More Christmas Titles Added to My TBR Pile

Check out the Kindle freebies and the new book by Sheila Roberts that I recently purchased. 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts

The Mistletoe Express by Tara Baisden

Montana Christmas Magic by Kaylie Newell

Once Upon a Christmas by Jane Porter

Have you read any of these?

Repost: The Christmas Memory Collection Coming in November

 

Image is my idea with assistance from Canva AI

New feature coming! We are seeking authors of family-friendly books for "The Christmas Memory Collection: Authors and the Christmases They Treasure." From Thanksgiving through Christmas, we will share a festive collection of heartwarming memories, cherished traditions, and the stories behind the season--straight from the authors you love. 

Here are the details if you wish to participate:

• Post 500 words or fewer about a special Christmas memory (Word format or pasted in the body of an email)

• Author bio (Word format or pasted in the body of an email)

• Photo of your most recent book (jpg)

• Author photo (jpg)

• Links to your website and social media

• Links where to purchase your books

Please email me at ccmal(at)charter(dot)net, replacing the words in parentheses with the appropriate symbols. The subject line should read "The Christmas Memory Collection." Limited availability. Please reach out before November 1, 2026. 

Journey through Christmases Past - Christmas 1837

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Happy Sunday! We are now 60 days away from Christmas 2026. That is only two months, people. Are you ready? 

Today, we journey back 189 years to see what happened in 1837 and how it shaped the holiday season. 

The year opens on January 1 with the Galilee Earthquake. It devastates northern Israel and southern Lebanon--which at the time were part of the Ottoman Empire--leading to thousands of casualties. Later in the month, aftershocks leave thousands dead in Syria. On the opposite side of the globe, the United States welcomes Michigan as the 26th state before month's end. Its statehood was delayed because of a border dispute with Ohio known as the Toledo War. 

In February, blacksmith Thomas Davenport patents the first United States electric-powered motor. Still six years away from publishing A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens begins serializing Oliver Twist. In March, Canada grants Black citizens the right to vote. Meanwhile, the States inaugurate Martin Van Buren as their eighth president. 

Photo credit: Artvee

As the world enters the second quarter of 1837, the Cheyney University is founded in Pennsylvania, making it the first institution of higher education for Black students. In May, the Panic of 1837 begins, leading to a nationwide economic depression that lasts six years. Then, in June, an eighteen-year-old Queen Victoria ascends the throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV. 

The summer of 1837 sees the opening of the Grand Junction Railway, the world's first long-distance railway, linking Liverpool and Birmingham. Lea & Perrins concocts Worcestershire Sauce in August, and in September, Charles Tiffany founds Tiffany & Co. 

As the world heads into the last quarter of the year, the "Racer Hurricane" strikes the Gulf of Mexico and sweeps across the entire Texas coast. Days later, the steamship Home, en route from New York to Charleston, encounters the "Racer Storm" and sinks off Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, leading to the loss of 70 passengers and 25 crew members. In November, abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy is murdered in Illinois; Mary Lyon founds Mount Holyoke Seminary, the first women's college, in Massachusetts; and Issac Pitman first introduces shorthand. William Lyon Mackenzie leads the Rebellion of December 1837 in Upper Canada. And on Christmas Day, U. S. forces led by Colonel Zachary Taylor engage in a major battle against Seminole and Miccosukee Native Americans camped on the northeast shore of Lake Okeechobee.

Christmas 1837 closed out a year marked by fierce storms, financial strain, and political unrest, yet it also shone with remarkable breakthroughs and moments of progress that brought a sense of hope to the season. 

Though historical records conflict, it appears Louisiana may have been the first to declare Christmas a holiday in 1837. Queen Victoria is said to have spent her first Christmas privately exchanging gifts and attending church in a country poised for transformation. Considering the financial crisis and the ongoing tensions of the Second Seminole War, Christmas in the United States was a simple one centered around family, especially when Clement Clarke Moore was cited as the author of "A Visit from St. Nicholas." 

One of the wonderful things about Christmas is that it gently reminds us that even in uncertain times, hope still finds its way into the season, bringing warmth, connection, and the quiet promise of brighter days ahead.

New Christmas Titles Added to My TBR Pile

I've added Christmas titles to my TBR pile in the last few weeks because I am definitely in the mood for some holiday reading. 

Belle's Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep

The Christmas Cottage by Fiona Baker

Countdown to Christmas by Dianne Houx

His First Country Christmas by Jill Kemerer

The Christmas Courier by Rosanna M. White

Starry-Eyed for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin

Yuletide Murder at Sea by Sue A. Stewart 

Have you read any of these? What are you looking forward to reading the next two months? 

5th Annual Mystic Apple Festival at Olde Mistick Village

 

Taking today off from our weekly post to spend time with my sisters at the 5th Annual Mystic Apple Festival at Olde Mistick Village. I'm hoping to find some unique handmade Christmas gifts for the family. After all, there are only 68 days until Christmas 2026!

The Christmas Memory Collection: Authors and the Christmases They Treasure

 

Image is my idea with assistance from Canva AI

New feature coming! We are seeking authors of family-friendly books for "The Christmas Memory Collection: Authors and the Christmases They Treasure." From Thanksgiving through Christmas, we will share a festive collection of heartwarming memories, cherished traditions, and the stories behind the season--straight from the authors you love. 

Here are the details if you wish to participate:

• Post 500 words or fewer about a special Christmas memory (Word format or pasted in the body of an email)

• Author bio (Word format or pasted in the body of an email)

• Photo of your most recent book (jpg)

• Author photo (jpg)

• Links to your website and social media

• Links where to purchase your books

Please email me at ccmal(at)charter(dot)net, replacing the words in parentheses with the appropriate symbols. The subject line should read "The Christmas Memory Collection." Limited availability. Please reach out before November 1, 2026. 

Journey Through Christmases Past - Columbus, Indigenous Celebrations, and Canada

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Happy Sunday! We are now 75 days away from Christmas 2026. Holy cow! Time is just flying by. This week, two new holiday titles arrived. 

Starry-Eyed for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin

Even if I read one more holiday story than last year, I will consider this year a success. 

Tomorrow, the States will be commemorating the arrival of Columbus in the Americas and the history and cultures of Indigenous Americans. Canadians will be celebrating Thanksgiving. So, let's see if we can connect all three to Christmas. 

On Christmas Eve in 1492, the Santa Maria, possibly the most well-known of Christopher Columbus's vessels, ran aground while Columbus slept. As the story goes, leaving from Hispanolia (present-day Haiti), Columbus and his crew sailed for weeks, and having gone without sleep for two days, Columbus put a steersman in charge so he could get some rest. But that weary steersman passed the buck to a cabin boy, who could not handle the ship in the strong currents, running it into a sandbar. 

With the help of an Indigenous chief, Columbus created a settlement and fortified outpost named La Navidad, using the timbers and supplies from the Santa Maria. La Navidad, as you might know, is the Spanish word for Christmas.

Photo credit: Maginific (formerly Freepik)

Indigenous peoples have celebrated the winter solstice in a variety of ways for longer than written history.  In the early 1600s, King Henry IV of France sent Samuel de Champlain to colonize Canada. According to this article, "he explored the Canadian wilderness, founded Quebec City, made the first accurate maps of the North American coastline, and served as the unofficial governor of the vast territories in New France." To share the Gospel in these new territories, Champlain would bring Jesuit missionaries on his journeys. Jean de Brébeuf was a missionary to the Huron Indians for more than a decade. After his death, de Brébeuf was canonized. Saint Jean de Brébeuf is credited with writing "The Huron Carol, also known as "Jesous Ahatonnia" or "Jesus is Born" in the Wendat language. Because of forced conversions, missionary work, and integration with the Christian church, Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways by some Native Americans and tribes. 

Photo credit: grmarc at Magnific (formerly Freepik)

While Thanksgiving in Canada is similar to what we celebrate in the United States in some ways, it has different origins. What is accepted as the first Canadian Thanksgiving is said to have occurred in 1578, with English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew giving thanks either on land or aboard their ship in Frobisher Bay (present-day Nunavut). On November 14, 1606, inhabitants of New France under Samuel de Champlain (see above) held feasts of thanksgiving between local Mi’kmaq and the French, with cranberries helping them avoid scurvy. It would be 1872, before Canada declared a national day of Thanksgiving to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales from a serious illness. 

