4 Weeks Until Christmas

 

Tree was made from a cinnamon stick, fake evergreen cut, and buttons.  The candy apple ornament was a mini muffin wrapper, a small apple ornament dipped in glue and bird seed.

Drum was made from half a toilet paper tube, craft foam for the top and bottom, felt and ribbon, and the drum sticks were painted tooth picks with tiny pom poms glued on.  Yes, they took forever to make, and back then, I didn't blink an eye on how much time they took to make.

A small bit of all of my duplicate handmade Christmas ornaments.  I could not believe how many duplicates worked their way to the Christmas storage totes (Three more totes to go through yet).  Good grief.  Anyway, the story behind them all. . .

When the kids were in elementary school, I would race to the school and sign up for room parent for their Christmas party first.  My second choice was always Valentine's Day when the lists were full.  

Anyway, for some crazy reason, I fell in love with making ornaments, and when I was a Christmas party room Mom, I came up with a handmade ornament.  I made one for every single kid in the class, and I hand wrapped each one, so every kid had one to open.  Yes, I did that.  Some years there could be almost 30 students too.

In the process of the ornament making, my family got one every Christmas too.  Ha!  Probably way too many, but they got one too.

I would go to our large area library, and check out every single handmade ornament books they had, and then some.  I would get ideas, or in some cases, even patterns (I made a LOT over the years).

