Glaedelig Jul to Everyone!
We’re busy with family stuff (good stuff), but I figured I would break the blog silence to send you all some love and a quick little Holiday Greeting.
Tonight is the night we Danish folk traditionally have our big Christmas celebration so yesterday evening I made the special nisser-appeasing rice pudding and this morning I whipped it up into my drool-inducing ris-a-l’amande desert. The flavors of rice, cream, vanilla and almonds are now happily fusing together in the fridge with the aim of hitting peak deliciousness at around 6PM tonight.
As it so happens Cuban folk enjoy their 24th celebration too, so right around that time we’ll be driving over to Paul’s side of the family where we’ll be indulging in some traditional Cuban fare (can you say slow-roasted pork, black beans, rice, plantains….oh my!) before we finish off Danish-style with my rice pudding desert. Then we’ll enjoy a few after-dinner drinks and open some presents.
It’s the first time ever that we’ve had both sides of the family together including my dad, sister, her fiancee, and 7 folks from Paul’s side, so I am crazy excited about the party. I’ll also have lots more to share once my family leaves including our various sightseeing trips around Miami and whether renting a house made us miss having a stix & brix (want to guess?).
In the meantime whatever you might be celebrating this season or however you might be passing your time tonight and tomorrow, I wish you the warmest of greetings and the most joyful abundance of happy tidings. Glædelig Jul, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and love to all!
Feliz Navidad to you and Paul from fellow Cuban RVer in Texas. We’ll miss the Cuban food. We are half timers and spend 5 months in the PNW in our 2015 Cornerstone. Enjoy your posting very much. Hope our paths cross in 2017. Safe travels.
Roger and Debbie
Felix Navidad to you too! Maybe we’ll cross paths in 2017. It’s always fun to meet other Cubans on the road.
Nina
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!
Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy Holidays to you both from sunny, warm Arizona. Not today, though, but next week, probably….
Lovely! We’re sunny and warm here too, but with a touch more humidity LOL. Missing a bit of that dry heat right around now. Merry Christmas!
Nina
Greetings from the other side of the US. Thanks for the posts…fun to watch your 2016 travels. We look forward to the large family photos.
Merry Christmas,
Jeff, Deb and Sam
RollingRecess.com
Merry Christmas and a fun filled family gathering.
Merry Christmas to You, Paul , your families and fellow readers. We’re still in St. George, Utah where we have stayed WAY too long weatherwise. But we love this area and will stay until after the New Year before heading to “Q” for a few weeks and the Big Show. Now that we’re full-timing, Florida is in our sights. Sounds like you will have a great family celebration.
A shame you, Paul and the fleet of animals are in Florida instead of San Diego this year – we have 18 coming, with room for 6 more!!! (And always looking for someone to help us with the dishes afterwards!!)
Due to multi family scheduling, we’re having our Christmas on Christmas Eve. And again due to scheduling, we will not start until 4-5:00PM (Some people still work!). So this year, we’ve all decided to be Italian for the night. Three different kinds of Lasagna, some owe so evil looking garlic bread, caprese and antipasto and Smitty Surprise sales. A few gallons of various Chianti/Rioja Crianza & Medium body Cabernet! Deserts are top secret, according to my older sister – she’d have to shoot me if she told me what she bringing!!!
From 3 years old to just under a very young 80 – we cover the generations well:)!
While we understand you two being with family and friends. I have a hunch you would have blended in well with the clan.
Have a great Christmas – and to all of your blog followers, best wishes and Happy Holidays to you too:)!
Smitty
That sounds like a glorious party. Good food, good wine, good company! Hope you had a wonderful evening!
Nina
Happy Holidays!
RigtigGlædelig jul til dig dig, Paul og hele jeres familie fra det solrige og ikke så kolde, 1c BC, Canada. Ris a l’amade blir det ikke til her men dog får vi min mors ris salat og mandelgaven. Marcipan grisen, som jeg skal se at få lavet om et øjeblik.
Godt Nytår og tak for alt dit skønne arbejde.
Eva og David
Hvor dejligt! Vi har ogsaa Marcipan Gris som mandelgave, saa det glaeder jeg mig til. Haaber du faar en rigtig hyggelig aften! Glaedelig Jul og Godt Nytaar!
Nina
We are wishing You, Paul and the entire Family a Safe and Joyous Merry Christmas.
It’s about time.
You and Paul’s family traditions for Christmas sound yummy! I hope you and your families have a wonderful celebration. It is so wonderful to have family around for the holidays.
Carolyn
Merry Christmas to you and Paul! Thanks for allowing us to follow your adventures.
So glad you are along for the ride! Merry Christmas!
