Got Tagged!

This is a first ~~ being tagged!
It's from a lovely blog called
Letters from a Hill Farm. I was
introduced to Stacey Kent's magical
voice from Nan's blog and even had Ken
look up her blog when I was at Borders
to find this singer's name!
So here goes:


What is your most enduring Christmas memory?
Getting our puppy collie on Christmas morning.
How my mother kept it from us 8 kids, I'll never
know. My older brothers knew Brandy was in the
house Christmas Eve , but we younger ones didn't.
She came bounding out into the living room Christmas
morn!

Do you have a favourite piece of Christmas music?
I keep listening to different versions of
On a Bleak Midwinter, in particular a CD
from Redeemer PCA in NYC....
and the Hallelujah Chorus!
Can't help but sing from the depths of my heart
..And He will Reign Forever and Forever! Amen!


Do you stick to the old family traditions?
Yes, because they always feel good like my
old slippers. We have introduced some new
ones as the boys have gotten to be young adults.
One is going out to lunch on Christmas Eve to
celebrate our oldest's birthday, we started when
he turned 21. A friend told me
that they do "secret" gifts within the family. Her
neighbor picks the names out of a hat and they
have to give something that doesn't cost anything.
She likes to get the ones still at home ~~ she makes
their bed and picks up their room every morning for
a year!!! I wanted to be in her family! May start that
tradition this year, once my college sons are home!


What makes your mouth water at Christmas time?
We have lamb on Christmas. I love to light candles
and put on music with dinners. We have Christmas cookies
and we have a Honey Bake Ham dinner sent by
Ken's brother on the week of Christmas. That is such
a gift ~~ the boys always ask if it has arrived!

How soon do you put the Christmas tree up and
when will take it down?
I grew up decorating the tree on Christmas Eve!
My dad would get the biggest tree for a bargain.
We now decorate it about 2 weeks before Christmas
and keep it up until just past New Year's. This year
I may keep the white lights I strung across the mantle
up all year. They have brought a warmth as soon as the
sun goes down! Even my husband said "That is so nice!"