Last updated on December 9th, 2014
Thanks for playing, everyone! The winner, as selected by Random.org, is comment #61 from Sheryl. Sheryl — please contact me at this address to collect your castle cake pan!
This week, because it’s my birthday (December 7)…because Christmas is fast-approaching…and because you really need to have some whimsy in your life…I’m giving away a castle-shaped cake pan!
I know what you’re thinking.
“A castle cake is for four-year-old princesses.”
But you are wrong, my dear.
A castle cake is fun for queens, too! Not to mention kings, dukes, and duchesses of all ages.
Downton Abbey’s dowager duchess would definitely delight in a castle cake.
Please forgive my shameless use of alliteration.
Wanna watch me make a castle cake? Join me in the kitchen.
Now, to enter this random drawing, just answer the following question:
What are you doing for Christmas?
Are you…
Heading out for Chinese food and a movie? Hosting a big family event? Flying to some exotic location?
Whatever your holiday plans, shout ’em out in the comments field below, and you’ll automatically be entered to win NordicWare’s super-duper Castle Cake Pan.
Rules for entry:
Leave your comment in the comments section below.
Only one comment per person, please.
No comments after 11:59PM Eastern Time on Monday, December 8, 2014.
I’ll use the number generator at Random.org to select a winner. The winner’s name will be announced on Tuesday, December, 9, 2014, so be sure to check back!
This giveaway is sponsored entirely by Kevin Lee Jacobs.
Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s weekly email updates.
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Sue Sifakis says
Kids will be home from college, spending it with family at home.
Darlene says
Going to Michigan to spend time with family. Praying for good traveling weather! I would LOVE to take them a castle cake! Was so jealous when I saw you got this pan! :o)
Louise A Brouillette says
Staying in town to celebrate with family.
Melody Long says
Happy Birthday to you! ad thanks for the giveaway too! =D
Hans Otten says
Happy birthday! Enjoy another year of happiness to come!
Sally Wallach says
My first Christmas with my Thanksgiving rescue dog, Sabret!
Elizabeth Fox says
Spending time with my family.
Misty says
Spending time with grands! Love this pan.
Jennifer V says
My mother is coming in, so I will be angling for some childhood favorites. We usually do a nice dinner on Christmas Eve, with major snacking all day Christmas.
Laura Bremer says
staying home in Northern Michigan for Christmas, our adult children will be there as well.
Lots of love and fun for the holidays not to mention food! Our son would love a castle cake pan!!!
Happy Birthday Kevin.
susan townson says
We will be celebrating with my family at home this year . I am so greatfull . “Happy Birthday ” to you . Your castle bundt pan is awesome . I was in hospital for surgerey last December . I came home December 24 but a long recoverey awaited me . This year I am filled with nostagia from last year and can not wait for Christmas !!! We will be celebrating with my family at home this year . I am so greatfull .
Carolyn says
First we will go to Midnight Mass and then to our daughter Sharon’s for dinner and gift exchange with our children and grandchildren…..probably about 25 of us by now. The castle cake would be perfect for dessert!
Hope you have the best birthday ever, Kevin. You have given us such joy…want to give some back to you! <3 🙂
Lois Flynn says
My daughter and son will be home for Christmas.
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Kevin.
Cheryl H says
Spending it with family and enjoying the magical reactions of the children and grandchildren when they spy what Santa has left for them! Happy Birthday!!!!
pat says
Having family over for potluck and presents! Just being grateful to have everyone together.
Marianne Sievers says
Lasagna for three at home this year!
Heather O'Brien says
We’ll be in town for the holidays because my very special little girl turns 4 on the 28th and is looking forward to a party at home! There is a lot to do in planning for both a princess birthday party AND holiday guests but it’s so much fun!
Christine says
Dec 9 is my birthday so I must win! Christmas at home with the kiddos!
Shannon A says
Heading to Texas to spend the holidays with my in-laws. We have a great time together!
Paulette says
Christmas day; I have it off, yipee! My husband has to work but will be available for dinner at home. One daughter will be home with her boyfriend. The other daughter we will talk with on the phone when she is not working, she is a pastry chef at a resort. We had started a new family tradition for us by having prime rib for dinner with baked potato and some other steamed vegetable. Just the four of us but we know how to make it merry.
Karen Chickering says
Happy Birthday to you! depending on Mother Nature, I hope to be able to snowshoe on Christmas, and then spend the rest of the day in the kitchen concocting something tasty for my husband and me, hopefully with his son in attendance, too!
Debi says
Home for Christmas and hopefully baking a castle cake with my granddaughters.
Happy birthday Kevin.
lydia waltower says
Just a small gathering my mom my daughter’s and grand daughter’s. The extended family is in Poland. Merry Christmas.
Susan says
Large family gathering with lots of food, wine, and love.
And a very Happy Birthday to you, Kevin. May your castle be filled with loads of goodies!
myttle miller says
Don’t know for sure yet but part of my Christmas plans is to go to a living museum called Vermilionville It’s like stepping into the past. They will be celebrating an old fashioned Christmas. It will be like a cajun Christmas during the 1800’s….
Amy Halpern says
Still looking for a job…hopefully a new one around the corner. Will spend the Holidays with friends as I do every year…If love to make this cake for them.
Brenda Johnson says
Spending time with family and friends! My mom “hosts” this holiday- so very relaxing day!!
Erin says
Christmas Eve here. Cheesy enchiladas. Christmas here. Whole Turkey breast with the trimmings. Which include stuffing with raisins. Recipe from my Norwegian great aunt Em.
gina gillispie says
I bought everyone in the family some very snazzy 3d glasses just for the purpose of seeing Christmas lights (at your local garden center) and we are renting the ONLY limo in town for a holiday ride around the town to view the lights…and because it only takes 4 minutes to go all the way around the town…we will do it over and over again! And if I were to win that castle cake pan, I would get Mr. PV to bake me a cake and then I will blog about it.
Marleen Loftis says
I will be enjoying Christmas Day with my husbands family.
Patrice Graham says
Happy Birthday,
I am heading to the land of Make believe Castles and my own little princesses in FL
for a much needed visit and hugs.
They would love a castle cake maker 🙂
Linda Anderson says
Everyone is coming to our house, and I love it. My absolute favorite time of the year, and I love to entertain! The cake pan would be a wonderful addition-
Kathy says
This is our third year in our renovated 50’s bungalow which sits on a large property that we put literally so much blood,sweat and tears into we just want to stay home and enjoy our family and the comfortable home we love. Of course with great food and Christmas movies.
Cherylann McGuire says
It will just be me and the hubby, the youngest daughter and her 2 yr old son. We will watch him open gifts and then have a nice dinner – hopefully with a castle cake! Thank you for the opportunity.
Arlene says
Happy Birthday to you early. We will be having a wonderful Christmas with food, family and old films. No dis functional family here. Merry Christmas everyone….
Teri says
We’re spending Christmas with my family in another state. That’s where my little niece and nephew are and since they own my heart, that is where I will be!!
Sandi Leonard says
Spending the day with my family, opening presents, eating way too much of incredibly awesome food, and loving my family.
Betty-Jean Roppolo says
I’ll be home with my family, hoping to hear my husband play “Silent Night” on the piano!
Lesley Byrne says
We don’t really know what we are doing for Christmas yet…..still trying to get the house decorated, and to see what everyone else is up to…… BUT what ever it is we do….. it will be wonderful for us to be home together for a change at Christmas time as we are both Sailors and we rarely get to be home at the same time during Christmas…. this year we are lucky :o)
Sharon from Maine says
Traveling to New York State to visit grandchildren and their parents.
Patricia Burrell says
Happy birthday. I hope you did something special for yourself. No need to enter me into the drawing. Just wanted to wish you birthday wishes. Enjoy reading your blog. Happy holidays.
Kim R says
Happy birthday, Kevin! I make a mean sherry cake…Would be fun to use that pan cor a Christmas dessert.
Janet Rinn says
we will be visiting my nephew and his family!
Allison K says
My 85-year old parents moved off the farm to assisted living this past April, so the holidays are getting a VERY different spin this year. I would love to have my very own castle, even if it is just 8″ high!
badger gardener says
My youngest is now 7 and has declared last week he knows the truth about Santa so this will be the first Christmas without someone in the house watching the sky for Santa’s sleigh. We’ll see how sure he is come Christmas Eve, but it definitely marks a milestone as my little babes grow up.
If I win I promise to bake a castle cake for the season premiere of Downton Abbey.
Happiest of birthdays to you!
Terri R says
having the whole family over from morning to night. The rule is jammies all day long!
mary says
Hi Kevin–
I comment every so often, but always check up on your posts. I had to comment this time, because my birthday is December 7, too!! I wonder about the year???
Mary
Candice says
God, I hope I get it!
Sherry says
Wishing you a most happy birthday. I hope all your wishes come true…We haven’t quite decided what to do yet for Christmas. It will probably be church on Christmas Eve followed by dinner with my father-in-law and his SO, then Christmas day dinner with our favorite cousins at our house. We might even brave the cold to spend some time in the hot tub!
Nancy W says
It will be a very different Christmas for us this year, our four grown children have all relocated to the west coast! We will be home alone for the first time!
Dori says
Spending Christmas in Vermont! Love your blog! Happy Birthday to you!
TERRI G. says
A holiday season birthday celebration~ Happiest of Days! Enjoy each minute of your day!
Christmas Eve will include enjoying the company of dear friends during their annual “Open House” event and a castle themed confection would be quite the divine hostess gift……And then a family gathering for Christmas dinner at my sisters home……always delicious on so many levels!
Jane Rutkowski says
I know I’m making a turkey … don’t know who’s coming for dinner. Most of my family always makes decision at the last minute. Anyway, I hope it snows! Happy Birthday, Kevin.
Pam Bryson says
My husband and I will be celebrating our 42nd Christmas together. Our children live in Michigan and Arizona, but we hope to be enjoying the day with friends who would otherwise be alone. Happy (belated) birthday, Kevin!
Rosemary says
This year I’m “letting go”. Traditionally I have hosted Christmas dinner for my family. I enjoy every minute of it…the advance baking…the cooking on Christmas day. This year, however, my daughter (now 25 years old) announced that she would like to host Christmas dinner. I remember the first time I hosted Christmas. I was just about the age that she is now. It’s almost a sort of coming-of-age. My daughter and I have planned to do some pre-Christmas baking together and I will be available to assist on Christmas day…if she wants me to…but it’s her turn…and I couldn’t be happier.
Jaysa Dermody says
December birthday, eh? I always thought that would be neat because everything is decorated beautifully this time of year. Hope your day is peaceful and unique.
Christmas for me is three-part this year. First, just hubby and I home with the kids (6, 4, and 2). Simple, but perfect. Then off to my parent’s house then off two my in-laws house. We feel blessed to be able to share it with so many loved ones.
ktmm says
Happy Birthday, Kev! As for Christmas, first we watch my 7 yr old daughter open her gifts here, then we go “Over the River and Through the Woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” BTW, she’d really <3 a castle cake. 🙂
Maia Bulger says
Happy Birthday Kevin! What a wonderful idea! I love this unique cake pan!
Eliza J says
My husband and I were planning on a quiet Christmas day and dinner, until I found out that my sister was also planning on that with her husband ~ well, I couldn’t have that so we invited them over. Their son and his (newly pregnant) wife will be joining us for appetizers before heading to her parents house. Christmas Eve is with my husband’s family ~ it’s a wonderful tradition ~ with little grand-nephews on board now which makes for a very fun Christmas. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! Hope it was a good one ~
Angela Willis says
Happy Birthday, dear friend! Enjoy it to the hilt!
I will be spending time with the family here, in Spokane… hanging out and relaxing. I have a teenager that was born on Christmas Eve… so that’s always fun! 🙂
Castle cake would be fun for a birthday! 😉
Sheryl says
Happy birthday, Kevin! Typically, my Christmas is spent traveling from Vermont to Massachusetts to spend Christmas with my family (my sister has 3 kids). This year, unfortunately threw me a loop: I am trapped at home for the next month or so after being diagnosed with a blood cancer – just got my stem cell transplant today. I thought I would be feeling much worse (I think that happens next week), but I can’t go out and risk getting contaminated…not much fun for the holidays, but I will be on Facetime with the family on Christmas day and will hopefully feel well enough to do some baking, in between sleeping, reading and knitting.
I intend to continue following your site, to inspire me and remind me all the things I will be doing when I am able to get out again.
Keep the good ideas coming…and I will be making some kind of fun cake…even if I don’t win this castle!
Kristin Breinholt says
Going to the inlaws 🙂 .
Sara says
Happy Birthday! We’ll be hosting family from Montana (we’re in North Bend, WA), so I’ll be cooking up a nice Christmas eve dinner. I could definitely use a castle cake pan for dessert. And then again for my son’s upcoming 3rd birthday!
Linda says
We will be celebrating with friends and family here in Iowa with lots of food and fellowship.
Martha says
If we don’t have “a wintery mix” I’ll head to Nazareth ~
( no joke, it’s in PA) to spend the holiday with my chosen family. . . .
if weather is a mess Chinese and watching “The Ref.”
Lisa says
Have a Happy Birthday Kevin. Hope you have a GREAT year. This reminds me of the sandcastles I use to make on the beaches of Florida. Make a nice Barbie Dream House.
Ava says
Have a very happy birthday, Kevin! Nothing set yet for Christmas but it will involve me, my parents and my sister’s family for a meal and exchanging gifts probably at my sister’s house. My niece and nephew make Christmas lots of fun. Maybe if I’m lucky we’ll have a castle cake. 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Kate says
Happy Birthday Kevin!
I’m remodeling my new house and will be staying home for Christmas.I’m going to go cut down my tree next weekend.
I use to make sandcastles on the beaches in Florida too. So funny!
Deb says
lonely Christmas this year – not even putting up a tree.
Barb says
Heading home for the holidays! My grandson is into dragons right now. Don’t you think a castle is a perfect place for dragons?
Debbie says
Happy Birthday! Spending the holidays with family
Siobhan says
I’ll be spending Christmas with my family back in Canada, Christmas Eve we do German Christmas and Christmas day more presents and dinner with family. Happy Birthday!
Joann DeLeury says
Dear Kevin…..Happy Birthday to you and because it’s your B-day I’m sending you some goodies….Good Health….Good Friends…Good Food………and if you like…..some Good
Wine!! May all your days be Merry and Bright on your birthday and for many more to come.
Mary says
Staying close to home for Christmas, preparing my youngest child for a fun-filled semester in France. She leaves January 3, so we will be spending the week after Christmas getting ready for her big trip. All the best to you!
and…..Happy Birthday, Kevin! <3
Kierlan says
My family is staying in town and celebrating the holidays together. My grandma will hopefully come and visit for a day. Other than that, we are looking forward to having a great, happy, joyful, white Christmas together. I am so excited!!!!!!!!
Carol krieg says
I’ll be home with my two rescues watching me make my castle cake! If this Christmas wish comes true ! Happy holidays
Dee Nash says
We’ll have our family over for Christmas Eve for Schwab’s hot dogs, kraut and tamales. We do this crazy meal every year, and the family always looks forward to it. We then head to Christmas Even mass.~~Dee
Linda C says
We’ll have Christmas dinner in my home with the family, from my 18 month old granddaughter to my soon-to-be-99 yr. old Mother. May all the joy you bring us through your site, return to you 1000 times over on your birthday, through Christmas and into the new year, Kevin.
Jen R says
Staying at home with my two girls this year. Abby 7, and Ashlyn 3.
Sharon Schoepe says
We are spending a quiet Christmas at home this year
Pat G says
Happy birthday, Kevin. May 2015 be a wonderful growing season for you. I am looking forward to having my sons home for Christmas and as always a great meal with family and friends. I just can’t narrow it down what to serve – pork roast or a prime rib. Any suggestions?
suzie c. says
Getting it on with Santa.
Jeanne Meeks says
Happy belated birthday, Kevin. Thanks for so often cheering me with your blog. With family growing and spreading, we must be flexible with Christmas plans. We celebrate the day before and I fly to Florida with 2 granddaughters a few days later. Very excited. May your home be filled with warmth and love this holiday.
Randa F. says
Happy birthday, Kevin! We will be spending Christmas with our two daughters and their families for a mouthwatering beef tenderloin. Yummy!
Pam J says
Staying home and enjoying the holiday on the beautiful eastern shore!
Cindy Marino says
CHRISTmas Eve with the i laws and CHRISTmas day with my family.nlots of food and fun.
Doris Nieves says
Love the castle pan…a cake in this makes it a real royal event. Just send the pan…thank you,
Doris
Marney says
I’m going to my former residence to be with my housemates & their family & cats
Cathy Muskus says
We are having my daughter, her new boyfriend and his 4 year old over for Xmas Day. It will be nice having a young child present for Christmas again.
Gretchen says
I’m hosting family at my place, and hopefully delighting them with a castle shaped cake 😉
Chris says
Happy birthday Kevin! Christmas at home with family, a castle would be such a nice addition for the holidays!
Marsha says
Spending time with family and hoping it snows!
Cindy L says
Happy Birthday Kevin!. Christmas Eve will be spent with family with great food , story telling, and a fun “Dirty Santa” game . On Christmas Day 2 of my 3 children come back for Christmas brunch complete with Mimosas, a holiday tradition at our house.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
For Christmas I will be having a reunion in PA with 3 family members who live in FRANCE ! Can’t wait ! One of them is a mere 17 months old !!
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y K E V I N !!
Wallace & Nancy Braud says
We will be enjoying our son’s visit home during winter break from his junior year at Berkeley and anticipating the arrival of daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters from Canada. But most importantly celebrating the Birth of Jesus!
Debbie says
I plan on having my family over for Christmas. It’s a family tradition that we all get together.
Bobbi Lively says
We will be celebrating with our three grandchildren for the first time!! Yahoo!!!
Debra Bowles says
On Christmas Day I’m hopefully making a castle cake oh next-day gathering! Searched area but couldn’t find mold… Thanks.
Karen says
Happy Birthday! No real plans yet. Will be weather dependent for me.
Kay says
Happy Birthday, Kevin!!!! I get to host the Christmas festivities at our home this year. Let the baking begin~~~ Thank You!!!
judy says
Going to our son’s to be with them and the grandchildren.
Lori Rose says
My husband and I are hosting our family’s annual Christmas Dinner. Happy Birthday Kevin!
Shiela says
I’m driving to Orlando to spend Christmas with family there and then the day after Christmas my granddaughter and I will fly to Arkansas to spend Christmas there. We are hoping to win the pan so we can make the castle cake in both places.
Pete says
My wife and I will be hosting Christmas for about 20 people.
Susan says
This will be my second year hosting the Christmas Day family get-together and meal.
Karen L. says
A belated Happy Birthday to you and how nice of you to be giving a gift instead of receiving it. Neat cake pan. I wonder if it can make sand castles at the beach too??? For Christmas this year it will just be my husband and me ….. and our two dogs of course. We usually take them for a nice long walk before preparing dinner. For dinner, maybe lasagna or maybe we will shake things us a bit and do something totally different. Hope you have a great holiday!!!
Jean says
Our sons and wives will travel from east and west to gather together in Iowa for our traditional celebration with grandmothers…prime rib is always the Chrsitmas eve menu as only Grandma can make! Grandma’s house is the “castle” for Christmas for the past 59 years…it would be fun to take a castle cake!
Betsy T says
Traveling to Indy to be with family. Our traditional Christmas Eve gathering at my Stepmom’s before church, my sister and her partner’s on Christmas Day. Happy BIrthday Kevin! Your birthday is on the same day as my dear, dear friend Ed. He’s been gone more than 20 years now, and not a week goes by that I don’t think of him and how important his friendship was to me.
Linda says
Happy Birthday!, Kevin!
What I’d like to do for Christmas is hide under my covers until it passes, but the good part will be when our 4 daughters come home and make cookies and butter walnut pound cake with red and green cherries, or “cheeries”! I emailed my daughter your castle cake a few weeks ago because she has a group of friends who get together every Sunday to watch Game of Thrones and they all bring something to share for their group dinner. Thought the castle cake would be fun! I haven’t got around to ordering a castle cake pan yet for her, so maybe I can win your giveaway! 🙂
Linda says
We will celebrate not only the birth of our Savior but the birth of my youngest child and youngest grandchild. A big family gathering with lots of love and laughter!
Happiest of birthdays to you and may your year be filled with great joy:)
Lucretia McClure says
Happy Birthday♥ Dec 7th 1942 I was hiding in the shower in our house in Hawaii. I could hear the planes dropping the bombs on our beautiful Island. I am now 79 and still think of that every time I see a plane in the sky.
Now I am a widow and it is going to be another lonely Christmas.
Judy Hines says
Christmas Day — just my hubby and me but then in two days the family arrives. Have a great holiday, dear Kevin.
Karyn says
Happy Birthday Kevin! We will be spending Christmas with our 6 month old beagle puppy. Her name is Sookie and she reminds me so much of your Lily, as she watches me in the kitchen. I love to cook and she loves to eat!! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Maribeth Turner says
Happy Birthday Kevin, many, many more too!
I celebrate Chanukkah and we will probably just be having a nice dinner, light our Chanukkah candles and enjoying all the beautiful holiday lights all around outside. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!
I love your newsletter!!!! XOXOXOXOX
Tara DeVeau says
This year my sons in the military will be able to come home :).
We will celebrate our Christmas on Christmas Eve with cooking together, gift swapping, and game playing, and many war stories from them and my son and daughter in from college. My high school daughter is my elf this year, she is helping me with all the decorating, gift buying, and prep work.
For Christmas my married sons will be celebrating with their wives families and my other 3 children will be having a quiet day at home with me and some tea.
Happy Birthday and may your holiday season be joyous!
T
Brenda says
Happy Birthday, Kevin! We have 8 family birthdays in December. It’s a blessed month! We’ll be celebrating the weekend before Christmas in Raleigh with our five daughters and ten grandkids. Then back to the WNC mountains to enjoy Christmas Eve and day with our son and three mountain grandkids. Have a joyful holiday seson!
Lane Recker says
Husband and 3 dogs and son and soon to be bride will share the Christmas holiday. Of course eating baked goods and all the trimmings!
Janice says
Happy Birthday, Kevin! I’m going back to Tennessee to spend the holidays with family.
bunchkin3 says
This would be awesome to win
sharon c. says
at home, cooking dinner for my son ……. probably turkey…..
hope you have a wonderful birthday !!!!!
Elizabeth Foster says
We’ll be reading the radio adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with the family.
Peg LeClair says
Going to the grandkids and great grandkids Christmas Eve then a quiet day home on Christmas day.
cindy keller says
My children always wanted to have a castle cake. Now they are grown. But now my grandchildren are asking the same.
patricia s. says
Happy Birthday Kevin! I will be spending the day with good food and family.
Alexis says
And a Happy Birthday from me, as well! We’re hosting my sister and her family from sunny California and making this year’s Christmas with my first grandchild, Theodore, truly special!
Peggy says
This is our last Christmas overseas as I retire next year (yay!). DH, one of our sons, and I will do roast chicken and have a Google hangout with our other sons.
Happy Birthday, Kevin!
Frances LeClair says
We will be spending Christmas with family.
chris cooley says
I love it!! looks like a winter fairytale! Happy holidays!!
Terry Snyder says
Kevin, Christmas used to be filled with frantic activity, visiting too many relatives and being wiped out at the end of the day. Time has passed, and I have learned that ‘less is more’. Christmas day is spent with my daughters and their families. Good dinner, lots of presents for the children and lots of laughs for the grownups. No more crazy visiting.
A fabulous castle cake would wow everyone.
Jackie Russell says
Spending Christmas with my Daughter and the Grandchildren. A very happy birthday to you, love seeing tour e-mails
Chris says
As per a tradition since I married my lovely wife, we will spend Christmas Eve entertaining her family, then pack up and travel approx. 6 hours to visit my family and spend a few days in the old home town: plenty of good food to be eaten and plenty of good moments to cherish…
Happy Birthday!
pamela j says
Happy Birthday! We will be spending it quietly at home.
