Will the Grinch steal Christmas?

Good morning, all! Christmas is in two short days--can you believe it?  I had high hopes that my family would all be together this year, but the Grinch (otherwise known as "the flu" ) seems to have other plans for us. Illness, in the form of flu or bad colds, has hit each of my sons' families--in fact, the only ones who are healthy are my husband, my middle son's girlfriend, and myself. They're all at varying stages, too! I'm sad that our plans probably won't come together as we had hoped. We talked about postponing our gift-opening and big Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, but that won't work because my youngest son and his  fiancée have plans with her family beginning on Saturday. And to push it back further won't work as my husband is due to have his right shoulder replaced in early January. So... we'll see. I told them if they were feeling better that they could even drive up on Christmas morning and spend a couple nights with us. I'm still hoping for the best, even if we are just together for one night! Sigh... I've heard the flu is just terrible this year--how are things in your part of the world?

Some of you have asked for pictures of my tree and, even though it looks to me much the same as in previous years, I thought I'd share a few photos. Not the best photos, but... The ornaments on this tree were all stitched by me and represent 17 years of memories. Stitched through both happy times and sad, each one soothed my soul as I stitched patiently away.

My 2025 Cross Stitch Christmas Tree

 

I had to laugh about this one! I showed my Christmas tree to Mister B via FaceTime and he said that "the star was the best part of the tree and that it wouldn't be good without the star!" Kids say the funniest things!

I just love this Little House Needleworks "Hometown Holiday" series--need to get back to stitching it soon!

And these Birds of a Feather always hold a special place in my heart

The Prairie Schooler "A Mini Merry Surprise" Santas are such fun little ornaments.

I tend to scatter most of my Prairie Schooler finishes throughout the tree. How many can you spot in this photo (hint: two of them aren't Santas!)

I think my tree at dusk is especially pretty... I love sitting in my sunroom quietly gazing at the lights and thinking about past Christmas memories.

We have so many windows and doors in our sunroom that it's the perfect place to capture the reflection of the twinkling white lights. 

My childhood Santa (or "Creepy Santa" as my sons have renamed him!) sits watch over the gifts. He's lost his coat and belt and who-knows-what-else, but he's very special to me!

I had such fun setting up this little baking display complete with five stitched pieces, some vintage cookie cutters, a child's rolling pin (that my sons often used to roll out Play-doh), and some little elves and gingerbread boys. It sits in a corner of my kitchen next to the refrigerator and really brightens up a once very boring space!

My new baking/cross-stitch display--love it!

 

These old cookie cutters were either my mom's or maternal grandmother's. I hope to use them for Christmas cookie making with my grandsons later this week.

How can you not smile at this scene?

Who else loves to bake? I don't get to do nearly as much baking now that my sons have all grown up and left home. I always used to have homemade cookies in the cookie jar when they were growing up. I truly miss those days, but love being able to indulge in my third favorite hobby (after cross-stitching and reading) a lot at Christmas time. I've made eight kinds of cookies so far for Christmas. I'd like to make gingerbread boys, too, so my grandson can help me decorate them. That is one of my fondest memories of when my sons were small: watching them decorate cookies with my dear mother. Mom always had them help her bake and decorate cut-out cookies each Christmas Eve day. Of course, more frosting ended up in their mouths than on the cookies, but that was part of the joy of it! It's such a special tradition and one I hope to continue with my grandchildren.

Baking with Grandma (my dear mother) in the late 1980s. That is my husband with our youngest in his arms, my oldest in front of them, and my middle son on the far left. Two of my nephews are in front of mom. 

I don't just bake cookies, but they are my favorites. I made this Chocolate Eclair Dessert for my middle son's 40th birthday earlier this month. It's his favorite and I can't even count how many years I've made it for him! It's very simple and if you'd like to make it yourself, the recipe I use is very much like this one.

So that about does it for my preparations for Christmas 2025. I'm hoping that my family can all be together as planned, but I'm accepting if that doesn't come to pass. My husband and I are in our 70s now and we don't want to get sick either--especially with his impending shoulder surgery in two weeks. We'll take it hour by hour and see what transpires. Perhaps there will be a Christmas miracle? 

For each and every one of you, I wish you much happiness on Christmas Day! I hope you aren't dealing with sickness, too... I mused to my husband yesterday about how nice it would be to live in the southern hemisphere where Christmas occurs during the summer months and those nasty flu and cold bugs aren't as widespread. But, not really--I'm happy to live where I do and feel very blessed with my wonderful family! Merry Christmas to all! Bye for now...