Comments on Sew I Quilt: Traditions a la Madame Samm - shortbread and Chris...

I love a good read. I will have to remember her an...

2011-12-05T23:04:41.288-05:00

I love a good read. I will have to remember her and check that out!

It all sounds delicious & wonderful. We go to...

2011-12-02T23:44:44.445-05:00

It all sounds delicious & wonderful. We go to the mountains & cut a tree every year. Did that today & it's even decorated!! What else? We have Christmas flannel pillowcases that we use all month, embroidered with your name...

I don't eat jam or jelly..(isn't that song...

2011-12-02T23:02:23.276-05:00

I don't eat jam or jelly..(isn't that song lyrics?)..but lemon curd on toast is my favorite thing. I love lemon curd.

If your lemon curd is a tradition your recipe must be tried and true...

Enjoy your time of warmth and giving!

December has many traditions in our family. This year will mark a change. We have been a family of five generations living in the same town. My Grandma died before she met her latest Great Great Granddaughter. But the circle of life continues. Traditions help that process, right? My Grandma's birthday is also the 17th...so for my Mom, this Christmas time is a milestone that needs TLC.

Enjoy your cozy day, dear friend, you so deserve s...

2011-12-02T15:52:29.294-05:00

Enjoy your cozy day, dear friend, you so deserve some "you" time! (I'm looking forward to getting that cookie pan, by the way! LOL) Will you share the wonderful lemony recipe on your blog, or is it a secret? :)
Ahh, Marlene's comment. What a treasure, all of our friends in the quilting community!

you freeze shortbread? Mmm, we have some scottish...

2011-12-02T15:45:27.196-05:00

you freeze shortbread? Mmm, we have some scottish petticoat tails on the plate today :) Delicious!

Traditions, oh yes, each year we buy a new decoration for the tree, and each year my children still insist on hanging their home made stockings, despite being 18 and 14 years old! And it seems, a new tradition over the last few years is that my mother comes for Christmas Dinner, and she brings the home made pudding :)

I just love Christmas traditions. We have so many ...

2011-12-02T14:18:59.831-05:00

I just love Christmas traditions. We have so many in our family that I could be typing out this comment for a week..lol One that we just finished last week was my that my mother and i get together every year for the past 8 years to make appetizers and cookies for Christmas. Buying pre-made would be a lot cheaper, but the tradition and time we spend together is priceless!

sooo, are we giving up the lemon shortbread tarts ...

2011-12-02T13:02:19.295-05:00

sooo, are we giving up the lemon shortbread tarts recipe? I can almost taste themmmm

Our most important Christmas tradition is that all...

2011-12-02T08:13:18.682-05:00

Our most important Christmas tradition is that all of us, my siblings, the spouses and the kiddos all get together on that day to celebrate. Except of course for the year that we got a major huge snowstorm that day. 2 1/2 feet of the white stuff. It makes for a crazy day but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Yes, I do have traditionals! Not for Christmas, bu...

2011-12-02T07:56:09.848-05:00

Yes, I do have traditionals!
Not for Christmas, but for Hanukah! Latkes - potato "pancakes" - mountain-high and all kinds of everything in them! Spinach, onions, carrots, cheese. Filled doughnuts - aka sufganioth - I leave to the baker, but the latkes I make myself. To be eaten with home made applesauce with cinnamon, ginger, and raisins galore. Still some two weeks to go. Most people don't need instruction how to eat them =^} And no, we don't mind lighting the candles in our Menora, to be "forced" not to work and enjoy the time of year, and most of all: to wish our neighbours a happy Christmas time!
Love from Amsterdam, Irene

Our family (and me, personally) have developed lot...

2011-12-02T07:50:23.092-05:00

Our family (and me, personally) have developed lots of Christmas season traditions over the year, but as my children have families of their own, it's been a joy to watch those traditions grow and change to fit their own lives. My personal traditions include baking, certain holiday movies, and reading The Polar Express! I do love this most wonderful time of the year! :)

My face is smiling and my heart is saying 'tha...

2011-12-02T02:57:02.636-05:00

My face is smiling and my heart is saying 'thank you for caring enough to share.'

Special memories of my beloved husband lighting Chanukah candles as I said the blessings -- he enjoyed it so much, as did I.

Now I light them alone but with tears of joyful memories of a man who loved me so much for too short a time. Ten years wasn't enough but we agreed an eternity would be too short.

I light the candles and enjoy also the Christmas holiday because of love felt during those times.

I love traditions and child experts say that famil...

2011-12-01T23:46:10.205-05:00

I love traditions and child experts say that family traditions are so important in making children feel safe and loved. MY grown children can tell you in great detail, HOW we did Christmas as they were growing up. Change was inevitable but we all adapted as new members came into the family and sadly we lost loved ones. My children are just now telling me about their antics and rituals on Christmas Eve after their Dad and I went to bed. Christmas Eve Dinner at my husband's parent's home has been the one non-negotiable and sadly I'm doubting if it will continue much longer. We will adapt and change once more for we have 5 small children counting on us to keep traditions alive.
Blessings and Merry Christmas
Gmama Jane
P.S. I LOVE what Marlene does with her Grandchildren and the 3 gifts. Trust Marlene to be so wise. If you don't already read her blog Stitchinbythelake, you're missing a real treat

Your shortbread lemon tarts sound like a tradition...

2011-12-01T23:07:35.392-05:00

Your shortbread lemon tarts sound like a tradition that I want to adopt. Recipe?

I love to read Christmas books at Christmas time. ...

2011-12-01T22:43:02.560-05:00

I love to read Christmas books at Christmas time. One of my families Christmas traditions is to watch "Christmas Vacation" on Thanksgiving night. It starts our holiday time with a lot of laughter!

growing up - and still today - christmas has alway...

