Author Archives: ~~Rhonda

Living in a small town, I share my life with my husband Russell (married in 1977), five children (one still at home), and six cats (one indoors, the others outside).

I teach an online class called “The Christmas Notebook” which is about all things holiday prep. The many facets of celebrating Christmas comprises one of my favorite hobbies. Other favorite things include gardening, reading, cooking, and scrapbooking.

dreaming of her Christmas list?

December 11, 2007 – 9:41 pm

Grandbaby number one of the twins. We hope to visit in February.

Posted in family, twins | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

kitchen snowflakes

December 9, 2007 – 10:21 pm

The kitchen is decorated with snowflakes and icicles. This collection continues to grow. Each year new ones are added and older plastic snowflakes are removed. We have four south facing windows and two east facing windows, all topped with a garland that is lit with blue and white lights. The snowflake ornaments hang from the […]

Posted in Christmas, decorating for Christmas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

a special ornament

December 9, 2007 – 9:21 pm

In the early 40’s, when my mother was a young girl of about eight years of age, her father took her and her siblings to visit his mother at Christmas time. Grandmother’s house was small so she decorated a tree in the yard rather than the house. They didn’t find her at home, but my […]

Posted in Christmas, ornaments | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Toffee Bar Crunch Biscotti

December 7, 2007 – 1:02 pm

We put a bowl of this on the coffee table at the open house. After the party there were only two pieces left. It smells *wonderful* while baking and tastes as good as it smells. I’ll be making it again. ~~Rhonda Toffee Bar Crunch Biscotti 6 T. butter, melted 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup […]

Posted in Christmas, cookies, Recipes | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Daniel’s Cookie Bar Bites

December 7, 2007 – 11:41 am

My son Daniel enjoyed making chocolate chip cookies when he was younger. Still does. 🙂 He used the recipe on the back of the Nestlé Toll House chocolate chips package and often doubled it to make cookie bars. I don’t remember when the idea came to me to use the cookie bars to make these […]

Posted in Christmas, cookies, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (9)

Spiced Cranberry Punch

December 6, 2007 – 10:31 pm

This is a delicious hot (or cold) punch. My all time favorite hot punch. I served it at the home extension Christmas party this evening. ~~Rhonda Spiced Cranberry Punch 1 c. sugar 4 c. water 12 whole cloves 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks 2 T. minced ginger root 8 c. cranberry/apple juice cocktail 2 c. orange […]

Posted in Christmas, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

home extension Christmas party

December 6, 2007 – 10:14 pm

This evening my home extension group came over for our annual Christmas party. The weather was cold and cloudy all day. Around 4:00 p.m., we began to get a little sleet and some freezing rain. A few women had to cancel as they live out of town and didn’t want to risk the roads, but […]

Posted in Christmas, party | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

December 4, 2007 – 10:00 pm

This recipe is a crispy yummy ball of peanut butter goodness. We have open house guests who look for this particular goody each year. Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles 1 c. crunchy peanut butter 1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened 2 c. crisp rice cereal 1 c. powd. sugar 1 package (14 oz.) chocolate candy coating […]

Posted in Christmas, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

December 3, 2007 – 10:40 pm

If I could make only one kind of cookie for Christmas, this would be the one *everyone* would ask for. Sour Cream Sugar Cookies Cream: 2 c. sugar 1 c. shortening Add and mix well: 1 c. sour cream 3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or 1 tsp. vanilla or lemon, but almond is the […]

Posted in cookies, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4)

a good time was had by all

December 3, 2007 – 4:21 pm

We really had a wonderful time at the open house yesterday. Many thanks go to all those who helped, especially my sister Genny who comes several times each year to help decorate, set up trees, cut greenery, etc. Though by Saturday I was wondering (as I do each year) if we would be able to […]

Posted in Christmas, open house | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)