A Southern Life

Christmas day, what a blessing! It is snowing heavily where I am and I am so thankful to be safely inside. Please remember to pray for those who may still be on the road.

Luke 2: 1 – 20

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Here are some pictures from the Christmas Eve table for Tablescape Thursday (since these pics didn’t make it earlier)

And, the scene outside on Christmas eve:

Wishing you peace and goodwill in your heart and home and a very Merry Christmas!

Today’s Lagniappe: Eggnog French Toast
Something yummy for Christmas morning and for Foodie Friday with Gollum!

Christmas eve at Mama’s house is special. We’ve set the table and will have a lot of fun laughing and sharing the special season of Christmas and honor the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ!

I’ve got some technical issues on Mama’s computer (which being her techie daughter, I get to address tomorrow) so I’m posting some past pics that she took from a dinner they hosted as well as some from my home.  Once I get some of these technical taken care of, I’ll post more!

Merry Christmas!

What mansion would that be? The Palace on the Prairie, the Marland Mansion in Ponca City Oklahoma. My mother and her husband, Chester hosted a party for all the church staff in the Kay Baptist Association at the Marland Mansion this week. Chester is the Director of Missions for the association. They have had this event at other places before but the past few years have been at this beautiful landmark.

According to the Marland Mansion website:

The dream of oil baron E.W. Marland was to live in a palace. This magnificent mansion reflects the elegance of the affluent days of the oilman, who lived lavishly and entertained in the same style.

The Marland Mansion

This National Historic Landmark took three years to construct, 1925 to 1928. The mansion is 78 feet wide and 184 feet long, and contains 43,561 square feet distributed over four levels. There are 55 rooms, including 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, 7 fireplaces, and 3 kitchens. It takes 861 light bulbs to light the mansion.

Come with me to the bottom of the Grand Staircase

Grand Staircase

There were just over 50 guest. The guests were entertained by a very talented pianist (I’ll tell you more about him before Christmas). They dined on delicious Mexican food and sang along to the Christmas Carols.

Mama took these pictures the morning of the dinner.

Isnt' it beautiful?

Lovely

The globes on tables held green and red pillar candles and were wreathed with holly. There are also songsheets on the tables for the carol-along. The napkins (which she didn’t send me a close up of) were decorated with poinsettias.

Reports tell me that a fun time was had by all. You can read more about the Marland Mansion and see more pictures on their website.

Okay, now back to my humble abode 🙂

We are having potato soup and cornbread tonight and it will be serve yourself in the kitchen!

Looks like the decorating fairy has visited my kitchen cabinets:

Here is another peek at my Swarovski Santa and sleigh:

Another look at the fireplace:

P. S. Come join us at my new Facebook page for A Southern Life. Either follow the link on the left of search for “A Southern Life” on Facebook!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Chocolate Coffee
This sounds like a yummy recipe for after a fun time in the snow (which it looks like we will have this Christmas eve!). From santaclaus.com

4 heaping teaspoons of cocoa mix
1 scant teaspoon of instant coffee mix
cinnamon

Makes one serving.

I love going out in the cold December nights to drive around and look at Christmas lights. Here are a few pics I snapped this past week:

When we got home from checking out the lights it was such a clear and beautiful night that I decided to get a picture of the stars. After I downloaded the picture, I used the auto-tone option on photoshop and it turned out like this:

I thought that was so spectacular. You can just see the tops of the trees  in the bottom of the picture. They are somewhat illuminated by a street light.

Merry Christmas eve, eve, eve!

A little outdoor red for Outdoor Wednesday with A Southern Daydreamer and Rednesday! with It’s a Very Cherry.

Today’s Lagniappe: The Best Party Mix – Ever!
My mom used to make this party mix when we were growing up. It is spicy and delicious. I think I could actually live on it (for a while anyway). You’ll never find this version in a bag at the grocery store!

1 box rice chex
1 box wheat chex
1 box corn chex
1 large bag pretzel sticks
1 box cherrios
1 lb. pecans
1 lb. cashews

1 stick of butter, melted
1 cup cooking oil
3 tablespoons tobasco
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon onion powder

This makes a whole lot, so you will need large pans for this.

