45°f/7.2f, foggy in the morning, light clouds.
Goodies boxed up and ready for tomorrow. And crackers! We have never done these before.
Are you ready? Because here it comes, ready or not! I have pies baking today, potato salad and a cheese ball to make, veggies to prepare for the crudites tray, and just washed up all the pretty serving dishes. And I think that's about it. The ham and turkey are thawing, supplies are laid in for my homemade eggnog and the punch we like that combines cider, orange juice and ginger ale.
We will have a smallish gathering this year. Derek, his daughters Haley and Hannah, their partners, and Hannah's 2 children plus her boyfriend's 3. I had a bit of a scramble when I found out yesterday that those last three would be here, because no child will be left without a gift at my house on Christmas! But we had to go out later yesterday to pick up our milk and butter, so I was able to take care of that.
I made Granny Marigold's fudge yesterday, both the chocolate and the peanut butter. Both came out well. I had to laugh when I realized that the peanut butter one was the very same as one I made back in the 70s! I also made kahlua brownies, which we sampled last night. Yummy!
Leaving you today with Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon, with whom I had the privilege to share a stage some years ago. His late sister-in-law Tersi was also a good friend of mine. This song is close to my heart, as two of my great-uncles, James and Sidney Wilson, were in the British forces and were very likely present at that famous Christmas truce in 1914. We found that the truce was mentioned in reports from their units which were stationed in that area, so feel fairly sure they were there. My favorite version of this song was sung by Robbie O'Connell on the album All on a Christmas Morning. O'Connell is a well-loved Irish singer and musician with whom I have stayed in touch since I took a week-long class with him at Augusta back in 2010. There is also the movie Joyeux Noel, which I have mentioned before, which is based on the Christmas Truce of 1914. Well worth watching.
Merry Christmas, friends!
Every Blessing for a very happy Christmas to you and all your family hope you have a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteI like that version a lot.
ReplyDeleteHave a marvelous day, Sue.
ReplyDeleteWarm greetings and Merry Christmas to you, Sue! Thank you so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteHappiest Christmas to you, as you enjoy being surrounded by laughter and love! See you after all the crowd has gone home and you put your feet up!
ReplyDelete...Susanna, you sound like the super Chistmas lady!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, Sue!
ReplyDeleteA very Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! (ツ) from Jenn Jilks , ON!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and all your family. How wonderful that so many of you can celebrate together.
ReplyDeleteA very Merry Christmas to you from up here in Canada! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Susanna! There is a perfect motto for Christmas: no child should go without a gift!
ReplyDeleteYOU got to share a stage with John McCutcheon? Wow. Just wow. He's one of my very favorites and that is one of my favorite Christmas songs. I've seen him in concert several times and would go again. And yes, we very nearly watched Joyeux Noel again this year and probably will. (I think you may have seen my link to "All Is Calm," the stage play we saw about the Truce. The link isn't the production we saw, but it's just as meaningful.). Your Christmas sounded great and my mouth is watering at peanut butter fudge. I never got that far!
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