PARTY!

Here's another easy/cheap Christmas decoration.  I do this every year and I never get tired of it. 

 Just take a tall glass vase.  Fill with clear, cold water.  Add a package of fresh cranberries.  They FLOAT.  Tuck in a small votive candle or two.  (What am I saying, I used three--but sometimes I use larger floating candles and just use one.  They aren't really necessary because the cranberries keep the candles afloat anyway.)  That's all there is to it!  You can add some greenery, or display several of these together in different sizes.  They are really striking and beautiful. 

We had a party last night.  I realized that although I had started my Christmas letter, it probably wasn't going to get finished or mailed.  So I invited a bunch of families over for a little Christmas Open House.  It was so fun just to say hello and Merry Christmas, and share a few snacks/treats. 
Did I say a few? 
Perhaps I should amend that.  I wish I had taken a picture.  The buffet table was loaded with yummy holiday food.  We made some, and everyone brought more..  so that make a lot!  It was wonderful.  (Just wish I had some of those stuffed mushrooms left!)

Here's photo of a few leftover cookies.  They were so cute that I wanted to show you.

Gingerbread Snowflakes

 My daughter-in-law, Erin made these yummy gingerbread cookies.  They were soft and spicy and oh-so-cute. 

 Next was a plate of these DARLING snowmen!  Daughter-in-law Katie made them.  Aren't they so cute!  She just frosted sugar cookies with white frosting and added a marshmallow and painted on the details.  I wish I had taken a better picture.  They were really fun.

Melting Snowmen

 There's only a few  of these left, but they were easy and yummy.  I just placed grated Parmesan Cheese in a wreath shape on parchment paper.  Added chopped parsley and some red bell pepper berries.  Melt and toast in the oven for a few minutes.  These would be great served floating on some soup or just to eat with all the other snacky foods.  (I finished these off this morning.)

Parmesan Wreaths

 We always make a few traditional Swiss dishes.  Here's a plate of Bratzeli.  It's a yummy egg-based cookie that I cook in a Bratzeli iron.  My mom always flavored it with Anise seeds, so it has a licorice flavor.  I also do a lemon variety with lemon zest.   These are a must with a cup of cocoa!

Well, no fabric in this post.  But food is a close second.  Don't you think?   

Oh, wait!  We did have some fabric:  After the party was over, JoJo was feeling a little stressed that everyone had gone and taken all of the favors with them, so I said, let's go make your Christmas pillow case quick.  And so we did.  It only took a few minutes, and he was so delighted that he went right to bed. 

JoJo's Christmas pillowcase

He has been napping on it off and on all day.  That's the life.