The duplicate pile was loaded into a box, and the kids got to pick out any they wanted.  The rest will be donated to a nursing home or if I hear of a family in need. 

~~~~~~~~~~

As for what's happening for this up coming Christmas?

First, I realized when I bought dye free, non-gmo cookie sprinkles for the advent gifts, I did not buy us any.  I had to find them again (not easy to find in the area here).

I have started yet another crochet project related to Christmas, but it's on the slowdown time, for an idea for next year (too late for this year).  More on that later I think.  I saw the idea on facebook one day (ha ha!  Social media at it's best to influence us).

Two advent gift bags delivered.  One more to deliver yet.

I have yet to get a Christmas grave blanket/or saddle for Mom and Dad's headstones.  I will not be able to make them myself, and may not even be able to deliver them this coming month.  In the past, I did a barter with an acquaintance, and she made us two.

I have my 2026 planner now, and there is a section for "projects" in it, so that is where "Christmas 2026" will be kept noted and organized.

We have talked to someone we know, who is not working and could use the extra money over the next month.  We may have found someone to help with a few home repairs before or after Christmas.  We are not done painting, and took a long break from it.

Tried a new macaroni and cheese crockpot recipe.  I added additional cheese.  It's a white cheese dish, and it tasted fantastic.  I will try and get the recipe up soon, but it may be the best we have tried so far, and perfect for potlucks or gatherings.

4 Weeks Until Christmas  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

10 Weeks Until Christmas

We are experiencing cooler weather, but the rain is back.  Although we need the rain, it puts a halt on garden clean up, and fall herb garden dehydrating.    I may need more spice jars in the mean time.  

Two doctor appointments are off the calendar now.  We have found yet another new-to-us place to walk trails.  I pulled 10 summer tops from the closet, and about half are being donated.  Took 4 boxes of items to a thrift store, and passed one Christmas decoration on to a kiddo.

 I donated one Christmas book to a free little library.  I got to about page 60 and just could not read the rest (did not like it at all).  I forgot to take a photo of it, but that is one less Christmas book on my shelf.

Visited a flea market (indoor) and found a Christmas book display.  I ended up buying one book (gulp!).

Bought this "blind date with a Christmas book" at the "Christmas in October" event (see below) we went to.

Three new recipes for the holidays tried - ham and swiss cheese pinwheels (gulp - recipe called for puffed pastry).  We did not like them.  We really liked the one recipe with the homemade dough (and when baked can be frozen - Pigs in a Blanket).

Peanut butter bars - no bake, from AllRecipes.  I used organic ingredients and the peanut butter I used is homemade from a store in Amish country (peanuts), and it had tiny bits of peanuts in it.  

Very easy to make by the way.  I used dark chocolate for the top.  I wanted to not only try this for the holidays (much easier and quicker to make than traditional buckeyes), and for potlucks.

In trying new recipes, I finally used my miniature measuring do-hickey that I got free from doing an online Pampered Chef show way back in 2020.  Ha!  Best way to measure peanut butter by the Tablespoon.

I sent the rest of the bars to my husband's work, and asked for honest opinions.  These were not the super sweet peanut butter type treats, as the peanut butter I used was simply peanuts.

The results?  Well, first of all, we tasted it right after I pulled it from the refrigerator (and still cold).  We were both saying "meh" to it.  

I had pulled it from the fridge, cut it up and by the time it go to my husband's work, it was room temperature.  He said it was all gone in an hour or so.  He also said it is 100% better when it's room temperature.  Guess who has to make it again to try it again?  Yep.  Like I said though, it's very easy to make. 

Sunflower Seed Brittle.  A keeper recipe for sure!  Yum!

I found the recipe in a library book:  

Recipe from Gooseberry Patch Homemade Christmas.

ISBN:  978-1-6209-3443-2

Very easy to make and delicious, if you like sunflower seeds.  Not hard as a rock to eat, and hard to eat just one piece.

We went to a "Christmas in October" craft event (almost 300 vendors).  I bought one item for the advent gift project.  Would I go next year?  Maybe.  It was a lot of "stuff" I would not use.  It was a very nice set up to look for gifts however. 

Visited a very small Christmas Village that is locally owned, and all proceeds (100% according to the owner) go to Children's charities.  We laughed when we pulled in, as it is very very small, with very small buildings, but we both fell in love with it, bought some items, and plan to go back. It's only open in the late fall up until Christmas.  

Bought 4 more advent gifts for the advent project of mine.  One of the purchases ended up crockpot meal cookbooks from a thrift store.  I mean why not?  $1.50 for a book they may just need with their busy work schedules.

