Christmas Wreath

First I want to apologize for my last post, lol.  The first thing that pops up is a picture of my toes, not a beautiful site to see, lol.  So I will attempt to make up for it by posting some really pretty Christmas pictures.

I have done a little research on the Christmas Wreath and wanted to show you some...

Did you know that in Ancient Rome hanging a wreath on the door was a sign of victory?

I had no idea.  I did know that the circle had to represent something...

In my research I found that it was of course a pre Christian symbol.  Pagans use to gather and make wreaths to burn to remind themselves and bring hope that spring was coming.  Christians adopted this activity in the way of an advent wreath.  Four candles were placed on the wreath and one in the middle.  Three of the four candles are violet and the fourth one is a rose color. 

One candle is lighted each week preceding Christmas.  Then on Christmas Eve the white candle in the middle is lighted.  This last candle represents Jesus' birth.

Since then wreaths have become a common staple on door fronts, table tops, and even chicken coops in my case.  I have even made a wreath out of pine cones like the one here...

It turned out beautifully in the sun and would close up when it got cold.

This year I am going to try to use various things in making wreaths.  There is something so homey and lovely about them isn't there??!

(Each one of these beautiful wreaths are Martha Stewarts)

Christmas in July... on my toes!

Christmas in July began here in America.  Consumers wanted something to boost sales in the summer months and July was the perfect time.  Christmas in July is also thought to exist because in McMurdo Station Antarctica, it is the middle of winter and the weather is unbearable.  So when they receive packages (twice a year) it is as though it is Christmas in July.  Thus we have Christmas in July.  Either way I am all over it! 

Hobby Lobby's shelves are stacking up on the holiday supplies and I am in heaven.  I know to some it may be too early and commercialized and I would have to HALF way agree.  While I LOVE Christmas I do realize it is a bit commercialized.  But, I do LOVE Christmas so it really doesn't bother me... at all, lol.  I know the real reason for the season and it doesn't include Santa it includes the birth or our Lord Jesus Christ. 

While others like to decorate their houses with fine things I like to decorate mine with Christmas things.  It is a style for me.  Some like country, modern, retro, I like Christmas.  Now my house isn't decked out all year long in Christmas (hubby and kids wont allow it) but I do enjoy looking at them and being  surrounded by them. 

Christmas music would have to rank high on my genre of music.  I listen to it all year long.  It makes me happy, it helps me clean with a happy heart, and it helps me to think of Jesus through out the day.  Christmas music does to me what soothing music does to others.  It relaxes me, it keeps me channeled, and it is just plain great stuff!

With all of this mentioned, I had to celebrate Christmas in July by painting my toe nails Christmas colors.  I used red, white, and silver.  While they may not look Christmasy... I know the reason for the colors!! 

Ho Ho Ho to you and yours!!! 

A little humor...

What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when a fire is lit?

Crisp Cringle!!

Christmas Gift

Christmas gift suggestions

- By Oren Arnold

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

Turkish Delight or Lokum

Photo from Turkey Travel Planner

I love the movie Narnia.  I love the special effects of it all and the moral behind the story.  There is something so magical and hopeful about it all.  Do you remember the part where Edmund and the White Witch first met?  She pulled up in her sleigh and Edmund sat in there with her.  She made him some hot chocolate and Turkish Delights.  Didn't the hot chocolate and Turkish Delights look oh sooo yummy?!  They sure did to me!  So I looked up Turkish Delights or Lokum up online and found some very interesting facts out about it.

This story dates back to the 1700's.  A candy maker, Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir, heard his emperor complain of hard candy.  The emperor had cracked another tooth on candy and was angry.  The candy maker was determined to make a soft candy.  He went back to his kitchen and thought up a recipe and tried it.  When he bit into it he was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful and soft it was.  The word Lokum comes from the word Rahat lokum which means comfortable morsel.  He dusted it with powdered sugar and the Turkish Delight or lokum was born.

A wonderful recipe I found from the Turkey Travel Planner can be found here.   

I will be making this little delight during the holidays for sure, yum!!