Merry Christmas to you!
December 23, 2020While 2020 brought us an abundance of simplification, Christmas brings a message of appreciation, and I think the two go together beautifully. As we close on this difficult year, I want to let you know how much your readership, support, and kind comments have meant to me. You have lifted my spirits and given me much to look forward to. I wish you peace and goodwill in 2021.
My table above is set for Christmas breakfast with my mother's Spode Christmas Tree. We will be dining with a very excited three year old and I'm hoping that the table setting with crackers and a tiny village will keep his interest through breakfast.
After breakfast and present opening, we'll settle in for a quiet day of playing with new toys, taking a walk, reading a new book, and surely, knitting a few rows. In the afternoon we'll be snacking on appetizers and Christmas cookies. My daughter-in-law is bringing this beautiful appetizer and her mother is bringing stuffed mushrooms.
For Christmas dinner, to make things easy on myself, I'll use the basic elements of the breakfast table, same tablecloth, centerpiece, cutlery and glasses, but I'll change out the china and napkins to give the table a more elegant look that reminds me of a fifties Christmas. My aunt's gold-rimmed Lenox Harvest china takes me back to my childhood and the large family gatherings at my aunt and uncle's beautiful home in Bakersfield in the southern tip of the San Joaquin Valley, the "breadbasket" of the nation. My uncle grew cotton and table grapes and I remember huge sacks of pistachios, almonds, dried apricots, mandarines, and lemons on their patio, all gifts from local farmers. I'm certain they would both be happy knowing how much I love using their pretty things and the good memories they bring. Our dinner menu is classic fifties too: prime rib with horseradish sauce, popovers, green beans with almonds, potatoes au gratin and green salad. Dessert will be a Yule Log that is still under construction. I've made it in a unique and time-saving way and it could be fabulous or a flop. I'm taking pictures as I go and if it turns out as good as I hope it will, I'll post it. Fingers crossed.
Merry Merry, Kristen
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11 Comments
Merry Christmas Kristen! Thank you for this lovely post on such a busy day. I've had one Yule log in my life - a birthday present made by my sister who was guided by a French log expert. You can imagine it was delicious. So I am envying yours, Tomorrow thanks to an extra pandemic 15, we will all be dialing back on all those goodies. But we will be all together (just 5!) enjoying the first Christmas realizations of a still somewhat clueless two-year-old:-). Love hearing about the dried apricots - a big favorite of mine - nobody else cares - which I plan to dip, along with strawberries, in a bath of chocolate. Our only indulgence. Your beautiful china is very inspiring for everyone, whether using heirlooms or paper plates, to make it the nicest Christmas ever! Feliz Navidad! Chloe
ReplyDeleteThank you Chloe. Your Christmas sounds lovely. Last year my grandson was 2 and had no idea that he was going to get new toys. He was shocked when we asked him to rip the paper to find a toy inside! He sat and played with it and didn't really want to open any other ones. I think that's a pretty common experience for two year olds. At three, Carter totally gets it and knows all about the naughty and nice list too, lol. Dried apricots in chocolate is divine!!! One of my favorites too. As for that yule log, I just put the finishing touches on it and think it's going to be a hit! xo Kristen
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Kristen. I hope your day is filled with love, laughter and gratitude for it's overflowing abundance. I hope you all remain safe and healthy, and that the New Year brings forth all its promises. Venice
ReplyDeleteThank you Venice. It's so very nice to hear from you and I hope your Christmas was wonderful too. Sending the very best wishes for a fabulous 2021. Kristen
DeleteMerry Christmas to You and Yours. You've been an inspiration this year. Love seeing the pics of your grandson, such a handsome little boy. Wanted to let you know you bring joy! All the best in the New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind comment. You have brightened my day! Best, Kristen
DeleteThank you, Kristen, for all of your lovely posts, and especially for sharing your beautiful holiday table. I am glad that you are able to have your family close. To paraphrase a friend, not being with extended family and friends gives us more time to count our blessings. Your generous posts have brought light into my days for years now. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I realized how very lucky we were to have at least half of our family with us. So many of our friends were alone this Christmas, but everyone I talked to was feeling good about it. This year certainly did give us time to count our many blessings. I hope I'm able to take much of what I've learned this year into the coming years. Kristen
DeleteA very merry Christmas to you, Kristen! Thank you for all your lovely posts throughout the year!
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this lovely post, Kristen! Your words resonated with me and brought back warm memories of past Christmases spent with loved ones. I appreciate the thoughtfulness you've put into your writing, and it truly captures the spirit of the season. Wishing you all the best in the new year as well! 🎄✨ (Kristen Retting)
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