Santa Claus is Coming to Town

He's a right jolly old elf! Sometimes cute, sometimes magnificent, sometimes cheery, sometimes mystical. Here are a few of my favorite Santas.

This one reminds me of my grad school advisor. I simply adore this one.

Speaking of jolly... now THIS is jolly!

This one looks quizzical and magical.

While this cute little guy, about an inch or so round, is an old ornament I remember from my childhood.

Here's another ornament. I like his old world style.

This wooden one strikes me as very rustic, very mystical.

While this handcrafted Santa with a velvet and fur robe seems rather elegant.


Another wooden one. I like his style!

This fellow's beard has a fabulous texture.

Don't forget to enter the blogaversary drawing. Here's the prize -- a felted bag (with a few extras within).


And to see it to scale, my model!

Pink in My Holiday Home!

My house is not much into pink, but there are certain holiday things I couldn't resist!

For example, the bathroom. That's sort of pinky -- enough for these things!

I love this pink Santa -- one of my favorites. His face reminds me of my grad school advisor!

She seems happy enough to wait for Christmas!

On my postcard tree, two Santas definitely are welcome for Pink Saturday!

And this framed photo is one I did before digital, so it's a photo of the framed piece and a tad glaring!

Who says Rudolf has a red nose? I think pink is the color here (maybe this is Vixen?)!

And these aren't pink but here is the purse that the winner of my blogaversary drawing will receive.

And just for scale, here it is with the Gypsy!

So, enter with your comments and thanks for stopping by. See more Pink Saturday pretties by linking through Beverly's site.

Happy Blogaversary to Me!

My Blogaversary!

One year. Boy, that’s fast! (Please note the photos in this post have little to do with the content – they’re just seasonal!)

One year ago today, my colleague Susi gathered a bunch of us together (who were a little antsy in the pre-holiday season), took us to a computer lab in our university building, vacant as the kids were on break, and showed us how to set up a blog.

The concept wasn’t new – I’d been visiting several, including the highly motivating Shelley, Beth D. and Rosemary, along with tracking their links. And I was itching to do my own.

In the past few years, I have been privileged to visit so many of you and make friends who live in spots all over the world.

I’ve held (and won!) drawings. I’ve participated in groups like “Write on Wednesday” and “Pink Saturday.” I’ve learned new creative techniques, recipes and decorating tips and become inspired by so many creative, talented and thoughtful individuals I am dazzled myself.

When The Marmelade Gypsy began, I didn’t know what my “voice” would be or what the blog would become. An art spot? An online journal to share experiences and family? A networking tool? A writer’s workshop? A place to express my own feelings?

I’m still not sure! And perhaps that’s why I’m excited to post as many days as I can – because while I know not everything I write is everyone’s cup of tea, on any given day it appears to be somebody’s!

(That’s why I started Chopsticks and String – to put things I wasn’t sure belonged on the Gypsy!)

I’ve had great support from the blogging community (both in comments and directly) during challenging periods in this past year and I’ve felt your energy, support and prayers when I’ve needed them most.

And in visiting you I have laughed at delightful posts, been both awed and inspired by incredible photography, challenged to try a new project, and enlightened by your skills, knowledge and warmth.

I know many of you pop in daily and comment, and my analytics tell me some of you stop by, don’t say much, but you’re there. Either way, I value all of you and am so very grateful to be part of this community.

I want to post a photo of my blogaversary drawing item – which is a felted purse in earthy tones that I knit (maybe with a few extras inside). And I promise I will by the end of the week! But I haven’t had time to shoot it yet!

Let me say it’s just the size for a small knitting project or a good book and a snack! And I'll tuck a few extras inside.

Remember, any comments through December 31 will be entered. I’ll draw the winner on New Year’s Day (maybe at midnight; maybe I’ll be otherwise engaged!)

Thank you all for making the Marmelade Gypsy such a joy to create. And, thank you for letting me enter your worlds as well.

The Marmy's Mummy Is a Ribbon Ho (and a healthy recipe)

Yesterday, in the frenzy of package wrapping and festivities, the Marmelade Gypsy asked:

'"Mummy, What's a Ribbon Ho?"

"A Ribbon Ho is a person who can't control her addiction to ribbon."

"Maybe Gyppy is a Ribbon Ho, too -- cuz Gyppy love ribbon!

Could be!

Here's a sort-of healthy holiday cookie recipe! And basically, it's so easy it's cheating! Package them with whole almonds for a good gift!

Dipped Apricots

One package of dried apricots
White chocolate chips and/or Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt chocolate in microwave (carefully -- it can burn, so do it slowly and for only 30 seconds at a time, stirring between) or over a double boiler.