Jo Anne Dixon says
We always do party foods for our Christmas Eve Celebration. This year we will do a trial run in anticipation of my Granddaughters Wedding and try some recipes for reception.
Joyce Sackett says
On Christmas Eve, our family will attend the Candlelight Service at church to worship the One Whose birthday we are celebrating at Christmas. The next day our house (formerly a barn) will be full of happy voices and kitchen noises and cozy-crowded with our 3 children and 17 grandchildren.
Happy birthday, Kevin!
Mary Adrian says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
I moved to upstate N.Y. seven years ago leaving my daughter and granddaughter behind inMa.
to live my dream of owning and running a B & B (Alice’s Dowry Bed and Breakfast )
this past summer my daughter and her family followed us to N.Y. after a job loss forced them to
make some changes in their lives.
Also this year I found my natural brother and sister ,that was quite a task concidering I was adopted over seas over 50 years ago.
Anyway to keep a very long story short.
We will all be together this year for the first time ,in my beautiful Italianate Victorian B & B ,
God is good .
Merry Christmas to all ,
Mare says
Happy, Happy Birthday!!! We will entertain our local son and his family on Christmas Eve. Then early Christmas Day we will travel to our other son’s home in Pennsylvania to enjoy the day with him and his family.
Jeanne says
We’ll be feasting on boar and drinking Bordeaux at home with friends.
Hannah says
Kevin
Happy birthday. Mine is Dec 10 🙂
I am escaping on a family vaca this Xmas. Extremely excited.
Recommend re watching bBC Pride and Prejudice. Lady Catherine de Bourgh would dominate Downton’s Dowager Duchess!!!
Han
Cheryl says
12/7/19XX – my birthday too! Making my own cake, again. Dreaming of choolate castles!
M Brown says
Special Church Services. Dinner with family.
Madeleine Lewis says
Happy bday Kevin! We are having a quiet Xmas at home this year
Elaine Parker says
Happy Happy Birthday! I hope it is a super one 🙂
We will have a fire going, lots of lights and 3 trees decorated and have a wonderful Christmas time once our daughter and son-in-law get her Christmas morning…..love our Christmas, hope you enjoy yours Kevin. Thanks in advance for my pan 🙂
Joy says
We’ll be enjoying our kids and grandkids – at their homes on Christmas morning and then back to our place for dinner that night.
Sue says
I’m spending my first New England Christmas with my daughter and her husband. I’m so excited!
Grace White says
We are surprising my 7 year old granddaughter, Hailey with a trip to Disney World for Christmas
Jennifer McComb says
We are eschewing gift giving, and have decided instead to spend the day with each other (myself, my husband, our four children, spouses and significant others, family friends, grandchildren, granddoggies). We plan to share fabulous food and drink, in front of a lovely fire, in our cozy 1920’s Craftsman home. It will be a wonderful way to spend the day!
D Rich says
Happy Birthday! We’re waiting to celebrant Christmas till 1st week of January, as that’s when my Husband returns from Africa 🙂
Have a Wonderful Christmas and a Blessed 2015!
MaryEllen Deschenes says
Happy Birthday! I am hosting Christmas dinner this year and challenging myself by making Beef Wellington!
Cathy Smith says
Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day!!
We will be hosting a large family Christmas!! Love Christmas with lots of Family around! Could really use a Castle pan to make dessert for my 6 Grandprincesses!! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Keven, and all the Best for 2015!!
Trish Stratton says
Happy Birthday, Kevin! I will spend Christmas with my friend Howard and his family! I would love to make them a castle cake!
Emily Colburn says
Happy Birthday! Nom,nom; yum Cake!
We are having a quiet day in our pajamas. We might get out of them and dress for dinner, but no guarantees.
Heather says
Spending the holidays with my mom, my daughter and my new grandson! It will be his very first Christmas 🙂
Oh and Happy Birthday!!
loura says
Having a big family dinner at my house.
Peggy says
Spending christmas with as many of our 19 grandchildren as possible.
Karole says
Christmas Eve with the in-laws – always fun!!! Christmas morning just us for a quick breakfast and exchanging gifts – then off to my Mothers for traditional Christmas (going to be hard this is our first year without Dad) dinner and dessert should be about 47 of us this year. Love seeing the family. Happy Birthday.
Susan says
First, I hope you had a super birthday!
Christmas. I’m not sure yet but surely with friends here in DC. We’ve all been too busy to discuss it. But yesterday we made boxwood wreathes at an historic house in Georgetown & then drinks (after!) so the holiday season has definitely begun (for me).
This is so cool, this castle mold. I love it & was not aware this existed. Thanks so much for the chance to win it!
xoxo
Kate says
Happy Birthday Kevin! My husband is newly unemployed, but we will be happy to have both our sons, their wives and all 5 grandchildren with us for the first time in 3 years. We are blessed!
Linda says
Happy birthday
We are spending Christmas at home with my daughter & son inlaw and my mom
Charlene Branch says
Brunch with family. Happy Birthday
Diane Hinkle says
Depending on my doctor’s schedule, I will be having back surgery…………..either before or right after the big holiday. Not fun but necessary. Happy Birthday, Kevin. We are never too old for a castle cake! Right!!!! And Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Diana says
happy birthdat and thanks for your lovely posts 🙂
Helen says
Happy birthday,Kevin. We are having the family here for dinner. Two different entrees. one vegetarian, one omnivore. Something for everyone!
Diana says
oops! that was supposed to be happy “birthday”
JeanMarie says
Praising God for the wonderous gift of Jesus, my Savior …..joining my family at my sisters for a fantastic brunch
Peggy Ma says
Family will arrive from all over the state, and we will celebrate my daughter’s Christmas birthday too! Nine grandchildren among the clan will insure the Christmas joy!
Sandra says
Happy Birthday, I’ve been missing you. I’ll spend it at home with friends.
Louise says
Happy Belated Birthday. We have the fun group on Christmas Eve for seafood chowder, venison and beers and the un-fun group on Christmas Day for turkey and water.
Candy Swift says
We are hosting our kids, grandchildren, dogs, mother-in-law and anyone else that wants to stop by…the more the merrier!! Come on down to Pinnacle, North Carolina 🙂
Happy Birthday to you!!
Keila says
Happy, happy birthday! It’s your special day! Happy, happy birthday! Hip hip hooray!
We will be traveling to visit our families, thank goodness they live in the same town, about an hour and a half from where we live.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Kimmer says
Nice quiet day at home with my son home from college and my mother visiting and all the dogs. Happy Holidays to all!
JMaupin says
Happy Birthday
Donna says
Happy Birthday… Starting my Christmas baking today and wishing you a joyful, merry Christmas!
Debbie says
Oh Kevin… how I would love to make a castle cake for a few “queens” I know 🙂 Multi use pans are always such a hit – maybe turn it into a Winter Wonderland Castle for Christmas. 🙂
This year I will be delivering Homemade Christmas Cookie Trays to friends & family on the Eve of… and we do Christmas Brunch with the fam on Christmas morning at our house. Have a lovely birthday and super spirited Christmas.
Apryl says
Happy Birthday Kevin! … I am spending Christmas in Vermont with my husband in a historic Inn.
Donna says
Spending Christmas evening with my daughter’s family enjoying “PJ’s and Sweats” night with dinner and gift giving. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas.
Jo Pernice says
My brother is coming home for Christmas from Georgia..spending time with him and doing some serious cooking!
Lynn says
I will be celebrating this Christmas season with my best friend of years, my brand new husband and my 10 year old granddaughter. We have many things to be happy about.
Lisa Gerard says
What fun a castle would be!
My 91 year old mother will be flying in from Philadelphia and we all will go to my daughter and grandchildren’s (in NH) for Christmas dinner. Maybe it will snow like it did for Thanksgiving.
Happy Holidays and Happy Birthday.
Love your blog
John says
I’m staying home with family and dogs.
Happy Birthday!
John
Sheri says
My parents are coming from out-of-state so I am decorating their house, putting up a tree, and will make a special Christmas Eve dinner.
Have a wonderful birthday and thank you for everything (the tips, recipes, gardening advice, humor)
Heike Woolard says
Happy Birthday Kevin 🙂
It’ll be quiet around here for Christmas. My daughter may come, but my son and wife won’t come until New Years and then we are butchering rabbits and have a standing rib roast for dinner. I don’t like to eat what we butcher the same day.
If my daughter comes for Christmas, I’ll cook a small turkey with all the trimmings, so we’ll have leftovers for the whole week 😉
Brandy Hovonick says
We will be celebrating our 1st Christmas without my husband’s mother. It will definitely be bittersweet. We will have some family over for a relaxed holiday. But before that I will participate in our annual Ladies Baking Day with my mom and gran, something we started many years ago that I cherish.
Bruce says
Happy belated birthday. My grandchildren will be here. My wife and I will be surrounded with family and love and festivities and noise.
Dawn says
Happy Birthday!
I will be spending Christmas day with just our little family. Merry Christmas to you!
Jenny says
I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I will be spending Christmas with my precious 2 month old baby girl and family.
Leslie Freeman says
My birthday is this month too. Going to visit family & celebrate both.
Leslie Freeman says
Happy Birthday, mine is right after Christmas. going to visit family to celebrate both
Judy Rubin says
Happy Birthday! It is my Mom’s 97th birthday today. Christmas holidays this year will be spent in Florida with friends and family and doggies. Can’t wait to get there from New York.
Isabelle says
I will be working up till the last minute on Christmas Eve. My mother, brother, sister n law, son, dtr n law and grand sons, and various others will be coming over for Christmas Eve celebration. Thank Goodness my brother can cook! I tried to cancel, but everyone said “boo!” I love the castle cake pan. I will help me continue my fantasy of ” I should have been a princess, and not working on Christmas Eve!”
HaPpY BiRtHdAy, KeViN!
Giuditta says
My mother and I will be heading “off–Cape” from here on Cape Cod, to spend Christmas Eve at our family’s Italian Feast of the Fishes, then spending Christmas Day with my sister and her little ones. Buon natale!
Blair says
Happy Birthday and thanks for making baking more fun!
Leslie Freeman says
happy Birthday, mine this month too.
Pam oatis says
Nieces nephew and sons home with us for Christmas!! Lots of cooking and decorating. Love u tips and recipes as well as those of your followers
Adele Azar Rucquoi says
As for Christmas, well, I don’t lead church choirs anymore, Kids and adult choirs used to wrap me up in red bows for Christmas, in church lofts, with Oh Holy Night, the favorite, and my choir boy would sound so soprano.
My siblings have all gone to the heavenly Christmas party so they won’t be at my table. Most of my friends, have found other tables to feast on ham or turkey, so I guess Jim, my beloved, and I will feast with whoever rings our phone before the 25th, and sends an invite or we just go into my Garden of Eden in the back yard, set up a table, invite our cat to feast with us, and enjoy the gift of still being alive and still being in love with the man who changed my life so many years ago when we said “I do”
And that’s the way it is, Kevin, and thanks for asking.
Adele Azar Rucquoi
MEGAN BLACK says
Happy Birthday! I will be getting up early to help a wonderful group of friends as we do the first shift in preparing a community meal for those in need who are joined by many not in need to create a truly lovely day of sharing.
Evelyn H. says
Celebrating with mom, aunt, bro and haven’t figured out the menu yet. I’m thinking of an old fashioned pumpkin pie. By old fashioned I mean like the pilgrims would have made it – custard inside hollowed out pumpkin and bake then scoop a little pumpkin for each serving or maybe cut the pumpkin into wedge. I’m not sure yet. Will be fun!
Cindy Griffith says
Happy Birthday Kevin. I”ll be baking cookies for my grandsons.
dan mckinnon says
Oh yes; the joys of family time with my son and two grand daughters. Christmas dinner will be at the in-laws with that big slow cooked Prime Rib and lots of side dishes which we all share. My dish is my families Cheese Pie which is to die for. …
Kat Turk says
I will be spending Christmas with my four Children and 6 ( nearly 7, due on Christmas day ) Grandchildren…… I would love, and they would be super impressed, if I walked in with a Castle cake !!!
Pamela says
Happy Birthday to Kevin …Happy Birthday to you ..
annieguss says
Hi Kevin,
Happy birthday to you! I’ll be celebrating mine on 12/9, so I’ll drink a toast to us both.
Celebrating Christmas eve with friends here on Vashon, then off Christmas with the grandchildren just east of Seattle. Best wishes to you for a great holiday season and a wonderful 2015.
Jody Hibbs says
Baking the desserts and going to nephew’s to celebrate with the WHOLE family!
Ellen says
I will be keeping warm !
Nancy says
Kids will spend time with us prior to Christmas so it will be a perfect day to unwind, relax and enjoy time alone with my husband of 34 years (35 in February). Oh, and I win the cake pan, and it arrives by Christmas, maybe I will bake us a castle. No one is too old for a castle cake 😉
Cynthia says
Traveling from my home in San Francisco to join my 4 wonderful sons and their gfs in NYC; a Big Apple Christmas! I love castles!! Happy Holidays!!!!
Rose Marie says
Happy Birthday Kevin!
I love this pan!
We will be spending a very quiet Christmas with my wonderful husband. We will be cooking, eating and just enjoying the day together.
Nancy Carr says
Happy Birthday, Kevin! I learn a lot from you. Should I win the draw for the castle cake pan, please draw again as I am getting ready to move and don’t want to pack anything else. Blessings to you
Marcia says
What a great pan. I’m sure I can find room for it. Didn’t I just have another birthday too?!
I get the day off, so I’ll be in the recliner.
Sheree Ashapa says
If the weather cooperates, a walk in the woods before cooking Christmas dinner with friends.
Helen says
Happy Birthday!!! I would LOVE this pan to make a very special princess her very own birthday castle!
Terri says
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day and have someone make you dinner today.
We will be staying home. My 2 daughters and my 2 year old granddaughter will be coming for breakfast and will stay for the day and have dinner with us. Not sure what we will be eating but I usually make a pork roast for Christmas dinner. Have any suggestions?
Again, Happy Birthday
Delores Short says
Happy Birthday Kevin–spending a quite Christmas with family!!
Heather says
Christmas Eve, appetizers, drinks and presents with family and friends. Christmas Day, stockings with mimosas, then Christmas breakfast, naps, and either standing rib, or tenderloin for Christmas Dinner.
Barbara Davidge says
Happy Birthday Kevin! Cheers to you. I will be celebrating with family on Christmas Eve then working on Christmas, I am a flight attendant and will be on the SFO-JFK flight. Once we arrive in NYC for my layover I will hustle down to Rockefeller Center to view the Christmas tree. Yay!!
Michelle says
Happy birthday Kevin, hope you have a beautiful day!!
Karen Thomas says
I have a wonderful friend who invites all her single – either naturally or because hubby has to work – friends over for Christmas Eve. We enjoy pizza, salad and goodies brought by the guests, and even exchange gifts. Over the years, I have been blessed with new friends as well.
Pam Gustaveson says
Happy Birthday, Kevin.
I’ll be enjoying the usual craziness with family. We always have such a good time and as usual, cooking and baking is at the top of the activities list.
kerry says
Prime rib on the smoker, all the trimmings. Wassail, Rumtopf, homemade peanut brittle, almond roca and fudge. Enjoying the season with family and friends.
Sara Wilkins says
Hosting Christmas Brunch for extended family…..our tradition.
Janet E. says
Happy Birthday Kevin!!!!!!!!
Hubby and I will probably spend the day at home with lots of phone calls between the family.
Thanks for the chance to win a real neat pan – our GGD would love a castle cake!!!!!!!
Barb says
Hi Kevin,
Will be visiting out of town family with 3 young grand kids in Salem, Oregon. What a fun age to make and eat a yummy Castle Cake.
Best wishes for the best of birthdays. Thank you for the opportunity of these wonderful raffles.
Sophia Hoefer says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN! Our Christmas is split this year – Grandpa in OR with our daughter and granddaughters, Grandma in San Diego with son and grandsons – but we will be Skyping on Christmas Eve.
Jan Jacklin says
Getting together with family & friends…
Happiest of Birthdays to you …May the next 365 days bring health, happiness, wisdom & wealth…May your life prosper in ways you had never expected…..
We have a dozen family & close friend birthdays this month also…
Marsha says
The Christmas experience for me includes the entire month of December, I decorate inside and out, bake and cook. Visit neighbors with plates of goodies, remembering my dental Hygentist, hairdresser and mailman; all those people who served me well the past year. I sew fleece jackets and purses for my “kids” and pajamas for the “Grands.” Mailing the picture Christmas cards is also a favorite activity.
Chrismas eve, day and week, brings church, family visiting, and buffets with plenty of food, Throwing in a couple birthdays and anniversary celebrations, it makes for a full month of a blessed holiday. Happy Birthday Kevin!!
Gloria Gellman says
I will be staying home with my sweet husband, baking cookies, listening to music and making a broccoli casserole to go with the standing rib roast.—Happy birthday from the Glam and Irv.
Kathy says
Our children will be coming to our home for several days for Christmas. And we’ll celebrate our first grandchild’s first birthday Christmas eve.
Jane Truesdell says
We will host our traditional Christmas Eve party, lazy Christmas morning with children and then rush to CT to visit with extended family. for the lucky winner, congratulations, for others, where can we find this amazing pan?????
Best wishes to you for a Happy Birthday..
PattyCakes says
Celebrating our traditional Slovak Christmas with amazing family, food and festivities!
Merry Christmas to all!
Laura Rankin says
Many Happy Returns of the Day to you, Kevin!
Christmas day I will be with my sister’s family and a herd of wildly wonderful children. I have a feeling I’ll be counting Christmas stockings (12) over and over again with a 2 1/2 year old and playing with toy backhoes.
Betty Blalock says
My family is flying under the radar this year because we are taking a family vacation to Florida in June. Gifts under the tree will be “my house to your house” gifts instead of individual packages.
One gift the entire family can use. And of course, a tin of sugared pecans! Love the cake; I saw the post where you bought the pan. Great job! happy Birthday to you. BJ
Raya Lych says
It’s my mother’s birthday also so happy birthday to the both of you! Making cream puffs and pizza today.
Have a wonderful day today!
Nansea Arquette says
We play in the Society for Creative Anachronism and make delightful medieval dishes for our potlucks. Often we will make a special entree or dessert for the King and Queen or Baron and Baroness. This castle cake pan would be a real hit! Happy Birthday and thanks for your generosity and whimsy! We all need to play more in our lives. Blessings to you this Christmas season.
LAVON EBLEN says
San Diego CA is my destination leaving from Omaha NE to be with family. Some good things, you, happened on December 7. My birthday is September 11, another day that lives in infamy. Your newsletter is delightful. Other messages my get skipped or deleted but never yours.
Nansea Arquette says
We belong to the Society of Creative Anachronism and often make something special for the Baron and Baroness or King and Queen at our potlucks and feasts. This castle cake would be the perfect thing to create. Thank you for your whimsy and generosity. Happy Birthday and Blessings to you this Christmas!
Marion says
Happy Birthday!
Toni Parris says
Happy Birthday! Enjoying time at home with family, cooking turkey, ham and all the fixings!
Marie Jordan says
It’s our kittens first Christmas, it will be interesting to see what she does to the tree. We will visit Grandkids and family,.
Happiest of Birthdays Kevin! From California:))
Judy says
Home with family
Carol Reynolds says
We spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the home of our daughter who lives locally. It is great fun to be with our three grandsons and watch them open their gifts-even though two of them are teenagers now. They still enjoy the magic of Christmas. On Christmas Day my son-in-law’s family join the group and it is one merry celebration.
Happy Birthday to you, Kevin. I so enjoy your walks in the garden. They make my day!
Kip Morrissette says
Will be spending Christmas with family and friends in Foley AL. We have sugar beaches which make it look like snow so maybe a trip to the beach after a 2:00PM meal.
Happy Birthday to you dear Kevin, and Happy Birthday to Jesus…the reason for the season.
The Castle Cake you made is awesome! What a treat it would be to have the cake pan so our granddaughers could make one. AND I am a HUGE fan of Downton Abbey…bought the full set and can’t wait for my copy of Season 5 to arrive.
AngieC says
Happy birthday! This Christmas everyone will be home & I will put my new oven to the test 🙂
Joyce says
Its all about family. Cut out cookie day, Candy making day, Christmas Eve Supper and gift exchange and Christmas Day big family dinner. We all live close so do it all together and the grands will not allow us to skip one thing.
Helen Richardson says
Staying home and unfortunately only one of our daughters will be visiting. We’ll make a big dinner Christmas eve and have neighbors join us.
Karin says
Happy Birthday to you ! Christmas will be quiet for me ,but I acknowledge Winter Solstice for the longest night and now waxing light.
Anne Beckes says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVIN!!
Christine Thiessen says
Hosting the children and grandchildren for an old fashioned Christmas!
Happy Birthday!
Ardelle says
Christmas at my home with 2 adult children’s families, granddaughter lots of delightful food, and some new games found @ Grommett.com – just the right amount of cookies and candies and wine. Day after Christmas at friends home – ‘Martinis with Martin’ open house to meet the newborn (Martin). Granddaughter and I would have a ball with the castle cake – we would use her princess characters to set a beautiful scene.
Peace and love to all…..
Maryann Massar says
Happy Birthday Kevin, hope the sun is shining there. I will be celebrating with my beloved family with a traditional ethnic enriched menu of pierogi, halupki, and kolachi. We wish for peace on earth for all mankind.
anita says
Happy Birthday today, Kevin.
Jackie Bain says
Hi Kevin
I volunteered to work Christmas Day, so girls with family could be home with them. I have made it a mission to find a friend who will be alone on Christmas and make it special for them. On Christmas Eve I will make Christmas for an old friend who recently moved back to the City.
Happy Birthday Kevin, your E-Mails are always inspiring. Have a Beautiful Christmas.
Barbara Stoll says
I already baked 12 “Christmas Stollen” (German Christmas cake). They will be sent off to family and friends. To bake a real castle sounds intriguing, would love to try it and give it to our grand children.
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
Dennis Lepp says
Christmas is alway family day at Grandpa and Grandma Lepp’s House. Grandpa is the baker and all the Grandkids would think he was pretty cool to make a castle cake just for them. They will get to decorate it with whatever they want. ..Icings, candies. etc.
Judy Spring says
Happy birthday to you Kevin and wishing the very best of Holidays 2014 and Happy New Year 2015. Will be visiting family in San Antonio this year. Again, Happy Birthday!
Jean says
Happy Birthday to you Kevin. We will be going to Melrose to be with our Daughter and our two grandchildren. It should be really fun. I would love to win this castle cake mold. My older grandson’s birthday is in the summer and it would be a wonderful cake for him. Thanks
Jennifer Hart says
Staying local…Christmas Day with my in-laws who have refused all offers of cooking assistance. Saturday we’ll visit my mom and enjoy my brother’s homemade Boston Clam Chowder and some cheddar biscuits. Low key this year.
Marilyn Elliott says
The usual madhouse of family on Christmas Day: three sons and spouses, four grandsons and one girlfriend, gifts, treasure hunt (Christmas tradition), food, and noise. Love it, but it can be exhausting!
Jen Sandoval says
Happy Birthday Kevin! 🙂 Wishing you a year of happiness and sharing your great posts and knowledge for us to enjoy and learn from! Christmas has always been a special time for us. Since my Mom went home to heaven almost 7 years ago, we get the family together and celebrate my Mom who loved the holidays, decorating and gathering us all together for a great meal and fellowship. Family was always so important to her, even those who we would bring with us who were alone, they were our family too! She welcomed everyone. I always told Mom I would love to own a castle, so if I won this, I would finally own one! haha! So here’s to family and memories yet to be created. Cheers!
Peg Kin says
Happy Birthday. My nieces will come here to bake the Birthday Cake for Jesus and then we will take it to my brother’s for Christmas dinner.
Rita says
Happy Birthday, Kevin! Have a great birthday! I love your Blog and forward it to my mother, who is 82, and loves it as well…..but she doesn’t trust the Internet or Bloggers, hee hee, so I forward it so she’ll open it. Cracks me up! Anyway, for Christmas we are spending it with hubby’s mom and dad. She is ill with Leukemia, so we bought her a big, already lit tree and a new women’s puffy coat, long in length, to keep her legs warm on trips/stays at the hospital. We’re just happy she is still with us.