Another advent gift  - magazines from the dollar tree store.  I found one store that was still selling magazines for $1.25 each (almost all stores now have stopped selling magazines for $1.25, or stopped selling them all together). I found one on freezer meals, one pot meals and thrifty decorating for the kids.

Remember the crocheted cord keepers I crocheted for an advent gift?  The plastic snaps do not work for the cotton yarn. I am looking into metal snaps or snaps you sew on.  The plastic ones might work if you use a thinner yarn.  

Special purchases for the home?  Yep.  I bought a few decorations, one for outside, but we are still careful to buy what can easily be stored as well.

10 Weeks Until Christmas  ©  October 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

28 Weeks Until Christmas

 

Restocked.  Our grocery stores used to carry this, but with vanilla in it.  All area stores stopped selling it.  I have now prepared for the Christmas season, by re-stocking the organic/non-gmo corn syrup for any holiday treats.

If I don't make holiday treats, it will not be a wasted purchase.  I use it to make homemade Teriyaki sauce and also for a sweet treat (maybe once a year, and I typically share) of Whiskey Butterscotch Sauce (that is a true delicious sweet treat worth gifting, but will need refrigerated).

Tried a new recipe for baked and flavored pretzels.  I had about a half of a bag that was leftover from another occasion, and I decided to bake garlic-ranch pretzels.

First, the recipe stated to put it all in a ziploc bag and shake it.  I found that most of the seasoning stuck to the inside of the bag.  I will coat the pretzels in the bag with oil first next time, then sprinkling the season on the tray and mix right on the tray to retain the seasoning.

I used homemade garlic powder, and homemade ranch dry dressing mix for ours.  Very good too.  I only had the stick pretzels, but obviously, you could use any pretzel.  Most non-gmo pretzels we can find are in the "stick" form.

Recipe is very simple, and pretzels bake in 20 minutes.  It is a very quick recipe to add to your snack tray, or take to a gathering. Or simply to enjoy yourself.  Eating on a Dime (Recipe online).

Read this Christmas themed book, and crocheted a matching granny square for my book blanket.  The book also contains a recipe.

The recipe seems pretty bland or basic, but I may give it a try (to amuse myself), before handing the book off to another person.  Then again, I may not try it.  

I have not made any purchases for the advent gifts.  I, honestly, have not had the time to even think about them. 

I have finally found a store that still offers brown paper bags.  I have plans to use them to wrap the advent gifts with.  I have also ordered a roll of brown paper (pretty inexpensive), because I don't shop that often with a garden.  

I do need to get the wrapping of the gifts started, so I'm not wrapping them all at once.

28 Weeks Until Christmas  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

38 weeks until Christmas

 

I have an update on the taste testing of the trial size jar of Christmas Jam.  It's delicious!  However, when I spread it out on the sourdough toast, it appeared more like jelly than jam.  I do plan to look for a recipe to can this myself, and reduced sugar if I can find one.   Sharing the label in case anyone has a recipe to can jam similar to these ingredients.

Note:  After drafting this post, I read most recipes state that you puree the fruit, hence the jelly-like spread.  

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe with such ingredients?  I do not see a "Ball" recipe in my books at home. 

It seems as if every new store we visit on any getaway trips, or day trips is selling Christmas decorations.  Maybe I am just noticing it this year?  Maybe. However, even though it's now March, I am finding that the stores are not reducing the prices on the Christmas related items.

I bought myself a new pair of Christmas earrings - hot cocoa cups with a candy cane.  Made in the USA.

Books I borrowed from the library, that are related to Christmas.  I may have found at least one new recipe to try.

I read this Christmas themed book in my book stash.

Homemade gift idea:

Homemade Vanilla Extract.  I gifted this one year and it was well accepted, as it's a useful item.

Grow extra in your summer herb garden, and gift dried herbs in recycled jars for gifts.  Attach recipes to use the herbs with.  One year I gifted rosemary, and another year I gifted sage.  Sage is great for cooking, but can also be used to make a medicinal tea for soothing a sore throat.

Let's talk peanut butter fudge.  I want to make it this year, and the only recipe in the books I have borrowed (so far) use marshmallow in the it.  Is that the normal ingredient?  I am looking for a fudge that ends up with a soft, creamy fudge, with good peanut butter flavor.  Anyone have a good recipe?  I have my Mom's, but it's a skillet recipe, and ends up a dry fudge.

38 weeks until Christmas  ©  March 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

New Cookie Recipe Tried ~ Homemade Body Wash

 

I know there is one more holiday approaching, but I hope you all had a very nice Christmas.  Our Christmas week is typically full of celebrations - our youngest's birthday, Christmas Day, and our Wedding Anniversary.  A lot to celebrate in one week for sure.

