time I got back to posting a few Christmas things

BCC

 

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Sugar-Free Cranberry Salad

 

2 small packages sugar-free black cherry Jell-O
1 (12 ounce) package fresh cranberries
2 (10 ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained (save for another recipe) and rinsed.
1/4 cup Splenda

 

Rinse cranberries and process until coarsely chopped. Sprinkle with Splenda and stir in the oranges gently. Make the jello according to package directions and pour over the fruit mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight for best results. Delicious!

 

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Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing over the plains
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.

Glo-ori-a. In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a. In excelsis de-o

Shepherds, why this Jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be,
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Glo-ori-a In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a In excelsis de-o

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King

Glo-ori-a In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a In excelsis de-o

See Him in a manger laid
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior's birth.

Glo-ori-a In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a In excelsis de-o

 

( http://www.share-christmas.com/carols/angelshigh.htm  )

 

 

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milycrafts.about.com/od/christmascrafts/tp/Day1ChristmasCrafts.htm

 

 

Materials Needed:

• Cardboard
• Paint, Markers, or Crayons
• Ribbon
• Small Bell
• Individually Wrapped, Small Candies
• Scissors

Instructions:
Cut a large Christmas tree shape out of cardboard. I cut mine approximately 14" by 18". Coloring book pages like these make for good templates. Color or paint the tree. Glue the bell to the top point of the tree.

Write this poem on the tree, choosing a spot that will not be covered with candy. Good options are to write it on the trunk or choose a spot to highlight in the center of the tree.

December 1st 'til Christmas is the longest time of the year.
Seems as if old Santa never will appear.
How many more days 'til Christmas? It may be hard to count,
But this little gift of candy will tell you the exact amount.
Untie a piece of candy each day when Sandman casts his spell
And Christmas will be here by the time you ring the bell.

Cut 24 pieces of ribbon, each about 10" long. Glue the center of each piece of ribbon onto the tree, leaving the long ends loose to tie around the candies. Try to evenly space the ribbons all around the tree. Let the glue dry and then tie a piece of candy onto each ribbon. Hang up and enjoy!

 

 

 

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Billie C

"Household tasks are easier and quicker when they are done by somebody else."
-- James Thorpe

"Christmas Comes But Once a Year"

 "Christmas Comes But Once a Year"

by Edgar A. Guest,
from the December 1954 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING Magazine

God grant ye joy this Christmas Day;
May every heart be jolly;
Love kiss ye now beneath the bough
Of mistletoe and holly.
The long hard year of toil is done;
Today the bells are ringing.
Put down your burdens every one
And share the carol singing.

For Christmas comes but once a year,
When harvesting is ended;
With merry din, the day comes in,
By love and mirth attended;
The children dance and shout with glee,
The eyes of all are beaming,
And high above the Christmas tree
The Star of Hope is gleaming.

So homeward turn the car once more,
And give a kiss to mother;
Let horn and bell the glad news tell
Of each returning brother;
For man has conquered time and space,
Regardless of the weather,
And Christmas Day, by God's good grace,
Should find us all together!

 

Billie C.

"Dreams Take Their Place..."

"Dreams Take Their Place..." by R. Armistead Grady
from the IDEALS Christmas Magazine 1962

It's over now, this lovely day.
Dreams take the place of laughter gay.
We dim the lights on Christmas tree,
And then we tiptoe around to see...
Mother and I, each little bed,
To touch every weary little head.
We tuck them in... Mother and I,
With mingled smile and prayer and sigh.
It's over now, the day is done,
But ah! what mem'ries have begun.

The shouts of ectasy and joy,
The charm of happy little boy,
The budding mother-love aglow
As little girls their dollies show.

The sweet clean faith of little lad
In Mother, Santa Claus, and Dad.
The smiles that flash from heart to heart
In mem'ries play a lovely part.
The stars in Mother's eyes I see,
To light my memories for me.

We dim the lights on Christmas trees,
But ah! ...what lovely memories
Light up our hearts, and shining there
Make every day almost as fair.

 

Billie C.
GOD don't make ugly....
Odd, or unique maybe, but not Ugly.