~~Tea Talk~~

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ~Calvin Coolidge~

I'm having...Good Earth tea.  My delivery came yesterday.  Oh I have been with out it for three weeks.  That's a LONG time.

My teacup is...a Norman Rockwell mug that Hallmark produced many years ago.  I love them and use them often during Christmas.

The chocolate pecan candy is made by a neighboring parish each year

and it is oh so delicious.  There are sugar cookies topped with crushed

candy cane.  Understand that this is NOT my breakfast but only pictures

so I didn't have a photo of a lonely cup. 

I'm feeling...better since I think I have licked this cold that started Saturday.  I used Zicam for cold relief and it seemed to have done the trick.

On my mind...visit to INDY this weekend.  May not come to fruition.  Weather seems to be the culprit!  Will have to wait until Friday, but it seems a big storm is on the way and it may need to be postponed!  Love to visit the kids up their and enjoy their Christmas trees!

Wishing all a grandday!!!

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Thanks be to God!!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house?  Share a cup of tea or a cool refreshing drink with us.

Once Upon A Time Recipes

There is always that special recipe that brings back wonderful memories of gatherings of family and friends and grand times spent together.  Christmas is one of those times when memories flood back for me.  What about yours?

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Today's recipe reminds me of the gift of  a friend gave me and all the wonderful recipes and stories it has to tell.  The book is The Twelve Blessings of Christmas by T.J Mills and how that gift brings joy to to family and friends.  It also brings back memories of one of those traditions my family had at Christmas and the breakfast pastry on Christmas Day.

It was a treat each Christmas to have this fruit-filled stollen warm and tasty with our eggs and bacon after early Christmas Mass.  The recipe I have been using is not as complicated and takes very little time to prepare.  And so I offer it from the pages of this delightful book!

Christmas Stollen

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 packages yeast

1 package yellow cake mix

4 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 can cherry pie filling

Mix together water, yeast, cake mix, flour and salt.  Place in a greased bowl and let rise until double.  Divide in half and roll to a 12 x 8 oval.  Spread 1/2 can of pie fill on one side of dough and fold over half of the dough on top.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Place on a greased cookie sheet and let rise until double in bulk.  Bake in a 350  degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely and drizzle powdered sugar frosting.

(I place the loaves on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.  I also used cream cheese icing on the loaves.)

Baking this stollen each year also allows me the opportunity to thank God for Lisa who gave me this book in the first place.  She is on of those treasures for which I say,

"Thanks be to God!"

If you have a recipe your family enjoys traditionally every year, please link below so we can all share in the the excitement and try your recipe this year!!

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~

The tree is decorated and the lights are aglow.  

Still savoring the wonder of this Holy Season.

It seems like a long time ago now but every time I hang this and other ornaments that Ron and I have made out of porcelain I recall the joy I had in making them. They were gifts to family and friends.  To me they are still treasures of the wonderful Christmases past!  They instill in me the hope of Christmases to come.

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Thanks be to God!

Now visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.


Again this Wednesday please
join me in offering Once Upon a Time 
Recipes, a story and recipe you
have as tradition at your house.

The Littlest Angel

When I was 7 years old my Aunt Rosemary gave me these records.  And every year thereafter there was that anticipation of hearing them again.  You know even now there is something so tender about this beautiful tale that I want all children to hear it.  For me today this was a treasure found again, and all because I happened upon it at YouTube. It still brings tears to my eyes and allows me to hope that I will find myself walking or even skipping down the streets of heaven.  I too want to balance myself on the edge of a cloud...Oh, heavenly!  Hoping you have the time to linger here and listen to it.

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Thanks be to God!

~~Bad Haiku Friday and Haiku My Heart~~

Don't want to hurry

Want to savor the moment

Decorating fun

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Thanks be to God!

Please visit Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings the sponsor of Bad Haiku Friday.  Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. 

Bad Haiku Friday

Haiku My Heart