2011-12-01T19:54:40.854-05:00

growing up - and still today - christmas has always been about family. my mom always went out of her way to make sure that everyone was there. which was pretty amazing being that she was/still is jewish and my father is the christian. so - while it may not happen on christmas day - we always find a way to get together during the season....even though we are thousands of miles apart.
in our home - we always make sure that santa gets gingerbread cookies made, baked and decorated by my 11 year old.
madame samm, i am glad that you got a day to really sit back and enjoy the season!

I have always loved Christmas and we had many trad...

2011-12-01T19:09:43.822-05:00

I have always loved Christmas and we had many traditions but since I have not been well enough a lot of traditions have fallen to the wayside and this makes me feel very sad. I miss baking the most but nobody wants to eat it anymore so I just usually do shortbread now. I love SBTL new traditions with her grand children maybe I will try to do something like that with mine. I do try and make something for everyone. This year I am doing pillowcases to match their personalities or hobbies. I love hearing about what everyone is doing. Blessings Sandra

We too have traditions, but it seems that I am the...

2011-12-01T19:00:03.395-05:00

We too have traditions, but it seems that I am the only one stuck doing most of the work for them. LOL From the 12 different kinds of cookies (mostly double and triple batches), to the wrapped gifts, and decorated house, I wish I could be a kid again when it all seemed so exciting and magical and didn't require a stitch of work out of me.

I make Nainamo Bars (as in British Columbia, Vanco...

2011-12-01T18:39:07.881-05:00

I make Nainamo Bars (as in British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Canada) every year. I found the recipe in a Good Housekeeping recipe in the 1970's and I have been making them by request every year. I knew they were a Canada thing when I saw them for sale on a ferry going from Vancouver to Victoria. Found out there is an actual place called Nainamo.....who knew????

Forgot to say - silly me - our tradition over the ...

2011-12-01T18:15:02.243-05:00

Forgot to say - silly me - our tradition over the last few years is to do all of our Christmas cards the week between Christmas and New Year's when we have time to write personal notes to friends and family. We are not rushed and it continues the Christmas spirit for us. Now it I could just find the cards that say "Hope your Christmas was Wonderful" and Wishing you a Happy New Year. Maybe I will make them. Judy C

I certainly would be dropping by if I were in the ...

2011-12-01T18:10:41.839-05:00

I certainly would be dropping by if I were in the neighborhood. Lemon tarts are one of my favorites. Thanks for reminding me about the Donna VanLiere book as I also admire her books and have her Christmas collection - I would not think of not getting it. Have a peaceful afternoon. Judy C

As my children grew up and moved away Christmas tr...

2011-12-01T15:52:43.189-05:00

As my children grew up and moved away Christmas traditions began to fade. I still manage to get the tree up right after Thanksgiving, though I confess it was difficult this year. But one tradition that I don't stray from involves gifts for my grandchildren - each one gets three, just as Jesus did. Their gold gift, the gift of riches, is something they wish for, not a need. Their frankincense gift (it was used at sacrifices) involves a "sacrifice" from me of time - a homemade gift, made from my heart. And their myrrh (a perfume used at death) is something useful. Pajamas are the traditional myrrh gift. This year the little ones will be getting travel pillowcases with pillows. The pillowcases will have handles for carrying and a pocket for their favorite book or their IPod. And their wish? The girls have asked for purses, which will be the ruffled bags similar to my Ghastlie bag, and the boy a knife (he collects them). I find that Christmas is a time for reflection...thinking on the gift we all received so many years ago. And that time of reflection is my gift to myself. blessings, marlene

Traditions, Oh yes, our family has many! Here are ...

2011-12-01T14:33:12.706-05:00

Traditions, Oh yes, our family has many! Here are a few, over the long Thanksgiving weekend, we make a Gingerbread House. We have been doing this for 25+ years. We also mold chocolate. Put up the Christmas village, which is getting bigger and bigger by the year. The Nativity set, the fresh tree.
Also, each child is allowed to choose their favorite cookie that I will bake. Yes, Fudge, I hate to brag BUT I make the best fudge in the world!!
Books, I bring out the Christmas Books only once a year. So much fun!
I could go on but these are some of our favorites.
I love yours and I think I need to check out the books you so enjoy!
Happy Traditions to you!!

You have my address correct...yes? LOL!! JUST kidd...

2011-12-01T13:57:14.635-05:00

You have my address correct...yes? LOL!! JUST kidding (mostly) We have had quite a change in our traditions the last couple of years. We had a kiddo start college (in another state)so some of the things we did can't be done till she gets home (12 days, 1 hour, but who's counting?) At any rate, there is decorating the tree. Making non baked goodies together. getting booted out of the kitchen (me) so she can bake ( I do NOT bake. ANYthing. We are all happier that way. LOL) My personal traditions involve making an ornament fro each kid every year...and the stuff that goes in the stockings...so much fun!

Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions! ...

2011-12-01T12:46:08.198-05:00

Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions! Although my husband and I have been married for 8 years we are just starting to form traditions or at least ask ourselves the question of what we want to do for the future..Next year will be out baby girl's first Christmas, I wonder how she will describe her growing up traditions to her children...So about that lemon shortbread tart recipe..(wiggles eyebrows)

This year, traditions will be taking a back seat a...

2011-12-01T12:39:17.638-05:00

This year, traditions will be taking a back seat and waiting patiently to be brought out again, but I relish the thought of you enjoying yours, so thank you for sharing!! Enjoy, enjoy!

Comments on *Sew I Quilt*: Traditions a la Madame Samm - shortbread and Chris...