December 2008
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Luminarias
Submitted by Pam on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 16:37
It wasn't Christmas when I was growing up without a drive around town on Christmas Eve to see the Luminarias. Actually, they are known as Farolitos (little fires) in New Mexico and the word "Luminaria" is reserved for the small bonfires used to light the way for participants in Las Posadas. But since most of the world knows the little bags with candles in them as Luminiarias or Luminaries, I am using that word in this post.
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December 13th - Santa Lucia Day
Submitted by Pam on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 17:06
Yule lads have arrived! Don't miss them! One will arrive every day from now until Christmas Eve, and you too can share in the fun of their daily visits!
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December 12th - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Submitted by Pam on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 16:56In Mexico and Latino communities throughout the United States, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated with processions and special church services. You can find beautiful pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe here.
Debra-Duran Geiger, a Santa Fe artist, designed and hand-painted this lovely representation of Our Lady on high fired ceramic tile. I am so fortunate to have this piece as I understand the artist is no longer making these tiles.
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Espejitos (small mirrors in Spanish)
Submitted by Pam on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 17:37
Get acquainted with the beautiful arts and crafts of Mexico, beginning with these lovely mirrors, the inspiration for my colorful small mirror ornaments. And while you are visiting the mirrors, do a little exploring on the site. So much artistic talent there to enjoy (and of course to purchase.)
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Making Woven Paper Heart Baskets to Celebrate Santa Lucia Day
Submitted by Pam on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 15:25
I have been wanting to learn to make Danish woven paper heart baskets for years, but always felt intimidated by the instructions available to me. So this Fall, Diane and I spent the day together figuring out how to make them. (Of couse, SHE caught on right away and by the time I had finished my first practice basket, she was already in the middle of constructing a 5-strip basket with variations in the strip widths.) Sigh!
I thought I'd share the process of making a basic three-strip basket with you...
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St. Nicholas Day has arrived!
Submitted by Pam on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 16:13Did Sinterklaas visit you last night? Did you put carrots and a little hay in your shoe for his horse, and did you find gold coin candy in your shoe this morning? I hope so!
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I wish you could smell my kitchen! Holiday Breads Are Baking!
Submitted by Pam on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 22:48I have been baking all day, and the fragrance of spices and dried fruit and brandy and almond have turned my kitchen into the most heavenly-scented place on earth. Today I am baking the most delicious almond filled Stollen because Stollen is my husband's favorite. And I am baking a beautiful, dried fruit studded Panettoni because ... well ... Panettoni is my favorite! And... I have mixed up 5 diffrent batches of cookie dough - but more about that tomorrow!
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December 1st - Advent Calendar begins today - YAAAAAAAAAY
Submitted by Pam on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 14:31
Here it is! The inspiration for the advent calendar I made my children 35 years ago. Another "must make" I saved from Mom's holiday magazines. This one I am almost sure was from McCalls.
And here is the last surviving ornament from the original set I made. My very crafty daughter Diane and I made new ones when she was in high school, and I tossed out the old felt ones. But she managed to retrieve one from the waste basket!
