It's Christmas!

Image from Orange Apple Banana

May it be a joy-filled one :-)
xxx

One day to Christmas...

Christmas Eve already *sigh*. December, thou hast wings!

Today, I'd like to take a moment to remember my paternal grandmother, Helen. You see, she dearly loved Christmas but she passed away in November of last year before she could celebrate it one last time.

My Gran, Christmas 2005

For many, many Christmas Eve's growing up, we would gather around her to sing Christmas carols together as an extended family. She had music in her veins, and passed on this talent for playing musical instruments to her sons (my dad being one of them), and grandchildren (with me being one of them).

Thank you, Gran, for the gift of music. You're missed.

On a side note, if you'd like to send someone a personalised message from Santa himself, visit my link for the day. It's a lot of fun (it rumoured to get kids talking to the screen) :-)

Link of the day:

Portable North Pole Communication Centre

Two days to Christmas...

Nativity Scene 2009

I love nativity scenes in their various beautiful guises.
There are pics of some pretty elaborate nativity scenes at Wikipedia.
And if you're in the mood for holiday movie-watching
with a historical/biblical slant,
there's always The Nativity Story.

Link of the day:

Uncommon Grace

P.S. If you have any links to blog posts that feature pictures of beautiful nativity scenes and figurines, please post them in the comments section. I'd love to see them! Pre-thanks :-)

Three days to Christmas...

Christmas Tree 2009

Don't you just love decorating the Christmas tree?
It's like with this one action, I channel
childhood memories and future traditions all-in-one.
It's like my own, personal Back to the Future!
Ho ho, freaking ho :-)

Link of the day:
After-thought

Four days to Christmas...

Hubby and I attended my niece's annual nativity play at her nursery school. What fun! Don't you love the short attention spans, crying, forgetting words and waving at the audience that comes along with performing 4-6 year olds? :-)

I've gotta say, I got choked up when they sang Let There Be Peace On Earth. It's the thing that should be on the top of humanity's Christmas wish list, don't you think?

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow

To take each moment and live
each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me

Link of the day:

The Montessori Method of Education

Five days to Christmas...

"When we were children we were grateful to those
who filled our stockings at Christmas time.
Why are we not grateful to God
for filling our stockings with legs?"
~ G.K. Chesterton ~

Link of the day:
http://lenore-nevermore.blogspot.com

Six days to Christmas...

"The great art of giving consists in this:
the gift should cost very little
and yet be greatly coveted,
so that it may be more highly appreciated."
~ Baltasar Gracian ~

Links of the day:
Have you ever considered giving a gift which blesses others
in the name of the person to whom the gift is intended
(especially if the person wants nothing in particular?)

If so (or if you are just feeling imbued
with the Christmas spirit of giving),
then here are some very worthy causes to donate to:

Reach For A Dream

FORA (Friends of Rescued Animals)
Meals on Wheels for the Aged
CLAW (Community Led Animal Welfare)
Salvation Army
TEARS (The Emma Animal Rescue Society)
CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation)
HAWS (Hartebeespoort Animal Welfare Society)
CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa)
Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre
WMACA (Women and Men Against Child Abuse)
Eseltjierus Donkey Sanctuary

P.S. I would like to donate ZAR200
to one of the charities above.
Please nominate the charity you
would wish to receive the donation
by leaving a comment with the name of the charity
before Sunday at midnight PST (UTC -8h).
The charity receiving the most nominations
will receive the donation,
and a tie will be broken by random draw.

P.P.S. All animal societies listed are pro-life.

Seven days to Christmas...

Gluten-free
Christmas Mince Pies

This is a fantastic recipe that I have made many times.
It never fails and they really hit the spot. So, if you have a wheat or gluten allergy and are missing eating store-bought Christmas mince pies,
or if you just feel like baking up a storm, then these are for you!

Ingredients for pastry:

• 240g soya flour
  
• 120g potato flour
  
• 120g rice flour
  
• 100ml cane sugar
  
• 400g butter
  
• 50-60ml water (iced)
  
• 15-20ml lemon juice

Method for pastry:

1. This is exactly the same as making homemade shortcrust pastry. Use your fingertips to rub together the flours, sugar and butter till it resembles breadcrumbs.
2. Use a knife to "cut in" the liquids. Don't put in the full amounts all at once. Go little by little else you risk making the pastry too sticky (mind you, even then the recipe will still work, so don't stress). When the pastry starts coming together to a stage where you can form a ball out of it, it's done.
3. Cover with a cloth or clingwrap, and chill in the fridge for 30-45 minutes.
4. Note: This makes a lot of pastry, so if you prefer the filling to outweigh the amount of pastry in the finished product, then you will need to double the filling recipe amounts below.
   

Ingredients for filling:

• 50g raisins + 50g sultanas + 50g dried pears + 50g dried cranberries (it's also fine to just use a packet of Safari dried fruits cake mix)
  
• 1 apple, diced
  
• 30g almonds, nibbed
  
• 7ml mixed spice + 2ml ground cloves (I substitute cinnamon for the ground cloves)
  
• 75ml orange juice
  
• 40ml honey

Method for filling:

1. Chop the apples using a mini food processor if you have one available.

2. Mix all the ingredients for the filling together in a pan.

3. Place on a low heat and stir occasionally till all of the liquid is absorbed.

Making the mince pies:

• Depending on the consistency of the pastry, you can decide how you want your finished product to look.
  
• If the dough turned out firm, then you can try rolling out individual rounds to make traditional mince pies. Personally, I find this way too finickey and time-consuming.
  
• Therefore, I use buttered baking dishes and using my hands, I flatten a layer of pastry into the bottom of the dish. Then I spread over a layer of filling. Then I "crumble" pastry over the top.
• Bake in lower-middle part of the oven at 175 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes (the pastry looks golden with very light browning on the edges).
• The baked pastry goes crispier once out of the oven (on standing) and tastes like rich shortbread.
• Then all you need to do is slice and serve. Born-up-a-gluten-free-tree! :-)

Eight days to Christmas...

"(9) And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before
them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
(10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
(11) And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother,
and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures,
they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."
~ Matthew 2: 9-11 ~

I love Christmas time. It has always been my favourite. I keep these stars up to remind me of this season all year round. Each one has its own sentimental place for me.

The small gold star reminds me of the tradition my Mom started of giving me a new tree ornament every year in December. I cherish each one.

The large gold star was a gift from a dear friend of my Mom's, Joyce Fishwick, who I spent Christmas with in Germany of my Matric year. She passed away a year and a half later from cancer, and those Christmas memories of sharing stories, lebkuchen, blazing fires, snow and weihnachtsmarkts will always hold a very special place in my heart.

The large wooden star reminds me to hold on to the simplicity and true spirit of Christmas. For those who view the Bible as a religious text, or just a historical one. Even for those who just think that the Bible is just some fantastical story book, I like to think that its words hold unique value to each of us. Jesus was born in a mere stable. His coming was the true gift of Christmas. Therefore, the value of Christmas lies in the people, not the gifts.

Take time to celebrate the people in your life who you love the most. That's the greatest gift of all :-)

Links of the day:
Beaded stars and other ornaments to buy at:
African Home
Ilala Weavers
Daaft Designs
Khumbulani Craft

P.S. If you have any other links to local ZA sites that help to create employment by selling Christmas related crafts and would like me to list it here, e-mail me the link at juanita(at)therecanbeonlyjuan(dot)com

Nine days to Christmas...

Fave tea
(It tastes like Christmas and their secret ingredient is Love) :-)

Link of the day:
Where to find My-T-Chai in your region