DIV FREE BANNER

I know it's late but I thought

this would be fun to make:

CLICK HERE

COLDER THAN LAST YEAR

After experiencing a surprising white

Christmas - it is very cold in Missouri!
And the forecast for the next
 few weeks
is the same thing.

I think it looks like my lithograph:

I almost forgot to get this out for Christmas and so glad I finally
 remembered as  I love it dearly.  It 
is an 1897 hand colored lithograph.

TIME FOR THE CLOCKS

A few years ago I was inspired to

 collect old vintage wind up alarm

 clocks for a New Year's Display:

As I have found some older ones,

I have sold off some of the

not so old ones.

I think I like the more 

"industrial" looking ones:

Are you ready for 2018?

CHRISTMAS BREAK

HIDING IN THE TREES

Something was hiding 

in

cedar tree today:

Suddenly the hawk decided

 to move 

over to another tree:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

COLONIAL FRUITCAKE

Merry Christmas blogging friends.
This week, I was excited to 
find some

 red Nandina berries in my
yard to add to my wreath!

This week I am sharing a Historic Colonial Fruitcake I made yesterday.  Well.... not exactly.  This project should have been
 done but I am still waiting for my watermelon pickles to arrive.
  So I am reposting photos
 from 2 years ago:

  This recipe came from Family Circle Magazine back in 1978 and featured
 all different historic fruit cake recipes. 

I know there are a lot of jokes out there about fruit cakes but I think this one is delicious and the brandy gives great flavor.

The most interesting ingredient
 here are the 

Watermelon Rind Pickles.

Here is the recipe:

HISTORIC COLONIAL FRUIT CAKE

Pickled watermelon rind was called American citron in the 18th century.  It adds its special flavor to this chock-full-of-fruits cake.  Bake this cake at 300 degrees for 2 hours if using a 10" tube pan or if  making these using eight 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 1/2" loaf pans.

Here are the ingredients:  2 jars (10 oz. ea) pickled watermelon rind - drained, 1 carton (8 oz.) candied red cherries, 1 carton (8 oz.) candied pineapple, 1 -15 oz, box golden raisins, 2 cups slivered almonds (8 oz.), 2 cups chopped walnuts (8 oz.), 3 cups sifted all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder, (reduce to 1 1/2 tsp in high altitude)1 cup (2 sticks) butter, 2 cups sugar, 6 eggs, 1/2 cup of brandy or orange juice. (I use brandy and also brush it on top after baking and once a week for about a month)

Directions:

1.  Grease a 10" tube pan and line with parchment paper; grease the paper

2.  Drain syrup from watermelon rind.  Cut rind into tiny slivers.  Cut the candied cherries in half;  chop pineapple.  Combine watermelon slivers, cherries, pineapple, raisins, walnut and almonds in a very large bowl. (even a roaster will work)

3.  Sift flour, baking powder into a large bowl.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of mixture over fruits to coat then - toss.

4.  Using a mixer, beat the butter, sugar and eggs in a large bowl at high speed for 3 minutes until fluffy.

5.  Stir in flour mixture alternately with brandy or orange juice , beating after each addition until the batter is quite smooth.

6.  Pour batter over prepared fruits and nuts and folk just until well blended.  Spoon mixture into prepared cake pans.

7.  Bake in a slow oven at 300 degrees for 2 hours for a 10" tube pan or only 55-60 minutes in the mini foil pans.

 The top springs back when lightly pressed with fingertip when done.  Cool on wire rack, loosen around edge and tube with knife and turn onto wire rack.  Peel off parchment paper.  Cool completely and sprinkle with brandy.  Wrap in heavy foil and store for at least 1 week. You can brush on more brandy on top once a week while letting them "season".

OR THIS OPTION:  You can bake about 8 in mini foil pans and leave them in them but be sure and buy the ones that come with plastic lids as that makes it easy!  I put a piece of butter parchment paper in each tin from side to side.  (will only bake 55-60 minutes)

I hope you can join my tea time

 blog party below and
I am sharing too at:
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Home Sweet Home

An InLinkz Link-up

TAKING CHRISTMAS OUTSIDE

Just sharing a few porch

 photos

 of the happy season!

The hydrangeas were from my

 Sister In Law's bushes this

 summer in Des Moines, Iowa.

SUNDAY CELEBRATION

Many years ago my Mother

 In Law (who now lives

in Heaven) gave us her wonderful

 nativity given to her by her

 parents (she was adopted). 

 They were of German decent:

For us, Christmas is 

totally a celebration

about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:18 says: "Now the 

birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:

When as his mother Mary was espoused to

Joseph, before they came together, she was

found with child of the Holy Ghost.

vs 20  ....."The angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Joseph) in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:  for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."

Luke 2:8  "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lords came upon the, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them;  and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto the, Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

And about the wise men:

Matthew 2:11  "And when they 

were come into the house, they saw the young child  with Mary

his mother, and fell

 down, and worshiped him:  and

 when they opened their treasures, 

they presented unto him gifts; 

gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

FRIENDLY VILLAGE

These are busy times for all of

us with the wrapping, baking, 

decorating and not to mention....

drinking of tea!

A few years back I started a collection

of the English pieces of Johnson

Brother's Friendly Village.

I recently added a teapot:

I am remembering that I found

most of my pieces of Friendly Village

in Denver Colorado:

My tree has gone vintage now:

I am taking a pause for tea as

I price some items

for my booth at Midway:

My husband and I have been attending

auctions and having way to much fun.

Of course the down side is he has

lots of projects to do now......

I know many of you have the

 Friendly Village pattern and

 this is the perfect 

time of the year to use.