Nina
Merry Christmas to you and your families! Enjoy the time together! I look forward to following your next years adventures❤
Merry Christmas to you and Paul, and the Fur Kids, too. Have a WONDERFUL time with your families! 🙂
Thank you Barb! A very Merry Christmas to you and your furry one too!
Nina
Happy Holidays to you and look forward to your next adventure.
Thank you! Happy Holidays to you too!
Nina
Merry Christmas, and thanks again for sharing your thoughts and travels. Best wishes for a grand 2017.
— Anne
Thank you Anne! Merry Christmas to you too!
Nina
The very merriest of holidays to you both! Enjoy your time with family.
Thank you Lu! Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing season, and that we get to meet up again in 2017.
Nina
What a perfect Christmas to have both families together:) Enjoy making lasting memories together:)
Merry Christmas, Paul and Nina!
Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years to you and Paul and the whole furry troup. Lewis sends his special regards to sweet Polly.
We used to have our big celebration on Christmas Eve also, so it’s a special night for all of us…..
Our love,
Sue and Dave and Lewis Black
Merry Christmas to you all. Polly sends Lewis some big doggie kisses right back!
Nina
Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Leta (my better half) and I have just gone full time and are spending our first Christmas on the road.(Nashville) All your tips and ideas are great!! thank you for this wonderful blog and will be looking forward to more in the coming New Year.
How fun! First Christmas on the road is always exciting and new. You’ve chosen a lovely town for it. Good travels to you!
Nina
So much joy to be spending a special time of year amongst so many loved ones. And fondly remembering past holidays spent camped in the desert with you guys. Miss you guys oodles. *big hugs*
Merry Christmas Nina and Paul!
My guess is no, a brief stay in a house full of family would not be a trigger to start house hunting! Too hectic to truly enjoy the space…now a cozy cabin in a rural area….that just might start the urge!
Merry Christmas to each of you.
Merry Christmas to you Nina and Paul. Thank you for another year of enjoyable insights to your RV life. God bless and keep you safe all year long.
Merry Christmas and Happy new year
Merry Christmas to you, Paul and the 4 leggers
Wishing we were in Florida with you – currently in an Idaho blizzard! But family can warm things up nicely! Enjoy and happy new year too!
Jim
Happiest of holidays to you and Paul and the paws and your big family. What a blast to all be together!
I’m thinking you don’t miss the S&B at all :-)))
Sounds like an absolutely wonderful multi-cultural holiday! Enjoy enjoy!! And thank you SO much for all the wonderful information and beautiful pictures you’ve provided for all of us this year and years before. You and Paul are treasures!
Thank you for following along on our adventures! Best of Holidays to you both too!
Nina
Merry Christmas to you. Our grandson is looking forward to spending next semester of his junior year at the Danish International School in Copenhagen. One of his classes will be Danish (the rest all taught in English), and having dated the Danish exchange student when I was a senior in high school, I have told him he will have his hands full learning Danish.
Chris
Glædelig jul til jer begge
Mange tak! I lige maade!
Nina
Sending our Christmas wishes from sunny but cold California to you and Paul in sunny and humid Florida. Holidays with family is always fun and wonderful.
-Steve and MonaLiza
We’ve definitely got the HEAT over here in Miami (mid 80’s ALL this week -> my family can barely believe it!) so we’ll try and send some your way. Happy Holidays to you too!
Nina
Nina: Thought you might enjoy this article on Hygge: http://www.thejournal.ie/hygge-art-of-living-3110938-Dec2016/
Now I understand why you love candles so much! Happy New Year!
Yup we’re VERY much into “hygge” in Denmark and it’s something I’ve practiced since I was a child. I’ve incorporated it into our internal decor in the RV too (we have lots of candles, soft light etc.). Last year the tradition worked it’s way out of Denmark and seems to have been discovered worldwide. It was interesting to see all the articles that were written about it in 2016.
Nina
My great grandmother was from Denmark. She taught my mother how to make rice pudding that was wonderful. But my mother did not pass the recipe down to me. I have tried several recipes I have found but none taste like hers. I did not know that was a Danish custom. I love your blog and have learned so much from it.
I know exactly what you mean! The recipe I put in the blog link above (THIS one) is the recipe handed down to me from my great grandmother (through grandmother and my mom) so it’s definitely traditional. Give it a try and see if it turns out the way you expect. Also getting the right rice (a short, “sticky” kind of rice) is key to getting the right consistency and taste in the pudding, so that’s another tip. Sushi or arborio rice will work, but you can also buy authentic Danish Rice Pudding rice which is even better (we bought ours online this year from http://www.nordiskimport.com -> they are Danish store based in GA and have a GREAT store and great service). DO let me know if it works for you!
Nina