Holiday Aromas

There are some scents that instantly bring back memories, and the smell of cloves and oranges always make me think of Christmas. When my husband and I were first married, I made a Christmas centerpiece with pine branches from a tree in our backyard, and I put them in a little basket. On top I added an orange in which I had inserted rows of whole cloves, and oh my gosh, it smelled heavenly for over a week.

Holiday Aromas

If you ever try this, here is a tip: Use a pushpin or other sharp item to make pilot holes, and then insert the cloves into those holes rather than trying to push them directly into the orange. Your fingertips will thank you!

Popcorn

In simpler times, food was one focal point of the Christmas season. Christmas trees were decorated with fruits, cookies, and other foods, and families would spend hours stringing popcorn and dried fruits to make festive garlands to decorate the tree.

Popcorn

We strung popcorn once when the kids were really young and hung it outside on the backyard trees for the birds. It was actually fun and went pretty quickly (and our dog helped with clean up), but I’m not really sure why we did this only once. Maybe we should try it again this year! Did you know that when making popcorn garlands, it is best to use day-old popcorn because fresh popcorn breaks too easily?

Candy Jar

The prompt today is candy, which reminded me of this candy jar my mom put out every year when I was young. The snowman head and hat were Styrofoam, and the hat was festively glittered. We would carefully pop the head off the glass jar to reach in for a sweet treat. The scarf was a simple red ribbon glued together.

Snowman candy holder

We also had a Santa version, and both were from the 1950s. Maybe Mom will comment below with a little more info about these cute jars. I love how these prompts bring back so many great memories. Does this invoke a good Christmas memory for you? If so, I hope you share it here!

Chocolate

I like most chocolate, but I’m not fond of chocolate covered cherries. However, my dad loves them and I buy him some every year for Christmas. I’m not even sure how this tradition started, but I believe when I was a teenager I bought him a box and have done so yearly since. It is kind of a joke now and he still enjoys them, although there are many fewer in a box nowadays.

Chocolate Covered Cherry

Hope Dad thinks this one looks good enough to eat! ❤

Peppermint

Peppermint is another reminiscent taste of the season, or any time of the year really. First I painted a really wonky candy cane but followed up with this candy disk.

Peppermint

Wonky Candy Cane

Have you ever stirred your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with a candy cane, wonky or not? I highly recommend it!

Gingerbread

Today’s Doodlewash prompt is gingerbread, which is one of my favorite cookies this time of year.

Gingerbread

Have you ever made gingerbread cookies? I did a long time ago and still remember the spicy sweetness. Yum.

Draw A Bird Day, November 2019

Happy Draw A Bird Day, November edition! I hope you’ve already eaten your breakfast because the sight of this bird might take away your appetite.

Turkey

I felt it appropriate to honor the turkey for the month of November. How can something so homely looking be so delicious? I know a few folks who do not like turkey, but I look forward to it being front and center at our Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving falls rather late this year, leaving less than a month’s time between it and Christmas, but I’m looking forward to cozy sweaters and fun festivities. Thanks for stopping by!