We Have Seen His Star

We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.

Matthew 2:2

From The Christmas Album

Remember making these padded/covered Albums back in the 80's? This one is filled with pictures, stories, poems, quotes and precious memories of many of our Christmases. Each Wednesday I will be sharing something from these pages.

~♥♥♥~
You may not keep a special album with your holiday memories, but I know your keep them in your heart. I would love to have you play along with me by sharing a Christmas Post about something special to you!
Whatever you like... no rules here...
a picture, craft, song, event...
just something you have tucked in your heart about Christmas !
~♥♥♥~

so...
I am giving MckLinky a try (oh, please, Lord... let this work!)
Beginning this coming Wednesday (so you have time to prepare a post)
~♥♥♥~
Here is how it works:

From the Christmas Album will take place each Wednesday for the month of December. (There are only four left ~ the first one will be December 9th) I hope to post MckLinky by 8:00 EST on Tuesday the night before.

Guidelines for adding your link:

1. Publish your From the Christmas Album post on your blog.

*Add a link back to my blog so other readers will know where to join in the fun.
*You are welcome to use my picture. Just copy and paste it on to your blog

2. Copy the "permalink" from from your From the Christmas Album post, not the link to the front page of your blog.

*Folks will be looking through these links all week long. If you link to your main page, it will be harder to find your From the Christmas Album post.

3. Add your permalink to Mr. Linky.

*Do not sign Mr. Linky until you have your From the Christmas Album post published on your blog.

Inappropriate links will be removed.

~♥♥♥~

Looking forward to reading your posts next week!

Show and Tell Friday ~ Christmas Books

Through the years our collection of Christmas books has grown considerably. I find each new Christmas season makes these aging books dearer to my heart remembering the delight of reading them with my children. Little grandchildren now find wonder as we snuggle together and listen to the stories each one holds.

Here are just a few.

Baby's Christmas is tattered now but still full of the sweetest illustrations by Eloise Wilkin who was so gifted in her ability to capture the innocence and preciousness of children .

aww... so sweet and snuggly.


Eloise Wilkin - Little Golden Books Illustrator

(1904-1987) Eloise Wilkin's career covered more than fifty years, involving illustration and writing, free-lance drawing, and doll design. After graduating from The Rochester Institute of Technology, Eloise Burns and her friend Joan Esley moved to New York City where they hoped to have a better chance at careers in illustration. In 1935, Eloise married Sydney Wilkin and soon began a family of four children. She illustrated over 20 books with her sister Esther, who also married a Wilkin. In 1943, she was offered a contract with Simon & Schuster and worked almost exclusively for Little Golden Books until 1961.

Eloise Wilkin, who passed away in the late 1980s, was one of Golden Books' most prolific and beloved illustrators. Some of her books, such as Prayers for Children, have never been out of print.

SourceJoining Cindy from My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday. Click button for more!

Cranberry Swirl Loaf ~ Oh WOW!

Do I love this!!

 

 Cranberry Swirl Loaf

Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Taste of Home

You Will Need
3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 package (1/4 ounce) quick-rise yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
 Filling:
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Topping:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cold butter, divided

What to Do
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat the water, milk and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat until combined. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-7 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

3. For filling, combine the cranberries, brown sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in the butter, walnuts and lemon juice. Cool.

4. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; roll into a 20-in. x 10-in. rectangle. Spread cooled filling to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place in a zigzag pattern in a greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan.

5. For topping, combine flour and sugar in a small bowl; cut in 1 tablespoon butter until crumbly. Melt remaining butter; brush over dough. Sprinkle with topping. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Carefully remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

Makes 1 loaf

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Haulin' Logs

All of the leaves are at the curb and waiting for the trucks to come by and vacuum them up. Now it's on to stacking wood.

Lots of wood.

Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow full...

Wheeling each load to the back yard patio for stacking. We'll fill five of these racks which should last an average winter.
If not we'll order a bit more

Filling our home with warmth and ambiance (and a substantial savings on our heating bills)

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 14:23Visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for her many links to more
Outdoor Wednesday posts!

He's Back

Each December 1st, we are entertained by the arrival of a whimsical little fellow dressed in red. He is a most pleasant house guest whose only request is that no one try to touch him. See that mischievous expression on his face... he is waiting for a little one to discover his hiding place. He finds great joy in the excited squeals of a child, pointing and shouting,

"There he is... I found the elf!"

Cashew (as he's called) is not concerned about pouting, crying, or whether you've been naughty or nice. His mission is just fun as he magically flits and flutters, unnoticed, to each new perch and awaits to be discovered once again.
~*~
Interesting thing though... as our own children have grow, married and have children, the elf population has also grown.

There is a green elf named Pistachio that annually arrives at my oldest daughters home.

Another elf named Mac Adamia spends December in our NY kids home.

Al Mond the elf takes up residence with another daughters family.

~*~
Santa doesn't play a role in our Christmas celebration and all of our little ones have a clear understanding of the true meaning of this special day. So, in addition to the traditional Christmas activities that focus on the birth of a Savior, we find little harm in our
sweet elf game.
~*~

How about you? What are the special traditions that continue in your family?

Mosaic Monday ~ Thanksgiving Day Memories

This beautiful buffet was prepared by our dear son-in-law, Josh. He's not only a whiz behind a computer but also behind a grill pan. This yummy pumpkin pancake breakfast is becoming his trademark and much enjoyed as we watched on TV, the balloon floats and marching bands in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Lots of snugglin' with grandbabies! Also spent a little time looking at the tiny baby girl ensemble that awaits a new arrival due in just a couple of weeks.

But the most fun was spinning Aunt Abbey round and round and tickling one another.

For dinner, we headed to my sisters for her delicious and abundant feast! So good to spend time with my nephew, Tom, his lovely wife, Lori (and her parents) and their little Amanda (new baby expected in five more weeks), my niece, Chrissy and her precious, Olivia, my other niece, Toni and her really awesome boyfriend, Joe, and my mom.
I'm really sad I didn't get a picture of everyone that was there.

People and moments that I am thankful for!
♥
Please visit Mary @ the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday.