Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to friends!
Merry Christmas to foes!
The world's bright with joy, so
Forget all your woes.
The earth's full of beauty, of
Love and good cheer.
Merry Christmas to all and a
Happy New Year!




Christmas
by Lalia Mitchell

O merry is the Christmas time
With holly berries bright,
With festal board and treasure stored
In stockings soft and white.

And blessed is the Christmas time
With music such as rang
A glorious strain o'er Bethlehem's plain
When angel voices sang.

O, joyful is the Christmas time,
Each heart from grief beguiled,
But all the year hath a Christmas cheer
For him that loves a child.





~CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI~

3 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/4 c. whole cloves
1/2 lemon, halved
1/2 orange, halved
1 qt. water

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer as long as desired (may use crock pot). Check often and add additional water if needed. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator several days and reused. Makes your house smell great.



~GIFT BASKET IDEAS~

For the teenaged girl
Fill a purse with:
a wallet (you can even start it off with a little cash)
key chain
lipstick holder
purse sized perfume atomizer
purse sized hair brush and mirror


For friends and family
Fill a square basket with:
note cards
envelopes (choose a variety of sizes)
note paper
letter opener
a pen or a pen and pencil set
a personalized seal and some sealing wax
personalized return address labels


More Gift Basket Ideas



~RECIPE FOR CHRISTMAS JOY~

1/2 cup Hugs
4 tsp Kisses
4 cups Love
1 cup Special Holiday Cheer
1/2 cup Peace on Earth
3 tsp Christmas Spirits
2 cups Goodwill Toward Man
1 Sprig of Mistletoe
1 medium-size bag of Christmas Snowflakes (the regular kind won't do!)

Mix hugs, kisses, smiles and love until consistent. Blend in holiday cheer, peace on earth, Christmas spirits and good will toward men. Use the mixture to fill a large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime, (it never goes bad!). Serve as desired under mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with special Christmas Snowflakes. It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas Carols and family get-togethers. Serve to one and all.

~Author Unknown~




~COOKIE MIXES IN A JAR~

These make great Christmas gifts or for anytime of the year gifts!

In the following recipes use only 1 quart wide mouth canning jars. Also use only Butter or Margarine. DO NOT USE DIET MARGARINE. It will not work in the recipe. Be sure to line your cookie sheets with parchment paper wich you can find at a baking supply store, DO NOT USE WAXED PAPER. Of course you can use cooking spray or lightly grease cookie sheets with crisco, These make wonderful gifts to give any time of year and also for wedding favors, hostess gifts, baby showers or take to a cookie exchange and make sure to bake some up so people know what they taste like too.....Store in a cool dry place away from a heat source so condensation and clumping does not occur. Enjoy!



Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookie Mix In A Jar
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup chocolate covered raisins
1/2 cup milk chcolate chip morsels
1 3/4 cups flour mixed with 1 tsp.baking powder and 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Layer ingredients in order given in a quart size "wide mouth" canning jar. Press each layer firmly in place making sure you really pack it down before you add the flour mixture, it will be a tight fit but it will work.

Attach these instructions to the jar:
Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookies
1. Empty cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly blend mix.
2. Add: 1 stick butter or margarine, softened at room temp. DO NOT USE DIET MARGARINE, 1 egg, slightly beaten, 1 tsp.vanilla.
3. Mix until completely blended. You will need to finish mixing with your hands.
4. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2" apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet. DO NOT USE WAXED PAPER.
5. Bake at 375 degrees 13 to 15 minutes until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling. Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies.



More Cookie Recipes





~CHRISTMAS CRAFTS~

Cinnamon Scented Christmas Ornaments

4 oz. can (about 1 cup) cinnamon
1 tbsp. cloves
1 tbsp. nutmeg
3/4 c. applesauce
2 tbsp. white glue

In medium bowl, combine cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Add applesauce and glue; stir to combine. Work mixture with hands 2 to 3 minutes or until dough is smooth and ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Divide into 4 portions. Roll out each dough portion to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters. Using straw or toothpick, make small hole in top of ornament. Place cut out ornaments on wire rack to dry. Allow several days to dry, turning ornaments over once each day. Use to decorate gifts, hang on tree, etc.



