Still Holding On To Christmas

When I came home tonight I had such a nice surprise! My daughter was here cooking supper for us! She did it because she's sweet, but she said it was because I am sick and she wanted to help me. I haven't had Hamburger Helper in a very long time. It was pretty good! That gave me some extra time to get my blog post done.

I'm holding on to Christmas as long as I can. Traditionally, we take the decorations down on New Year's day. My Grandmother always said it was bad luck to have your Christmas tree up after New Year's day, so I've been trained to get it out of the house. I'm still listening to Christmas music (now on my new car cd player) and we will have one more gift exchange on New Year's day. So, in that spirit, I found an interesting blog that is offering a free Christmas album. Get it here

You can watch a great classic Christmas cartoon, "The Candle Maker" here

Watch three free videos on Amazon On Demand. Choose from an assortment of movies or TV shows including holiday films. You can also download your videos to a Windows PC. Amazon treats everything (including freebies) as an order. You will even get a confirmation email. I guess that's good in case the RIAA or Internet Police come after you for "downloading". When your order is complete, just click the download button in the online player. The U.S.link is here

Here is a little software program that looks worthwhile. My Little Cook Book Vr. 3.0

►Extremely easy to use

►Free program update

►Scan in old recipe cards

►Print, scan fax or email recipes

►Add unlimited amount of recipes (Unlimited Edition).

►Free technical support.

►PDF help and user interface.

►Works with Windows® XP or Vista

My Little Cook Book

Don't forget to dowload the User's Guide.

Wordless Wednesday

What Did You Get For Christmas?

My thoughtful husband gave me a new radio/cd player for my car. Yay! No more a.m. radio! My sweet daughter gave me a USB turntable. Now I can turn all my vinyl albums into mp3's. How cool is that?!? I didn't even know such a thing had been created. I'm so excited about it. I can't wait to make the time to use it! I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU GOT!

If you're still celebrating the season, like I am, then you aren't tired of christmas yet. Here's a site with more free Christmas MP3's. Songs of Praise or you can still listen to Christmas music here

Here's a cute little elf bowling game and, of course, it's free. I hope you're better at than I am. Santas World

A Free Holiday EP: Matthew Mayfield was originally the lead singer in the group Moses Mayfield. He has now begun a solo career and is working on a new album.

Visit the link below to download your free Holiday EP from Matthew Mayfield.

You'll get:

1. "Maybe Next Christmas"
2. "So Long, So Long"
3. "Her Name Was December"
4. "Better" (live session)

Matthew Mayfield Music

Remember all that apple butter we made? Look at this recipe which I found at kellishouse.blogspot. I haven't tried it yet, but I will. If you make it first, let me know how it is.



Apple Butter Spice Cake

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup apple butter (found in the jam section of your grocery store)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup wheat germ or quick oats
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray or grease one 9x13 inch pan.

2. In small bowl, prepare the topping by mixing together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped pecans.

3. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. In bowl of standing mixer, blend together butter and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Add apple butter, vanilla, wheat germ or bran cereal. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour cream; mix well after each addition.

5. Pour 1/2 batter into pan, sprinkle 1/2 the topping over top. Pour remaining batter and top with remaining topping.

6. Bake for 40 minutes.

The best part about this cake is the brown sugar topping on top and in the middle!

May your hearts and your homes be filled with warmth this winter season.

glitter-graphics.com

Merry, Merry Christmas and God Bless Us All!

I have been cooking today, exchanging presents with my husband whom I love with my whole heart; yet, an empty nest is still empty. Then I got the surprise phone call and my Christmas Eve was complete. My daughter said, "Mom, will you read us a story?". I read the story as I have so many Christmas Eves before. This time to a 4-year old granddaughter with my own daughter listening on her cell phone with the speaker on. "Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the house ..... ". My heart was full. I read it from here Twas The Night Before Christmas

I have 2 daughters. One lives down the street and the other is in the service. She lives on base with her husband and my other 2 grandchildren; far away it seems today. One calls to read a story and can't wait to give me my present. The other ... far away.

I found a website to share. As a Christian, I am a little confused about this site, but also very excited to find it. Please comment and share your impression. Hillman Christmas

God Bless You All This Christmas! Thank God for our Savior, whose birth we celebrate. For the gifts we give to each other are only a shallow imitation of the gift we were given at his birth (and his death).

Oh Yeah and here's some Friday Funnies.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the Peace of Jesus Christ be the fullness of your heart this Christmas day and all through the year to come.