Pour all of the chex cereals, pretzels, cherrios and nuts in a very large mixing bowl (may take more than one) Mix them up and pour them into shallow pans Mix, melted butter, oil, tobasco and all the spices together. Pour the butter mixture evenly over the cereal mixture and stir to coat.

Cook 1-1/2 hours at 250 stirring every 15 to 20 minutes.

Oh, Christmas Tree
Oh, Christmas Tree
How lovely are thy branches

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas to all! Check out today’s lagniappe for never fail divinity.

Deck the Halls with Thoughts from Over the Rainbow

Home for the Holidays

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

Today’s Lagniappe:  Never Fail Divinity
I had a little trouble with my divinity this past weekend. My wonderful friend from high school Tamara Gouge Ketter sent me her recipe for Never Fail Divinity. Tamara says, “This recipe was contributed to THE NINETIES COOKBOOK by the Garvin County, Oklahoma Extension homemakers by May Lacy.  I made this for my dad who was a divinity aficionado and he loved it.” Thanks so much Tamara – no more trying to beat egg whites in the Southern humidity!

I’ve been really busy this weekend.

I’ve turned this:

Christmas Cooking Ingredients

Into this:

Christmas Goodies

Christmas cookies and candies

Now, we can enjoy time with our family with the goodies and their wonderful loving company. What could be better than that?

Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

I’ll be posting Christmas things all week. Hope you’ll come back! Merry Christmas!!!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Broccoli Gratin
After all those sweets, I really feel the need for some veggies!

• 1/4 cup butter, plus more for the baking dish
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more as needed
• Pinch nutmeg
• Black pepper
• 2 pounds broccoli (about 4 heads), cut into small florets (about 8 cups)
• 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar (about 4 ounces)
• 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs

Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking dish or an 8-cup gratin dish.

Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and nutmeg and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the white sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with pepper. Remove from the heat.

Meanwhile, bring about 1-inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan and set up a collapsible steamer on top. Put the broccoli in the steamer and season with salt. Cover, and steam until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Put the broccoli in the prepared dish, sprinkle with half of the cheese and pour on the sauce. Cover with the remaining cheese.

Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Cover the gratin with the bread crumbs. Bake until lightly browned and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

et’s do a little more visiting tonight with some of the family and see what kind of Christmas decorations they’ve got going on.

First, we’ll check out an outside picture from Mama’s house.

Verry pretty!

Let’s go inside and have a look at their tree:

Oh, and are those nutcrackers up on the shelf?

Hmmm, I really like that ornament, let’s get a closeup:

Very sweet.

Now, let’s got to my little sister Linda’s house and have a look at her tree – or should I say trees?

Is that a present for me in that bag?? What other trees do you have, Linda?

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer’s here,
But also when ’tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

A little outdoor red for Outdoor Wednesday with A Southern Daydreamer and Rednesday! with It’s a Very Cherry and today’s lagniappe is a great idea for Crockpot Wedneday with Dining with Debbie.

Today’s Lagniappe:  Clarence Moody’s Odor Punch (NOT FOR CONSUMPTION – just to make the house smell good!)
This recipe was sent to me by sweet Kim Reddmann from over in East Arkansas. Kim says, “I know this isn’t a “food”, but my Mother always had a sauce pot on the burner with this simmering in it. I’ve also done this for years, makes the home smell like love!!” – Debbie, I think this would be wonderful simmering in a crockpot!

1 qt. pineapple juice
1 qt. water
1 qt. apple cider
4 pieces of ginger
3-3″ sticks of cinnamon
16 whole cloves
1 t. allspice
1 or 2 t. pickling spice

Place all ingredients in a large cooking kettle and allow to come to a boil for several minutes. Then simmer. Add water as needed

I seldom have whole ginger, the powder works just fine. As does ground cinnamon and ground cloves. Great recipe to clean out the spice rack each season!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Kim

I love Christmas cookies and candy. They are fun to make and even more fun to eat. We can worry about the pounds in January! These are a couple of my favorite cookbooks for Christmas treats.

Peppermint Meringues

2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup sugar
6 drops red food coloring (optional)
1 (6 oz.) package semisweet chocolate morsels

Combine egg whites (at room temperature) and peppermint extract; beat until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. (Do not underbeat.) Fold in food coloring, if desired, and chocolate morsels.

Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour or until dry and set. (Cookies should not brown.) Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen.

Gingerbread Cookies
Perfect for making gingerbread men that you can decorate with sprinkles and raisins and candy

cup packed brown sugar>
1/3
cups dark molasses
2/3 cup cold water
7 cups all-purpose flour
2teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, molasses and water with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet lightly with shortening or spray with cooking spray. On floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with floured gingerbread cutter or other shaped cutter. On cookie sheet, place cutouts about 2 inches apart.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, vanilla and half-and-half until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add food colors as desired. Frost cookies; decorate with raisins, chocolate chips and candies.

Santa Kisses

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (9 oz) package chocolate kisses
powdered sugar

Beat together butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add flour gradually until well blended. Stir in pecans. Chill dough about 1 hour. Pre-heat oven to 375 F. Mold about 1 tablespoon of dough around each chocolate kiss, covering candy completely. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet until they just turn golden around the edges, about 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Cool on wire racks. When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar. Store in airtight container.

We can have some of these cookies while we look at the Christmas village at Mama’s house.

Check out these blogs for lots of Christmas fun and head on down to the bottom of this post to see a Christmas cookie cocktail for today’s lagniappe.

A Holiday Cookie Exchange with A Fine House

Deck the Halls with Thoughts from Over the Rainbow

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

Today’s Lagniappe: Mexican Cocoa
I found this recipe at The 12 days of Christmas Cookie Cocktails. Looks like some yummy accompaniments to those Christmas cookies!

1 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of chili powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3/4 cup almond milk (can substitute Irish Crème, coffee-flavored liqueur or milk)
Splash of agave nectar (can substitute honey or maple syrup)
1 oz. Silver tequila
Paprika
Cinnamon stick

In a saucepan over low heat add the cocoa powder, cinnamon, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Toast until spices begin to release their aromas, about a couple of minutes. Using a small whisk or wooden spoon, slowly incorporate the almond milk. Raise the temperature to medium-high and bring to a slow simmer. Stir in the agave nectar and remove from the heat. Rim a mug by dipping into a saucer of water, blotting and dipping into saucer of paprika. Pour in tequila. Add hot cocoa mixture. Stir with a cinnamon stick and serve.

In 9 days it will be Christmas! Can you believe it? I can’t. We have plenty of decorations around here, but, alas, no large tree. We love the large trees but we just have a little one this year.

A little Christmas tree.

We love to visit with family that have decorations! Here is some more from Mama:

The mantle

The piano

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere! More Christmas trees and decorations to come this week and, then, on Thursday it will be my 1 year blogversary! Got to save a little for that.

If you are new here, be sure to go join me at A Southern Life’s Facebook page.

Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

Today’s Lagniappe: Christmas English Toffee
YUM, I love English toffee!

1 Cup Water
2 Cup sugar
4 sticks sweet (unsalted) butter
1 lb. raw shelled almonds
1 1/2 lb. milk chocolate

Instructions:

Grease 2 9×13 pans and place in ice water. It’s important that the toffee cool quickly.

Chop half the almonds finely in the food processor. There should be smallish chunks left and a fair amount of almond dust.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler.

You’ll need a large heavy pot to cook the toffee in.

Stirring constantly over high heat, cook water and sugar until stringy.

Stirring constantly over high heat, add butter, 1 stick at a time.

Stirring constantly over high heat, add whole almonds. Continue stirring until you smell the roasted almonds. The mixture will take on a distinct brown color just before this and you’ll feel the texture of the mixture changing.

Pour evenly into pans in ice water. I try to stir the stuff while pouring. When pans are cool enough to touch, place them in the freezer for 15 minutes

Cover with half the chocolate and then half the chopped nuts then return to the freezer for another 15 minutes and then cover other half with remaining chocolate and nuts.