As for the castle cake pan, if I win it, I will make a Castle Cake for my grandkids, Ben and Ava, who love all things Knights and Princesses! 🙂
Mary says
Woohoo! Florida beaches with the fam for a week!
Bev Nolan says
Happy Birthday Kevin!!! Will be having Christmas at our house this year. Thankfully, our children are in the area so no long travels for any of them. I’m sure the grandchildren would love a snow covered Castle Cake as a table centerpiece. -Merry Christmas To All-
Steve says
The kids will be home Christmas Eve for the big family dinner at our house. Prime rib and Yorkshire pudding are on the menu. A 15-20 lb roast should feed the clan.
Anita Skelly says
Kevin, today is my Birthday also. And because it’s Pearl Harbor day I always say that I was the second Bomb to drop!!
I would love the castle cake. I have my sister and her family over on Christmas Eve and we enjoy many traditions we have made. My two daughters and her two Sons look forward to this day so much. Now we are adding my nephews fiancé and her son! There is nothing like family!
Annie says
Happy Birthday Kevin! Enjoy your special day….And I hope you are not cooking on your birthday…LOL!
Christmas here with my husbands family. And on Jan 3, Christmas with my family.
Merry Christmas!!
Annie
Mikaela says
We are heading north to visit both sides of the family for two weeks. Christmas Day will be at my parents’ house, eating homemade cinnamon rolls after (or perhaps while) opening presents.
Sandy Sebold says
Happy birthday, Kevin! My oldest son and his wife have invited us over for Christmas Eve. with the rest of our family. We will have dinner there and then celebrate Christmas with all the goodies. We exchange gifts and spend the evening enjoying the holiday with our family!
Margaret says
I really don’t want the cake pan, just wanted to say Happy Birthday! The cake pan that makes me drool is the new style bundt pan that has all the spaces for the glaze to puddle.
Lucille Scott says
Happy Birthday Kevin!
I will cook Duck with Apple cabbage and Potatoes dumplings!!. Dessert is Christmas Stollen.
Drinking hot Gluehwein with a fire outside !!! We are celebrating Christmas at home. Singing Christmas carols, playing games, Enjoying Christmas with our love ones.!!
Nancy Tener says
We’ll all be together for Christmas breakfast and then move to my older son’s home for Christmas dinner. I know my grandchildren would love a cake baked in this mold!!
Annette Gann says
Hope your birthday is a GREAT one! I am hosting my husband’s family (everyone brings a dish or 2) on Christmas Eve and going to our daughter’s house for soup Christmas night. Merry merry Christmas from house to yours!
Carole 68 says
What a nice idea, my daughter is hopping up and down and saying “Enter the giveaway ! Enter the giveaway !”
So first of all, Happy Birthday ! And lots of thanks for your wonderful blog.
So for Christmas… we’re going to stay at home, light the candles on the Christmas tree, have a couple of canapés (little toast with tarama, surimi, black fish eggs and hard-boiled eggs etc), a wonderful dessert – maybe a homemade Bûche de Noël (Christmas “log”) and exchange small but meaningful gifts. We don’t buy into the consumerism of the holiday, and are very grateful for our home, our family and our good health. I’m going to try to have everybody go to Church with me but might end up going alone there (well, no big deal).
I hope you will have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. And my daughter says to say she particularly likes Lily the Beagle.
Kathy says
Having Christmas at my house this year. Looking forward to spending time with my family. That castle cake would be a great addition to our treat table.
I want to thank you for creating gluten free recipes. I have tried several and are wonderful. I look forward to seeing what you will come up with next.
Kathy says
Having Christmas at my house this year. Looking forward to spending time with my family. That castle cake would be a great addition to our treat table.
I want to thank you for creating gluten free recipes. I have tried several and are wonderful. I look forward to seeing what you will come up with next.
Nanci Burtman says
With friends and family eating good food and creating new memories!
Marye DD says
I have not spent Christmas with my daughter for 2 years so I will be going to visit her in Hawaii!
Mele Kalikimaka!
It is a Hawaiian tradition to give away a gift on one’s birthday! Mahola!!
I just can’t wait to win this castle cake pan!
Kathleen says
We are heading to my sisters house with my daughter, her husband, and my gifted granddaughter in tow!
Patti Johnson says
Happy birthday…Enjoy….
Arden Rembert Brink says
Hi, Kevin — First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It’s a great day for a birthday — it’s our grandson’s too. That is, he’s being born momentarily. (Heading off to the hospital right now!)
We’ll have our kids here and our best friends (who returned from Costa Rica with us) so will enjoy a wonderful day, ending with a roast beast dinner served here, along with blue cheese potatoes, maybe some roasted brussels sprouts, and a salad? Weather has been bizarrely warm here in Utah, so now we’re starting to watch the forecast eagerly, hoping for snow by Christmas.
Hope all is wonderful in your world!
–arden–
Ann says
Happy Birthday Kevin and many many more….look forward to Sundays when I get your interesting and informative email….keep them coming….Ann Tidd
Chuck R. says
Happy Birthday.
Staine home this year.
Thanks.
Carol Hanson says
we’ll be hosting two Christmases! because of kids work schedules they can only come home at different times. so twice the fun and food! Happy Birthday Kevin; hope you have a great day and another year full of happy days
Storm says
Happy Birthday to you.
We’re having a family Winter festival this year. Our daughter will be home from Uni and I want the house to be specially festive for her return . :0)
Pat says
We will spend the day cooking: springrolls, roast chicken, cookies. Then we will spend the day eating and laughing and watching movies together. A celebration of family, friends and love.
Happy Birthday, Kevin!
Lorena Keech says
Happy Birthday!
We go to Christmas Eve service with friends and then get together for snacks and drinks with them and other friends.
Christmas Day we join friends and family for dinner and a gift exchange.
It is relaxing and wonderful and something we look forward to every year.
Cecile says
For a castle cake and your birthday Kevin, you must must arrive in a carriage for your birthday ball.
Ta ta……
Rosemarie says
Good wishes to the birthday boy and may your days be full of happieness. Hubby and I will be having dinner with friends in Anchorage, Alaska. We will sleep over and go to the movies the next day. All of us have adult children out of state and this has become our own holiday tradition.
Gerianne Imdieke says
Happy Birthday Kevin! Living in the Twin Cities of Mpls/St Paul, I have the pleasure of shopping at Nordic Ware’s Outlet Shop from time to time. I don’t recall seeing this delightful pan when I was there on Black Friday. The Merivelles look delicious! I’ll have to try them. Geri
Alisa Frye says
I’ll be home for Christmas with my family & my son’s girlfriend, and my dad. We’ll open presents in the morning, have a late lunch/early dinner – just hanging out enjoying time off with family. Happy Birthday!
Willow says
Happy Birthday Kevin! Will be spending Christmas with family.
Lorraine says
Love your blog Kevin ! You take such a down to earth approach to it that it is just like being there and talking to a good friend ! Would love to win the castle pan. Have a stellar birthday !
Carolyn Contois says
Happy Birthday, Kevin…. thank you for the gift you give us every week… inviting us into your home, and sharing your wisdom. Happy Holidays!
Kirstie says
Christmas Eve will be with my family at my Dad’s home and Christmas Day will be a quiet day with the pets as hubby and son are both working and my daughter is heading to her Florida Christmas vacation.
Also…Happy Birthday!
Mau says
Hopefully I’ll be spending Christmas in my new home.
sandy d says
Thank you for the giveaway! And for the scrumptious recipes too!
Happy Birthday!
Mary in Iowa says
Haven’t got a clue about Christmas. As the dowager empress of the family, I go along with whatever the next generation thinks up. After decades of hosting 30-40 people, it’s their turn, but it’s always lovely.
When I wakened this morning I had the vague sense that it was a special day, and then, just like that, it came to me: the anniversary of “a day that will live in infamy”! It seems that on some earlier anniversary you came along as the happy antidote to that infamous day, so Happy Birthday to you–and be thankful you can’t hear me sing it.
beth c says
we get together for a family celebration with the immediate family. the holidays have always been special, but are even more magical now with a kiddo around! 🙂 thanks so much for the lovely giveaway, & happy birthday!
