Are you a little tired today? I am, even though our Christmas was low-key and stress free. No matter how easily you take it, it’s still an ‘event’ and events always leave me feeling more than a little tired the next day.
Oh goodness, Christmas was lovely. We had such a nice day.
It started with our annual Christmas Coffee Cake. Oh lordy, it was good! (We’ll be dining on it this morning, as well.)
Then some present opening. Then a break for another piece of coffee cake. Then a few more presents.
This one slept through it all. Usually, she’s right in there with us during all the unwrapping. But she was tired this year. She opened her presents from Santa early in the afternoon.
In keeping with our mission to ‘mix it up,’ which started this year when we chose to forego the standard Thanksgiving meal, Don decided to make vegetarian Chinese food.
Spring rolls. Stir fry. Unbelievably good! He really knocked it out of the park.
Then we watched Rear Window, which was one of my presents. I love that movie and TCM rarely airs it, so I wanted my own copy. Thank you, Don.
And we had some pumpkin pie.
Another present that I requested was this:
A chandelier for the dollhouse. I didn’t wire this dollhouse for electricity so I have to use battery operated lighting. I found a great source in Manhattan Dollhouse, which carries its own line of lighting under the name of Sutton Miniatures. This particular chandelier might stay in the living room or it might move to the den (because I plan on buying more, of course.) We’ll see. I’d even considered it for the bedroom, but Don and I thought it looked the best in the living room.
Isn’t it pretty?
Now I want lights in every room.
That will take some time.
I’m really pleased with the quality of the lighting. Manhattan Dollhouse is located in FAO Schwarz in NYC. I wanted to stop in there when we went into the city to see Rockefeller Center, but it was just far enough away that I knew it would be impossible to swing it. So I sent the link to Don and voilà!
I’ll share some more gifts with you tomorrow.
I hope your day was everything it should be; filled with love, laughter, joy and, above all, peace.
I’m off to warm up some coffee cake.
Happy Friday.
We had Moravian sugar cake for breakfast this morning – we buy it every year from the Moravian bakery in Winston-Salem, NC – well actually they open seasonal outlets all around the state so we can now get it right here. Good but very sweet – your coffee cake looks awesome. I just posted on our Christmas breakfast of yesterday – it was perfect after overindulging in far too many sweet goodies the evening before!
Love the chandelier, so very elegant – can see you buying more lights now, they really make the house even more beautiful at night. What an amazing job you’ve done here Claudia!
So my dear, happy Boxing Day – hugs to you, Don, and Ms. Scout whom I’m betting received lovely gifts from Santa!
Mary x
Just stopped by your blog – that breakfast looks very tasty, Mary!
Sending love to you on this Boxing Day.
xo
We started the morning yesterday with some elaborate sugar cookies from our neighbour that were almost too pretty to eat. Almost! We had a lovely, low-key sort of day, opening gifts and calling the out of town relatives.
I love your chandelier! I have been looking at a similar one online – yours looks so nice, I may have to pursue it further. I had some lovely, thoughtful gifts, but my favourite was a tiny, readable version of “A Christmas Carol” for my dollhouse.
Today we meet relatives in the next city for lunch at a beautiful old hotel. It always proves to be a rather staid and grand affair, so I had better get busy getting poshed up. No comfy pjs today.
Enjoy your day – I hope Scout is rested and feeling better.
A Christmas Carol is the perfect gift for your dollhouse, Barbara! Have a wonderful day.
Sounds like a cozy Christmas….Right up my alley..Love the chandelier..
Enjoy the day..
You too, Missy!
Yes, thank you, our day was filled with love, joy, peace! We started our Christmas celebration with a three-way Skype call to Isle of Man, and London! Then opened a few presents, then off to visit Grandma ( my mom) in the nursing home, back home for spirits and more presents, and finally a whole bunch of Christmas movies and turkey dinner! So wonderful to have the whole family back together again! Love the chandelier….really pretty. It adds another dimension to the cottage. How does Caroline feel about it? Enjoy your day! ;)
Caroline really likes it, Donnamae. She has given it a thumbs up!
We also had a nice laid back relaxing day..had fun watching the kitties play with their new toys from Santa..and enjoying their bag of treats..We had a nice meal and there are plenty of leftovers for today so no cooking!..the chandler is very pretty..I will go have a look at their website..
Yay for leftovers, Nancy! We have some, too. I’m awfully tired today – sinuses are acting up, too much sugar…so it will be a low key day for me.
Having a friend with 50 persimmon trees keeps us in persimmon loaves all holiday season, starting from Thanksgiving through New Year’s and beyond. There are three freezers full of persimmon pulp, mine, my parents’ and our friends’. I think I’ll try tweaking your coffee cake recipe with persimmon, if you don’t mind… The chandelier is just the right touch.
