Holiday Wrap Up

Can you believe it's the final day of 2018?

How can that be?? And how did Christmas fly by so quickly?

It always does, though, doesn't it? 

I know I've been posting a TON of food posts lately....I'm a little obsessed at the moment with a few new recipes, as well as my new toy. 

Today I just wanted to pop in and give you a wrap up of our holidays here on the Mountain Top. 

We had a special guest join us for a few days (hi Paul!) and my oldest daughter and her boyfriend were here for nearly a week. It was wonderful having them home, we don't see nearly enough of them!

It also meant for the first time in eons I actually made a meal plan for the week, to make sure I was on top of everything.  Saturday was my prep day, which made the next three days a ton easier than if I hadn't spent that time in the kitchen. 

Sunday Welcome Dinner: Roast Turkey with all the trimmings and this amazing blueberry pie for dessert...I used my new favorite Pate Brisee recipe for the crust and it turned out fabulous. 

Monday/Christmas Eve - Baked Stuffed Shells using this recipe from The Pioneer Woman and this recipe from the New York Times for homemade marinara. I made the filling and the marinara on Saturday - smart!

Tuesday/Christmas - Holiday Baked Ham. 

Wednesday - Date Night - dinner out on the town. 

Thursday - Leftovers!

Friday - Chinese Take Out....I was exhausted, and you couldn't have paid me enough to go out with all the tourists crowding our little mountain top.

Here's a little recap of our holidays - welcome to my home sweet home!

Our special guest Paul brought me this fabulous plant, known as Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior). Isn't it beautiful? I just love houseplants, and once the Christmas decor is all put away and the house back to order, this one will have to find a place of honor.   Right now it's in my master suite, as the house is still a bit upside down.

After dinner on Christmas Eve we all snuggled in to watch my all time favorite Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life. 

It never, ever gets old.....and I still cry each and every time. 

I know....I'm a big sap, what can I say. 

Christmas morning was a busy one, and Santa definitely spoiled us all!

Look at these sweet babies in their Christmas dresses! Not the greatest photo but they looked so cute standing up to 'open' their stocking that my younger daughter had to snap a photo! 

Yes, that's me in my Christmas jammies!! You can't tell in this pic, but Sweetie had a Christmas tree headband on!!

This is Molly's second Christmas with us....she was a little overwhelmed, no doubt....too much going on for this little pup!

Monkey takes it all in stride, she's an old pro at this. It wasn't long until she stole ALL the toys and rawhide candy canes that were in the stocking!

She looks a little worried she's going to get yelled at for stealing all the toys....she doesn't like it when we tell her she's BOLD!

She wore her little self out, so she and Santa settled down for a nap before dinner. 

Now that the holidays are ending, it's time to get back to some healthier meals. I've been craving fruit, must be all the over-indulging....my body is telling me what it needs. 

I think I better listen!

Meanwhile, I haven't put away any of the Christmas decor yet, although I have started washing the linens and getting them ready to pack away for another year. 

In our house, the tradition has always been to keep the tree up until January 6th. It's not only Little Christmas and The Feast of The Epiphany, but also my dad's birthday. He would have been 81 this year. 

From DiscoveringIreland.com: "In celebration of the feast of the Epiphany in Ireland, January 6th is marked by Nollaig na mBan or Women's Little Christmas. On this day it is the tradition in Ireland for the women to get together and enjoy their own Christmas, while the men folk stay at home and handle all the chores."

Sounds like a plan!

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the twinkling lights for another week, and prepare to take down my tree next Sunday, January 6th.  

I'll be thinking of my dad, of course, and keeping busy will be the best thing to get through the day.

By the way, did you notice anything new on my mantel?

Santa Sweetie got this awesome sign made for me - isn't it just the cutest? For now it's perfect up on my mantel, and once the Christmas decor is packed away I'll find the perfect place to hang it.

Mountain Mama's Home Sweet Home. 

You better believe it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WISHING ALL MY WONDERFUL READERS A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Thank you for another year of reading all my ramblings - I truly appreciate each and every one of you, and thank you for your sweet comments!! 

Debbie

MountainMama

xoxo