CREME, too ?

my dining room mantel didn't get "Christmas dressed" as much as usual...just running out of time....maybe time to add some crystal vases with my beautiful HOLLY with the RED berries later today...before the MAGNIFICENT family arrive for fun, food and........PRESENTS !

OH ! HONEY....the grandkids do love those presents.....

the two little CHRISTMAS angles on this small wreath were once a set of 12...many years ago when I was a child.

These two are all I have left and I guard them dearly.....

isn't this just the cutest little, fuzzy snowman....

my good friend, SHEILA, made it for me last year...

I'll love him forever and ever, Sheila.... just like i'll love YOU forever!

I put some little fairy lights on my headboard last night....

they are so pretty, i couldn't unplug them when i got ready to go to sleep so i just kept them on all night. it was like sleeping outside in the sunlight but i didn't care...

i love 'em....

it is so so important to surround ourselves with things we love...

i just snuggled down in that bed with the soft glow all around me and thought about how blessed i am....oh, yes....I AM BLESSED...

aren't they pretty..

i am pretty sure i will be using these cuties year round...

they just make me feel good !

see this cute, bright CHRISTMAS RED rocker....


i bought it unfinished and Mr. Sweet Nothings painted it in my favorite color and it was
a Christmas gift to our first little grandson, when he was a tiny little boy...
the inscription on the bottom says...
CHRISTMAS 1991...

OH, the sweet memories of DREW'S little bottom, planted firmly in that seat
and rocking back and forth with such a sweet, little grin on his face....

I LOVE THAT LITTLE ROCKER...
yes, SHEILA, you CAN love little RED rockers...

and, of course, he will get it when he is ready for it...probably when he is married and is a daddy and then...bet he will love having HIS son or daughter rock and grin in it, too....
"Sweet, sweet memories are made of this"...
Don't we just adore traditions and heirlooms and family treasures to be handed down from generation to generation.....
Oh, I sure do ! Yes, I surely do.....
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A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU......

and for those that might like to make

a JESUS CAKE....

Make a round chocolate cake (to symbolize our sins).

Cover with white frosting (his purity covers our sins).

Top with a yellow star and angel (bearer of the first glad tidings).

Place 12 (Christ, our light through the 12 months of the year) red candles (red for his blood shed for us) on top.

Encircle the cake with evergreen icing leaves (symbol of everlasting life).

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In the bustle of preparing for Christmas, we may forget what we are celebrating. To place the right importance on the Christmas holiday, make this birthday cake for Jesus and explain the symbols to your children or grandchildren....

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I've made this so special cake for the last two Christmas' for our family and

we all enjoy it so much...not necessarily for the taste..

but for the FOOD FOR OUR SPIRITS...

as mentioned above...CARROT CAKE will take the place of this one, this year...

BUT YOU can bet that we will speak of Jesus and the things He stands for and

wish Him a Happy Birthday....

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I WISH YOU ALL THE MOST BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON OF ALL TIME....

and a WONDERFUL AND FUN FILLED CHRISTMAS EVE....

All you sweet ladies and gents have made my 2008 such a happy year...

I have so enjoyed getting to know all of you and growing to love all of you very much.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your blessed friendship....

love, bj