Dip half of the apricot into the chocolate and let harden on a rack over waxed paper.

How hard is that?

Don't forget to enter my blogaversary drawing with your comments -- at least one prize is a felted purse!

Waiting for Santa!

I'm waiting here till Christmas! (And beyond -- don't forget to enter my blogaversary drawing with your comments!)

I still have my childhood stocking. And those sleeper jams look warm!

This past weekend we enjoyed trimming Rick's tree... First, the shopping...

We had to pick it out! (Rick is a scotch pine guy. Greg and I aren't. The guy with the cash picks the tree!)

Greg made friends with the dog belonging to the tree guy.

Gorgeous dog -- I wish it had followed us home!

Then on to decorating!

Greg did the angel. As kids, this used to be the highest honor in the decorating scheme and they'd post on the bedroom wall who did it the year before -- just so it was fair!

Later we went to the party at the Irish Club. We aren't Irish or members of the club, but it's a regular thing, I guess, and someone asked us to come. We were thrilled we did! There was music by the Renaissance Singers and a recording group...

Fiddling...

Good food and lovely decorations!

Speaking of good food, here is one of my favorite go-to recipes at the holidays because with this basic shortbread dough, you can go a lot of different ways.

Pressed Shortbread

1/2 c. sugar

2 sticks of butter

1/4 t. salt

2 c. flour

Put on cookie sheet in balls and press with your palm or a glass just a wee bit, so they're flat but not thin. Or use a cookie stamp to make a decoration on it. Or add decorative sugars.

Bake at 300 for 15-18 minutes (edges should still be fairly "white") Cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then on a rack.

(Variations: add dried cranberries -- OR -- dried cherries -- OR -- glaze with a powdered sugar-thinned-with-fresh-lemon-juice glaze -- OR -- add lemon or lime zest and juice to the dough -- OR -- add crushed peppermint candies -- OR (get the idea!)

A Bit of Vintage -- and Cookies!

Here are a few vintage holiday favorites from my vintage postcard collection!

Feel free to click on the photo and save for your own collage work!

More to come this season!

Here's another yummy recipe -- my pal Kate "pointed" these out with WW points and came up with one point each!

Kate's Yummy Chocolate-Toffee Puffs

4 large egg whites
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 (1.4 oz.) chocolate -covered toffee bars (such as Heath, Score),
crushed
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat egg whites in a large bowl with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form.

Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.

Combine powdered sugar, cocoa, and candy bars in a small bowl and mix well.

Fold half of the cocoa mixture into the egg whites (egg whites will deflate quickly).

Fold in the remaining cocoa mixture until smooth.

Drop the egg mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet covered with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Puffs will be soft in the center.

Yield 24 cookies serving size : 1 cookie = 1 point
These cookies can be made smaller so we can have 2 cookies per point.

calories: 52 fat: 1.4 g fiber: .7g

Snow Bunny

This kid (aka, ME!) is having a lot more fun in the snow than I've been having!

Christmas crazies have landed full force. Maybe it was late Thanksgiving. Maybe it was being gone a week.

Doesn't matter -- this weekend will be spent decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping, prepping for mailing, more baking, more decorating, card-stuffing, crafting (like, when?), cleaning, and did I mention decorating and baking?

This was Gypsy's tree last year -- he didn't like the fact that it blocked the Birdbath Bar and Grill, so this year it will be in a different spot and he'll get the window to himself. (It will also save grief as he tried to wedge his big ol' orange body between the tree-fence and the window!)

All that will keep me busy (along with some scheduled gatherings, like the office Christmas party and the Irish Club party we're going to). This weekend is the 15th anniversary of my dad's death, and busy is a good thing.

Don't forget to enter my blogaversary drawing with your comments!

Here's the first of several Christmas cookie recipes I'll be posting. It's a crowd-pleaser and makes a ton if you cut them very small (which is about all one wants -- they're very rich!)

Amazing Peanut Butter Bars

Melt: 2 sticks butter.
Add: 1 c. brown sugar and stir.
Add: 2 c. peanut butter and stir.
Add: 1 t. vanilla

Remove from heat and stir in 1 pound powdered sugar (mix with hands)

Spread on big cookie sheet with sides or bar pan and chill while making topping.

Topping:
Melt 1 stick butter
1 large bag chocolate chips

Stir till glossy, spread on top. Cool at room temp. Slice. Refrigerate. (Makes about 72 if you cut them small, and easily 60. I keep in the fridge and if I cut them to give away, layer with waxed paper.)