You can’t buy red hots or molasses over here in Switzerland but you can get these special New Year apples. They must put a sticker on the apple while it’s growing because the color is in the real apple skin. Nice!

Anticipation for opening gifts is fun: The automatic car wash is fun: Tucker snuggles are fun: Decorating cookies is fun (especially on Jennifer’s beautiful new countertop): Watching a turkey cross the road is fun: When grandma squeezes you it’s fun: Looking at Jennifer’s old ornaments is fun: Doggy smiles are fun: Delicious brisket dinner hosted…

please don’t put ice in my fizzy water.

Thanks for reading my blog. 

Here are the ornaments I made this year.  I do love to make felt ornaments!  Thanks to mmmcrafts and Elsie Marley for the patterns. And I get my lovely wool felt from this Etsy shop in Plainfield, Illinois. And here’s a snowglobe ornament that Bea made for one of her teachers. She sculpted a little…

Christmas Mem’ries (The Rosemary Clooney version is best) Singing carols, stringing popcornMaking footprints in the snow Memories, Christmas memoriesThey’re the sweetest ones I know Cookies baking in the kitchenCards and ribbons everywhereFrosty, Christmas memoriesFloat like snowflakes in the air And, oh the joy of waking Christmas morningsThe family gathered ’round the treeWe had a way…

We’re in Wilmette now. We’re enjoying time with friends. And I’m feeling all the warm fuzzy feelings from Christmas music and over-the-top Christmas lights and Mexican food. Here’s my sweet little sugar on the airplane: We get good ice cream and chocolate on Swiss flights but the space is pretty tight for my long legged…