Quilted Christmas Ornaments

List of supplies:
*1 Styrofoam ball (ornament sized)
*several small squares/scraps of fabric in different colors/patterns

Instructions:
1. Take the scraps of fabric and press lightly into the styrofoam ball with a crochet needle or other blunt ended object, just enough to secure.
2. Overlap edges of fabric until the whole ball is covered. Great project to keep kids busy and looks "homespun" !!

MORE CRAFT IDEAS TO COME!!!!







~STOCKING STUFFERS~

• Chocolate - any kind will do!
• Lottery tickets
• Lipstick - buy a wild shade of red
• Cozy mittens or gloves
• Personalized or Christmas print coffee mug or tea cup
• Silly Putty - fun for any age!
• Night light
• Christmas ornament - home-made or store-bought
• Deck of cards - search for one with unusual artwork
• Hair accessories
• A book or magazine
• Novelty shoelaces
• Stamp pad and stamps
• Journal or diary
• Yo-yo
• Home made cookies
• Wallet or business card holder
• Travel games
• Coupons for fast food, or admission to museums or other attractions
• Candles - and there are so many to choose from
• Popcorn seasoning or spices
• Packets of flavored hot chocolate or cider mix
• Stationary or note cards
• Bath beads, bubble bath or scented soap - make your own or go shopping
• Stickers
• Desk or wall calendar
• Keychain
• Fishing lures
• Coloring book
• Coasters
• Snow globe
• A tool - hammer, screw driver, pliers, etc.
• Sewing, knitting, woodworking, needlework patterns
• Poster
• Address book
• Jar of homemade jam or syrup or canned fruit
• Decorative tea towels or hand towels
• Jigsaw puzzle or other puzzle game
• Small wooden trinket box
• Small stuffed toy
• Napkin rings
• Sidewalk chalk
• Personalized birth chart or horoscope book
• Gift certificate for fresh flowers
• Fridge magnets
• Long distance calling card

~HOLIDAY TIPS~

Only buy what you truly love. That Christmas stuff collects quickly!

Save original boxes. That way things are easier to put away, and a lot less gets broken. It may take a little longer to re-pack and take up a little more room, but it saves lots of heartache and money!

Add to the "atmosphere" rather than to your decor. People love Christmas because of the way it makes them feel.

Use a wreath as a centerpiece. Put a candle in the center or a great figurine. For a really "homey" feel, use a family portrait in your centerpiece!

Bows, bows, bows.

Baby's breath! Stick it all over. In the tree, around pictures, in your villages and nativities! It just has that light airy feeling - like snow flakes.

Go Christmas in every room!!!

Put small glass ornaments in a bowl for a centerpiece. It looks really elegant if you use a nice clear glass bowl with clear and colored glass ball ornaments.

Cut all your holiday finger foods with cookie cutters in holiday shapes. A great project for the kids.

Wrap empty boxes with nice paper and lay them around the house - this keeps the "kids" (adults included) from peeking at the real gifts!

Put pine cones and ornaments together in a large basket. Pine cones and glass balls look great together. You can put the basket out of reach of little hands and keep your glass ornaments form being broken this year, while still displaying them. Also add some greenery to this basket.

Lay pine cones and or greenery on your window sills and mantles. (Be careful with fresh greenery - pine sap is a pain to clean off!)

String small jingle bells onto pipe cleaners and shape them into ornaments, wreaths, or door knob hangers. (Great way to keep the kids busy.)

Use mini grapevine wreaths as decorations. Make them into ornaments, garlands, or gift ties. You can usually get them two or three for a dollar!



~CHRISTMAS AWARDS~


Thank you Rebecca!







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