Christmas in July

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year. ~ Charles Dickens

Hello my lovely friends! I decided to do one more post before my son comes home for a visit. My grandson is also coming home on the weekend so I'm pretty happy!

It's July and I haven't done a Christmas in July post for a while so I thought now would be a good time. I know many of us like to celebrate this in the middle of summer. Christmas is always such a happy time. Even Hallmark has dedicated the month of July to feature their Christmas movies. 

Do you know where Christmas in July originated? Well, I looked it up and apparently the precise beginnings of the celebration is not very clear. Some say it began in Europe while others claim it started 84 years ago at a summer camp in North Carolina. Still others claim it began at another time and in a different place.

Regardless of when it actually started, oftentimes we here in the northern hemisphere crave the cooler temperatures of wintertime when we are sweating and uncomfortable from the heat and humidity. Well, to be honest, I don't crave the wintertime but it seems many do. 
We are less than six months from Christmas and we miss the holiday spirit and other traditions that the holiday season evokes. That ultimately leads folks to thoughts of the holiday season and Christmas trees, gift giving, and yes, even snow. I like to think that during the holiday season, there is just a little bit more love and caring for others being shed abroad in our hearts, don't you? 

Some of you like to put up a little tree in celebration of this event. I don't have mine up this year because I'm busy preparing for my company. However, my four foot tree trimmed in robin egg blue, pink, and gold would make an excellent tree for this occasion.

This time of year I always think of my father because his birthday was in July and he adored Christmas. He passed his love for Christmas and all its magic on to me.

Celebrate love. It is the breath of your existence and the best of all reasons for living. ~ Author unknown 

My father adored Old Country Roses. It was his favourite china pattern so I am using it today in memory of him.

One year, my sweet hubby gifted me with this vintage OCR teacup on my Daddy's birthday in remembrance of him.

"I believe I could be a model child if I were just invited out to tea every day." ~ Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

My family gifted me with the OCR teapot for my birthday a few years ago. These pieces are very special to me in many ways and I know my father would have been delighted that I have them! 

I love how Royal Albert pays such attention to detail like the gold leaf on the handle. 

...and a bouquet of roses on the spout. 

Most of my OCR pieces are gifts from family members. 

Please help yourself to a tea sandwich. There is both egg and chicken salad; my favourites for tea time.

My light fruit cake, mince tarts, and donut holes make up this plate of treats. The fruit cake and donuts were my grandmother's recipes.

One of our Christmas traditions was Daddy and I would make donuts together. I would make up the batter and cut them out and he would slip them carefully into the lard and watch them closely. Some we left plain and some we sugared, while others we covered in cinnamon sugar. After he passed, I continued to make them by myself. Now my hubby helps me because it can be a big job as I still make everything from scratch. They are old-fashioned donuts and you can't buy those in a bakery.

I usually make sticky date pudding twice a year; once at Christmas and once during the summer. So we will have some today.


This rich date pudding is so scrumptious sitting in a warm pool of toffee sauce.

Everyone loves my sugar plum cookies so I always freeze some. I took some out to enjoy with our tea.

Here we have a plate of sugar plums, gingerbread, and pumpkin nut bread.

You know, we are all blessed with special people in our lives and my father was one of those people. He taught me what was important in life and he took me to church every Sunday. It's a pity  he didn't live long enough to see how his grandchildren turned out. He would have been so proud to know that one of his great grandchildren has been named after him.

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~ Harlan Miller

I hope I have inspired you to celebrate a little Christmas in July. It could be as simple as decorating a little tree or hanging a wreath. You might bake a treat you only make at Christmastime. Maybe you could do something nice and unexpected for that little old lady in the nursing home who you know never has visitors. Or surprise someone special with a little something "just because." How about a movie night with a loved one and sip hot chocolate while watching one of Hallmark's lovely Christmas movies? 

I think it's nice to have a break in the summertime when we can remember how beautiful Christmas is! It is not only the happiest time of year but it is also a time when others go out of their way a little more to make someone else feel special. It is showing good will toward men. Would that it could last all year!

Christmas is a time to open our hearts to God and His gifts. Just like the rest of the year. ~ Author unknown

Thank you so much for your visit and I'll see you when I get back in August. Till then, take care and enjoy your summer. Hugs to all.

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Playing Catch Up

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change opportunities into blessings. ~ William Arthur Ward

Hello dear friends and Happy July 4th to all my American family and friends! 

Since I last posted, some happy occasions took place which I am happy to share with you today.

My rose bushes are full of blooms. They were late this year but I've got lots to bring in and enjoy.

My oldest grandson graduated last week. Their grad gowns are such a nice shade of red! His father wore the same gown when he graduated.

He's taller than his dad now by about three inches and his dad isn't short.

We celebrated Canada Day on July 1 with my homemade cake. 

Red and white for the colours of our flag. 
Next time, I'll bake two layers instead one. It made a lovely strawberry shortcake.

My oldest son and his family rescued a puppy over the weekend. He doesn't have a name yet but they are leaning towards Scout. He's a sweet boy that was being abused at his last home. We're not sure how old he is but he isn't very big and he has small paws. He is getting lots of love now.

My youngest son is getting ready to move into his new home. Look at the wall colour they chose for the great room. Isn't it gorgeous? It's almost a perfect match to mine!

This is the subway tile for the kitchen. The kitchen is open to the dining and great room. I just love it!

My middle son is coming home at the end of the month so I am busy getting some of his favourite foods prepared ahead of time. Last year, he brought his family with him but it will just be him this year. Every second year, he brings his family which is wonderful and I wish it could be every year but flying in Canada is expensive for a family especially from the west coast. The little ones are growing up too fast. 

I will make a big pot of spaghetti sauce and freeze it. He claims I make the best spaghetti sauce and he can't wait to have some! I'll bake a few dozen cinnamon rolls too. Funny how my kids all have their favourite goodies that I made when they were growing up.  

He also loves his mama's seafood chowder so I will have that made for him the night he flies in, as well as homemade biscuits.

Lobster is in season now so I will add lobster to the chowder as well. Lots to do for his visit! Do any of you have family coming home this summer? What do you do to prepare for them?

All of these happy occasions make me grateful for my family and all the good times we share. Having a loving family is such a blessing! Enjoy your week everyone and I'm happy to say that summer weather has finally arrived here on PEI! 



Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi