Christmas Dinner

I made a centerpiece for the Christmas table.  Just a simple arrangement of greenery in a vintage camping coffee pot.  This afternoon I am going shopping to purchase a new tablecloth.  My dining room doubles as our schoolroom which makes decorating and creating ambiance a bit of a challenge.  However, after some cleaning and rearranging I think I have it ready for feasting.  Looking forward to cooking and eating together around the table.

Dinner

Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Almond Green Beans

Wilted Spinach Salad

Yeast Rolls

Desserts

Chess Pie

Christmas Candy

Cookies

Christ is Born

*A little late, but wanted to share.

Well, it is not the Christmas I had planned, but maybe it's even better. My girls are cooking everything! I am sick, along with the babies, and am not able to get in the kitchen. Addy and Caroline have taken charge, and let me say I am more than impressed. In the lineup we have roast, mashed potatoes, almond green beans, two buttermilk pies, peanut butter bars, banana nut bread, and a green salad. Also they are making a Greek tray with the stuffing for dolmades I made two days ago. They are rolling away. Also making tzatziki with pita chips. I cannot believe it actually...it really is something to watch. It is the best Christmas present ever watching my girls cook like women! Christmas does not happen when we get everything done or everything perfect...Christmas is what we do together...what we share. Christ is born! He is in our midst! He is and ever shall be.

A Country Christmas

We celebrated the Butler Christmas at a ranch in Abilene. My sister-in-law's family invited us for a weekend in the country, and it was perfect.  I cannot remember when I have had a better time.  It was relaxing and hearty...good for the soul and senses.  Country folk really do have the most fun...especially if those country folk are from Texas!

Simple gifts...nothing extravagant.

Rustic ambiance. 

A warm and cozy bunkhouse.  My oldest brother Josh said, "This feels like church camp."

We gather in the kitchen.  Lots of great conversation.

Tamales and our parents!  Two of my favorite things.

Lots of cooking.

More cooking.

A porch swing.

Cheese and wine.

The best food.  Featuring a prime rib with horseradish sauce and au jus. 

Outdoor fun!  We also took a Christmas carol hayride underneath the Abilene starlit sky.

Four wheelin' on trails.  Throwing rocks in the pond.  Looking for wildlife.  Kickin'up dirt! 

A large covered porch for outdoor fun.

A spirited game of spoons!

Cousins are the best!

Amma brought a bag of Christmas books to read to the grands!

 Christmas dishes with red solo cups...what's more country than that?  

 The girls made blankets together!

The smiles come easy.

The dogs are in heaven.

Fort Worth Christmas

Christmas in the City of Cowboys and Culture.