Made With Love

'Tis the season to make gifts from the heart.  One morning last week, Pickle got an idea into his head that he MUST make homemade bath crayons (mainly for his own use but also to give away).  J was willing to be Pickle's right hand man in this messy, but very fun and extremely sensory rich, project!  And finally a use for the food coloring we have had in our cupboards for 10 plus years!

 

 

Basically, the end result was blue soap...but Pickle had fun with his Dada and learned that not all experiments/projects/gifts end up turning out!  Next time little man! There is always next time!

 

My mom and dad came to the farm last weekend and helped us make holiday sweets.  I worked on the seven layer bars, thumbprint cookies, and bon bons while my mom made her amazingly sweet and rich fudge (that literally melts in your mouth!)  She made so much that we have enough to share with others.

 

So where do you put all the fudge you want to give away as gifts and not eat yourself (which it is quite possible to do because it tastes heavenly)?

Luckily for us...right by our stairs to the second floor, there is this little secret hiding place.  This area is out of the children's reach and puts the fudge out of J's and my mind!









What a glorious sight!  I wish I could share some of this with all of you right now!  But I can't.  And, the recipe is no secret...it's on the back of a popular "marshmallow" whip jar! 

Jim and Mary, the owners of the farm, surprised us with an early Christmas gift.  I'll only share the edible items (found within our lovely goat print canvas bag) with you now!  More to come...

For J and I, homemade relish and jalapeno ketchup from veggies grown on the farm!  We haven't tried the relish yet but the ketchup is AMAZING, especially on a quesadilla.  Not too spicy but so rich and lots of complex flavors. 

For the kiddos... root beer (as "Mr. Jim and "Miss Mary" know what a special treat soda is to our boys) and hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows!  And I've tasted the marshmallows and they are airy and light and sweet and have just the most delightful texture.

Last week, Pickle so enjoyed his afternoon hot cocoa warm up on an especially cold day!  Thank you Jim and Mary so much for the kind gifts (and the love that goes into all homemade holiday presents).

Turning from food to crafts, I am finding 1-2 homemade ornaments and/or Christmas decorations in the boy's backpacks each week. 

 "the decorated twig" ornament by JJ

 

"the colored star" ornament by (oops, can't honestly remember- thank goodness for teachers who have the children write their names on the back of their projects)

 "the holly berry" ornament by Pickle

 

You will not find any tree that looks like ours on Pinterest.  I cannot describe this tree as "pretty", "beautiful" or even unique- as I'm sure there are thousands of Christmas trees that looks like ours all over our own state! But our tree is colorful, fun, busy and full of so many memories! This year, the boys strung the lights and hung the ornaments themselves (with some help from me and Miss Elsie).  There are clusters of five ornaments on top of each other and then spots without a light or ornament.  The lights are hanging this way and that and most of the bubbly lights (like the one below) are upside down.

But I love our tree.  I cherish all the homemade ornaments, from this year and years before (even some ornaments Farmer J made as a child).

 A few years back, my mother in law made each of us beautiful stockings.  This stocking shown is one of the boys.  There is so much detail...and each one is different.  I can't imagine all the hours that went into creating just one stocking... let alone four!  Made with love indeed!  Thank you Mima!  I think of you every time I pass by a stocking!

Many years ago, my mom gave us this tree.  She made all the cross stitched ornaments herself. The boys love looking at all the different ornaments, touching the decorative lights and counting the miniature instruments.  Someday, this Christmas decoration may be in JJ or Pickle's home... and the 'made with love' tree will be cherished by my grandchildren.  Thank you mom for the holiday heirloom. 

I hope you all have the chance to make something homemade or receive something homemade this Christmas season, as you can never put a price tag on something made with love!