Holidays with Grandma

Holidays with Grandma : A Family Tradition. Holidays with Grandma were special and memorable. Some of the best memories of growing up! Holidays with Grandma were a Holiday Tradition! I have memories of important holidays which include my grandma. That's a picture of grandma and me! Our Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter Holidays really didn't kick-off at our house until our grandparents arrived, especially grandma! What is it about grandmas anyway that they evoke such love and warm memories in their grandchildren's hearts.

A Holiday with JaguarJulie and
Grandma Julia Nagy

My grandma shared her love for traditional Hungarian and Slovak cooking with us. Because of her, I have a passionate love for stuffed cabbage, hungarian goulash, hungarian spaetzle, polish pierogi, butter horns, nut roll, poppy seed roll, kifli, langos, strudel, apple pie, crepes suzette and oh so many other traditional Hungarian goodies!

I have written some about my grandma Julia Nagy as she has inspired me to be what I am today. Thank you grandma! I am thinking of you now that the holiday season is here ... sadly it is now holidays without grandma.

What is a bit saddening is to see that the important things are seemingly diminished by the commercialization of the Holidays. You know, buy this, buy that; write about this top selling item; sell, sell, sell; buy, buy, buy!

My grandma survived the Great Depression and instilled within us, a sense of pride and appreciation for the Christmas Tradition. Perhaps there would be less wars, fighting, competition, and divorces, if we weren't trying to add to all that commercialization. To me, Holidays with Grandma IS the Christmas Tradition. Those are my thoughts ... what are yours?

Some of the best memories of growing up were holidays with grandma : cherishing those memorable family traditions! Wish you were here grandma!

A grandma is a grand person! The use of the prefix "grand-" dates from the early 13th century, from Anglo-French graund.

The Christmas Holiday with Grandma Julia Nagy

Dear Grandma: It's the holidays without you again!

Dear Grandma,

Yes, it is once again the holidays without you. I’ve got your recipes for stuffed cabbage rolls, nut roll, poppy seed roll, butter horns, hungarian goulash, kifli, and kind of remember all your cooking tips. But, it’s just NOT the same without you! Everything your cooked and baked always tasted better than my rendition.

I just wanted to thank you again for everything that you taught me and for all the love that you shared unconditionally. I didn’t always tell you how much you meant to me; how much I truly respected and loved you. Grandma, I miss you. I’m doing my best each day to be a better person, and it is all because of you. Because of all that you taught us.

Thank you grandma for all that you did for us.

Sincerely,

Your loving grandchild.

Holidays with Grandma in the Kitchen!
When I think of holidays with grandma, I think of her in the kitchen! She was famous for her Hungarian cooking!

• Stuffed Cabbage : The Best Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Ever!
• Hungarian Goulash : Ah, Goulash
• Butter Horns : Traditional Hungarian Pastry
• Poppy Seed Roll : Traditional Hungarian Pastry
• Nut Roll : Traditional Hungarian Pastry
• Kifli : Traditional Hungarian Pastry
• Langos : Traditional Hungarian Food
• Hungarian Spaetzle : Little Dumplings

What is your favorite grandma-ism?

• If you keep crossing your eyes like that, they'll stay that way!
• If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything!
• I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap!
• Who do you think we are ... the Rockefellers?
• Who taught you to talk like that anyway?
• And another one for the pot!
• Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
• Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
• If you see a penny, pick it up for good luck.
• Don't say something you might be sorry about later.
• People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
• Only pick up a coin if face up for good luck, if it's face down the luck has run out.

Famous grandmas remembered -- some favorite quotes
Which is your favorite?

• A house needs a grandma in it. --Louisa May Alcott
• It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace. --Christopher Morley
• When a child is born, so are grandmothers. -- Judith Levy
• If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma. -- Teresa Bloomingdale
• My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is. -- Ellen DeGeneres
• Never have children, only grandchildren. --Gore Vidal
• Being pretty on the inside means you don't hit your brother and you eat all your peas - that's what my grandma taught me. --Lord Chesterfield
• My grandmother was a Jewish juggler: she used to worry about six things at once. --Richard Lewis

The Thanksgiving Holiday with my other Grandma

"Share your love and blessings with friends and family at Thanksgiving. Make that the first day of Giving Thanks each and every day!" -Jaguar Julie

Holidays with grandma -- which is YOUR favorite?
Would you pick Thanksgiving or Christmas? If you could pick your favorite holidays with grandma, which one would you pick?

This special holidays with grandma lens is dedicated to my grandmother Julia Nagy. My grandmother Julia Nagy is my superhero! Thinking about the 'superheroes' in my life, the very first person that comes to mind is my grandmother Julia Nagy!

