Country Sampler Farmhouse Style SIP Christmas 2022

When I was younger, our Girl Scout troop had a wintertime camping weekend in which we recreated an old-fashioned country Christmas in a cabin in the woods. We cooked up a traditional dinner, complete with a stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade pies and more. For many of us, this was the first time we ever put our hands inside a turkey to pull out the neck and giblets. I remember there were a lot of tongues sticking out and “yuck!” being yelled across the room. We also learned how to make a pie crust from scratch, carefully rolling out the dough, and we took turns mashing the potatoes. In addition to preparing dinner, we also made centerpieces from natural items found on a hike and crafted DIY ornaments, such as…

What Really Is Figgy Pudding, Anyway? In the traditional Christmas carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” figgy pudding is such a popular treat that visitors wouldn’t leave your home without getting some. But what is figgy pudding and why was it such an in-demand dessert? According to Farmers’ Almanac, in 16th-century England it was common for carolers to sing at wealthy landowners’ doors, hoping fora bit of drink or nibble. Figgy pudding, a very British dessert, was seen as a delectable treat at the time. In England, a “pudding” is a sweet or savory steamed cake-like dessert. But the traditional figgy pudding would be nothing like a dessert you’d imagine. It was a dense mixture of spices and dried fruits (not necessarily figs!) mixed with suet and covered in…

On December 24, children love to find out where Santa is flying in his sleigh by checking the online Santa tracker provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). But did you know this special holiday mission came about by accident? In 1955, a young child dialed a misprinted phone number from a department store ad and instead of reaching Santa, contacted the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center. U.S. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty, was quick to realize the mistake and assured the child he was Santa. After more incoming calls, Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls and a tradition was born. Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa website (www.noradsanta.org) receives several million unique visitors from more than 200 different…

Many of the holiday traditions we know started out much differently. Some weren’t even part of the Christmas season at all! Christmas Trees: Many know that the decorated fir tree can be traced back to Germany (remember “O Tannenbaum”?), but it was actually when Britain’s Queen Victoria and her German-born husband, Prince Albert, were seen in a magazine sitting by a decorated tree in their home that Christmas trees became popular. Poinsettias: This holiday icon hails from southern Mexico. Legend tells of a poor girl who left green weeds as an offering at a Nativity scene and they blossomed into beautiful red flowers. St. Nicholas: There are many different versions and origin stories for this jolly holiday gift-giver, but the oldest is from the area of modernday Turkey. It is…

Festive DECORATING “Have a holly jolly Christmas. It’s the best time of the year.” Regal Approach Adorn your front porch with lavishly draped garland that leads the eye to a bountiful wreath on the front door. Jeanette Lockmiller of Snazzy Little Things hung evergreen garland from a center point on her porch ceiling and then draped each side over to the porch posts and down the railings. Wide red ribbon trimmed in gold takes the greenery to the next level and accentuates the archway. A seasonal sign, throw pillow and oversize ornaments emphasize the color scheme and complete the scene. Party-Ready Patio It’s easy to transform your patio into a welcoming Christmas gathering space. Anne Zirkle of the Simply 2 Moms blog added simple accents to prep the seating area…

Want the look of lush evergreen roping without breaking the bank? On her decorated patio (see page 11), Anne Zirkle from Simply 2 Moms decorated the posts on her pergola with a fool-the-eye mix of faux and fresh greenery for that full look. Start by wrapping posts with inexpensive artificial garland and then add strings of white lights. To fill out the faux garland, Anne cut 8″-12″ lengths of Leyland cypress from a tree in her yard; if you don’t have evergreens, ask a friend or local Christmas tree vendor for some clippings. Tuck the cut branches into the lights and garland, overlapping them so the faux greenery is completely covered. When you’re finished, it will look like you’ve splurged on lots of fresh garland!…