Break into pieces and store in the freezer.

You may half this recipe if you wish!

Today, for Pink Saturday, I want to show you a couple of special Christmas Stockings in our home. There are no children in our home, but we still hang stockings, and, we fill them.

One of my favorite stocking stuffers was from my husband. The year had been pretty lean and we really didn’t have a lot to give each other. When I looked in my stocking on Christmas morning, I found several pieces of paper with the word LOVE on them. He had given me a stocking full of love! Isn’t that sweet?

Here are two special stockings in our home.

The first one belongs to Bailey.

You may have seen his picture in the upper left hand side of my blog (rotating with pics of Princess Grace Cali Cat). We found Bailey in a shelter in Paragould, Arkansas. It had been 4 months since my sweet little Gizmo had died and I was really wanting another dog. Here is Bailey’s online shelter picture.

He was not a happy camper. This was his 2nd time to turned in to a shelter and he was not long for this world. Suffice it to say, he had some issues. He has a cataract (from age 3) from having had a poke in the eye. He wasn’t particularly trusting and to this day really hasn’t ever figured out how to play with his toys (although after having been with us for 5 years, he does do better).

When we brought him home, he was afraid to go in the house and looked at us like we were crazy when we put him on the bed. It was around 10 p.m. when we got home from picking him up and we were very tired. He layed on the foot of our bed, but I’m not sure he took his eyes off us all night.

This is Bailey now.

Now, little Bailey is quite the little bed hog and when he wants you to pet him he will look at you and give you a little growl under his breath. He is just a little sweetie.

The other stocking belongs to Princess Grace Calli Cat (Cali for short).

The first I laid eyes on Miss Calli Cat was through our living room window. She was laying on a side porch looking right at me. I figured as pretty as she was, she must belong to someone and was probably just roaming around. However, she kept coming back in the next couple of weeks and was looking skinnier. I gave her some food and water and posted about her on our local radio stations pet lost and found. No one claimed her.

My husband was less than enthusiastic about having a cat, however, when we had a cold front come through in October, he brought her in and informed me that we couldn’t just leave her outside. From that point on, she proceeded to wrap him around her little paw (turns out her front paws had been declawed and she had been spayed).

We had to feed her with a syringe at first because she was not eating or drinking and was actually close to losing her little life. We took her to the vet who determined she was around 2 years old. Finally, my husband decided to give her a bath and though it was NOT a pleasant experience, it seemed to snap her out of her funk and she started eating on her own. She as been with us  over 2 years now and is doing very well.

So there is the story of the pets and their stockings for Pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. Go check it out to see what fun everyone is up to in Blogland.

Click for Pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Today’s Lagniappe:  Reindeer Food
Something fun and easy enough for the kids to help!

one box of Crispix cereal (approx. 12 cups)
one 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 c. powdered sugar

Use an very large bowl.

Adults/older kids: over low heat, melt chocolate chips and combine with peanut butter.

Remove from heat, and place on the table on a heat-proof surface. Carefully, gently, stir in cereal, until thoroughly coated.

Dust mixture with the powdered sugar, and continue stirring to thoroughly coat the cereal and separate the pieces.

Cool, and place in an airtight container. Store in a cool place

It is so much fun to see all the Christmas decorations. In the store windows, on the street, and in the homes of people we love as well as our own homes. When the days are short, it certainly brightens up not only the landscape, but our moods as well (at least mine)!

It is the time of year that we reflect on our blessings. Last year, on December 17th, I published my first post on this blog. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to get to know so many of you. Thank you so much for visiting with me. Next week, to celebrate my 1 year blogversary, I’ve got some special things planned so I hope you will join me!

Now, on with the tour!

Here is a little of what is going on this Christmas in my home and the homes of some of my family.

First let’s stop by my mom’s house. Mama lives in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Frosty's on the kitchen windowsill.

The tree.

This is the tree before it was decorated. Mama is sending pics of the decorated tree to post next week. I was accused of having had a Christmas cookie cocktail before taking this pic (ha, ha). Actually, Mama took this pic. It kind of reminds me of when I was kid and would kind of squint my eyes when I looked at the Christmas tree.

Okay, we’ll come back to Mama’s next week.

Now, let’s head farther out west to my sister, Tammy’s house in Brighton, Colorado.

Garland on the porch.

Reindeer in the yard.

I’m trying to get Tammy to send me more pics too. She has a ten foot live tree in her living room. Would love to show you a pic of that. I’ll keep after her.

Now, we’ll go back South to my sister Linda’s house. Linda’s daughter, my niece, Taylor, sent me her pics. I need to send her to fetch pics from the rest of my family!

There's Taylor (the tall one) with her little sister, Brenden, in front of their house.

With Christmas trees . . .

and wreaths . . .

in every room.

Now, let’s head East, to Virginia to visit my nephew. He took pictures with his cell phone.

Stockings were hung by the pics of the dogs with care. . .

in hopes that Frosty would soon climb the stairs!

And, then back to my house in Arkansas. You may have seen some of these recently 🙂

This table pic is from last year before I learned from Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to take better pictures (and more of them).

Christmas table.

A little Christmas tree.

With an even littler Santa and sleigh.

One more shot of the fireplace.

And, when I step outside:

Even the sky is dressed in red and gold.

Thank you for stopping by. And to each and every one of you – A very merry and blessed Christmas! Y’all come back and be sure to visit my new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/a.southern.life!

To see lots of beautiful home tours and great recipes and more fun, visit:

With Designs by Gollum

Today’s Lagniappe: Betty’s Fruitcake
My grandpa’s wife, Betty makes this fabulous fruitcake soaked in cream sherry.

1 lb. butter
3 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
3 oz. lemon extract
3 tablespoons sherry
8 oz. candied cherries
8 oz. candied pineapple
1 lb. white raisins
1 quart pecans

Sift flour, salt and soda together. Add fruit and pecans. Mix well. Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolks, lemon extract and sherry. Add to dry ingredients. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour in a tube pan (grease bottom only) and bake at 200 degrees for 4 hours.

Cool cake.

Soak cheesecloth in sherry and wrap around cake.

What mansion would that be? The Palace on the Prairie, the Marland Mansion in Ponca City Oklahoma. My mother and her husband, Chester hosted a party for all the church staff in the Kay Baptist Association at the Marland Mansion this week. Chester is the Director of Missions for the association.  They have had this event at other places before but the past few years have been at this beautiful landmark.

According to the Marland Mansion website:

The dream of oil baron E.W. Marland was to live in a palace. This magnificent mansion reflects the elegance of the affluent days of the oilman, who lived lavishly and entertained in the same style.

The Marland Mansion

This National Historic Landmark took three years to construct, 1925 to 1928. The mansion is 78 feet wide and 184 feet long, and contains 43,561 square feet distributed over four levels. There are 55 rooms, including 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, 7 fireplaces, and 3 kitchens. It takes 861 light bulbs to light the mansion.

Come with me to the bottom of the Grand Staircase

Grand Staircase

There were just over 50 guest. The guests were entertained by a very talented pianist (I’ll tell you more about him before Christmas). They dined on delicious Mexican food and sang along to the Christmas Carols.

Mama took these pictures the morning of the dinner.

Isnt' it beautiful?

Lovely

The globes on tables held green and red pillar candles and were wreathed with holly. There are also songsheets on the tables for the carol-along. The napkins (which she didn’t send me a close up of) were decorated with poinsettias.

Reports tell me that a fun time was had by all. You can read more about the Marland Mansion and see more pictures on their website.

Okay, now back to my humble abode 🙂

We are having potato soup and cornbread tonight and it will be serve yourself in the kitchen!

Looks like the decorating fairy has visited my kitchen cabinets:

Here is another peek at my Swarovski Santa and sleigh:

Another look at the fireplace:

P. S. Come join us at my new Facebook page for A Southern Life. Either follow the link on the left of search for “A Southern Life” on Facebook!

Today’s Lagniappe (a little something extra):  White Hot Chocolate
This recipe from Sandra Lee that is good with or without a little added Christmas cheer (alcohol) .

