Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Our First Christmas


Well, not our first
but grand girl Lucy's first!!!

Dressed in a proper outfit
(for the hat announced that it was "Baby's First Christmas")


And Christmas morning we opened presents
as we munched on Kringle, Stollen 
and had mugs of freshly brewed coffee

Lucy and I


Exchanged Christmas ornaments
Hers to me . . .


And mine to her!

And then there were the dogs . . .


Dolly's maternal instinct game forward
And felt that Lucy was deserving of a corgi kiss!

While Doogie thought she was a nuisance and spent most of Christmas
under the afghan on the sofa!

After the ribbons and boxes and paper and tissue were disposed of
(paper to the trash, ribbons and boxes and tissue upstairs to be used next year)
We had Christmas Dinner


The last appearance of the Christmas China
On Christmas Day

We've "toyed" with different menus  . . .
And this was the second year we had


The roasted pear salad -- the center stuffed with bleu cheese, cranberries and nuts
Daughter Sarah and I agreed that two years makes a tradition
and so this is our Christmas Dinner salad!
from now on out!!!

And a long time ago, we came upon this recipe 
And we've fixed it many past Christmases


It's a cornbread and Andouille sausage dressing
Which everyone just adores

And, of course, there needs to be a vegetable . . .


Roasted Brussels sprouts

And the star of the show is neither a turkey or a goose,
but rather


A roasted pork loin with a wine plum sauce

And, of course, Husband Jim brought up a good bottle from the cellar

Dessert was Daughter Sarah's request


Sticky Toffee Pudding
And we all agreed that it will be the Christmas dessert

In fact, we all agreed that this will be our traditional Christmas dinner from now on --
It was that good!!!

Table cleared and dishes done, we prepared for the
"Sip and See"
that evening from 5 to 7
So friends of ours could see grand girl Lucy
For she's not been here before she was born

And if you come to Linderhof . . .


You must be fed!
Cookies and candies from the tins in the parlor
And a cheeseball (Ann's cheese ball -- the recipe I've had far longer than I've had Daughter Sarah!)
made especially for the party

And then . . . 
The day after the day after


Breakfast in the dining room


Toast and peanut butter
(The peanut butter, they brought --
The toast, I made)
The very best peanut butter
(but who wouldn't with brown sugar and honey and butter added to the peanuts!)
(We politely didn't clean the jar -- so that they could take some home!
I informed Daughter Sarah that perhaps a jar of that peanut butter should
be a traditional present for dear parents who didn't live near Minneapolis and Hell's Kitchen!)

And, also for Daughter Sarah


Baked oatmeal with sugar and cream to pour on top
Full of Christmas pears and the last palmful of dried cranberries

We lingered, we talked, we had just one more cup of coffee.
For we knew after breakfast that it would be time


To say goodbye!


And into the car they piled one and all
And with a wave as they drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good night"


11 comments:

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Your gbaby is adorable all dressed up like St. Nick!

Your menu - wow. So glad you had a wonderful Christmas. Have a happy new year, too.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Love the 'sip and see' idea.
Looks like a great first Christmas for Lucy. Yummy treats for sure. Have a happy new year!

From the Kitchen said...

Precious memory-making time. Lucy is beautiful.

Best,
Bonnie

Taste the Rainbow said...

Loved the picture of Sarah and Lucy, Martha! So sweet. :)

Happy New Year too!

Mary

Pat said...

Martha,
I adore the "Traditions" of your Christmas from Lucy's outfit, to ornamanet exchange, menus and visitors!!! Sounds like a perfect Christmas @ Linderhof!
Looking forward to a Happy New Year and your posts in 2014!
Fondly,
Pat

gretchen said...

Absolutely CHARMING ~ both dear Lucy and your accompanying notes.

lindaraxa said...

The christmas ornament you gave Lucy is just precious! And Dolly was so cute...funny how girl dogs are so maternal. Our Westie is the same way around my grandchildren.

lucy said...

It's great meeting your gbaby Lucy, she's adorable. Your Sarah looks like her dad :-) . Have a happy, healthy New Year.

Lucy

Deanna said...

She's adorable!!!
d

GardenOfDaisies said...

Oh what a cutie pie! How wonderful to have little ones in the house at Christmas!! Your dinner looks wonderful... oh my that roast pear salad looks delish!

Michelle said...

Your little grandbaby Lucy is precious! How fun to have little one to spoil at Christmas!