I learned today that certain Canadian provinces can make Thanksgiving optional, so some people work that day. 

How does Canadian Thanksgiving tie into Christmas? Well, they are distinct holidays, just like in America. However, the day after Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as "Black Friday," is huge for retailers in the States. Whereas Boxing Day, celebrated the day after Christmas in the U.K. and Canada, is their huge shopping day. So both have shopping days that center around the Christmas holiday, but they have different timing.

Journey Through Christmases Past - Christmas Television Specials From 1948 - 1978

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Another week has passed. We are now 82 days away from Christmas. My fall decorations aren't all up yet, but I am getting there. How about you? Need to make sure we give a little bit of room to celebrate all the seasons before Christmas decorating takes over. Wouldn't want to be accused of blending all the holidays together, now, would we? 

Journey through Christmases Past is tuning into one of the most wonderful seasonal memories of my childhood--the televised Christmas special. Even if my mother hadn't listened to records from these popular artists and entertainers, I would know who they are because we welcomed them into our living room during the holiday season. 

We can thank Perry Como for starting the tradition. In 1948, The Perry Como Chesterfield Supper Club — Christmas Special aired on Christmas Eve. Como would end his annual specials, which ran until 1994, by singing "Ave Maria," before signing off with, "From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas and goodnight." 

Frank Sinatra would air the first Christmas episode of The Frank Sinatra Show in 1950. Two of these stand out for viewers: 1957's episode, "Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank," which also starred Bing Crosby, and Sinatra's final Christmas show, which aired on December 21, 1967. Titled The Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra Family Christmas Show, it featured Sinatra, Dean Martin, their families, and a cameo by Sammy Davis Jr. 

George Burns and Gracie Allen released a Christmas episode of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show that aired on December 21, 1950, titled "Gracie's Christmas." This show had only four Christmas episodes. I remember Burns more for his work after this show. I loved to catch him on TV because he looked like my pépé. 

Sitcoms, dramas, and animated specials would soon follow with their own Christmas episodes, but that is a story for another day. 

Bob Hope, another blast that preceded my past, entertained military troops over Christmas for more than 45 years. The first annual Bob Hope Christmas Special aired on NBC in 1953. Barbara Eden speaks about touring with Hope in this Television Academy Foundation interview. In the video below, you can watch History's "Christmas through the Decades" feature on The Bob Hope Show Christmas Special.

On December 20, 1962, The Andy Williams Show featured a Christmas episode. While the variety show was cancelled in 1971, Williams continued to appear on television and had televised Christmas specials for years. Like many of the others on this list, Williams recorded Christmas songs and albums.

Other entertainers who released Christmas episodes and specials from 1948 - 1978 include:

• Jack Benny
• Jackie Gleason
• Judy Garland
• Danny Kaye
• The Osmonds
• Red Skeleton
• Ed Sullivan
• Cher

I am sure there are others. Who do you recall from your early television-watching days? Who were your favorites? 

Getting Ready for the Holidays - Desserts

 

Photo credit: Magnific (formerly Freepik)

October is here! That means it is time to get ready for the holidays. Ideas for this month are:

1. Order Christmas cards
2. Plan outside decorations
3. Plan your holiday meal

For more details on how to prepare for the holidays and make them less stressful, please visit "Three Things to Do in October to Prepare for Christmas." The article will also link to the previous months. 

I've already considered my Christmas cards. I will likely order them next week. Our oldest daughter has been planning our outside decorations for the last few years. Not sure if she wants to do it again this year, but I am more than happy to delegate that task. For meal planning, I am focusing on the desserts. Main dishes and sides rarely change, though I might try meat stuffing as a side this year.

Classpop! shared this list of dessert ideas earlier in the year. Food Network also posted its list of dessert ideas in the first quarter of the year. Now, I believe in being prepared, but March is even too early for me to think about these things. This is a 2025 list from The Pioneer Woman that shares holiday pie recipes. Back in 2024, Good Housekeeping shared its all-time best Christmas cookie recipes.  

Have you tried any new desserts lately that I might want to test in my own kitchen? What desserts are on your holiday table?