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Vanilla whipped topping, for garnish
• Candy cane, crushed or whole, for garnish
• Peppermint liqueur, optional
• White chocolate liqueur, optional

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine white chocolate chips and heavy cream. Stir continuously until white chocolate chips have completely melted. Stir in the half-and-half, vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Stir occasionally until heated through.

Pour into mugs and top with a dollop of vanilla whipped topping and a candy cane.

Cook’s Note: For a tasty adult drink, add desired amounts of peppermint and white chocolate liqueurs.

What a fun week this has been. Seeing how everyone is celebrating Christmas! Something short and sweet (and spicy) tonight. Here is what is going on outside!

Santa on the red door.

My neighbor has red ribbons on the pretty green wreaths.

This is my sister, Tammy's house north of Denver, CO a few years back. If you look closely, you can see the garland on the front porch railing.

After dark, the reindeer appear!

I have more shots to share but, I’m trying to space them out this month. I’ll probably end up at the end of the month with dozens I didn’t get posted, ha, ha!

A little outdoor red for Outdoor Wednesday with A Southern Daydreamer and Rednesday! with It’s a Very Cherry and today’s lagniappe is a great idea for Crockpot Wedneday with Dining with Debbie.

Today’s Lagniappe: Slow Cooker Jambalaya
A little Cajun lagniappe tonight. For visitors who may wonder what a lagniappe is, it is “a little something extra.”

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
2 medium celery stalks, chopped (1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups chopped fully cooked smoked sausage
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce
3/4 pound uncooked peeled deveined medium shrimp, thawed if frozen
4 cups hot cooked rice

Mix all ingredients except shrimp and rice in 3 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 8 hours (or high heat setting 3 to 4 hours) or until vegetables are tender.

Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook on low heat setting about 1 hour or until shrimp are pink and firm. Serve jambalaya with rice. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer’s directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.

Serve with Tabasco for those who need a little more fire.

An ornament party with Centsational Girl! Click to go to the Party

Time for Deck the Halls with Thoughts From Over The Rainbow! – Every Tuesday

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time for decorating and baking and caroling and celebrating the birth of Christ!

Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite ornaments and my favorite Christmas cookie recipe.

The ornament below is a favorite because it was made by my grandmother on my mother’s side. Whenever I remember her, it is always as she was crocheting, sewing or crafting. She always had something to do with her hands, even though they were quite swollen with arthritis. See how she put the glitter around the edges. I hang this ornament on my fireplace garland.

The ornament below is a favorite because it was given to me by a friend. This friend ran for a local office and I supported her. What a nice gift she gave me. A White House ornament from 2006. I also have a White House ornament (that I have misplaced apparently) from 1998 that my nephew gave me. At the time, he was in the Marine Corp presidential guard, stationed at Camp David (Don’t worry, Bryan, I’ll find it!) This ornament will hang from my kitchen wreath.

The ornament below was given to me by my Grandpa’s (on my fathers side) wife, Betty. Since my grandmothers death in 1997, Betty has become the grandmother of my heart and I just love her dearly.

Yesterday, I showed you my kitchen wreath.

Kitchen Wreath

I love placing some of my special ornaments on this wreath in the kitchen.

Some closeups of ornaments on the kitchen wreath that you saw yesterday.

The ornament below was purchased shortly after my husband and I married. It has our names and the year inscribed.

The ornament below was purchased in New Orleans when my husband and I were on our honeymoon. As I mentioned previously, we went to New Orleans, Negril, Jamaica and then back to New Orleans before returning home.

My husband was born in New Orleans before he was adopted by Dr. and Mrs. Joe B. Wharton, Jr. from El Dorado, Arkansas. His family often visited New Orleans and he later returned to New Orleans for college at Tulane University. Both of his parents are gone now. He never looked for his birth mother. He has always said how grateful he is to her for giving him a good life with the family who adopted him.

