The Winner of the 2-night stay in the Dittmar Farms Tree House is…Sierra Hoesly! Congratulations Sierra, and enjoy your stay in this awesome Elizabeth getaway! Sierra shared a great winter memory
Sierra: A memory I will never forget… I was at a friend’s house on a December day with nothing to do inside, we decide to go sledding but we didn’t have sleds. So, our bright idea was to body slide down the hills. Well, on the way down the hill I slid right over a rock and broke my butt literally!!! Returning from winter break with a broken tailbone and having to carry a donut to sit on while in 6th grade, not ideal! But always a fun memory to giggle about. 🙂
Nightly: Hillcrest Reflections in the Park at Louis Murphy Park. Take a drive through between 5p-10p. Everyone gets a candy cane, and the dogs will even get a treat! $12 per vehicle, pay at the gate. $10 passes available at any Fidelity Bank.
Sherry: Going door to door singing Christmas Carols with neighbors when I was young. Some people would give us hot chocolate, or candy but everyone would clap and say how much they enjoyed it.
Julia: Cutting down Christmas tree and putting up ornaments with my mom. Driving through the lights in the park!
Jason: Spending a day making all kinds of treats for family and friends
Tina: My favorite memory is taking my kids for pizza and driving around town looking at lights and ending up at Reflection s in the park for our finale while listening to Christmas songs. We still do it even tho they are adults but now have a grandson with us too!!!
Amy: Watching Christmas Story on Christmas Day with the family.
Tyler: My fondest memories are driving through Reflections in the Park. My favorite years were when I was younger and me and my cousins would sit in the back/trunk area of their minivan while going through the park. It always gave the best angle to view the lights!
Johnny: As a kid, I’ll always remember sledding at Bunker Hill. I think the opening in the fence is still the same! If you were brave enough (or dumb), you’d launch over the big brick wall. You know which one!
Mike: Runner sled riding on gravel roads
Christmas Cocktail: Cranberry Old Fashioned. 1 part cranberry syrup 1 part bourbon, crushed ice. Mix together, stir, and top with orange slice. (to make syrup, combine a 12oz bag cranberries, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup sugar in sauce pan. Medium heat for 12 minutes, or until cranberries pop. Strain, and save.
Memory: Watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!
Becky: Watching Santa come down the 4th street elevator – always the kick off to the holiday season.
Memory: On Christmas night 1968 I was involved in an auto accident. The driver of the other car and I have been married for 55 years! Merry Christmas 
Rose: Having to wear wonder bread bags inside our boots to keep our feet dry while we went sledding.
Recipe: Brandy Old Fashion Slushies
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups brandy
- 1 can (12 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 1/4 cup bitters
- 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
Directions
- In a large saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved; cool completely.
- Stir in brandy, orange juice concentrate, cherry juice and bitters.
- Pour into a 3-qt. freezer container. Freeze overnight or until set.
- For each serving, scoop 3/4 cup slush into a rocks glass. Pour lemon-lime soda into the glass; serve with fruit as desired.
Christmas Cocktail: White Christmas Cocktail. 1.5 oz vodka, 1.5 oz amaretto, 1.5 oz heavy whipping cream and freshly grated nutmeg, to garnish. Chill a martini or coupe glass.Pour vodka, amaretto, and whipping cream into ice-filled shaker. Shake until cold, then strain into the chilled glass.Grate a little nutmeg on top and enjoy!
Spencer: Watching the movie The Christmas Story
Memory: Snow meant going to the 2-tierd hill behind Keane Hall at Loras College. We would build a snow ramp at the bottom, pour a little water on to ice-it for more speed, then strap on the K-Tel short skis and try not to break anything. Good times!
Memory: Driving alone between family gatherings on a Christmas Eve and singing along to carols on the radio.
Memory: My Grandma made Hungarian Goulash every Christmas Eve with homemade noodles. My sister and I went to their house every Christmas Eve early and helped get ready for the party.
Cindy: Back when I was young, my family and cousins celebrated Christmas Day at my grandparents house on White St. Christmas night my cousins and I would spend the night. My grandparents would take us around to see the Christmas lights throughout the city. The following day we would go ice skating at Comiskey. We would put on our skates at their house and cut through the yards over to Comiskey.
Memory: Back when we already had a snow storm or two by Thanksgiving (when I was a kid), Thanksgiving was always hosted at our house and my sister, brother, and a handful of the neighbor kids LOVED it! We lived at the end of a dead end road (never busy – plowed 2 days after the snow hits sort of place) and it was a long, steep, hill… impassable by most vehicles. It was our job to wait up at the top of the hill, in full snow gear, with our sleds in hand – to send the dressed up moms, aunts, and grandmas to my house for thanksgiving the only safe way we knew how ……. down the hill via saucer, or toboggan. You KNOW we didn’t ever intentionally send them sailing into the drift, or over a “surprise” jump, all dressed to the nines for the lovely occasion. hahaha – best!
Christmas Cocktail: Jingle Juice Punch. 4 cups cold cranberry-apple juice mix, 2 cups white rum, 2 cups cold ginger ale, 1 cup cold fresh orange juice, 1 (750-mililiter) bottle cold sparkling wine. Combine cranberry apple juice mix, rum, ginger ale, orange juice, and sparkling wine in a punch bowl or pitcher. Garnish with orange slices and cranberries.
