Pumpkins to Christmas Trees

Overnight its Christmas!!

It seems we just put away the Hallowe’en decorations and it’s already past time to have our Christmas decorations up,

shopping planned and baking started…..Is it just me or does it all really seem to be coming so fast this year??

Maybe it was the extended fall weather that caused us to feel we had plenty of time.?

I just got my outdoor Christmas lights up – not started yet on the inside but hoping to this coming week!

With a baby in the family again – I am pretty excited about Christmas.

Not sure if I’m more excited about seeing the kids or more excited for once it’s all over and things slow down for a little bit – LOL.

There are still a lot of fun and festive things to do – with your significant other or with the kids or both.

This is a highlight list. To see all the events – click HERE.

Santa Claus is still coming to some towns. Here are the Parades in December:

Dec 6th – Warkworth Santa Claus Parade – 7 – 9 pm – Main St. Warkworth

– Santa being dropped off at Town Hall for visits with the children.

Dec 7th – Peterborough 49th Annual Santa Claus Parade – 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm – George St. downtown

Dec 7th – Scugog Santa Claus Parade – 5 – 8 pm – Palmer Park & Downtown, Port Perry

Dec 14th – Bobcaygeon 76th Annual Santa Claus Parade – 5pm – (from Kaw Dairy to Mansfield)

– wagon rides, candy shoppe, Santa visit, fireworks

Dec 14th – Millbrook Santa Claus Parade – 1 pm – King St to old Millbrook Arena.

Here are the other festivities happening in December:

Peterborough County

Rolling Grape Vineyard held a wonderful vendor market a couple of weeks ago which I attended.

It was packed with people, great food and tons of gift ideas.

They are also hosting several fantastic events in December:

Dec 6^th – Their famous Salsa Party from 5-10 pm

Dec 7^th – Christmas Harvest Dinner starts at 5pm

& Dec 8^th – Christmas Sign Workshop from 2pm – 5pm

location: 260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro. I recommend making reservations. Very popular place!!

Dec 14^th – Kawartha Downs is holding a Pancake Breakfast & Christmas Craft Sale from 9am – 3pm.

Dec 15^th – Christmas for Kids is on at the Morrow Building in Peterborough – It features a “kids only” gift shop run by

the elves, to help kids purchase gifts without their parents. I took my children to a similar store when they were very young

and they absolutely LOVED it and surprisingly, picked great gifts.

Northumberland County

Warkworth Festival of Trees and Cookie Extravaganza is Dec 6^th – 8^th. Warkworth Under the Stars also starts on

Dec 6^th and features late night shopping, food, vendors, wagon rides and festive cheer. It runs every Friday evening

until Dec 20^th.

Dec 7^th – Grafton’s first ever Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5pm at Grafton Heritage Park.

Dec 7^th -Port Hope’s “Festive Fun Day” is on from 1pm to 4pm at 62 McCaul St.

Dec 7^th – If you’ve never attended this choir – it’s a NOT TO BE MISSED event. La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra is

playing “Home for the Holidays” at 2 pm at Port Hope United Church.

Dec 8^th – Skate with Santa – 1pm – 2:20pm – Jack Burger Complex – 60 Highland Dr., Port Hope

Scugog

From Dec 1^st to 22^nd, Ride the Holly Trolley in downtown Port Perry from 1pm to 4pm Saturdays & Sundays.

Take the kids to visit Santa at the Santa Hut at 192 Queen St in Port Perry. Santa is available Thursday & Fridays

from 3pm – 5pm, Saturdays 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm & Sundays from 1pm-3pm.

REAL ESTATE

The overnight changes we were hoping for with every interest rate reduction, are not happening. I think it will be a slow burn back to a more normal, balanced market.

It does seem that long-on-the-market properties are finally being sold and winter will slow new listings, which may help. Unless we get a huge amount of inventory first thing in the spring, which is what happened last spring.

Prices seem to be increasing slightly and of course, some areas are moving more quickly than others and in some areas pricing hasn’t fallen as much as in other areas. It’s a tough, unpredictable market for the most part – however, a well presented, well priced home, in a desirable neighborhood, still sells quickly.

Also, most of the remaining waterfront properties are selling off now. Winter is always the most affordable time to buy waterfront price wise, spring is the most expensive.

This past year the number of Power of sales and Estate sales has been increasing month after month. If you would like a list of these properties or an ALERT of power of sale properties or estate sales when they hit the market (can sometimes be fantastic opportunities), let me know and I will add you to my alert list.

Most requested RECIPE

My family’s most requested and all time favorite holiday treat that I only make at Christmas.

Peanut Butter Bon-Bons

These are crazy simple to make and over the years I have gotten even better at reducing the time it takes to make them.

I started making these about 35 years ago, from an old recipe book of my grandmothers. I don’t recall if she ever

made them, but I started when my eldest child was about one, because we were having company over and I needed to

impress (I wasn’t very skilled in the kitchen back then) but these bonbons fooled everyone into thinking I was the next

Martha (lol).

1 cup Peanut Butter

1 cup finely Chopped Peanuts (I used my chopper)

1 cup icing sugar

Coating: Melted chocolate (5 squares semi sweet chocolate or melted semi sweet chocolate chips)

2 teaspoons butter, melted.

Mix the first three ingredients together until well combined. Then roll into balls using your hands.

To help the peanut butter not stick to your hands so much – brush a little melted butter on your hands or dust

them with icing sugar. Put the rolled balls on parchment paper on a large plate and refrigerate until chilled.

(*see notes before proceeding).

Melt the chocolate a bit at a time with a bit of the butter (in the microwave). Mix well.

Either roll the balls directly in the chocolate or use a spoon and dribble chocolate over the chilled ball in a tiny tart liner.

Refrigerate until the balls are solid.

These freeze well and if you don’t freeze them, they will likely be gone before your guests ever get one.
I wrap them in Christmas basket wrap paper with a bow or put them in a Christmas tin with other goodies
and give them to neighbors & friends for Christmas.

*note: Depending on how big you make the balls, you should get at least 2 to 3 dozen chocolates.
I’ve made as many as 4 dozen from one batch. If you need more, just double the recipe and roll more balls.
Just do your chocolate coating a bit at a time, because it cools quickly which makes it harder to coat the balls.
You have to reheat it when it cools and too much re-heating kind of ruins the consistency of the chocolate,
– so I just melt a bit at a time and try not to re-heat it.

*note 2: the original recipe instructed to roll the chilled balls in the melted chocolate and place on parchment lined plate

in the refrigerator till chilled and chocolate is hard. I have altered mine over the years so that I use mini tart pans with a liner.

Once the balls are chilled, I pop one into each tart liner and I pour or brush the chocolate over top and then chill the entire pan.

This saves me a ton of time and uses about half as much chocolate, but also looks great when you use the festive tart liners.

*Try experimenting with different types of chocolate to make them more professional looking.

Anyway – that’s all for now and I hope you and your Family have the Merriest Christmas ever!!

All the Best & Take Care!!

Christine

Christine Domina

Hi there! My name is Christine and I grew up in this area. I have been a Realtor over 15 years but when I’m not making my clients’ dreams come true, I enjoy spending my time doing anything on the water, gardening, going to the Farmers Market on Saturdays at Morrow Park or enjoying a Music Fest Concert at Del Crary Park. I currently live in Peterborough with my two pups, Theodore & Yogi. See you around town!

Call Or Text Us Anytime 416-873-4747

Pumpkins to Christmas Trees

Overnight its Christmas!!

Christine Domina

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