December 20

Yummy granola destined for gift-giving

December 19

I bought  a $5 bulb at Wal-Mart just before Thanksgiving. After less than four weeks this stunning amaryllis is in full bloom. 

December 18

Ah! A Christmas door

December 17

The unseasonable warmth of our weather is making my lacecap hydrangea think it's spring.

December 16

I spent the day cleaning and cooking as we were hosting some dear friends for dinner. Here's the dessert I made from a recipe from the November issue of Southern Living (with a little tweaking.) Instead of butter cream frosting I used whipped cream to finish off this Toasted Coconut Cake with Walnuts and Cranberries.

December 15

And she gave birth to her firstborn son: and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

December 13

 

Our newest addition to the stocking family.

December 12

Presents under the tree after a wrapping marathon this evening.

December 11

Our custom on Sunday evenings, after church, is to fix a quick "supper snack" and park in front of the TV to eat and watch. Tonight our meal was French onion soup. Melt a little butter, saute some onion and pour in a can of beef consomme along with a can of water and heat until it simmers. Ladle into bowls, topping the soup with toasted french bread and some kind of white cheese. Heat the bowl of soup for a few seconds in the microwave until the cheese melts. So simple--and soooo good.

December 10

Who knew a stocking cap came with new Christmas pajamas?

December 9

Claire gets the honor of hanging the first ornament on the Morgan tree, reindeer ears/Santa hat and all.

No telling what might be used as a hat.

Hamilton had such fun playing with the nativity figures. This is baby Jesus,as he confidently points out.

December 8

It's a rare thing for me to see a sunrise. Here is the view looking out our front door this morning.

December 7

Our decorated tree is a mixture of lovely ornaments given by friends, shimmery balls, souvenirs from vacations long gone by, and treasured tokens of our children's childhood.

December 6

After a summer hiatus from feeding the birds, our squirrel proof feeder hangs full and ready for winter. Now where are the birds?

December 5

The only decorating that's done in the Taylor household so far is this wreath which I hung on the front door this morning. Cutting greens from our yard and tree patch is a perk of living in the country.

December 4

Cornerstone Baptist Church can put on a feed! A couple of times a year we have a finger food fellowship and tonight it followed our special Christmas music of lessons and carols which, as usual,  proved to be a meaningful way to usher in the season.
Everyone goes all out on fixing favorite, though calorie laden, goodies.

December 3

There she is. The 2011 Christmas tree for the Taylor family. I've been eyeing this deodar cedar since the summer as it sits beside our driveway, seeing it often while driving or walking along our path. Now if I can just get its grower, aka my husband, to move it on into the house.

December 2

With Thanksgiving over, I gathered up the gourds and pumpkins that have been on display since October to ready the surfaces for Christmas decor. One small one was a sugar pumpkin, so I cut it up, dug out the seeds and strings and baked it for about forty-five minutes. I have two cans of pumpkin on the pantry shelf but I knew that this fresh pumpkin would be just as good or better with a little effort. When the pumpkin had cooled I whirred it in the blender, taking the time to stop and start the blender many times in order to push the mash into the blades until it all had the same consistancy. Now this beautiful pumpkin puree is waiting patiently to become a pie or bread. Yum.

Photo #1

Upclose and personal