Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

Happy Birthday, Queen of Our Heart and Home

Paula Deen Says it Just Doesn't Matter

Let it be as messy as it's gonna be.

 

A warm wet rag cleans it up beautifully.

 

And it's so worth the memories.

 

Go here for Paula Deen's Snowflake Cookies

Today's sighting of Jingle

 

That sly little elf...

My Cajun Cottage Daybook

Outside my window. . . it's dark, with only the stars and Christmas lights warming the frosty night

I am thinking. . . about those still on my Christmas list

I am thankful for. . . the slowing down of outside activities

From the schoolroom. . . reading, math, and science for sure this week...and enjoying rabbit sleigh trails through the snow.

From the kitchen. . . cookies! Lots and lots of Christmas cookies for the parties ahead.

I am wearing. . . red pants and white sweatshirt.

I am creating. . . Christmas merriment and lots of Christmas cookies

I am going. . . rather, husband took son to basketball practice. The girls and I stayed home on this dark, cold night. Tomorrow we have a dental appointment, CCD class/party, and KC Christmas party. 

I am reading. . . Anne Rice's new book Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession  So far? Surprisingly it's very, very good and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

I am hoping. . . for peace on earth, goodwill towards men.

I am hearing. . .Chelsea typing on the kitchen computer and Annie watching a Christmas program.

Around the house. . . Corey, my oldest, is sleeping on the floor in back of me. He worked 13 1/2 hours today and is exhausted. I've repeatedly told him to get up and go to bed. I'm afraid I can't carry him anymore.

One of my favorite things. . . Christmas!

A few plans for the rest of the week. . . dental appt., CCD, KC Christmas party, Chelsea's first basketball game, making our annual gingerbread man and house, Garrett's basketball game, uncle/aunt's 50th wedding anniversary, going out to eat on Annie's b-day (Dec. 20th), exchanging gifts with my brother and nieces

I am praying for...my cousin David who is going through a divorce.

Here is picture thought I am sharing. . .our friendly seminarian Matthew standing in the snow at St. Ben's Abbey in Covington, LA

  

Christmas Camera Candy

 

Carefully dressing the tree.

   

Aunt Dawn always knows the perfect birthday gift.

 

Smile Garrett! you're on Mom's camera. ;)

 

A favorite children's party treat...Fruit Kabobs!

 

Birds! Lots and lots and tons of black birds feasting in our yard.

 

Kayleigh, her god-daughter, and what was left of the party pinata.

21 years of parenting and still doing the "Santa" thing.

 

Traditional licking of the candles.

 

Two rich tarte a' la bouillie pies.

 

Excuse the dirty dishes. We're busy in the kitchen this month.

 

More food. We're busy eating this month too. ;  

 

Tea anyone?

 

The Elf on the Shelf

   

Excuse my dust but I thought I'd share our new Christmas tradition. Annie's little friend Michael gave her an Elf on the Shelf for her recent birthday.  The website tells you all about this little Christmas helper and his job.

Briefly, every night he flies to Santa and reports on our family's attitudes, cooperatative-ness, goodness and/or badness, etc. He even tells Santa if the parents have been naughty or nice, so beware!

When he returns in the morning, he picks a new place to alight and observe the comings and goings of the Gibson household.

Before he can start his job, you must read the wonderful picture book that comes in his box and name your little elf. He's a part of the family now and must have a name.

Our little elf was named "Jingle" because of the little bell at the end of his hat. Our friend Michael and his family named their elf "Dom Nicholas". And then you go to the website and register your family and your elf's new name. He is now a part of your family and a cherished part of your Christmas cheer.

Today (above picture) we found our Elf on the Shelf sitting above the kitchen sink. He must have known we were baking our Christmas cookies today...the sly little elf.

Day One: He took his post on the living room wall to make sure we didn't log too many hours of television.

  

Day Two: He startled Mommy by sitting above her computer to make sure no one exhausted their computer time.

 

Day Three: He seemed to like the warmth and activity of the kitchen while propped next to our nativity scene.

   

Day Four: We found him sitting leisurely in the sitting room where he could make sure no one left the door ajar or slammed it behind them. 

We have become very elf-savvy of late and now know that you have to read the book and name your elf before your elf can get out of his box that first night. And if, in the morning, he is still in the same location as the day before it is probably because someone was dole enough (ie: very likely a sneaky big brother) to touch him. This is SO NOT allowed because he looses some of his magic whenever someone touches him and must sit an extra day to build up strength to fly to the North Pole. <tsk! tsk!>

Jingle has become part of the Christmas magic that awakens delight and mystery inside the hearts of my children...from the one who still believes in the magic to the older ones who realize that Christmas magic is something you have to look for (and sometimes create) but can't always see. But it's there. It's always there. It's up to you to find it.

If you're still doubtful of the magic of Christmas, read the book What Happened to Merry Christmas by Robert C. Baker and you will find that Christmas magic is still alive everywhere!:

• on a floury countertop or table and in a jar full of Christmas cookies
• snow days!
• Advent wreaths and bright candles
• Christmas trees all aglow
• glossy picture books with beautifully colored artwork
• angels we have heard on high
• the brilliance of a star and our towns remembering the festival of lights
• PRESENTS to the ones we love!
• the creches which adorn our tabletops, our mantles, our shelves, our houses
• a newborn babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger

The miracles of Christmas never cease! Christmas magic is indeed everywhere! Don't miss it!

I Was Meant to Find Her

 

Or, at least, I feel very lucky to have found her.

I unearthed this darling little St. Lucy figurine in an antique shop a few months ago. I don't think the innkeepers knew what they had on their shelf.  I purchased her for a mere $3.00.

The cakes, cookies, and sweet raisin buns on her quaint little tray are sweetly detailed and the yellow braid is intricately woven down her back and tied with a crimson ribbon. Her bare feet trip gracefully, yet frozenly, across a greening meadow.

On this feast of St. Lucia, I want to recognize the legacy of this saintly girl who illuminated the way to Christ for others by shining her wreath of lights along the dark catacombs of history.

Story of St. Lucia

Traditions: Feast of Light (pdf file ~ courtesy of Simple Gifts)

St. Lucia Braided Bread

St. Lucy Coloring Pages

St. Lucia Verse

Night Goes with silent steps

Round house and cottage.

Over earth that sun forgot

Dark shadows linger.

Then on our threshold stands

White clad, in candlelight

Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

Building a Sneauxman 101

First you scrape the snow off your sister's hood:

Then you transfer it onto the ground because it keeps sliding off the car:

 

Then you pack it as tightly as you can and, because it's Louisiana wet snow, you keep packing and repacking it as tightly as you can:

 

And you enjoy looking at other snowmen created by friends in south Louisiana. This Cajun snowman was created by Marcie's son Matthew in New Iberia:

 

And your friend's snow angels. This one is Fran's:

 

Today this is all that is left of that lovely Cajun sneaux. For us this little guy reminds us of the magic of Christmas. Our sneauxman simply does not want to leave our happy home. And we hope he stays around a little longer to remind us of this happy December day.

Cajun Mittens

About that Snow Angel

 

 

Amy's idea of an angel stencil was a great one. I loved it. I thought it most creative. Yet...

I didn't believe enough that it would really snow. I didn't think it would snow or, if it did, snow enough to, as Chelsea said, "cover the ground", even for an angel stencil.

God's almighty arm proved me wrong.

Oh, me of little faith.