Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Christmas Eve morning

Good morning to everyone, and happy Christmas eve! 

We've purposely done very little as far as decorating and socializing this year. We've had a lot going on over the past few weeks, and neither of us felt up to doing a lot of work. So, no tree this year, but we did put a few special Christmas candleholders on the mantle and a wreath on the front door.


We also bought ourselves one nice gift for Christmas: a new 75-inch tv! We'd been wanting a new tv since our old one died this summer, and Gregg's wanted a big screen for years. Yesterday two guys from Best Buy came out and mounted it on the wall, and it looks huge. We're enjoying it already, and the new chairs we bought over the summer make for really comfortable viewing.





Now that we've turned this whole room into a living room (the remodeled room is now our dining room) there's room for one of Marco's perches, and he seems to like watching the new tv, too.


As for Christmas baking and cooking, I'm keeping it really easy this year. I made a pot of chili yesterday that we'll warm in the crock pot later, and I'm also getting ready to bake a ham. Yesterday afternoon I finally got around to making two batches of cookies which will be shared with neighbors. 

Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies and Italian Angeletti



 I may make a third batch of cookies this morning before making the cookie trays. I'm thinking of Peanut Butter Blossoms, the ones that have Hershey's kisses in the center. I also picked up packages of dog treats for neighbors with canine buddies. There's a couple down the street with a cocky little dog called Alvin, and he's getting an extra special bag of goodies from George and Poppy.


After I drop off the neighbor's treats, we're going to enjoy a quiet evening at home with lots of candles lit, good food, and maybe an old movie or two to watch. I hope you all have a similarly pleasant Christmas Eve, whatever your plans! 

xx 

Jennifer

33 comments:

  1. Merry, Merry Christmas to you, Gregg, Marco, George & Poppy!
    A relaxed, quiet Christmas Eve sounds wonderful. Enjoy!!!

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  2. I love seeing a Christmas wreath on a front door. Simple....classic and welcoming. Enjoy your holiday Jennifer....and a Happy Yuletide to you and yours.🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

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  3. Happy Christmas to you and yours. Peace, warmth, light and good food - perfect.

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    1. Happy Christmas and New Year! Thank you for stopping by!

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  4. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a HEALTHY new year! Marco will be elated to have that new vista. That’s a classy home cinema.

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    1. Healthy would be nice! Healthier than this last year, anyway. Thank you Mitchell. I hope you and SG and the boys have a wonderful New Year in your new home!

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  5. Wow! Enjoy that new big screen TV! Have a wonderful (and from the sounds of your cooking and baking, DELICIOUS) holiday!

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    1. We are enjoying the tv. It's a treat on these chilly, wet days to sit and watch the new tv! The color and clarity of the picture is wonderful.

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  6. Enjoy the big screen! Quiet Christmases are the best. Love that wall color!

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    1. I like the color okay; it was that color when we moved in. In good light, the blue actually looks slightly dingy. I think the last owners smoked, although mostly outside it seems, so maybe that's why. One day we'll get around to painting that front room.

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  7. Your front door is so pretty. I'm sure it likes being dressed up with the wreath. The cookies look delicious. I hope you keep a few to munch on while you watch the new TV. Enjoy!

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I've munched on more than a few cookies, and what's left in this house needs to GO. My body is crying out for vegetables lol.

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  8. All of that sounds terrific and lovely and just right. Y'all relax and enjoy and watch something good on your new Christmas present.

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    1. It's been nice. And all this time off is the best part. I'm taking the time to notice every day how good it is to be free of work!

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  9. We skipped the tree this year, too. And Carlos is planning a getaway as our Christmas gift and I have no idea where we're going as yet. All I know is it's sometime mid-January!

    Merry Merry

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    1. Oooh a getaway! That sounds wonderful and I can't wait until you find out where you're going and can tell us! Happy holidays to you and Carlos. :)

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  10. Peanut blossom cookies for Christmas did not exist when I was a child. I suppose the recipe hadn't been invented yet and mom certainly did not own a cookie press in the forties. But from the grandchildren on, mom always made them, then my sister. Sadly, she doesn't make them any more. Old people diets.

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    1. I've enjoyed those PBB waaayyyy too much. I'm paranoid that I'm regaining weight this week from all the holiday goodies!

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  11. It all sounds very nice and just right - nothing over the top. Your living room has turned into a home cinema! The new TV is so big it would cover almost an entire wall in my living room, and then there would not be enough distance with the chairs in order to watch it properly :-D
    I am sure Alvin will enjoy his treats!
    Our Christmas Eve was quiet and homely, just the three of us (Mum, sis and myself), but we did sing a few songs around the tree with the real candles lit, had our traditional meal of sausages and spuds salad, exchanged gifts and then had great fun playing a quiz themed around our hometown.

    Merry Christmas to you and Gregg, dear Jennifer!

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    1. Can you tell me your recipe for Spud salad? We make potato salad here in South but it's considered more of a cold summer side dish.

      Your Christmas eve with family sounds lovely. xx

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  12. Remember how large projection TVs used to be sold as "Home Theater Systems"? I think that's what you should call your setup now. :) We didn't do a lot of decorating either, and Dave's plan is also chili! I'm all in favor of a simple Christmas. Have a great holiday, Jennifer!

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    1. We really enjoyed our chili over Christmas, and still have a lot of ham left over. Happy Holidays, Steve!

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  13. Sounds lovely and peaceful, Jennifer! Merry Christmas to you and Gregg!

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  14. It sounds like the perfect day for you and for Marco too. Our main gift to each other was the flooring for the new house. I got a new stove (that I had not asked for) just before Thanksgiving when Tim went to buy the dishwasher. We figured to make these purchases before Trump gets in. That's a lot of big ticket items, and there was no need for a lot of presents under the tree.

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    1. Same with us, Debby.We're trying to make big ticket purchases before DT is sworn in and the tariffs go into effect. We still need to replace our built-in microwave over the stove. It died a couple of months ago, and it's next on our list of purchases.

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  15. I hope your Christmas Day was a good one!

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    1. It was! I hope yours was as well. And Happy New Year!

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  16. Both of my grown-up kids have big TVs but I prefer our 28 inch TV that sits discreetly in the corner and does not dominate our front room. In this regard, I guess I must be an old person. By the way, it has been cool sharing a cabin with you aboard "The Jolly Puffin".

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    1. Gregg's wanted a big tv forever, but we kept putting off getting one since what we had was plenty good enough (and we try to be frugal about those kinds of purchases). When our main tv blew up last summer, it seemed like a good time to go for a larger, up to date tv. We're enjoying it...the picture quality is amazing!

      The Jolly Puffin has been a fun travel experience!

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  17. Your new tv made me smile because I got one for Christmas too. My sons totally surprised me and brought it over to my house and set it up the Sunday before Christmas. My tv was 15 to 20 years old. It makes tv watching more enjoyable, yours is very large.

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