Posts
Welcome one, and welcome all! Sorry we're late for all you east coast Christmas Riders! I'm still on my first cup of coffee out here on the west coast...wait! What's that I hear?
The jingle jangle of bells? The thunder of hoofbeats? The shoosh of the sleigh, flying across the snow? It's here! Christmas time! and Christmas weather to boot, which is a feat here in sunny Southern California. So read on, gather a recipe to fold into your holiday treats, and my first gift to you all is a chance to pick up my short romance, an inspirational Free Read - Tessa Takes a Chance, available from The Wild Rose Press.
No matter the time of year, Southern California is usually the land of sunshine and flowers, of beach walks and barbecues all year long. However, the cold, thick clouds have moved in. The day is gray, wet, and calls for a hot mug of cocoa and a crackling fire in the fireplace. It's the kind of day that reminds me of my mom, of being cared for so completely, of decking the halls and singing our favorite carols, and listening to my father's deep, gravelly voice as he reads us the Christmas story, and reminds us of the reason for the season. So curl up and let's talk about our favorite holiday traditions.
I'm the mother of two little girls, ages 4 and 3, and the most amazing thing has happened this season! My oldest asked when they were getting their advent calendars. She's been singing Rudolf and Frosty. We settled in to watch the first Christmas movie of the season at our house, The Polar Express.
I'm the mother of two little girls, ages 4 and 3, and the most amazing thing has happened this season! My oldest asked when they were getting their advent calendars. She's been singing Rudolf and Frosty. We settled in to watch the first Christmas movie of the season at our house, The Polar Express.
Then, of course, we roll up our sleeves for some good old fashioned holiday baking! a feat, with such little ones. The house is filled with aromas of melting chocolate, baking cookies, the kids are covered in flour, powdered sugar, and sticky whatnots that I do my best to ignore. That's when I think about what I remember about growing up under my mom's roof. I don't remember a sparkling kitchen. I remember my mother, who accidentally quadrupled a batch of spritz cookies, and her bribing us to frost about 400 tiny christmas tree cookies. We frosted that year until we didn't even want to sneak a taste!
And, for our Sleigh Ride Song of the Day - I must recall the sturdy, towering, warm embrace of my father telling us the Christmas story, on a cold night in Bethlehem. I often wondered what Mary must have thought, following her husband in such wretched conditions. Such faith is wonderous to me.
Finally - for the bakers & candy makers out there... At our house we've already made the gingerbread house, the sugar cookies, and the first batch of holiday fudge. Unfortunately, making horrible fudge is one of the traditions around here, too. You'd have to know my sister to understand. She's the candy maker of the family, I'm the baker. BUT, this year, with the help of Epicurious.com, I've finally mastered the art of fudge making. So, my final gift to you is the best butterscotch fudge I've ever tasted.
So, add your favorite recipe here! and guess the song, collect all of them for your chance to win!
~Ashley
Tessa Takes a Chance, Free Read! now available
at The Wild Rose Press
Coming Soon:
By Another Name, April, 2009
Tessa Takes a Chance, Free Read! now available
at The Wild Rose Press
Coming Soon:
By Another Name, April, 2009
All or Nothing, Spring, 2009
And so, here is your Christmas Song Clue: (CONTEST RULES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!)
"Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you."
Send your guess to the song! then hop along to http://annakathrynlanier.blogspot.com/ for your ride tomorrow!
ABOUT THE CONTEST: Spread more Christmas cheer, everyone hosting the CHRISTMAS RIDE came together and we’re giving one lucky person a $75 Wild Rose Press gift certificate!
To enter, simply:
- review each day's blog post
- identify the carol
- make a complete carol list to submit after the final blog post on Christmas Eve.
Send it to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight, CST Dec. 31st 2008!
Start at P.L. Parker's Blog to begin the Blog Ride that connects all the blogs and all the carols. Visit each blog to hunt for the clue to the carol of the day!
Hop along to http://annakathrynlanier.blogspot.com/ for your ride tomorrow! Ho Ho Ho and off we go!