I’ll be interested to hear how it turns out with persimmon added, Wendy! Sounds awfully good.
I know what you mean, we had a low key Christmas this year and today I feel completely drained. Never mind it gives me the chance to curl up on my favourite chair and have a portion of Christmas Pudding and cream!! Mind you, your cake looks absolutely delicious and I think I would prefer that :-) Enjoy the rest of your holidays. xx
Finished the coffee cake this morning, which is a good thing. It’s delicious, but VERY sugary!
OMG, that coffee cake! Not only does it look delicious, but here’s so much to it it could be a meal. Just that and a huge mug of the best coffee could keep me happy all day. Is it a secret family recipe? Glad you had a relaxing day. Very quiet here too. My family does everything on Christmas Eve – presents, massive buffet – and then everyone with in-laws sees them on Christmas Day. My sister hosted Christmas Eve this year and her 10-year old Golden struggled to stay awake all day [he loves people so much he just didn’t want to miss any of the fun] but Carolyn told me yesterday Cooper conked out and slept most of the day on his new flannel bed while she watched Christmas movies. So Scout was smart to keep up her napping and not get too exhausted. But then she’s smarter – she’s a girl! LOL. PS – I love “Rear Window” too. Along with “Suspicion” and “The Trouble with Harry” one of my favorite Hitchcock movies. I’ll never forget the first time I saw it, seeing Grace Kelly get caught in Raymond Burr’s apartment, with Jimmy Stewart watching from across the way!!! Now that’s suspense! Enjoy your day…
Janet, the link to the recipe is on the blog. I think I put it in one of the posts that I wrote in the past few days. In fact, I know I did. If you can’t find it, just search for “The Recipe” and I think the post will show up.
Found it, Claudia and thanks! Sour cream must be a secret ingredient when it comes to coffee cakes. One of my aunts was famous for her coffee cake too, which also had sour cream. It tasted so differently – and so much better – than any other coffee cake I’ve ever had. I think I’m going to try Greek yogurt instead of sour cream first time out though. Same taste, no fat, lower calories. Confession – I’m a mad fiend for Greek yogurt. :>)
LOVE the chandelier! For the last year I’ve slowly been purchasing battery lighting for my dollhouse. Now I just need to get it finished so I can actually install/use them. I think they add so much to the dollhouse ambiance. Yours was a beautiful choice!
I have one other light, but the lamplight isn’t as strong as I would like – I’m going to get more fixtures from this company. You’re right – they really do make a difference!
Sounds like you had a wonderful laid back day, Claudia. Things were pretty hectic here with three grandchildren, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Rear Window is one of my favorite movies. Enjoy!! xo Laura
Oh, grandchildren’s noise and activity is a must on Christmas, Linda!
I’ve had some wonderful days but boy am I tired. Love the light!!
hugs,
Linda
Me too! Don made me get out of the house for a while today – we took a drive.
Another beautiful post yesterday!!!!!!!!! I think it’s the emotion of Christmas too that has an impact. So many things close to the heart come closer to the surface. Boxing Day, yesterday, we travelled down to put flowers on the graves of family members passed, something we always do after Xmas. It’s a beautiful spot, flowers, trees, but sitting there so many memories from years gone by collide with the festivities that have just been. It’s a strange feeling. Am sending the wonderful Miss Scout magic from the Dreamtime over here, to re-energise her spirit and Claudia that coffee cake is sublime, divine and now forever part of this family’s Xmas DownUnder.
I agree, it’s a very emotional day – everything is waiting there, right under the surface.
So happy you loved the coffee cake, Ruta!
OMG what a darling chandy. It’s just perfect :) So glad to hear you had a great Christmas filled with family, gifts, and food :)
We did. Sending lots of love your way, Dawn.
Claudia, So glad that you and Don enjoyed your Christmas . I love the little lights !! So adorable. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Thank you, Susie! I hope your day was a wonderful one.
Glad you had a wonderful, relaxing day! Your coffee cake looks so yummy.
Thanks Claudia, for your post On Christmas and the thoughtfulness and caring behind it.
May the three of you continue to enjoy the Spirit of Christmas throughout the entire season.
Excellent choice on the Chinese food! Our tradition since moving far from all family members (due to my job) my DH is to go to the Chinese Buffet near our house. I know, I know, everyone always says “Just like in Christmas Story”….no, not just like that creepy movie – never watched it, looked stupid, and on top of that Darin McGavin creeps the bejesus out of me! It’s simply our tradition born out of the memory ofthe only open restaurant back in our home town when we were kids – Henry Yee’s Chinese.