Monday, December 31, 2018

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

34 comments:

  1. Love your new sign and all the photos of your Christmas festivities! Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! This was our third Christmas without my dad...I wish it were easier, but it is still so raw! Love and hugs!!

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    1. My Dad was dearly missed for Christmas, but when I think of how awful last Christmas was for him, I am just happy he's no longer suffering, Benita. Happy New Year to you, sweet friend!

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  2. Sounds like the perfect Christmas filled with tons of love from family and fabulous food

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    1. It was wonderful, Marty, and also quite busy, as the holidays often are!

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  3. What beautiful photos and what a beautiful Home Sweet Home! Happy New Year to you and all you hold near and dear.

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    1. Thank you, Sue - and Happy New Year to you and yours as well!!

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  4. Such as good post. Sweet photos too. Hope you have a Happy New Year!
    Lisa

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  5. Happy New Year to you in your mountain top home. I've been enjoying your wonderful blog for over 12 months and this is the first time I've commented, but wanted to wish you and your other readers a healthy, happy time in 2019. Colin

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    1. Hi Colin - I'm so glad you commented, I love 'meeting' new blog friends! Happy New Year to you and yours!!

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  6. Oh my, Christmas at your home looks so perfect! I LOVE the picture of you snuggled in to watch the movie. Your home is beautiful, but also very comfortable and cozy looking. The little doggies are adorable!

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    1. My daughters and my daughter's boyfriend snuggled up on the floor together for the movie....I was in my chair right behind them, with a pup curled on my lap. It was the perfect way to end Christmas Eve, Henny!

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  7. I'm glad you had such a nice Christmas! I love that sign that your BF had made for you - it's just perfect. I have been laughing so hard over the photos of your pups with dresses on. Aren't they just hilariously adorable?! You gotta stop showing all these photos of your delicious food and talking about cooking because now I'm hungry! And if I lived closer, I'd be knocking on your door. lol I hear you about going back to healthy eating now. I got on the scale this morning and it wasn't pretty! A joy-filled and healthy New Year to you and your family. xoxo

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    1. I know, Melanie, we laugh so hard at them in their little dresses also!!! They're so cute, running around with the skirts swishing and tails wagging! Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family as well, my friend! xoxo

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  8. Your Christmas sounds and looks delightful. The dogs are so cute in their dresses.

    Love your new sign.

    Have a wonderful 2019 ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Happy New Year, Lorraine - I truly hope you find peace in 2019 xo

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  9. Oh Deb love all the pictures of your Christmas celebration and guests. It is always fun to have family home for Christmas. Love Monkey and Molly in their cute Christmas dresses. Buddy had a Christmas sweater this year. Wishing you a wonderful start into the new year. Lets bring on more happiness, peace, good health and finding joy each day somewhere and somehow.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Awww, I'd love to see Buddy in his Christmas sweater, Kris!! Happy New Year to you, Terry, and the family! xo

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  10. What a great sign he got for you! I don't know how you cook so much and work and take care of every one and every pet! You amaze me.
    Brenda

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    1. Sometimes I wear myself out, Brenda....this was one of those times. By Wednesday I was exhausted, and when my sister and the boys headed home I actually lay down in my room with Molly for a couple of hours to rest before showering for date night. I never do that!

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  11. Your meals sound perfect and the pups are adorable in their Christmas outfits! Happy New Year!

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    1. Happy New Year to you also, Penny!! I think Molly likes running around in her little frilly dress, but the Monkey's not so fond of hers, ha ha!

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  12. So glad you had lots of fun and memorable family time during Christmas, Debbie! Now you can hunker down, relax and enjoy all your new toys over the next few months of Winter. Happy New Year to you all!

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    1. I have a lot of experiments I'm planning in the kitchen in the winter months, Kimberly Marie!

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  13. What a great post, Debbie, full of family love. The dogs are adorable in their Christmas dresses, and all your foods and fun are exactly what those Hallmark movies are all about. Embrace the sweet memory of your dad on his birthday, and enjoy the rest of the week in the glow of the light leading up to it. Stay cozy!

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    1. My daughter and I watched SO MANY Hallmark movies this season, Rita - we were hooked, even though half of them are so cheesy!!!

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  14. Those little babies are so cute in their outfits! I actually thought the one of them standing up was one of a child on the left! And of course they both are your children, right? I always love pictures of your cozy home, at each season of the year but Christmas is very special there. I observe January 6th, too. I may be packing away a few Christmas things in the kitchen tomorrow but I like to stretch Christmas out until I'm ready to say goodbye to it for another year.

    Happy cooking in 2019, Debbie, I love your recipes,
    Dewena

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    1. I'm the same, Dewena, I take down some of the things before January 6th, but the trees stay up. The stockings came down this morning....but I actually replaced the batteries in some of the twinkle lights as I have company coming for dinner tonight. Can't get enough twinkle lights, you know!!

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  15. It's nice to "meet" you! Thanks for stopping by Happily Married To The Cows today! Your dogs are adorable in their Christmas outfits! Happy New Year to you all!

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    1. They are spoiled little furbabies, Alicia - thanks for popping by and Happy New Year!

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  16. Oh, the furbabies dresses are so cute! What a great way to plan for your meals and be organized. Lots of beautiful pictures to look at! Have a great Happy New Year! Nancy

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    1. I'm not usually a meal planner, Nancy, I generally just decide that morning what I feel like making and pull whatever I need out of the freezer. But it sure made things easier to plan ahead....perhaps I'll have to start doing that a little more often!

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  17. Christmas at your house looks just dreamy, Debbie! The pups are a hoot...and I cry every time too...to George Bailey, the richest man in town! How can you not? Happy New Year my friend!

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    1. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who still cries every year, Kim - 40 years watching that movie every Christmas, I know every line, yet I'm still sobbing like a big baby at the end!

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I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment...I truly love reading your comments and I try to respond to each and every one of your sweet comments right here on my blog page!

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