When my mom died and my sister and I divvied up her belongings that my father did not need, I ended up with the coveted “The New Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking-School Cook Book.” It was profoundly sentimental to me because it was the duct-taped book that my parents had used to prepare our world famous Holiday Egg Nog. While the fabulous Walker Family Christmas Eve Party dated back to the early 1970s, the addition of the Holiday Egg Nog did not come to be part of the tradition until I was in high school or college. I’m going to take …read more

I used to roll my eyes at people who would get depressed during holidays. Seriously, what was there to be depressed about? And then my mother died. It’s not her absence that upsets me the most. It’s been 10 years since she died and I have learned to live with that void. It’s how our family tradition and togetherness died with her.

I don’t blame my father for that. He has a new life now with a wonderful, beautiful wife. And she has her family there. I’m a grownup now. I have husband and a child. And if anything, I should …read more

When I awoke to snow on the ground this morning and more falling from the sky to coat the trees, I fully realized we are making our way toward winter.  That means the holiday season isn’t far away and making crafts for gift giving should be underway.
If you’re making crafts for your own gift giving or for sale in stores and over the Internet, you’ve probably begun already.  Now’s the time, too, to develop your promotions, check out craft fairs, make your gift list to prepare for the holiday season.  Also, you won’t be so rushed, if you prepare ahead.
What are …read more

As much as I try to take my holidays one at a time, and Halloween is still weeks away, there’s no getting around the fact that people are getting ready for Christmas.  So, I’m being drug, kicking and screaming, into my first holiday post!
One of the popular places to be during the holiday season, is New York City.  From the beautifully decorated department store windows, to ice skating at Rockefeller Center, to the parade and the Rockettes, and everything else that the city has to offer.
One of the highlights of the season is the lighting of the tree at …read more

Great Depression Cooking with Clara on Youtube is one of my favorite channels to watch. Clara, now 94 years old, and her siblings grew up during the Great Depression in the late 1920’s and 1930’s, and like many families they made do with what they had, which included some creative family meals. You can see some of her previous videos here, here, and here.
In this video, Clara shows how to prepare Sicilian Fig Cookies, a treat that her family only made once a year around the holidays. She mentions that it was pretty much something they only did after the …read more

At our Extended Family Christmas Eve Party on Wednesday we had a great time.

We did stockings and presents for the children.

Then sent them out to play with their goodies while the adults did a White Elephant Exchange and a game of Christmas Bingo.

No one liked the gifts we brought. Oh well.

Most sought after gifts included a lava lamp, a really tacky ugly phone in the shape of a golf bag, and a really nice set of frames. We scored a tool box and an emergency kit. We tried to score a box of batteries.

We spent our Christmas Day at home …read more

My mother-in-law produces an Annual Christmas Pageant and this year we took it to a nursing home to spread some joy.

Zack joined in the Angel Dance and it was so stinking CUTE!

I hope everyone is having a very Merry Christmas.

A replica of our ancestors.

I saw them in a local antique shop and I had to buy them for my parents.

They are so real looking they are like those wax dolls at Madame Tussauds. Grandpa has a pair of dentures hanging from his belt. Grandma has spectacles. The cowboy boots and hats are real, as are the clothes, bandanas and belt buckles. They came with doll stands.

I can’t explain why, but they make me happy every time I look at them.

Merry Christmas b5media and E-World. Merry Christmas.

Photo Source: Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me

Potluck and Karaoke and White Elephant Book Exchange.

That’s how the Between the Covers Book Club rocks Christmas!

Photo Source: Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me

Compliments of Jennifer Chait at Tree Hugging Family.

I wanted to get everyone into the winter holiday spirit before kicking off December. However, I didn’t just want to post classic Tree Hugging posts. That said, with a little help from the rest of the channel, I rounded up a huge list of killer holiday (and eco-friendly) posts.
Sit back, browse, read, and linger in the holiday bliss!

Remember, no matter the treat or recipe, you can always green it up by exchanging organic and natural ingredients for conventional.
50 Cute and Tasty Christmas Cookie Ideas
Cherry Dot Cookies
Organic Holiday Cookies!
Hey It’s Sugar Cookie Day – …read more