My husband only got Christmas day off of work this year.  It seems the kids also had to work the same days. 

Our weather is taking a turn for warmer temperatures, and tomorrow they expect it to be around 60°F here.  Crazy for sure.  However, it is the perfect weather to take down all of the outside Christmas lights.  I would love to keep them up for New Year's Eve, but the weather will turn right back to very cold temperatures by next weekend.

It's the perfect weather to work on outdoor projects, but the best weather days are during the week.  The home repair list is dwindling, but it's still lingering ha ha! 

Two of the kids are house shopping, and we are trying to help, but it's not a great time to buy right now.

I have been seeing a lot of cardinals here lately.  I do need to clean my windows ha ha!  Next time I will go outside to snap a photo.

We made one batch of our traditional butter cut out cookies (gave most of them to others), and one batch of a new einkorn recipe from Jovial recipes - Peanut Butter Blossoms.  They contain einkorn flour (no white flour), but they do contain granulated sugar and brown sugar.  I used the Hershey kisses, but these went to work with my husband for a treat.  We kept just a few for us.  They are very good.  Next time I will try breaking up an organic white chocolate or dark chocolate bar, and use those in place of the kiss candy.  I got 43 cookies using my small pampered chef scoop.

We also baked a healthier version of "chex mix" and have already given half of it away (one kiddo loves it).  We all love it, so I'll have a post on that soon.  It's a treat only at Christmas and New Year's Eve for us.

I'm still staying on track with my fitness, and otherwise healthy meals despite the holidays and cookies.  I have a few new salad recipes to try soon, and we are focusing on the freezer and pantry for the next month.  Other than buying  fresh vegetables and fruits, it should be a fun monthly meal plan.

I mixed up a new recipe to try - homemade body wash.  Winter brings dry skin, and I wanted to give it a try.  We do typically only use goat's milk soap, but this may help a bit more.   I'm only making a small amount to make sure I am not allergic to any of the ingredients.  I'll update on it after using it for a while.

In other news . . .

I was washing dishes, and saw something jumping around out in the yard.  It was this cat, and he/she (most likely a he by the coloring), was pouncing on something.  I had to laugh.  It was out hunting for food, and caught it.  I've see it hanging around before, but it's been weeks since I've seen it.  I could not get a close enough photo to see if it was a catch and release (tipped ear) cat.

I have not been watching he morning or evening news, so I really don't know what's going on in the "real" world lately.  I have spent more time sipping herbal tea and reading, and a few minutes of easy crochet work.  Once the weather turns cold again, I will check my yarn stash and start a new lap afghan.  I may have enough to donate by next winter (not enough time this year with home repairs/purging/cleaning, and re-organizing (but so worth it).

I have finally opened my new planner and started filling it in already.  Which reminded me about how people spend their entire day looking forward to the end of the day, or end of the week, instead of embracing the moments as they are in real time.  Don't forget to find joy in the present moments, as you can't get that time back.

Do you do anything "fun" to embrace a moment or moments in your day?  Sit outside and watch the birds?  Watch the sunrise or sunset?  Plant a new plant indoors?  I would love to hear your winter activities or plans.  

I was gifted a new planter container last May (gulp), and have yet to fill it.  I had planned to try and bring in Thai basil, but that failed.  Rosemary is very difficult for me to winterize indoors, so I'm looking into maybe another herbal plant.

I have not yet found any local line dancing, but we are continuously seeking out activities for us this winter.  If anything, we'll get some evening walks in.

New Cookie Recipe Tried ~ Homemade Body Wash © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

A Little Late ~ Attempt to Put the Jolly in the Holidays ~ Homemade Velveeta

 

Yes, we have Christmas themed bedding.  It is coming out of storage today.  I'm very behind, but it's happening.  In fact, I have another King Christmas comforter to give away, but it may be next Christmas.  The kids have apartments, and no room, nor a place to wash a King comforter.  Any who, I'm hoping the new view of the bedding will put a spark in our Christmas spirit. 

We've had some bumps in the road for sure this season.  I think it will make the house a bit "brighter" and happier.  I have a bad habit of worrying about things that rob my sanity and happiness.  Do you have a prayer in regards for not worrying?

As long as we have life, we have problems.  It's how to be able to laugh and smile, to get thru the problems, worry, or setbacks, and what not.

The Christmas tree is up, grocery shopping has taken place (although we had to go to three stores because most were lacking supplies), and we both got haircuts.  The haircuts were very overdue and a much needed day of pampering.  I got a hard water hair treatment, and WOW!  My hair is amazing now.  No brassy hard water.  We do have a water softener, but she sent me home with some hard water treatments too.