Do you love holidays with grandma, or maybe are a grandma who loves holidays with her grandchildren? Have any favorite stories to share?

History: Holidays with Grandma : A Family Tradition was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on November 9, 2008. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #863 overall. Lens #393 in the quest for Giant Squid 400 Club.

Christmas Angels

Celebrating Christmas Angels Art Posters, Figurines, Ornaments, Tree Toppers and Heavenly Nativity Angels! We are blessed with angels.

Thank Heaven for Christmas Angels * Art Posters, Figurines, Ornaments, Tree Toppers and Nativity Angels to brighten your Christmas! How this time of year can evoke the memories to last a lifetime.

Christmas Angels have been a part of the Christmas tradition for many years.

If you are looking for some great gifts, why not consider Christmas Angels? You can find them in heavenly art posters for your walls, figurines for your tabletops, and as ornaments and tree toppers for your Christmas tree!

I have found some heavenly angels for your gift giving. Merry Christmas Everyone! Come, take a Christmas Angels stroll.

Delightful Seasonal Image Credit: Christmas Stroll!

Please take our heavenly poll.
Ah, so many angels to consider! Do You Believe in Angels?

• Yes, indeed! I believe in all kinds of angels including Christmas Angels!
• I believe in heavenly and guardian angels.
• I believe in earthly angels.
• Alas, but I do not believe in angels.

Mannheim Steamroller - The Christmas Angel: A Story on Ice This is a 1998 Christmas album by the band Mannheim Steamroller, their fifth Christmas album released. The soundtrack accompanied by the narration of Chip Davis and Olivia Newton-John reveals the story of a decorative angel that is stolen from the top of a Christmas tree by a villain called the Gargon.

The toys under the tree will not become presents until the angel is found. With the toys' help, a young mother defeats the Gargon and Christmas is saved. The story was then turned into an figure skating production starring Dorothy Hamill as the mother, Elvis Stojko as the Gargon, and Tonia Kwiatkowski as the Angel.read the rest of the Wikipedia article

This tale of good versus evil takes place in a magical land where toys come to life and evil is transformed into good. What makes The Christmas Angel especially entertaining is the combination of graceful skating by such well-known talents as Dorothy Hamill and Elvis Stojko and the emotive music of Mannheim Steamroller.

The story tells of an evil gargoyle named Gargon (Stojko) who steals the Christmas angel (Tonia Kwiatkowski) from atop a snowy village's Christmas tree, thereby preventing the arrival of Christmas. A young mother (Hamill), along with a host of toys-come-to-life, follows Gargon into the dark otherworld in an attempt to rescue the stolen angel. In the end, the angel is freed along with a host of lost souls and Christmas is saved.

We think of angels at Christmas because angels delivered the news of the birth of the Christ child.

Heavenly Christmas angel, Gabriel, was God’s messenger to Mary revealing that she was chosen to bear God’s son. Another heavenly angel told Joseph that he would marry Mary and care for the Christ child.

A small group of tiny ‘newbie’ angels, were chosen by God to watch over Joseph and Mary on their journey to Bethlehem. Perhaps because they were ‘newbie’ Christmas angels, they could find no shelter in the crowded inn, but found room in the inn’s stable.

In addition to the Christmas tree, ornaments, and lighting, Christmas Angels are a necessity in our household. I'm particularly fond of the Willow Tree line of angels. Are Christmas Angels a necessity for your holiday tradition?

Willow Tree Angel Figurines

Ah, talk about a delightful angel. This beautiful figurine sits on my bedroom dresser right in the middle in front of the mirror so that I can see its reflection.

It is the Willow Tree Happiness angel figurine.

I love how the angel has her arms spread out wide in such a friendly gesture.

The blue birds of happiness have dropped by.

My favorite Willow Tree figurine!

Angels can be found in Christmas Nativity Sets too!

The Willow Tree line of Christmas Nativity Sets by Susan Lordi is a personal favorite!

Willow Tree is an intimate, personal line of angels, figurines, ornaments and keepsake boxes representing qualities and sentiments that make us feel close to others, heal wounds, or treasure relationships to living things. The name Willow Tree symbolizes that which is gestural, beckoning and romantic.

The figures are columnar in design, like a tree, and often carry flora or fauna symbolic of human virtues or qualities. The angels are rendered so as to reveal their expressions through body gestures only a tilt of the head, placement of the hands, a turn of the body.

The absence of facial features contributes to the quiet and modest design. Emotions and feelings are left to the viewer to discern, which makes them very personal and powerful. Susan Lordi’s inspiration comes from a love of family, closeness to friends, and an appreciation of nature. Her art is intimate and personal, reflecting that which helps us treasure our relationship to people and the world around us.

Ah, Angels! May your Christmas be Blessed!
I hope you enjoyed your visit and that you do have a very Merry Christmas. Did you find a Christmas Angel that interests you? Which of the angels is your favorite? Blessing to YOU, My Dear -- From Squid Angel Emeritus Jaguar Julie.

History: Christmas Angels : Art Posters, Figurines, Ornaments, Tree Toppers and Heavenly Nativity Angels was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on December 3, 2008. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #453 overall. Lens #394 in the quest for Giant Squid 400 Club.

Christmas Nativity Sets

Christmas Nativity Sets : Touched by a Heavenly Angel. The Heavenly Spirit of Christmas! Embodying the Spirit of Christmas with beautiful, heavenly Christmas Nativity Sets.

Remembering Christmases past, I think of the beautiful Christmas Nativity Sets that the churches I attended would set up. I think of Christmas Nativity Sets : Touched by a Heavenly Angel.

The Christmas Nativity Sets were usually very life-like, even larger than life, with straw and the manger. Today, you can capture that memorable setting with one of the beautiful Christmas Nativity Sets that I have found for you. Embodying the Spirit of Christmas with beautiful, heavenly Christmas Nativity Sets.

Heavenly Christmas Nativity Sets for indoor and outdoor. Capture the Christmas spirit. Capture the Heavenly Willow Tree Nativity Set. Merry Christmas to you, my dear!

Christmas Nativity Sets Question
Please take a moment to answer our poll. What type of Christmas Nativity Set do you use?

• We use a Christmas Nativity Set passed down for years
• We have a large outdoor, life-like Christmas Nativity Set
• Our Christmas Nativity Set is an indoor model
• Our Christmas Nativity Set was handmade
• We are shopping for a Christmas Nativity Set
• We don't use a Christmas Nativity Set

The Willow Tree line of Christmas Nativity Sets by Susan Lordi is a personal favorite!

Willow Tree is an intimate, personal line of angels, figurines, ornaments and keepsake boxes representing qualities and sentiments that make us feel close to others, heal wounds, or treasure relationships to living things. The name Willow Tree symbolizes that which is gestural, beckoning and romantic.

The figures are columnar in design, like a tree, and often carry flora or fauna symbolic of human virtues or qualities. The angels are rendered so as to reveal their expressions through body gestures only a tilt of the head, placement of the hands, a turn of the body.

The absence of facial features contributes to the quiet and modest design. Emotions and feelings are left to the viewer to discern, which makes them very personal and powerful. Susan Lordi’s inspiration comes from a love of family, closeness to friends, and an appreciation of nature. Her art is intimate and personal, reflecting that which helps us treasure our relationship to people and the world around us.

Willow Tree Christmas Nativity Set.
Willow Tree 21 Piece Nativity Set By Susan Lordi (Includes Peace On Earth) with Go Green! Compressed Bamboo Towels

Resin figurine cast from original carvings by Kansas artist Susan Lordi

Includes: 26106 Creche, 26005 Nativity, 26105 Shepherd and Stable Animals, 26027 Three Wisemen, (2) 26007 Metal Star Backdrop, 26012 Angel of Prayer, 26107 Angel Stand, 26104 Peace on Earth, 26180 Ox and Goat

Guardian Angel to Watch Over the Christmas Nativity

Do you love Christmas?
Have a favorite nativity set? Please drop me a line.

History: Christmas Nativity Sets : Touched by a Heavenly Angel was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on December 5, 2008. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #721 overall. Lens #395 in the quest for Giant Squid 400 Club.

Christmas Eggnog

Christmas Eggnog : A Delicious Recipe for a Holiday Tradition! Eggnog is something that my family looks forward to each Christmas. It's a Christmas tradition: A seasonal toast with a cup of eggnog! Yumm!

It's Christmas Eggnog! We like it so much that it is served at other holidays, as well. What is great about this particular traditional drink is that you can spruce it up with the alcoholic beverage pretty much of your choice, or not. I have probably tried it with all the recommended add-ons and usually gravitate back to a light rum ... sometimes I will try a whiskey.

I have found some great recipes if you want to mix up a batch of traditional eggnog from scratch. There is even a recipe for a lowfat version. BTW, don't tell anyone, but I sometimes will doctor-up the store bought eggnog, as it can be pretty good, plus it speeds up the process. I have also found some great eggnog-type items for the holidays. Seasonal greetings with a cup of eggnog!

Image Credit: Christmas Eggnog merry graphic designed by JaguarJulie.

Is Eggnog a Christmas Tradition for YOU?
I like a little eggnog in my Christmas coffee! How about you???

