Monday, December 17, 2018

Merry Christmas 2018!

 December has been a very busy month for my family, for many reasons, and I realized I should have taken a blog break this month, as I have had hardly any time to sit by my computer.  Hopefully, if you keep in touch with me by Instagram, facebook, or twitter, you have seen why my blog has been quiet these past few weeks. 

We began December by traveling to Colorado Springs, where we stayed overnight at the beautiful Broadmoor Resort and Hotel.  I've blogged about this very special hotel more extensively on this post--click here--where we celebrated an anniversary a few years ago.

It was beautifully decorated for the Christmas season, with many different Christmas trees in all of its buildings.

We stayed overnight at the hotel with friends, as we were all in Colorado Springs to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert. What a spectacular show they put on! The lights, special effects, narrated Christmas story and music was all fabulous!


On our way home the next day we drove through the Garden of the Gods--click here--to read my post about this natural red rock park in Colorado Springs--where we saw this wonderful view of Pikes Peak. There was a little bit of snow at its 14,114-foot elevation. So far late autumn has not brought the front range of Colorado much cold or snow, but the higher elevations and ski resort areas have gotten a nice amount.


Although my husband and I were nursing colds and sore backs, we were able to put up and decorate our Christmas tree and decorate the rest of the house outside and in. All of the ornaments on our tree have a special meaning to me, as I have collected them from different places and occasions over the years. It is like visiting old friends when I take them out of their boxes every season. As you can see I have a soft spot for Santa Claus.

December brought a Christmas dance recital for our youngest granddaughter, a guitar recital for our oldest grandson, and Santa Claus visits for all four grandchildren. All very sweet moments!


December also brought my oldest grandson's 10th birthday! To celebrate we went to a Benihana Restuarant where our meal was cooked in front of us all as the chef wield his knives expertly and we watched in fascination.


While I plan on making Christmas cookies this week, my granddaughter and I did make our annual Gingerbread house together...


...and my husband and I made our traditional savory zeppoles today.  These are not the usual sweet Italian Neopolitan, donut-like zeppoles that many of you may be familiar with,  but Calabrian savory potato and semolina dough style with an anchovy in the middle. They are a once a year treat for us! If you'd like the recipe I described the entire process of how to make them on this post. On Christmas Eve I prepare an Italian style "Feast of the Seven Fishes," and one of my most popular recipes is the Mixed Seafood Salad-click here-for that recipe.


So this last week before Christmas Eve will continue to be a busy time for me, but I am loving every minute of it. Of course, the most important part of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May His message of love for all people, especially those that need our love the most, be in our hearts and in our actions in 2019.

Merry Christmas to all!

See you in 2019!



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18 comments:

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...


Thank you to all my readers, and especially those that comment. I appreciate all of you and hope that you will have a beautiful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2019!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I wish you and yours a most merry Christmas and wonderful and healthy new year too, Pat. You have been busy indeed - the tree looks gorgeous, the kids look happy and all the travels look interesting. But those zeppole, oh those zeppole. I am debating whether to make them - I need to lose weight, but they are so tempting.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

You have been busy! Beautiful photos! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Linda said...

Love the way you do December! I’ve never stayed at the Broadmoor before but I have been there a few times. My neighbor is in the TSO!
Merry Christmas! A Rocky Mountain kind of Merry Christmas!!

ellen b. said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Pat!

Linda W. said...

Beautiful Christmas tree in your home! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas.

William Kendall said...

You've been very busy! Beautiful shots, especially that mountain view.

Merry Christmas!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family. This post is filled with so much beauty, both the decorated trees and the natural beauty of that majestic mountain.

Jeanie said...

I love this post to pieces, Pat. Everything is beautiful. Your tree is like mine -- old friends we see for about a month each year, sparkling and glittering so magically! Loved the Broadmoor trees and oh, the ginger house making! How fun! I remember seeing your deer on FB and the Garden of the Gods. You've been busy and I love being able to catch up with you here.

Have a glorious holiday and pop over when you can! Merriest!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Pat!

Lowcarb team member said...

You certainly have been busy!
What lovely photographs you've shared here, from start to finish, I enjoyed them all.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.

All the best Jan

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Merry Christmas, Pat! May it be beautiful and blessed and happy. Thank you for all the wonderful sights and information you share so generously here and elsewhere. I love your photos of Colorado!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Merry Christmas Pat to you and all your family. December has been busy for you -- but what a wonderful busy! Enjoyed the reminders of your past posts, especially the 7 fishes feast, which made me hungry just remembering it.

Angie said...

Pat - that is a truly spectacular hotel. I would enjoy studying those Christmas trees for decorating ideas. Speaking of trees, I love the skirt on your tree - lovely! I have seen TSO once, and was blown away by the pageantry of it all. Terrific showmanship! Benihana is like that in some respects - the knife-wielding, food flipping talent of the chefs is very entertaining. I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. Enjoyed seeing all the pics ♥

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

I love all your wonderful photos, it is fun to see how your grandchildren have grown over the years. I hope Christmas was everything you wanted it to be.

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

Just wanted to stop back by to wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

handmade by amalia said...

So nice to see your photos - they add up to a very happy holiday season. I hope 2019 is equally happy and very healthy.
Amalia
xo