Holiday Season 2023 - 1 Days to Go: 4th Sunday of Advent & Christmas Eve Day

 Sunday, December 24, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 1 Day

A few more things to set out. 

Dale and I went to Lunds this morning to pick up some last minute stuff. It's eerily warm outside. No snow at all but we're supposed to be getting some rain soon. 

Dale and I took Mom to Jax for their Sunday buffet brunch. 

We nabbed a parking spot in Lobster Lane. I think that's the closet we've ever parked. 

The buffet was delicious. I think Mom really liked it. 

Santa was out on the patio so I snapped a photo. 

 

I started to set up the manger scene. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Holiday Brunch

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Woke up to a very cold morning. 

Fortunately, the sunshine was brilliant and the wind was low.

Alyn invited us to her church to hear Ellis play the organ. He played Angels We Have Heard on High during the offertory and he did a great job. 

There was a carol sing prior to the service and one of the songs was In the Bleak Midwinter which is one of my favorites. 

I always enjoy visiting Alyn's church. The pastor's great and there are lots of friendly folks in the congregation.  The Christmas spirit was still very much evident.

After the service, Alyn and Ellis had us over to their house for a brunch of waffles, sausage, mini quiche, and fresh fruit. They gave us an oatmeal stout bar of soap fashioned with a hedgehog mold due to the name of our house being Hedgehog Hollow.

Christmas Season 2013/2014 - Holiday Brunch Rum Cake 1

We hosted our holiday brunch today. I made a pistachio rum cake pudding and Dale made an egg-bake. The rum cake is was quite easy and fun to make. The recipe comes from family friend Judy and is as follows:

Pistachio Rum Cake Pudding

1 package pistachio pudding mix
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup light rum
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs

Beat all ingredients together at medium speed for 2 minutes. Bake in a Bundt pan at 325 degrees for 55-60 minutes.

Rum Cake Glaze

3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup light rum
1/4 cup water

During last 10 minutes of baking, combine glaze ingredients in a pan. Boil 2-3 minutes [I stirred it the whole time]. Reduce heat [I continued to stir and removed from burner a couple of minutes before removing the cake from the oven]. After removing cake from oven, poke holes in the bottom with a knife to allow for seepage and then pour glaze over it while still in pan. Remove cake in 45 minutes from the pan.