Last Day of 2021 - Sharing My Christmas Gifts

I'm enjoying a relaxing day at home today and thought I'd share my Christmas gifts before the season comes to an end, but I plan on leaving my decorations up a little while longer to enjoy. When do you take your decorations down?

My family was very good to me...  my opened gifts are the only ones still under the tree.

My hubby gave me a new Breville electric kettle.  The old one that I got in 2011 is still working, but he wanted me to have a new one handy whenever the old one decides to quit. He also gave me 12 plaid napkins that I've been wanting, and the books, Christmas at Highclere, and A Taste of the Nutcracker - all the recipes are inspired by the classic ballet.

I highly recommend this electric kettle - mine came from Sur la table, but other stores carry it.

I'm glad I got to visit Highclere with my daughter in 2015.

From my daughter and son-in-law, a box of chocolates by Maralyn in Grosse Pointe, MI - Toffee dipped in Milk and Dark Chocolate that is absolutely delicious.  Ironically, the box was wrapped in Nutcracker ribbon.

And a fabulous Shutterfly album of pictures from our trip to England together in 2015. What a treasure!  I've made several Shutterfly albums as gifts to family members but this is the first time I've received one.  Lori did a beautiful job putting this album together.

From Steve, Sharon, Brianna and Brooke... Four Nutcracker Spreaders, the Official Downton Abbey Christmas Cookbook, and a Christmas teacup night light. 

The spreaders completed everything I needed for a Nutcracker tablescape.  Jerry finished assembling the Nutcracker centerpiece for me and it came out beautifully.

If COVID wouldn't have prevented the tea gathering planned for yesterday, Nutcracker was going to be the theme.  I even bought a Nutcracker apron to wear [a Christmas present to me from me], but the theme will keep until next Christmas.

Jeremy and Samantha and kids gifted Jerry and me with two generous gift cards to Zehnder's and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland [open year round] in Frankenmuth, MI. The store opened in 1945 and is the world's largest Christmas store.  A previous post shared our visit to Zehnder's this past Tuesday, but the parking lot at Bronner's was so full we decided to postpone going there until after the holidays.  We still have money left on the Zehnder's gift card, so we'll be returning to Frankenmuth soon.

They also gave me a gift box of Wow & Flutter loose leaf tea - Ceylon Juniper, Winter Chai, and a herbal, Strawberry Tulsi [basil].  Included in the box was a package of EZ brew tea filters.  I had never heard of the company before and discovered they're a Michigan based company in Milan, MI.  Aside from selling their products online, they're also available at farmer's markets and select stores.  Samantha bought the teas at the Agricole fresh food market in Chelsea.

I'm sipping a cup of the Strawberry Tulsi as I type this post and it's very good - healthy too!  It contains lemongrass, apple pieces, tulsi, spearmint, strawberry flavor, rose petals, and basil essential oil.

Izzy gave me a box of milk chocolate covered cherries and a box of dark chocolate covered cherries.  My love for the candy goes back to my childhood when I used to get a box every year for Christmas.  She also wrote the sweetest note inside a Christmas card - definitely a keeper!

Sweet little Ellie gave me a tin of chocolate candy and two ornaments she made.  I told her the mitten ornament could almost double as a teapot!  ;-)  She wrote a thoughtful note to Papa and me too.

Jerry and I also got a gift card to Olive Garden from granddaughter Tiffany, John and girls.  

This concludes my last post of 2021.  Thank you for reading my blog this year.