Mele Kalikimaka~

One of my vivid Christams memories..is seeing the white and red Big Crosby LP..  the one where he is wearing a Santa Hat..on my parents stereo console..
You know that long credenza looking thing and the middle opened up for LPs..45's maybe too?  I just remember the LPs with my parents.
I eventually got my own small turntable for my 45's..:)

But that album..and Bing singing Mele Kalikimaka..♥  Well that meant Chrsitmas..I don't have a lot of memories..but I can feel Christmas..when I hear that song..and I clearly see the console..with the album..the humble tree in the living room window..and my mom..sitting on the sofa.. enjoying her lights in the dark♥listening to her music.
I am listening to it..adding the link..and the tears well up..

It's looking a lot like Christmas here..
I have to tell you..driving home from Florida.. all 3 days..were so gloomy..and misty and rainy and freezing rain in Pennsylvania..
:(
When we drove into QC..I said to Jacques.:".this is the first time we drive into QC in daylight...after a trip to Fl.".
What a difference..
Florida was at it's best when we left..blue skies...no humidity..sparkles on the ocean..azure water..palm trees..bougainvillea..plumbago...morning glories..dolphins..manatees..fish galore.seashells..sea glass...and smiles galore...in short..technicolor.Meli Kalikimaka style:)

We drove into grey..icy..humid..cold...QC.."Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays..c'est l'hiver"~

Thank goodness..the sun shone the next day and routine settled in..

Have you heard of Black Friday?

It is big ..but not crazy anymore it seems in Fl.. we went to a few stores because it was downright chilly by the sea..not so inland..the stores were quiet..probably because the sales start the day before..and we went at lunchtime the next day..
I caved in..and bought a Mini Ipad..
Carol..Susan.. Linda.. etc..recommended Ipads..My daughter's home is all APPLE..
I had seen Sarah's..Marie's..  Waterlogues..
And well I wanted to see if it could be a tool to learn..and Carol also uses it to trace..
Sometimes..
So I bit le bullet and did it.
Oy what a learning curve..
Have to tell you..Windows..is a piece of cake for me compared tp Apple.
But..hey..it's exercising my brain..
And so far..I love Waterlogue♥
That's our tree..you can see my Nana garden stocking..my fave Santa..the air dry clay tags.. Joy..Fairies..Gardening ornaments..A big skate with fur on the trim..:)
How fun.
Now if this thing teaches me a few ropes in watercolor....
I will be impressed.
One thing I love about the beach and Florida.. no one knows where you live..what kind of house..income..clothes..you have..
We basically all look like little beach bums..during the day..so much so.that if we go out..we can bump into people we see on the beach..and we don't recognize each other..:)
Truly.
 How nice is everyone?
So nice..
Germany..New York.... Ontario..Pennsylvania..Minnesota..Michigan..Arizona..Florida..South Carolina..Massachussetts..
Everyone is so friendly.
And nice.
It's a very special little place.♥

One store we stalked..was a newer Trader Joe's there..Fun to be able to find different things than here.
I had made s hort list of things I had found recommended..
One of them was The Gingerbread cake mix.
Everyone who knows me ..knows I am not a mix person....But I had the new mold from last year..and wanted to try it out:)

It's from last year..you know..sometime in April..so it was almost given away..

The Nordic Ware mini Gingerbread Homes..

One package of the TJ's Gingerbread Mix makes 2 homes..

And it's good and moist.

You can decorate the wee houses..but I know the people I am intending these for like plain..so I dusted icing sugar to look like snow..

There is a recipe on the Nordic Ware cover too..or you can use your own..I just wanted to get a head start and to see if the good reviews were fair..and they are.

The staff at TJ's.. every time we went..was wonderful.

A friend..Donella..likes spicy tea..and I think one of these homes will look good in her treat box..

They did rise a bit too much..but all you do is slice the bottom w/ a serrated knife..and eat the remnants with a cup of tea or coffe..

While you plan the wrapping for your houses..

Love the little stamp..I had seen it on Curly Girl's Blog..so while in FL..I went into Hobby Lobby,,(♥) for 5 minutes while Jacques and Fred stayed in the car..

Would like to spend more time in that store..

The tree is festooned..the mantle sparkly..

Some of our decorations are from 1974 on..

Some are new♥

The chalkboard hearts are so sweet..

This very pretty star..was a gift from Diane..a Fl friend from PA..she made it for me there..and then brought over strips of this lovely glacé paper..and showed me a link on You Tube..on how to make them.The next morning I was determined to not let her down..and make a Star before she left..
Talk about exercising your brain..you need to watch the 2 videos..I have since seen many many other videos..but this is the one Diane showed me.
I was happy to do it..learn how..and offer her mine..so we have matching stars :)
You must be :focused: LOL.

If you would like to make one..Look at his video..then part 2..I love them.
The cute little reindeer were bought at Etsy.. at Sweetestelle..whole lot of cuteness going on there♥