Is it one of your Christmas drinks?

• Absolutely!
• Might be
• Nope, never had it

Eggnog as it’s known in France “lait de poule” which translates literally to “hen milk.”

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A Special Xmas Eggnog Recipe

Serves: 8 to 10 Party People
Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
12 egg yolks
4 cups milk
4 cups cream
3 cups light rum
1-3/4 cups sugar
5 cloves
2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg


Instructions:
In a saucepan over low heat, blend the milk, cinnamon, cloves and half a teaspoon of the vanilla essence. Keep stirring while mixture heats, and remove from heat just before boiling point.

In a bowl, mix together the sugar with all those egg yolks. Make sure you whisk them well so that they're light and fluffy. Gently and a little at a time, pour in the milk mixture while continuing to whisk.

Transfer mixture back into your saucepan over a medium heat while continuing to stir. Keep stirring until your eggnog mixture starts to resemble custard. Never let the mixture reach the boiling point.

Pour and strain the mixture into a jug, making sure to remove the cloves. Stand jug in the fridge for an hour or two. Gently stir in the cream, light rum, remaining vanilla and ground nutmeg.

Put back into the fridge overnight. Serve in cups with a little extra ground nutmeg, cinnamon or baking cocoa sprinkled lightly on top.

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A Traditional Christmas Eggnog Recipe

12 eggs, separated
6 cups milk
2 cups heavy thickened cream
2 cups bourbon
1-1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup brandy
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for about 10 minutes. Slowly add in the bourbon and brandy a little at a time. When bourbon and brandy have been added, allow the mixture to cool in the fridge for about 6 hours.

30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture. Stir in 1-1/2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg.

In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture.

Serve eggnog with a sprinkling of ground nutmeg.

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Lowfat Eggnog Recipe

1 cup “Egg Beaters”
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 teaspoons rum extract
2 pinches of ground nutmeg
2 pinches of ground cinnamon
sweetener or sugar, to taste

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, Egg Beaters and sweetener or sugar. Stir continuously until the mixture thickens slightly; so that it can coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the vanilla essence, rum extract, one pinch of nutmeg and one pinch of cinnamon.

Remove from heat, cover and refrigerate until the eggnog has cooled; about 3 hours.

Just prior to serving, ladle eggnog into glasses and garnish with a pinch each of ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon.

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More Christmas Eggnog Recipes:

1. Eggnog with Rum Recipe - Yummy recipe for eggnog with rum serves 8.
2. Traditional Eggnog Recipe - This rather traditional eggnog recipe call for brandy and bourbon. It serves 8.
3. Lowfat Eggnog Recipe - Watching your weight this holiday season? Here is a lowfat eggnog recipe that serves 6.

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History of Eggnog

• The origins, etymology, and even the ingredients used to make the original eggnog drink, are debated.
• Eggnog, or a very similar drink, may have originated in East Anglia, England.
• An article by Nanna Rognvaldardottir, an Icelandic food expert, states that the drink adopted the nog part of its name from the word noggin, a middle English phrase used to describe a small, wooden, carved mug used to serve alcohol in.
• Another name for this English drink was Egg Flip.
• Yet another story is that the term derived from the name egg-and-grog, a common Colonial term used to describe rum. Eventually the term was shortened to egg'n'grog, then eggnog. [In 1607 reported by Captain John Smith.]
• Egg Nog was first consumed in the USA in Jamestown, Virginia.
• The ingredients for the drink were too expensive and uncommon for the lower classes, but it was popular among the aristocracy.
• "You have to remember, the average Londoner rarely saw a glass of milk," says author and historian James Humes ["To Humes It May Concern", July 1997]. "There was no refrigeration, and the farms belonged to the big estates. Those who could get milk and eggs to make eggnog mixed it with brandy or Madeira or even sherry."
• The drink crossed the Atlantic to the English colonies during the 18th Century.
• Since brandy and wine were heavily taxed, rum from the Triangular Trade with the Caribbean was a cost-effective substitute. The inexpensive liquor coupled with plentiful farm and dairy products helped the drink become very popular in America.

What do you ADD to your eggnog?

• Nothing--give it to me straight!
• Bourbon
• Brandy
• Rum
• Whiskey
• It's a secret!

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
–Slovak Night Before Christmas.

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Officially Licensed National Lampoons Christmas Vacation Glass Moose Mug - SINGLE Mug

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Is eggnog a Christmas tradition for you?
How about other holidays? Do you have it other times? How do you MAKE it?

History: Christmas Eggnog : A Delicious Recipe was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on December 4, 2007. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #280 overall. Lens #179 in the quest for Giant Squid 200 Club.