The first trip my husband and I took together was to New Orleans. Obviously, the city that care forgot is close to our hearts for many reasons.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

Christi’s Note: If you’re on Facebook, come check out my A Southern Life page. Would love to add you to the fans to get to know you better! The fan box is in the left sidebar. Thanks!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Ethel’s Sugar Cookies
This is my favorite recipe for sugar cookies. I remember many years, making these cookies and cutting them out with different holiday shapes for Christmas. This recipe is from my mother’s 1956 Betty Crocker Cookbook.

3/4 cup shortening (part butter)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon lemon flavoring or 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/3 cups GOLD MEDAL Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Mix well shortening, sugar, eggs and flavoring.  Blend flour, baking powder and salt; stir in.  Chill at least 1 hour.  Heat oven to 400*F (mod. hot).  Roll 1/8″ thick on floured board.  Cut with a 3″ cookie cutter.  Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 6 to 8 minutes.  Makes about 4 dozen.

Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

I’m finally getting around to getting a little decorating done around here. I started with this wreath in the kitchen.

Kitchen Wreath

This wreath is decorated with an assortment of old pieces of silver flatware. The flatware is getting a little tarnish these days. There are also a couple of special ornaments on this wreath.

From our first Christmas being married in 1997.

If you look closely, you can see the names inscribed, Christi and Joe B.

Vieux Carre

This ornament above, we got on our honeymoon. We went to New Orleans, then to Jamaica and then back to New Orleans before coming home. All of that we flew first class for $39.00 because I had a gazillion frequent flyer miles from my job!

I also decorated my fireplace today. I don’t have a mantel so I have to improvise.

Pre Christmas decoration

I moved my painting from the fireplace and replaced it with a mirror. I then hung a wreath from the mirror with some garland, lights and ornaments.

Plug it in and voila!

A cozy Christmas fireplace!

Bring on the hot apple cider!

One more thing – I have a new Facebook page for A Southern Life. The fan box is on the left sidebar. Would love to have you join me there and add you to my friend list as well!

Today’s Lagniappe: Pumpkin Bread
This not only tastes wonderful, it smells wonderful as it is cooking!

* 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups granulated sugar
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 3 eggs
* 1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin
* 1 cup coarsely chopped raisins, optional
* 1 cup chopped walnuts

Grease and flour a 10-inch fluted tube pan.

In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and soda, spices, and salt.

In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil, and eggs; stir until well blended. Stir pumpkin into the egg mixture. Gradually add sifted dry ingredients to the pumpkin and egg mixture, stirring well after each addition. Fold in walnuts and raisins if using. Spoon batter into prepared tube pan. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for about 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely on rack before slicing.

My sweet niece, Taylor, sent me some pics of her family’s home with their Christmas decorations.  Taylor is the oldest daughter of my little sister, Linda and her husband, Mark. Their beautiful younger daughter is Brenden.

I wanted to share a few of the pictures that they sent. There will be more to come from my mother and my sisters and even from me as the magical Christmas season unfolds!

My nieces, Taylor and Brenden if front of their home

The kitchen and breakfast area

The dining area

The living room, looking in from the dining area

The master bedroom

The office

My sister and her husband Mark built this house five years ago. Mark is the pastor of Wickline United Methodist Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Every year, they open their home to the members of their church for a holiday open house. This year, the “shut-ins” are getting to get out and take a tour of lights and visit my sister’s home as well as other homes that are on their open house tour.

Today’s Lagniappe: Linda’s Holiday Chicken Casserole
This recipe was given to me by my sister Linda (including her notes). YUM!

Stew 4 chicken breast ( I usually do 5) reserve broth
Combine ½ cup melter butter
seasoning packet from stuffing mix
2 Stove Top Stuffing mix ( I use wild rice)
Combine 2 cups sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup
1 ½ cups broth

In 9 X 13 dish:

1. put layer of crumb mixture
2. chicken
3. liquid mixture
4. remaining crumbs
5. top with slivered almonds  (don’t add until ready to cook, if your freezing)

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Time for Deck the Halls with Thoughts From Over The Rainbow! – Every Tuesday

It’s a three-for Tuesday! Join these great blogs for more recipes and great ideas.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday