The ABC's of Christmas - G

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, 
We're happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland. ~ Dick Smith, Felix Bernard 1934

G ~ The ABC's of Christmas

Good morning my Christmas lovin' friends. Today I am doing the letter G. 

is for....

Glad Tidings, gingerbread, gold, frankincense, myrrh, and good will toward men.

Gingerbread cookies and houses are a long time favourite at Christmastime. When my boys were growing up I made gingerbread boys every year. I still enjoy them although I no longer bake them. They are such charming cookies!

These gingerbread boys I found at a craft fair many years ago. They look adorable around my son's ceramic Christmas tree that he made when he was twelve years old.

These days, I have a ceramic Gingerbread House which I purchased at Hallmark a number of years ago. It has wonderful gumdrops on it which light up and keep time to the music that plays when you ring the doorbell. It plays a most delightful rendition of The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.

My grandchildren love it and they always took turns ringing the door bell! I love a little whimsy at Christmastime, don't you? 

I also enjoy old fashioned Gingerbread cake served with apple sauce, whipped cream, or a wonderful vinegar sauce which was my grandmother's recipe. Yes, Vinegar Sauce; and it's delicious!  

The song, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a Christmas carol based on a poem written by Henry W. Longfellow {1807-1882} and J. Baptiste Calkin {1827-1905} composed the melody.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men. 

We've all heard the story of the wise men who travelled a great distance to worship the new born King. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. " -Matthew 2:11

Thank you for visiting today. Please come back on Thursday for the letter H. Have a beautiful day everyone!

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

The ABC's of Christmas - F

What is the Christmas spirit? It is the spirit which brings a smile to the lips and tenderness to the heart; It is the spirit which warms one into friendship with all the world, which impels one to hold out the hand of fellowship to every man and woman. ~ Anonymous

F ~ The ABC's of Christmas

Hello friends! Today we are doing the letter F...

is for....
Father Christmas, fruitcake, fudge...

The central figure of most secular celebrations of Christmas is a jolly fellow who delivers presents to well behaved children on Christmas Eve. 

He goes by several names; Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, among others. In England, this jolly gent is known as Father Christmas.

This is my Father Christmas dressed in his robe and carrying a jingle ball. His robe is very pretty because it is shot through with shades of peach and pink on a taupe/brown. Hard to see in the photo.

I really like this figurine and I find it very endearing. Father Christmas kneeling in worship before the Saviour.

Years ago, I had made a friend of mine a figurine very much like this one. I wish I had made myself one too because I think it says it all.

Every Christmas, I make fruitcake and fudge among other things. This year, I will make both a dark and a sultana cake. My middle son and his wife as well as myself, prefer the dark cake, whereas the rest of my family prefers the sultana or light cake.

The plate holds a selection of the dark and light fruit cake as well as fudge.

This is my Sultana or light cake which is my maternal grandmother's recipe. It is a wonderful light and buttery cake made with a delectable mixture of fruit and flavourings. It is the perfect cake for Christmas because it is so pretty and looks like it is filled with jewels. Yum!

This is my dark fruit cake which is my paternal grandmother's recipe. I know this recipe is very old. I'm just not sure how far back it goes. This cake is delectable in every way and so moist that I can use some of it for pudding with a sauce. Since my family can take or leave plum pudding, they do like this cake warmed up with a sauce poured over it. 

What about you? Do you make a special cake for the holidays?

Thank you for visiting and I hope you are enjoying this series! Please join me tomorrow for the letter G.

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi