“I Believe in Father Christmas” – Vertical Horizon

The Washington, D.C.-based band, Vertical Horizon, recorded the following cover of Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s classic, “I Believe in Father Christmas,” at Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles, 2002. Of the various remakes of the song that I’ve heard, this is my personal favorite.

169 Christmas Movies and Animated Features

Compiling this list was rather nostalgic for me, as I fondly remember some of the films from my childhood, as others doubtless will.

Some of these are available on DVD; some are not. Many of them will doubtless air on television this holiday season. I have tried to include both the old and the new in this little directory.

Each link opens in a separate window.

1. All I Want for Christmas (1991)
2. American Christmas Carol, An (TV) (1979)
3. Babes in Toyland (1934)
4. Babes in Toyland (1961)
5. Babes in Toyland (TV) (1986)
6. Bells of St. Mary’s, The (1945)
7. Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The (1983) (TV)
8. Bishops Wife, The (1947)
9. Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988) (TV)
10. Black Christmas (1974)

“Baby, It’s COLD outside.”

In Bellingham, Washington, how the north wind doth blow. I went out to get the Sunday paper just a little while ago, as the light of dawn was filling the eastern sky, and was met by a blast of fridgid arctic air that took my breath away.

Victorian Comfort Food: Currant Cream Scones

Currant Cream Scones
Marilynn and Sheila Brass – a simple yet elegant addition to any Christmas celebration.
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INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups flour (plus ¼ cup for kneading dough)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup dried currants, plumped in ¼ cup orange juice*
• ¼ cup sugar

PREPARATION

1. Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cover a 14-inch by 16-inch baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Coat the foil with vegetable spray or use a silicone liner.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Combine eggs and 1/2 cup of the heavy cream and add to butter mixture. Add grated orange zest. Add sifted dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough begins to form. Squeeze orange juice from currants and incorporate fruit into dough with your fingers.
4. Place dough on a generously floured surface. Knead gently five times, turning corners of dough toward the center. Pat dough into a 1/2-inch thick circle. Using a floured knife, cut dough into 12 equal wedges. Using a floured wide spatula, transfer each wedge to baking sheet. Brush wedges with the remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until tops of scones are lightly brown and bottoms are golden brown. Place baking sheet on a rack and cool about 10 minutes. Serve scones warm with butter and jam. They are best when eaten the day they are made.

Makes 12 scones
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*To plump currants in tea, orange juice, or water, bring the liquid to a boil, immerse the raisins, continue to boil for 1 minute and set aside to allow them to absorb the plumping liquid. If needed immediately, place in plastic container and chill in freezer for 10 minutes. If not used the same day, refrigerate and use when needed.

Snow Pixie

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Birch Bay’s “Miniature World” Santa Train Canceled for 2009

The popular annual Santa Train attraction at Miniature World in Whatcom County has been canceled due to unforseen circumstances. Well-knowing that this is an annual tradition for many Whatcom County families, here are your three closest alternatives–

• Bothell Country Village: Tree Lighting/Santa Fly-in (Train Rides All Day) – December 5

• “Bright Nights,” Stanley Park, Vancouver BC – Daily, through December

• Lake Whatcom Railway Santa Train – December 5th, 12th, and 19th (9:30am, 12 noon, 2:30pm each day) RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

50 Christmas Decorating Ideas

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS

1. The More Decorations the Better: There’s no such thing as too many decorations on your tree. If your ornaments are carefully selected and evenly spaced, the more decorated the better looking the tree.

2. Silk Flowers: Silk flowers are a great way to add color and beauty to your tree. You can choose different colors, or make them all white for a beautiful snowy effect.

3. Metallic Spray: Paint pine cones, leaves and seedpods with metallic spray. Then you can evenly space them on your tree for a great new look.

4. Miniature Wreaths: You can find all kinds of miniature wreaths at craft stores. Add greenery, ribbons or berries with a glue gun, and tie a ribbon for hanging, and you have a great home-made tree/wall decorations.

5. Ribbon Streamers: Instead of garland, try using ribbon streamers. All you do is attach Christmas colored ribbon or raffia to the top of the tree, then wind them down and around the tree until you get to the bottom.

Ferndale Olde Fashioned Christmas, Dec. 4-6

• What: Bring your camera, and step back in time this holiday season at the Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration in the historic cedar log cabins of Pioneer Park. Members of the Ferndale Heritage Society don pioneer costumes to greet visitors of all ages as they experience how our ancestors enjoyed the Christmas holidays in these log homes. Each of the 10 cabins is decorated in a special theme to welcome visitors. The event includes hands-on crafts for children, old fashioned games, music and a working general store to purchase old fashioned Christmas gifts. Freshly decorated fir trees in each cabin, and the smell of home-style baking, set the mood for the Christmas season… (read more)

• Where: Pioneer Park, Ferndale, WA [map]

• When: Fri, December 4, 5:00pm-9:00pm | Sat, December 5, 1:00-9:00pm | Sun, December 6, 1:00pm-4:00pm

• Admission: Adults: $3.00 | Children: $2.00

• For more information: Website | Phone: 360-384-6461

Holiday Harbor Lights, Blaine, Dec. 5, 2009

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2009 Winterfest Art Show & Sale, Blaine,

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