In for the night – everything wrapped and ready (I hope).  The ribeye roast (recipe below) marinating.

Hubby and I are following our annual tradition of watching George C. Scott in A Christmas Carol – our favorite version.

Spent the afternoon with hubby’s family, another tradition and all five grandchildren were there this year.  My sister-in-law bought a 100+ year old house in a tiny village in North Carolina and is restoring it.  A lovely place for antiques and Christmas decorations.

Spicy Rib-Eye Beef

1  6-pound boneless beef rib-eye roast
1/3  cup coarse or cracked black pepper
½  teaspoon ground cardamom
1  cup soy sauce
¾  cup red wine vinegar
1  tablespoon tomato paste

 Trim excess fat from roast.  Combine pepper and cardamom; pat onto roast
Combine next 5 ingredients, pour over roast, cover
Marinate overnight in refrigerator, turning occasionally

Remove roast from marinade; discard marinate.  Wrap roast in foil and place in shallow baking pan. Bake at 325 for 2 hours or until thermometer registers 140 (rare) or 160 (medium)

This is what I do for Christmas – I’ve been making these ornaments for years, the college roommates have quite a collection.  I love doing it, and I can’t snack while I’m sewing – always a plus.

Wanted to share since everyone is sharing their baking and recipes, and I can’t do that. When my kids start coming home with their kids and want a meal they grew up with, I’ll be placing Happy Meal boxes around the table.

The one above is mine for this year and at the bottom is the crop for this year.

I think everything’s out now.  The family is coming here this year.  Sister and her family and both kids – that’ll be fun.

La daughter and I have a tradition of decorating the tree together and the ornaments grow every year with one for her and el son and one for us empty nesters.

Have the entire Santa collection spread out around the great room.  I’ve been collecting these for years and they’re beginning to overflow the space available.  I even remember where most of them came from.  The first was a ceramic Santa and tree that I bought.  The second was a favor from a dinner party for Christmas in Tulsa.  The rest have kind of accumulated. One of my favorites is a napkin holder that baby boy made in day care.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas or whatever you celebrate.  Really looking forward to next year, especially March (and not just for Hubby and son’s birthday).  Hoist a wassail for me!