Day 15: Seasonal Celebration

[Linda-And-Richard0]

My husband and I love sharing our Guest House and our city, San Antonio, all during the year but especially during the Holidays.  Guests will find a Christmas tree in the living room and stockings hanging at the foot of each bed.   For our family, it's all about the tastes of the Holidays.  Our traditional gift to friends and neighbors is a basket filled with homemade delights.  Our Airbnb guests will find a basket containing an assortment of cookies, candies and breads awaiting them upon arrival.  The pantry holds the makings for hot chocolate and Russian Tea to keep away the chill on cool Texas nights.

Our neighborhood has a large population of White Tail deer.  We scatter apples in the front yard for the deer to munch.  Guests can watch the deer from the comfort of the cozy living room.  The kids can keep an eye out for Rudolph, Dasher, Prancer and the rest of Santa's team.

The San Antonio River Walk is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.  During the holidays, it is alive with the vibrant colors of the season.  Strings of lights hang from the trees along the banks of the river.   The Friday after Thanksgiving is when the lights come to life.  A parade of brightly decorated river barges is the highlight of the evening.  Santa himself is riding on the last river barge.   For New Year's Eve, the city has a huge party with live music, food and a fabulous fireworks display.  The annual event is held in Hemisfair Park and Maverick Plaza in historic LaVillita.  Admission is free to all who want to ring in the New Year with 50,000 of their closest friends.

Merry Christmas Y'all,

Linda & Richard

[Laura2484]

Wow this post certainly captures the magic of Christmas for the young & young at heart ,thank  you for sharing your snippet of ' Seasonal Celebration'. @Linda-And-Richard0 
Your guests must feel truly spoilt and pre book these dates in advance.
The candies & cookies look scrumptious, which is your traditional favourite?

'Great food & laughter shared with family and friends is always the best!'

Enjoy your Festive Holidays ✨
Laura

[Linda-And-Richard0]

@Laura2484Hi Laura, Thanks for the comment on my Seasonal Celebration post.  Yes, we do like to do a little extra for our guests.  As for a favorite recipe, my husband makes the most delicious pecan pralines you will ever taste.   My favorite cookie to bake would have to be Snickerdoodles.  Our daughter's favorite is the Mexican Wedding Cookie.  Lots of pecans and powdered sugar.   I'm always ready to share recipes.

Happy holidays to you and your family.

Linda

[Helen427]

hello @Linda-And-Richard0 < lovely post and so nice to see someone who enjoys baking & giving.

May I ask what Snickerdoodles are?
Do you have a recipe for them?

Thanks in advance

[Linda-And-Richard0]

Hi @Helen427  Snickerdoodles are a cookie coated in cinnamon and sugar.  I'll get the recipe to you.  My grandmother taught me how to make these when I was about 10 years old.  Not commenting how long ago that was.

[Linda-And-Richard0]

@Helen427Here is my grandmother's recipe for Snickerdoodle cookies. 

1 cup vegetable shortening

1 1/2  cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 all purpose flour

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt                                           Coating mix - 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon

Cream together shortening and sugar, then add eggs.  Add dry ingredients together and then stir into wet ingredients a little at a time.  Roll into balls about 1 1/2 inch in diameter.  Roll each ball of dough in the coating mix and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes.  Cookies will rise while baking and then flatten and crack when cooled.  You may need to make another batch of mix additional coating mix.   should make about 5 dozen cookies. 

Best regards,

Linda

[Helen427]

Thanks @Linda-And-Richard0 

Looking forward to seeing everyone else's home made Snickerdoodles they are inspired to make over the Christmas period 

@Lizzie @Cathie19 @Miloud0 @Laura2484 @Heather133 @Quincy and team in London

- I'm exempt this time around as I'm still a One armed bandit!

[Heather133]

@Linda-And-Richard0 I'm inspired to do more for my holiday guests AND to visit San Antonio! Thanks for your lovely post and enticing photograph!

[Linda-And-Richard0]

Hi @Heather133  Lots of things to do in San Antonio during the winter months.  Not nearly as cold as Vermont.  Yesterday was 82 but tomorrow could be 28.  Come here during the spring to see fields of blue bonnets and other wild flowers.  April is Fiesta time.  It is a city wide party that lasts for about 3 weeks.  My favorite event is Night In Old San Antonio, NIOSA.  A four evening event with music, tons of food and truck loads of beer.  We always gift our guests with complimentary tickets for NIOSA.   There are 3 parades  during that time.  Let us know if y'all ever head this way, we will be happy to give you a tour of our city.

[Cathie19]

What a lovely post @Linda-And-Richard0 . I like the image of the barges all lit up, and the deer on the lawn. However, I just put on 2kilos, just looking at those cookies! 🎄

[Linda-And-Richard0]

G" Day @Cathie19  Yes, munching those cookies does add a little to the waistline.  Fortunately, I have been walking at least 2 miles every day to help take off the extra pounds.  Also, the walking is helping me get ready for my three week trip to Australia in September 2020.  Scheduled to be in Darwin for a few days and then take the Ghan south to Adelaide.  Trip of a lifetime.

[Cathie19]

Gosh @Linda-And-Richard0 , The Ghan really is one of those trips.... we’ve had guests from Australia and Britain who have travelled it from Adelaide. Our SBS broadcaster made a very successful SLOW TV documentary on it. About 17 hours the full version! Like watching grass grow... but the nation  was enthralled, for Twitter was alive with it!

Never done it myself, but when you are travelling, you can think of Garry and I and the many Christmases we use to travel down that track. This was before budget airlines ever existed, for five airfares was not a possibility to see family. All 3,000+ kms of it!

Depending on the year we would go south for a 1000kms, and hang a left to Qld or NSW via Qld, if the road was open, not closed from monsoonal flooding.

Alternatively three days drive straight down the track to Adelaide, or hang a left at Port Augusta in SA, across to Broken Hill and to central NSW or Sydney. The race home for dry roadways and open bridges use to be a fun one.... NOT! Lol..

In maybe 3-4  weeks, we would travel with three kids in the back, or even with them as  grown teenagers, accumulating around 10,000kms on the car for the Xmas hellos

Three days drive, straight down the track! Darwin to Adelaide 3000kms

[Miloud0]

Salute, 

@Linda-And-Richard0 I am sure that your your guests are going to be happy with your hosting. Thank you for the lovely article. I hope for you happy holidays 

Thanks, 

Miloud

[Erica266]

I´m hosting for the first time in the hollyday season and i´m wondering how to make it festive without making it too much.
I plan to leave a bottle of champagne and some chocolates, but now that i´m reading these, maybe home made cookies is the way to go. 

[Linda-And-Richard0]

Hi @Erica266    We have a group of guests here for the Christmas holidays so they will get cookies and candies.   Another group is here for the Alamo Bowl and New Year's Eve.  I'll have champagne, some appetizers and noise makers for them.   I might pick up some sparklers for them to light on the patio.

Merry Christmas, Linda