Christmas traditions

Subscribe to Grand Connection by Email

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Hope that you had wonderful Thanksgiving holidays!

The day after Thanksgiving my Christmas preparations began. My 8-year-old granddaughter helped me make gingerbread houses. Her 10-year-old cousin will visit in a couple of weeks and we'll also make some gingerbread houses together. With six grandchildren and friends, we have a lot to make!

It takes work to bake and assemble so many gingerbread houses, but they are an important part of our family holiday traditions. Other traditions include making a bed for the nativity figure of Baby Jesus. We put a pile of pine straw by the manger. When someone does a secret act of kindness honoring Jesus, he/she secretly puts a piece of straw in the manger for Jesus' bed. On Christmas morning we put the Christ Child figure on the pine straw bed made to honor our Lord.

Helen Austin, a regular contributor to Encouraging Women with Hearts for their Homes ezine, often makes holiday potpourri (the non-edible type) at this time of year. She shares her recipe in the holiday issue of the free ezine. It also has articles about managing holiday stress, giving exceptional gifts, making wise Christmas choices, and much more.

What are some of your family's Christmas traditions?

Have a wonderful week,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

Photo and post © 2012 by Mary May Larmoyeux.

Simmering Holiday Potpourri (non-edible)

Friday's Fun

With the day after Thanksgiving comes thoughts of Christmas. Last night our grandkids actually decorated gingerbread houses and had a great time! Next week's Friday's Fun will have this recipe and pictures.

But for today, I thought we could be reminded of Helen Austin's fun recipe for non- edible potpourri. It was in the last issue of Encouraging Women with Hearts for their Homes. In case you missed it, or like me thought ... I'll make that a little later, here's it is.

Helen wrote:

Here's a recipe for a simmering potpourri you can use right on the stove top. Just keep the saucepan handle turned away from little hands and paws and your kitchen will smell like you've been baking for days!

HOLIDAY SIMMERING POTPOURRI

3 or 4 pieces of dried orange peel (see NOTE)
1 teaspoon cinnamon chunks (available in bulk at Whole Foods Market)
OR 1 or 2 cinnamon sticks
1/4-1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
2 or 3 pieces of star anise (also available at Whole Foods)
1/4-1/2 cup whole fresh cranberries (optional)

NOTE: To dry orange peel, score an orange in quarters, then remove peel and as much of white pith as possible. (Add orange sections to a fruit salad.) Place on flat surface, such as the kitchen counter, for several days.

This is not edible. Don't even use it to season cider or wine. If using cinnamon sticks, break up into 3 or 4 pieces. Then place contents in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover loosely (vent top of saucepan slightly). Add water as needed; don't let mixture dry out. Be sure to turn off the heat before you leave the house. The fragrance will remain for awhile.

Making Christmas potpourri with an older grand would be a fun activity. If your grandchild lives out of town, you could mail their parents the recipe and talk on the cell phone with your older grand while he/she makes it.

Have a great weekend!

He is able,

Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

Photo Credit: © Nicolás Batista/Dreamstime.com

Subscribe to Grand Connection by Email