Advantages of Gloomy, Gray, Cold Days

The sun is out today. 

Glorious? Well, I am not so sure.

Have you ever noticed how dirty your windowspanes look when the sun shines through? 

And what about the dusty furniture both inside and out?

Once the sun is shining, even the sad little flowerbeds beg for some sprucing up.

But it is December, and tomorrow may be cloudy and dark and rainy. 

And if you are warm and cozy in the grayness, you don't see the work that needs to be done.

;))))

Shiny Brites at Memaw's

Some of the bloggers I follow are Shiny Brite shoppers. Nothing makes their thriftying days better than finding a box of Shiny Brites. Well, today I not only found shiny Brites, but I found them in my mother's Christmas stash. 

And now those shiny bright balls from over 50 years ago are adorning her Vintage Christmas Tree.

I dropped (and smashed) only one gold ball.

The most expensive box was 99 cents.

Love the Pinks! Bet that was pretty on a silver or white tree.

This box was only 49 cents. Special price.

There is the gold ball that bit the dust.

Flocked one.

These are the oldest decorations. Probably over 60 years old.

If this decoration could only talk.

We couldn't find the string of lights for these flower bulbs.

The Vintage Christmas Tree with my late daddy's string of lights that he used on his Christmas tree even before he and Momma married in 1947. 

Memaw and I spent several hours putting this masterpiece together. 

Merry Shiny Brite Christmas!

Upstairs Thrifting

Our upstairs "box room" has boxes on shelves. As most boxes are labeled, I know (more or less) what is in the boxes. But boxes with Christmas ornaments and decorations are always a surprise.

Some years I never even open the boxes and avoid decorating for Christmas. Yesterday I opened the boxes and even set up a few lights in the kitchen and dining room window. Maybe today I will get to the mantle and piano with some tinsel and nutcrackers that I picked up for pennies last year.

But I did visit the Catholic thrift shop yesterday to see what I have been missing the last two months. 

Here is what came home with me:

This cardinal music box was 25 cents. It "cleaned up" well, and the music box works! Only one flower petal missing. Sweet!

Here you can see the missing petal.

And this angel was only 75 cents. She has a "heavy bottom" and sits by herself. May be a doorstop.

She makes me smile.

A doll from this great California company.

Got her back.

One Santa was only 10 cents and the other was 5 Euros. Bet you can't pick out the 10 cent one. It is the one on the left that I bought on Saturday.

I also found Oshkosh baby overalls (they are in the wash) and Oshkosh baby slippers for 25 cents each.  As the cashier said, "She always finds the cutest baby clothes here."

I can have a great hour spending just  $5 at the Thrift store!

Thirty Loves for Thirty Years

(Happy Birthday to the most important 30 year old in our life--our son J.)

1. You are our one and only child.

2. You are you and no one else.

3. You are loving.

4. You are kind.

5. You are truthful.

6. You are witty.

7. You are serious.

8. You are sympathetic.

9. You are fun-loving.

10. You are smart.

11. You are level-headed.

12. You are nerdy.

13. You are good-looking.

14. You are clean.

15. You are thoughtful.

16. You are lazy.

17. You are normal.

18. You are Dutch.

19. You are American.

20. You are a home owner.

21. You are a Cowboy's fan.

22. You are an automobile lover.

23. You are a doer.

24. You are an over-achiever.

25. You are a boyfriend.

26. You are cousin.

27. You are a nephew.

28. You are a grandson.

29. You are a son.

30. You are our son.

Wouldn't Be Sinterklaas Pakjes Avond Without Almond Paste Filled Speculaas!

All little Dutchies are snuggled warm in their beds, but here in the Deep South it is evening tea time. And in honor of Sint Nicolaas, I made speculaas filled with almond paste.

Gevulde Speculaas (Filled Gingerbread)

Ingredients:

Speculaas dough- 

1 package of Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookie Mix (17.5 oz/496g)

1 stick (1/2 cup) Butter, Margarine, or Spread, softened (not melted)

1 tablespoon water

1 egg

Almond paste filling-

1  300g  package Dr. Oetker Amandelspijs (almond paste)

1  egg (lightly beaten)  

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 F. 

Stir cookie mix, softened butter, water, and egg in medium bowl until soft dough forms. (I forgot to add the water, and I used unsalted butter zapped in the microwave for just over 1 minute.)

Divide the cookie dough into two halves and press 1/2 into a greased/floured 9 by 9 inch square pan. 

Mix with a fork the beaten egg and almond paste until egg seems to disappear.

Press that paste mixture on top of the first cookie dough layer.

Then sprinkle the remaining 1/2 of the cookie dough evenly over the paste mixture.

Bake for 30-35 minutes.

(To dress it up, you can lightly glaze with beaten egg and then add slivered or sliced almonds before baking.)

Let cool to almost room temperature before serving. 

Enjoy this rich December treat!

Hij Komt, Hij Komt

Exactly 30 years ago today, my hub and I went to the hospital in preparation for the birth of our child. 

And yes, I had had echo and amniocentesis readings, but we had no idea that a little BOY was ready to be born. The gender of our baby was never an issue. That our baby would be healthy and happy was most important to us.

As 5 December is Sinterklaas gift evening, my roommate and her newborn had a real party with all of her welcoming family members, while my hub and I waited for our special "gift." Our present could be "unwrapped" the next morning on December 6 when all of the doctors and staff came to work.

My Dutch father-in-law was annoyed that our baby was due to be born at such an important time of the year. But that birth of our son never seemed to ruin any festivities. In fact, it seemed to make Sinterklaas more meaningful to us.

On that night 30 years ago, I slept well until around 4:00 AM. Then the real party began with only me, the night staff, and our baby boy. After the waters broke, the staff gave me meds to slow everything down to wait for my doctor and his staff to get to the hospital for the scheduled c-section delivery time at 8:00 AM. I telephoned my hub who was sleeping peacefully at home, and he came before they rolled me into the operating room.

Our healthy, happy "gift from Sinterklaas" was born at the tail end of the dear old Sint's route.

He saved the best for last! 

He came.

Dog Gone Mad!

Our beagle Flip spent six great weeks with our bachelor son while we were doing our apartment remodeling in The Netherlands. Our dog got lots of attention, but I am sure he missed his hunting and his "neighborhood girlfriend" Kara. 

Since Flip has been back home with my hub and me, he has really been confused. The first night back, he paced the floor and even walked around in circles. He barked when he heard the heater click on or when the wind blew or when the sun came up at 6:00 AM. 

Since two days ago, he has started sleeping upstairs. Alone. In the hallway. 

Flip avoids his bed like the plague. Yesterday I washed his mattress and cover the second time in a week, thinking there was something "bad" on them. That did not help. Plus he avoids stepping on the large Persian rugs in our hallway. That is a funny sight when he skirts the rugs and tip-toes across the ends.

Then this morning after his early morning hunt, we found him asleep on our table on the front porch. Enjoy the shots: