Christmas Eve's Eve!

Today was busier and more labor intensive than yesterday but it was every bit just as good.

We were only 5 minutes late to church this morning. Actually as we turned onto the street - we were only 3 minutes late but by the time we got inside.......

Louis Dean asked, "Why can't we be 5 minutes early instead of 5 minutes late?"

I came right in after church and started cooking lunch.....

all of Louis Dean's favorite foods - except the baked chicken.

He would have preferred red meat!

Still, he was so happy with dumplings, candied carrots and seasoned cabbage.

One of the very few things Louis Dean absolutely refuses to eat is raw cabbage....but he loves it cooked!! We watched the Cowboys game and were so excited they WON their division!

Would you believe I cooked lunch in my church clothes? 

(I wore an apron, though! Thanks, Sharilyn!)

I took my apron off at 4:00, put on fresh lipstick and packed a tin full of Louis Dean's cinnamon rolls and we drove over to an open house hosted by the pastor of Western Heritage Church and his wife.

Their home was lovely and the people were all so friendly.

We were glad we went!

Since I'm new I didn't walk around like paparazzi taking photos......

but I did take a couple....

......not sure what happened to this one!

** swiped off a Facebook post.....**

Meet Pastor Jody! 

Kathy is his lovely wife and she is the 'Voice' of the church.

As in leading the music.....Louis Dean and I are loving this church already and we haven't even officially joined yet. But we will in the new year.

We came back home and I hit the floor running!

I started cooking and baking for Christmas Eve.

First of all, I made two pumpkin pies using a recipe in a book I collected 54 years ago.

It is a booklet tucked into my 1962 copy of .....

Better Homes and Garden Cookbook.

I used this book so much when I was a very young housewife - as in 16 years old - and trying my best to learn how to cook and make menus. Homemaking became my passion and I continue to use this cookbook to this very day. I love everything about keeping house - making a home cozy and inviting and CLEAN, of course! I discovered I have the gift of hospitality and that has enriched my life more than I ever dreamt!

Pumpkin pies made! I decided to make the dessert table in the sewing room for tomorrow.

I covered the pies up with a couple of old fashioned Pyrex pie plates I've had for years.

As soon as the pies came out of the oven, I put a cake in.

While the cake baked, I made a batch of Rice Krispie bars - jazzed up a little.

I found the recipe on Facebook and it has a layer of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the middle.

I thought this would be something the grand kids would like.

The cake is a Butter Pecan Pound Cake with a brown sugar frosting.

Hopefully adults and children will like it!

It's late but I took a hot shower and watched 'Christmas Around the Corner' with Louis Dean.

I watch football with him and he watches Christmas movies with me.

I'll be up bright and early in the morning. I always am on Christmas Eve.

I have to put the stew on and the fruit salad and garden salad to make. 

Cheese to cut up and arrange on a tray......lots of things to do and then I have to do the ghastly chore I dislike the most - vacuum the whole house!

And all this needs to be done before 2:30 when we leave for a candlelight church service.

So I better get to bed!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from Texas!!!