Wordless Wednesday

'Tis The Season For Giving

Time is short but, it's not too late to help:

Toys For Tots

Salvation Army

Empty Stocking


Office Max has this for cute little christmas web toy.
Elf Yourself

Walgreens Offers this little Christmas treasure where you can upload a photo and send an email.
Free Personalized North Pole News from Santa

I found some Christmas Audio Drama for adults and kids
Christmas Drama

I found "Father Christmas" Cartoon (which I love) on Youtube

Father Christmas Part 1

Father Christmas Part 2

Father Christmas Part 3

Friday Funnies

More Christmas Freebies

Another crazy but cute Christmas game for your computer --The Other Side of Claus

See Santa's Dancing Deer here (This is very cute)

One of the coolest sites. Watch 101 Classic Videos Online Watch

Funny 3 Little Pigs Christmas



Get great Christmas wallpaper for your computer here: Wallpaper

Wordless Wednesday

Granddaughters and Gingerbread Men

I am having so much fun this Christmas with my 4-year old granddaughter. She is so enthusiastic about everything! She helped pick out the christmas tree. She practically decorated it herself (minus the lights) and she wrapped presents.
She would wrap as many as I would give her! So much energy and excitement!

The best part of the weekend was the gingerbread men! She did a great job.




She was obviously pleased with the outcome.

We just used one of the $8.00 kits from Walmart. If you want to make your own, here's Rachel's recipe.

Gingerbread Men
1/4 c. boiling water
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tso. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 c baking molasses
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 egg
1/2 c brown sugar

Melt butter in boiling water. Add all the other ingredients. Then chill the dough for 2 hours. Roll out and cut into shapes. Push red hots (buttons) into the men before baking. Bake at 350 degree for 8-10 minutes. Cool and decorate with frosting. Makes 24 cookies.

Also here is a Kraft recipe: Gingerbread People

Aside from my own "personal" treasures, I do have some web loot to share.

You can get free and legal Christmas music directly from the artists.
Feels Like Christmas

Santa's Christmas Ride Game

You can download the exe and play the game on your computer.
Santa's Christmas Ride




You can chat live with Santa for free Chat With Santa

Friday Funnies

IF YOU SEE A FAT MAN ...

Who's jolly and cute,
Wearing a beard and a red flannel suit,

and if he is chuckling and laughing away,
while flying around in a miniature sleigh,

With eight tiny reindeer
to pull him along,

Then let's face it...
Your eggnog's too strong!

Free Christmas Web Treasures

Here are a couple of little treasures I ran across that I would like to share with you.

Amazon.com is giving away 25 free Christmas downloads! They will have a new song everyday until Christmas!

Amazon



You can also get Curious George Christmas With A Monkey here

Andy Griffith, Away in a Manger

The Coolest, safest and most beautiful Christmas Screensavers here at Graphics Blandishment

Wordless Wednesday

Snowflakes and Apple Butter

I just made some apple butter for Christmas gifts and it came out great! I got the bacic recipe from Rachel's blog. You can see my process here at Just Put It In A Crockpot

Looking around for little web treasures the way I do, I found this little gem.
Facts Of Life Christmas

I've been into football more than usual this year; especially, college football. I found this handy little site to keep up with who plays who and when on the college bowl games. Hey, girls like football too! 2009-2010 College Bowl Football Games

If you like the Christmas Classics, like I do, here's one for you

Here is mine and my youngest daughter's favorite Christmas song.

MAKE A SNOW FLAKE

Items You Will Need:

Elmer’s Glue, 1 small bottle per person

Q-tips, 30-60 per person, or more, depending on the
number and size of snowflakes you want to make.

Waxed paper, one 18 inch sheet per snowflake
Glitter, optional (glitter glue also lends a neat effect)

Procedure:

Spread a sheet of waxed paper on the table surface. This will be your working space. Using Q-tips, design a snowflake on the waxed paper. Q-tips may be bent, broken in two, or used whole for different effects. In general, the end with the cotton swab should create a corner with a neighboring swab.

The best-looking, most accurate snowflakes are six sided, although three-sided works well too.

Experiment by arranging three or six Q-tips in a sunburst fashion, with one end meeting in the middle. These will be your stems. Using more Q-tip pieces, repeat patterns between the stems. Keep in mind that every Q-tip must be connected to the whole.

When you have finished your snowflake design, squeeze a puddle of glue over each joint. Do not skimp! Use lots of glue. A large puddle is needed to connect Q-tips together. Don’t worry if the puddle spreads and loses shape—it will harden clear and contribute to the overall crystalline effect of the snowflake. For a sparkly effect, shake the snowflake with glitter before the glue dries.

Set the snowflake on the waxed paper aside until the glue dries. This will take several hours, and maybe even overnight. Continue making more snowflakes!Try different sizes by using different lengths of cotton swaps for the stems.

When the glue has dried completely, carefully pull the snowflake away from the waxed paper. If an

insufficient amount of glue was used to hold the Q-tips together, simply return the snowflake to the waxed paper and cover with more glue. You will have to wait again for the glue to dry. Then remove the snowflake from the waxed paper. Use clear fishing line to hang from the ceiling. Tada! You have an instant blizzard!

Get some snowflake design ideas from here


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Friday Funnies #5

Kids Who Look Like Their Pets