Good morning friends! While I made my coffee on this ‘still dark’ morning it was cozy inside with Christmas lights and candles flickering in every room–such a magical time of year. I thought I’d share some of my cozy Christmas-y places with you this morning.
We’ve decided to definitely forgo the real tree this year. Our 2019 Christmas tree is this 4′ tree set atop our vintage drum table. (This drum table originally belonged to my grandfather’s sister, then to my mother, then we recently inherited it. I love it and treasure it!) I added some of my favorite ornaments to the tree on Sunday; it is festive and feels ‘just fine’ to me.
I’ve shown you our dining room before, but in the morning it is extra inviting. The dining room set is from my parents. I couldn’t bear to have it sold, so I asked for it when they wanted to get rid of it. When I was young it was in its natural wood state. This set is only slightly older than I am, and has been in my possession since my daughter was a preschooler.
In the kitchen we have this tiny tree all lit up with lights around the bay window. We actually leave the lights around the bay window up all year.
And outside the window above the kitchen sink is this little tree all aglow on the back deck.
My sister-in-law brought this cranberry salsa to Thanksgiving dinner. It was really good and fresh tasting. I wanted to share it with you. I’m hoping to make it for our Christmas dinner this year.
Cranberry Salsa
1 lb. cranberries (or 2-12oz. bags of fresh), fresh or frozen (thawed)
1/2 c. or 1 c. sugar (the recipe calls for 1, but my sil used 1/2)
2 t. grated orange zest
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, and diced
3 oranges, peeled, and diced
2-4 Serrano chiles, stemmed and diced, with seeds, optional
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, chopped
Chop up the cranberries, if desired. Mix together all ingredients. Enjoy!
Not much new going on with dolly ensembles right now. I still have something for Gracie in the works, but am not sure it will get completed this year. We’ll see…, but most likely not. 😦 Poor Gracie!
Have a beautiful Wednesday! ❤ Just realized–this is the last Wednesday before Christmas!!!
Cindy Rice Designs 
Oh!! comme c’est joli!!!! tu as de très belles décorations!! j’adoreet en voyant tout cela je comprends mieux toutes les broderies sur les tricots de tes poupées….
Bonne soirée..Bisous..Fanfan
Oh!! how pretty it is!!!! you have very beautiful decorations !! I love and seeing all this I understand better all the embroidery on the knitwear of your dolls ….
Good evening..Kisses..Fanfan traduit avec Google
Bonjour Fanfan. Merci beaucoup. Je suis heureux que vous ayez apprécié mes photos tôt le matin. Ce matin, je me suis levé plus tard et je n’ai pas saisi le petit matin magique. J’espère que vous appréciez votre jeudi. ❤
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Hello, Fanfan. Thank you so much. I am happy you enjoyed my early morning photos. This morning I got up later and didn't catch the magical early morning. I hope you are enjoying your Thursday. ❤
I made a copy of the Cranberry Salsa Recipe and going to try it for Christmas. Thank you Cindy, God Bless You and Your Family and much Happiness to Come Your Way.
Hi, Mavis. I hope you enjoy the salsa too. Merry Christmas to you and yours! ❤
Everything looks so jolly! Love the trees, both inside and out. 🙂
Thank you for the cranberry salsa recipe. Here I thought it was a cooked recipe but it is not. Looks delicious.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
Thank you, Joy. ❤ I hope you enjoy the salsa if you make it. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I am loving all your posts about Christmas and the weather and everything else. It is all very inviting. Makes me smile. Hugs and Merry Christmas
Hello, Rebekah. I am happy you are enjoying all my pics and ramblings about everything going on here in my home and around where I live. It’s quite nice to see it through new eyes of you and my other readers as it is all normal and very regular to me. Thank you for commenting and Merry Christmas. ❤
It is nice to wake up and see the Christmas lights all aglow before it gets light out Cindy! Having your coffee with is a bonus. The 4 foot tree is just perfect ! It is that size tree my parents used when I was growing up and it is decorated so nicely. It is nice the drum table has a history to it. What a nice dining room set , and that it has many memories for you and now your Daughter. Oh my the tiny Christmas tree is just the cutest !! I like the idea of leaving the lights around the bay window up all year. The tree on the deck is great to look out at as you are cozy inside! Thanks for sharing the Cranberry salsa recipe, I have never made one before but the ingredients make it sound so tasty. I am sure Gracie will find something nice to wear For Christmas! She has a fabulous Mom ! Send her my love and hugs. It is now Thursday (yikes!) Time is moving, have a beautiful day Cindy, it is 12 right now, up from minus 8 Yesterday, Terri xo.
You are up early too, Terri! The early morning is my favorite time of the day. Even though I got up early, yesterday flew by–I got some things ticked off my list, but the afternoon and evening got spent looking for a new parakeet and then going back to purchase the one that stole our hearts. The poor thing is quite traumatized right now and has been sitting on the bottom of the cage. He was very active at the store though. I am sure he will perk up; it hasn’t even been 24 hours. I hope you get everything accomplished today that you need to. ❤ Merry Christmas to you and your family!