Christmas Traditions Blog Hop

Today I'm happy to pawticipating in Mayor Arty's Christmas Traditions Blog Hop.

Grab a cup Joe or Tea or Christmas Cheer and lets get started

The very first tradition that happens is right after Thanksgiving Mom addresses all our Christmas Cards. Because she likes to buy the stamps and get things mailed before it gets to crowded at the Post Office.

I am always in charge of finding the purrfect bow for each package

I take my job seriously but TOGM is always foolin' around!!

Once the cards are address and the presents are wrapped the peeps do some outside decorations
We always put a single candle in all the windows facing the street
and silver balls on the Forest Pansy tree
Mom added the train via Pizap

We used to put the silver balls on the Red Maple but OMCs the last few
years it has been full of glorious red leaves so we turn on the
front lantern, add a bow, put out our Winnie flag and call it purrfect

 This happy little Santa always sits somewhere on the front porch.
Mom got him may years ago at Physics Christmas Gift Exchange

Christmas Tree

This year the peeps decided it was time to have a more senior User Friendly tree

aka smaller, lighter, and for sure not 8.5' tall.

Here is our tree

It is loaded with traditions...we'll show you up close and purrsonal

The tree skirt was crocheted by Dad's Mom a looooooong time ago
1.It was actually an afghan but mom loves it as a tree skirt
2. The barn for the Nativity scene was handmade by my wonderful brother in law aka dad to
Mia and Frisco
3.  The Nativity pieces are made of ceramic and were made by my Dad's Aunt Eula in 1970...
Everyone of these are absolutely precious to us.
This is the first year we've ever had to Nativity scene under the tree
we love it there...and it is all because the tree is smaller and doesn't take up so much room
Oh if you saw the presents now you'd see all of them are turned upside down
BECAUSE somebuddy has been trying to eat the bows!!

This decorations have always been on our trees since
December of 1970. which was mom and dad's first Christmas as husband and wife.
  It was given to mom at her bridal shower.  It is handmade and it is a bride/
Shell is like an egg and is covered in beads

This little swaddled baby was a decoration on a gift at a baby shower that was given for
mom, in August of 1971.  Ironically it is all edged in pink...back then folks didn't know the sex of the baby until it arrived.  It always reminds mom of my precious human sissy.

One of the delicious dishes on Christmas Eve that we love here at Madi Manor (well I like to smell the bacon cooking in them) is fresh collards.  Mom bought 6.5 lbs from our Farmer's Market on Monday, 12/18/17

she washed them and cut all the big stalks off.  She forgot photos of that...

she was on a mission to get it done.  Anyway while she does the washing she puts a huge 

pot of water on to boil she season's the collards with turkey bacon, salt, pepper, oil and Mrs. Dash

table blend.  By the time the water starts to boil, she has finished washing and into the pot they go.

Collards were nearly falling out of the pot...but then the cooked down to what you see.

She and Dad had a taste and they are very very good.

This Christmas morning will be our very first year in probably 22 years that we have not had Monkey Bread for Christmas breakfast.  Everybuddy in the family has cut back or completely eliminated their sugar consumption, Monkey Bread is very very very sweet.  This year mom is making 

a bacon and cheese quiche, there will be a bowl of fresh fruit and some muffins

She always sets the table like this though..she Pizap a quiche on top of the monkey bread.
MOL

Thank you for joining us as we shared a few of our traditions... it is a hop so be sure to visit all the other blogs shown below.