Not a Creature was Stirring, Except, the Mouse

I found it!

Back in December 2017 I decided I needed

a toothpick holder on the Christmas hutch buffet.

That decision materialized because I stumbled 

across a Hallmark picture of their 

reindeer toothpick holder...

I ran right down there to buy one for $9.99

The clerk informed me they had sold out

last month and wouldn't be getting anymore in.

That started my hunt on the world wide web

for cute Christmas toothpick holders.

I then came across the cutest little

mouse and pinecone toothpick holder

picture.  It was only a picture.

Someone had arranged it in among 

pine branches and powdered snow.

No info on the actual holder, just a

 charming picture.  

Which I can no longer find today.

But it looked a little like this.

I clipped it together from memory.

But I would search and search 

off and on for a few years

with key words just to see if it would 

pop up for sale sometime.

Last week I typed in Mouse Pinecone

and this popped up!

from Ebay 2 for $12.90 + $5.85 Shipping!

In two days they arrived!

A perfect little toothpick holder, and a spare!

The little gold sticker on the bottom says Japan

but no makers mark.

But he could be vintage, does Japan even

make little ceramic things anymore?

In my search I also discovered

a mug and a bell were produced

Etsy image $15.00

as well as salt and pepper shakers

ebay image

So it really was a cute little line.

Next, I needed toothpicks!

A quick trip to Walmart netted me

800 for $2.27

Now he's all dressed up and ready to serve!

A tiny little detail,

....

on a great big hutch!

Thanks for stopping by

and happy hunting!

Now Bring Me Some Figgy Pudding

Last year I kept seeing YouTube videos

on Christmas Pudding or Plum Pudding

or Figgy (or Fygey) Pudding.

I guess they're all the same thing.

I watched a few and thought it would be fun

try one.

Figgy Pudding A Victorian Christmas Tradition 

Tasting History with Max Miller 

Not making one, Heavens no, too many steps.

But sampling one.

Figgy Pudding A Victorian Christmas Tradition 

Tasting History with Max Miller 

Here's a bit of the info from

The Conversation-

"A Brief History Of Christmas Pudding"

A Christmas pudding should have 

13 ingredients – 

that represent Jesus and the 12 disciples. 

Traditionally, these ingredients include: 

raisins, currants, suet, brown sugar, 

breadcrumbs, citron, lemon peel, 

orange peel, flour, mixed spices, 

eggs, milk and brandy. 

All things nice and spice. Schnapps2012/Shuttersock

Brandy is also traditionally poured over 

the pudding and set alight. 

The flaming brandy is said to represent 

the passion of Christ.

Christmas puddings were traditionally 

boiled in a “pudding cloth”, 

although today are usually steamed in a bowl. 

Presented on the table with a sprig of holly, 

they are then doused in brandy and set alight.

source

Some can get quite large!

The bigger they are,

the longer they take to boil in that cloth.

So I assume a lot of puddings 

weren't humongous.

Here's an excerpt from Bleeker Street's 

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" 

movie's "The Christmas Spirits" web page

source

 (An excellent movie, by the way)

"PLUM PUDDINGS

For the Cratchits, the plum pudding was the 

crowing symbol of the holiday celebration. 

Dickens describes its appearance as the 

meal’s crescendo with great appreciation: 

“Mrs. Cratchit entered—flushed, 

but smiling proudly—with the pudding, 

like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, 

blazing in half of half-a-quartern of 

ignited brandy, and bedight with 

Christmas holly stuck into the top.”

 The strange concoction began in the 

14th century as a mixture of beef, 

spices, and dried fruit. 

Over time, as the pudding grew 

more sweet than savory, it became 

a mainstay of the English Christmas. 

While Oliver Cromwell banned the item

 for a short time in the 17th century 

as a remnant of earlier pagan celebrations, 

King George I brought it back to the 

Christmas table in 1714. 

Dickens’ celebration of the desert made 

it the delight of every Christmas meal. 

And recipes for the liquor-soaked dessert 

became the pride of every household 

during the Victorian period."

source

So how big is a cannon ball?

There is another technique where

they press the ingredients into a bowl

or a fancy mold and steam it 

covered in a pot of water for 6 hours.

source

The puddings come out slightly fancier

than an oddly shaped ball.

I was very close to buying one

at World Market

source

It was $19.99 and not very big,

I wasn't sure Sam would even like it,

so I passed on it figuring I'd never get to

try one.

But the ghost of Christmas Present

wasn't done with me yet,

Last year, for Christmas dinner

Sam and I went to the Silverado Steakhouse

at the South Point Casino

They offered a special four course meal

and one of the dessert choices

just happened to be

a Holiday Plum Pudding with Brandy Sauce!
I jumped at the chance to try a

 cupcake sized plum pudding!

I don't remember if they set it on fire or not.

and I must say It wasn't bad, I liked it 

and can see why it is a favorite 

Christmas symbol to many.

In my many searches on on Ebay 

I stumbled across, of all things,

A plum pudding candy dish!

Since I had now tried a plum pudding

and learned a bit about them from YouTube,

why not own this symbol of Christmas.

 A Fitz and Floyd

"Plum Pudding Lidded Box" 

circa 1993

I found one for $29.71 + 

$12.95 shipping and $2.49 tax

I displayed it on the buffet in front 

of the gingerbread man

Notice how he is holding a wooden spoon 

with white frosting and sprinkles on it?

It looks as if he is preparing the Christmas Pudding!

Plus the plate that's attached even matches 

the Bordallo Pinheiro Christmas Holly plates

I have in the background!

How cool is that?

It's as if it was meant to be!

Sam thinks it looks like frosted crap...

But I don't, however, now that she's said it

I can't get it out of my head.

 But that's no nevermind,

I do like it and think it adds to the overall

baking theme of the buffet.

We have Mrs. Claus stirring batter,

the gingerbread men are measuring spoons,

there's a cupcake on the top shelf,

and a gingerbread house at the top.

So the Christmas pudding is right at home,

with its Gingerbread Man baker right behind.

Now that the Christmas pudding has

arrived,

God Bless Us Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by

and

happy hunting!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

After watching this little guy sell out

every season for many years,

I finally pulled the trigger

and bought one.

get one here

A Krampus nutcracker!

Who's Krampus you ask?

The following is from Wikipedia...

"The Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic 

figure in the Central and Eastern Alpine 

folklore of Europe who, during the Advent 

season, scares children who have misbehaved

Assisting Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, the pair

visit children on the night of December 6th,

with Saint Nicholas rewarding

the well-behaved children with gifts such as

oranges, dried fruit, walnuts and chocolate,

while the badly behaved ones only receive

punishment from Krampus with birch rods.

Krampus day itself, on the other hand,

is on December 5th"

I think Krampus is a very unusual character,

and I love the idea of him.

A little scary to mix into the Christmas season.

He has chains thought to symbolize the binding

of the Devil by the Christian church.

Of course, still allowing ample freedom

for a vigorous child thrashing.

When I saw this nutcracker at

Dellamorte & Co on ETSY

I was intrigued.

source

I loved the colors and he was just the

right amount of scary.

source

With the price of $95

it really was a little scary

and the reason I never

acquired one sooner.

I once toyed with the idea of

ordering a hand carved wooden

Krampus mask from Austria

as a wall hanging...

source

But the cost of one of those was

TERRIFYING!!!

So this little nutcracker

would do nicely.

source

I assume Michael Locasio, the owner of

Dellamortico & Co hand sculpted the

first Krampus prototype.

source

He then produces them in resin,

hand paints and assembles them, adding

hair and metal chains to a handful each year.

He has an education in classical sculpture,

anatomy and the bronze monument process.

Michael has worked as a fine artist as well as

sculpted action figures,

toys, and collectable statues.

He also has a fascination for the macabre,

the mythic, and the unusual.

Check out his ESTY shop for more.

source

My Krampus Nutcracker arrived yesterday!

I wasted no time arranging him

into the vignette I intended for him

Can you see him?

He's right beside Santa on

a small box to give him height.

He's ready with his birch rods

to thwack naughty children.

He sort of reminds me of one of

those grumpy monster Muppets

in amongst the cheery Muppet cast.

I wish he was a bit bigger

but then he'd probably cost more.

source

Happy Krampusnacht!

Thanks for stopping by

and Merry Hunting!