Christmas 2024

Merry Christmas!

This year we started our celebrating with a stop at the Giving Machine in St. Augustine. I was excited to learn that we would be passing by it on our way home from Thanksgiving in Virginia and wanted the chance to experience this unique activity. We arrived at the location soon after it opened, and there were no lines, so we even took some time to walk around the tourist shops and old fort (Castillo de San Marcos) before getting back on the freeway. It was a perfect beginning to our Christmas season.

Wayne's choice for our pre-Christmas celebrating was dinner at Okeechobee Steakhouse. I was happy to accompany him, although this time instead of a steak I decided to try their seabass entree. It was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. And we tried the last dessert - Cinnamon Creme Brulee - which was also delicious.

This year we received a cute little nativity treat using Hershey's miniature chocolates. (I found a similar one on Etsy in case I ever want to do it myself.)

We made our traditional Christmas recipes.

Spritz Cookies, Snowballs, Almond Buttons, Rocky Road, Oreo Fudge, and Poppy Seed Bread

And we received some great treats as well - Portuguese Tarts

and Andes Cookies. 

These are very similar to our Fudge Crinkle Cookies (one recipe melts the butter, one creams it) with a melted Andes candy on top.

Can't forget the special Peppermint Bark given to us and made by our grandson!

Weston's family joined us for our Christmas Eve feast:

• Pear and Craisin Salad with Ginger Dressing
• Buttery Bundt Bread
• Roast Beef Tenderloin (We tried a "prime" cut this year, and Wayne at least noticed the difference.)
• Cheesy Potatoes
• Holiday Brussels Sprouts (Roast some Brussels sprouts, then sprinkle with pomegranate arils and crumbled goat cheese or feta.)
• Buche de Noel
• Flourless Chocolate Cake

Dinner was followed by singing a couple of carols, reading some scriptures and opening a few gifts. Then it was time to clean the kitchen, wash the dishes, and go to bed!

Christmas Day was nice and quiet, starting with our normal walk around the neighborhood (no little kids clamoring to open gifts), our traditional breakfast and gift opening, and relaxing at home with a puzzle and movie. Peace and Joy were definitely part of our holiday celebration, and we hope they were part of yours as well.

Merry Christmas!