Enjoying a Quiet Day

It's a lovely quiet day with gently falling snow. Wayne found a Christmas cactus I've been wanting at the supermarket today. It's full of buds ready to burst open in time for Christmas. I've been working on several tasks here at home getting ready for our company and I'm taking a wee break for a cup of tea. I've watched a couple of cars slip and slide on our snow covered road but neither went into the ditch. A nice pot of potato soup should be good for supper tonight and I think I'll try a new buttermilk biscuit recipe.

Winter in Estes Park

I wish I could claim this as my own photo but it was taken by a local photographer.

With snow in our mountains and the Christmas lights ablaze after dark, Estes Park is looking beautiful and festive this season. It's a treat to go downtown. I just got home from buying a few small items at some of our local shops. Now I'm set to fill our traditional Christmas Crackers which we'll pop open when our family is here.

Each one contains a colorful paper hat, a riddle or joke, candy, and a small gift. This year ours will look like this. I buy the kind I can fill myself so each one is prepared for a particular family member. I love this tradition!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

These vintage glass ornaments were on our
Christmas trees when I was a child.

Here it is ... a lovely snowy day and I've finally found the time and energy to decorate the house for Christmas. Most of our ornaments and decorations have been in our family for a long time and it's a delight to take them down from the attic, unwrap them and reminisce. It's also a lot of work but I'm making good progress.

Our children and their families (all ten of them) will be here for a few days during Christmas. Wayne and I are excited and looking forward to all of us being together. I'll start today making and freezing a few meals. I also have Christmas Crackers to assemble, cards to send, and the house to clean. I had planned to be farther along with preparations but getting Mom through her recent surgery then coming down with a virus that kept me down for a few days have left me a wee bit behind. My biggest challenge was buying and wrapping gifts. Thanks goodness that's done.

The little wind-up train that belonged to Wayne as a child
always has a place under our tree.

My Dickens Christmas village 

These wee Danish "nisse" are a part of Wayne's family tradition.