The chicken coop was mucked last Friday, so that is off the to-do list this week thankfully.  I have four filled boxes ready to take to donate (with another possibly getting filled today).

The small room we used for an office, is now put back together.  In fact, I can now store extra folding chairs in our storage area under the stairs, along with other items I won't have to take upstairs anymore.  Woohoo to that.  

I need to finish decorating the tree, and I can put the totes away, and tidy up the house.  The plan is to bake some Christmas cookies, and maybe candy in the next few days (maybe today).  I'll be honest, I have not been in a festive mood this year.  A good daily workout keeps me energized, but.....

The recent handyman wanted to start on our next repair project, but it involves part of the kitchen ceiling, so we said it can happen after the holidays.  We removed an old light, so the drywall needs patched, and then half of the ceiling painted and that project will be completed.

We have had one evening of driving around to see Christmas lights, but plan to go see more.  I do miss my jolly holiday self this year, so I'm hoping some Christmas music will do the trick.  I normally would be busy creating a new ornament, but my siblings (most) do not put up a tree anymore.  Even my husband said I haven't been "crafty" lately, and I should work on something.  I don't know.  I can start another lap afghan, but I needed a break from that.

Jar openers are on the list for my on-the-go project. Apparently, I did not write the pattern down correctly, so I will be re-writing that today.  It should not take that long to do.  I have the supplies, and thought I could make these my "crafty" project for now, and donate them along with the lap afghans to senior centers, adult living facilities, and have them on hand for host/hostess gifts or just gifting.

I know what my Mom felt like at the holidays now.  When all of us adult kids started having our own families, she was alone more often.  I get it now, as our kids are building their own families.  However, I am also trying to focus on making our own couple traditions as well.  I really miss calling Mom and discussing life in general, health issues, advice and the like.  I do not have an elderly person left in our family.  I may have to adopt someone's Grandma.

On the try-it list - homemade "Velveeta" 

I made this yesterday, so we plan to taste test it today or tomorrow.  There is a traditional dish that we have (or used to have, as we don't get together at the holidays anymore).  I got the recipe from a friend at work, many, many years ago.  The recipe requires Velveeta in it - Cheesy Baked Potatoes.  I haven't used Velveeta since the kids were born (that long ago).  It is also an ingredient in my Mom's stove top Macaroni and Cheese.  She never had a recipe, but I think I could remember how to make it.  That's the plan if this tastes good and works well when baking and cooking.

We hope it works out well, and I have read that it freezes well too, as it only lasts about two weeks after it's made.  The recipe is very simple, and is made very quickly.  When I processed it, it not only smelled good, but tasted good.  I'll be back with an update.  I just used a container as my mold, as I did not have a 1 pound loaf (mini) pan.  

A Little Late ~ Attempt to Put the Jolly in the Holidays ~ Homemade Velveeta © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Camper Mug ~ Adult Christmas Game Idea

 

I was recently gifted a new mug.  I love it!  It's a camper, and inside the mug, says "home is where you park it."

Sometimes, what mug you drink your morning coffee/tea in, can create your mood for the day.

It was not from my husband, and not a Christmas present.  It was just a gesture of love.  

Speaking of new mug, there is a Christmas game that involves gifting a new mug. You each buy a mug of some sort, and fill it with small gifts.  You all sit around the room and either pass left or right when told, and then when the game ends, you keep the one you are holding.

I thought I would share, as we are trying to think of adult games that are fun, but don't break the bank.

Christmas is over ~ Frozen Pipes ~ Anniversary

 

The storm delayed my surprise anniversary getaway, but we still went despite arriving home on Christmas day.  We had zero company Christmas day anyway.  The kids were all with other family this year.

Anyway, we stayed in a Bed & Breakfast, he had flowers, chocolates, and a cheese and meat board all arranged for us.  What a guy!

Also, he bought me a new very warm coat you see in the photo, but I have to return it for a smaller size.  

We returned home to no hot water.  Everyone in the state was either battling no power, or no power and water, or pipes that had already burst.

We finally got all of our pipes cleared, and despite heat tape, it still froze with this treacherous weather.

With zero family to spend time with this Christmas, I made Mom's sour cream softies.  The temperatures are slowly getting warmer, but so many people suffered damage to their homes with this storm.  I'm glad it's over and warmer days are in the future.