Monday, December 15, 2008

2008 Christmas Tour of Homes

Hi! Welcome to my home. I'm so glad you could drop by! We don't get drop-ins as often as we would like.

This is my favorite Nativity set. It's almost always in the foyer; I like to have this one where the children can move the figures around. It's beautiful, too.


The other one, in the living room is up higher because it's hand-carved olive wood, made in Bethlehem.


Oh, the tree? It still isn't decorated. We just put it up Saturday night and the decorating has to wait until KT comes home from college this week!


I have this little Nativity that stays on my window sill year round to remind me of the Holy Family.



But there's another nativity in the family room your children can play with while we have a cup of coffee and some cookies! I think I inherited my father's passion for collecting nativities, but I have a long way to go to catch up to him.


This is our Jesse Tree which we've been decorating little by little as we hear the story of salvation history from Creation to Zechariah!


Won't you join me in a snack? Today we have two of my favorites: Cranberry-nut cookies and Orange Coconut Balls which I always loved as a child. My mom made them every year and I only re-discovered the recipe last year.




Orange-Coconut Balls

1 12oz. box vanilla wafers
2-4 cups sifted confectioners sugar*
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 6oz. can orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. flaked coconut

Crush vanilla wafers to make fine crumbs. Add sugar, butter, and orange juice concentrate. Mix well. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in pecans or coconut. You can put the pecans in the dough if you don't want to roll them in it. Chill until firm. I freeze them on cookie sheets and then put them until ziploc bags to save for Christmas.

*The original recipe called for 4 c. sugar, but I cut it in half with no problem!

The cranberry-nut cookies started with just a chocolate chip cookie base and I added chopped cranberries and pecans instead of chocolate chips. They're festive and tangy!

I'm so glad you could stop by to visit! Please come again soon.



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Seriously, if you're in the neighborhood, just drop by! I love visitors! My house won't be perfect if you don't call first (in fact, it might be downright disastrous), but I'll be happy to see you anyway!

11 comments:

  1. I love the teddys on the stairs! And all those stocking hung by the chimney with care...

    Thanks for sharing with us.

    Merry Christmas!

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  2. Your home looks so pretty, thanks for sharing!! Merry CHristmas!!

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  3. i'm on my way over!!! Just giving you ample warning

    ;)

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  4. You have a lovely home, Sara!! I wish it wasn't SO far away... I'd love to visit!

    Oh, and those cookies look delicious!

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  5. I'm coming and bringing all my kids... actually, I'd call 1st. Lovely home... my tree is still flanked by the rubbermade containers that the ornaments go in.

    But, orange coconut balls? Wow! Flashback to Bible Times Summer Camp at church (though I have to admit I never ate them because I knew none of the kids ever washed their hands)

    Happy Advent!

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  6. Thank you for letting me virtually visit your home.

    Lovin the garland on stairs and all the nativities.

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  7. How cute are all those bears climbing up the stairs.
    The lights and garlands are beautiful.
    Merry Christmas

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  8. As a teddy bear collector, I love the bears on the stairs. Your nativitys are pretty too!

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  9. Thank you for leaving a comment about my tour, you also left a comment about wantign to see the finished wedding dress.
    If you go back to my blog and click on October in the archives, then scroll through there are several pictures at different times throughout, quite a few from the wedding itself.
    Have fun, Boysmum2

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  10. Everything looks beautiful, I love the teddy bears on the different steps. Also all your nativity scenes are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Thanks for letting us "peep" into your home for Christmas!!!

    Enjoy the season.

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Thanks for dropping by! I would love to hear from you. Have a beautiful day! :-)

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