Christmas with Covid....again!
My husband and I are just now recuperating from covid, this brought me back to the Christmas that we all heard the word “Covid” for the first time.
Everyone was effected, rather they were sick with covid or not!
As I look back at that year, December 2020…I realize, just as other trying times in our lives, we have sweet memories that we can keep near and dear. Memories that we can turn to when covid strikes “again” for the second or third time….at Christmas.
Bi-Annual Cookie Exchange...
Every other year, I host a cookie exchange/cookie baking day. It has become a wonderful Christmas tradition that I look so forward to.
There are between 19-24 ladies that attend each time. Each gal brings an assigned dish to pass, ingredient or supply of some kind, to contribute to the event. They also bring 6 dozen home baked cookies to exchange.
We have a continental breakfast, then bake cookies in a assembly line fashion, cook lunch together and trade cookies at the end of the afternoon.
Here’s a shot of a cookie exchange from years ago.
Then here comes the Grinch...covid!
That year, it was suggested that gatherings should be 10 people and under. Well to tell you the truth…at that time, I wasn’t that freaked out about covid.
But many of my friends were.
So I decided to have a few friends and have some fun anyway.
The Theme and Party Favor...
The front bay window was all in white that year which set the tone for the rest of the room.
Here’s a link to read about it:
https://sweetteayankeefarm.com/?p=5790
A neutral and white color pallet is what I decided on. The tradition of giving everyone a handmade gift would continue…my idea would take several steps to create.
Starting with a small lid from a cardboard jewelry boxes, and topping them with a plastic church from the dollar store, was the beginning.
Adding a little white picket fence, a couple white bottle brush trees and it started looking pretty cute!
Ordering the “real” snow flock online, and applying it per directions…made a HUGE but beautiful mess in my basement, lol! Topping it off with a little sparkly glitter and it was almost done!
Here’s a picture, thanks to my dear friend Robin! She is so good about taking pictures of our parties, I’m busy at the last minute, and always run out of time.
It was such an emotional time, our world would never be the same.
I added a small sign, just like you would see out in front of a little country church by the side of the road.
A reminder to me.
Tablescape...
Boy what a change when it came to setting “THE” table. One table…is so unusual at our cookie exchanges, lol!
Usually, the seating is quite cozy, or should I say squooshed… using two tables, filled to the brim. This time there was room to spread out…but not the required “6 feet, lol”
Using the favor as decor, I wrapped them in clear cello and added one to each plate.
Tree Farm to cut a fresh tree...nope.
Everything was shut down…no fresh tree for the family room. That’s okay.
My mom had a darling 4ft flocked tree that I had kept. It would work perfectly next to an old white cupboard I had in the corner.
Because the kitchen area was neutral, my beloved red was the centerpiece for the family room.
Do you match your gift wrap to your tree? It is a beautiful look!
This was the year “Pioneer Women” had red checked wrap for her Christmas Paper. I should have bought every single roll! (I did buy three) you could use it all year long…and I have!
Her paper is at Walmart, that year they also had a pattern that was SO adorable!
White with the word “merry”, in red….What a perfect combination!
Time on my hands...
These “snow globe” cookies were on my Pinterest boards for a couple years, so I made some for the kids.
They took forever to make!
As the grandkids gobbled them down….I thought, the cookies are gone, but the kids are here and the strange, strange year huge on.
Love delivered...
Here are my beloved nieces, Lexi, Laney and Maddy, (plus Laney’s dear boyfriend, Jonny) driving an hour and a half from Chicago to deliver Christmas gifts.
It was a SURPRISE and I could barely keep it together.
As I set our presents to them, on the porch, I thought
…no hugs, no gift opening reactions, no Christmas dinner, no seeing my dear brother and sister-in-law. This would have to be enough.
And it was enough … enough love to last me a lifetime.
Merry Christmas from: Sweet Tea Yankee Farm!
See you in 2024…
Fondly, Sandy
That was such a sad time and changed a lot of lives. You definitely made the best of it though! The centerpieces are adorable and the scripture is perfect!
Merry Christmas!