Robin Graber says
I will be entertaining my son and his fiancé along with my stepdaughter and her husband and my granddaughter. My sister will visit on Christmas Day along with everyone else. I will be doing a beef tenderloin for sandwiches accompanied by horseradish sauce or a grainy mustard. Finger foods of skewered mozzarella, tomatoes and tortellinis, a cheese board, sweet and sour smoked sausage, spanikopita and other finger food delights. A signature cocktail of bourbon and ginger liquor, wine will be available along with stellal atrois. Sweets will be cookies and fruit. My birthday is the day after Christmas, so a celebration is always in order. Happy Birthday to you my friend and be blessed!
Donna Graham says
I am going to Dallas to see my son and grandchildren. It should be fun to see them open presents. They still believe.
Happy Birthday to you.
Gretchen says
Dear Kevin, You know those memories that make you really smile and even laugh out loud–well here’s wishing you countless more for your birthday. Hope you enjoy all the love and affection that is sent your way for not just your birthday, but every day. Happy Birthday Kevin wishing you many, many more plus the time and good health to enjoy them.
Christmas plans – just the 2 of us and our 4 cats.
Cheryl Balzer says
Happy Birthday to you! And Merry Christmas to you and yours!
This old house will have family sharing a meal together this Christmas. Decorations are in place, and the meal is mostly planned, still have a few ideas to gather.
Thanks for giving gifts on your birthday; may you receive many today and throughout the year. Have a great day!
Denise in Colorado says
Kevin,
Happy Birthday! Mine is New Years Eve! I always got a Christmas/Bitthday gift… 😉
We are going to our daughter’s house for Christmas dinner!
Warm here so I’ve been out cleaning up pine needles.
🙂
Katreader says
What fun! I remember one of the best Christmas presents ever was a Fisher Price castle I got. It had a trap door that send to to the dungeon! I still have it! I actually have off this year, although I’m working Christmas Eve and the day after. Depending on the weather I’ll be celebrating with my parents. We may do that Saturday, if not on Christmas. If I won’t see them on Christmas Day I think I’ll lounge around the house with the animals!
Happy Birthday!
Bev says
Happy Birthday Kevin!!! My 84 y/o mother who adores King of Thrones would love her birthday cake in January to be made with this mold. I wonder what the best cake recipe would be for a mold like this – a bundt cake?
Glenda says
Cooking, cooking, and more cooking………………………….and tending my (true) Christmas cactus! Thank you so much for your inspirations, Kevin, and Happy Birthday!
BjTreants says
And a Happy Birthday to you Kevin Lee, from your NC connection So, okay, the only connection the two of us have is the fact that I so enjoy your posts. I so admire your contributions to food, growing things, and style and your willingness to share said with us. This cake pan (if calling the castle maker a mere-“pan” would be proper) is so YOU – in my estimation. Good luck with your give-a-way of it. Having no children of our own, with our home and hearth open on a daily basis to our two fur babies, Bill Bailey and Jaegar Schnitzel, our Christmas’s have been small over the years. My husband’s nephew, who lived in NY City for years working as a free lance make-up artist and employee of Bobby Brown’s company has felt the Southern Pull and moved back to NC. Eric will be joining us for Christmas this year (at least he gets off work for Christmas day.) You know how retail can be this time of the year…. So, we will be three, plus dogs, for our Happy Christmas this year. May I add my wish with all the others that you and yours have a most joyous Christmas and Happy New Year. Must also add, I will be eagerly waiting to see when you share your holiday celebrations with us here. Thank you Kevin Lee ! BjT
Laurie Fisher says
I will be having Kids and Grandkids here on Christmas Eve to watch “old” Christmas movies, then on Christmas Day they all come over to open presents and have ham and all the wonderful additions.
Ceal Whalen says
I will be flying to Atlanta to spend Christmas with my daughter Cathy (born on my birthday), my son in law Jerry, and my three fully grown grandsons – still trying to figure out how my grandbabies got so big in such a short time????
Ceal
Kat says
First HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! This year on Christmas I will be in NYCity helping my daughter take care of their new baby girl, born Dec. 4, 2014 . I suspect we will put on a Christmas gathering for her hubby’s family! It is going to be a wonderful Christmas Season this year!
Kat says
Oops forgot to thank you for the giveaway!
Pat Uhl says
Just immediate family and pets for Christmas this year. We are hoping that our dog finally gets the orthopedic devices off her leg after being hit by a pickup truck, who swerved into her then drove off the Sunday before Halloween. Having her alive and hopefully healthy and mobile will be our present this year.
Brian says
Flying up to Canada for Christmas to be with friends in Victoria British Columbia
Janet Quinn says
Christmas with friends from Wales, Canada and the good ‘ole USA! The welsh lady will be making a “Full Bore Trifle”!! That joy of desserts! Along with beef and many bottles of wine! Good Friends, Good Trifle, Good Wine — the ingredients of a fine dinner!
Paula Dearr says
This Christmas is bittersweet, my daughter’s fiance’ lost his father to cancer before Thanksgiving.
We will do our best to make him feel welcome with our Christmas traditions. He lost his mom 3 years ago too! so sad. I try to make him home cooked food and deserts. A Castle cake pan would be great, he and my daughter watch Game of Thrones, a Castle Cake would be da bombe!
Loreen Fread says
I will be going to my daughter’s house where there will be plenty of Paleo food. With autistic children we watch the food very carefully, so they can eat only what is on the prescribed diet. But we can have awesome fun playing reindeer games and singing songs and maybe play in the snow. Hopefully the spring garden bowls I made will be ready to sprout for the New year, Happiest of birthdays to you. 🙂
Chris says
Happy Birthday Kevin staying home enjoying family & friends
Robin says
Sadly, the boyfriend has moved on (along with his darling granddaughter, son and daughter) so I may be spending the day alone, in a movie theatre, thinking about all the money I didn’t (have) to spend this year.
If I had the castle, I MIGHT COULD be baking, though 🙂
Three days later is my birthday, so I might be seeing ANOTHER movie on that day!
You are from Spokane, Kevin? Me too! Which side of town?
Robin-a West Vally Girl
Now a Seattle-ite, broke from the cost of living over here!
kimbra says
thank you Kevin for all you do, may your Christmas be merry & your New Years bright !!!!
the Rollings
Vacaville, ca
kimbra says
p.s. happy birthday !!!!
Hope says
We’ll be eating way too much dinner, followed by way too many cookies.
Rebecca C says
Spending Christmas with family from 1yr – 72yrs!! Happy Birthday, Keving, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
Kirsten Berwick says
I’m in the midst of moving my kitchen, from one side of the house to the other…What was I thinking? So I’ll be going next door for dinner…can’t even bring a dish to pass!! Have a Happy Birthday, hope this is your best year ever!! L, kb
Linda McKinney says
I will be spending the day at home working with flowers and decorating my Christmas Tree…I will also go shopping for the ingrediance for making a castle cake!!!!….=^:^=
Julie Frey says
My kids are coming for Christmas Eve. We go to church and have dinner together. Christmas Day I go to my daughter’s house. She loves to bake so if my number comes up we will have fun creating a cake for the grandkids. God Bless & Merry Christmas!
Pat says
Happy birthday wishes to you! I hope you have a wonderful day and an excellent year ahead! Thanks for giving someone a gift for “your” birthday!
Linda A. Fleming says
A wee, little quiet Christmas this year.
Hiltrud Jones says
Happy Birthday to you, Kevin. We will be spending this Christmas partially at Callaway Gardens and at home with grandchildren. Thank you also very much for the fantastic Thanksgiving recipes – I made the stuffing balls (with spicy bratwurst instead of Italian sausage), the cranberry-almond-caramel tart and the turkey breast with apple-gravy. Everybody was in awe! I hid the rest of the tart and enjoyed the last two pieces when nobody was around with a big blob of whipped cream. That was my reward for cooking all this delicious food 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Robin Jenkins says
Happy Birthday! Christmas this year is just a quiet dinner with the hubs and my mother. Will then spend weekend with my sons and families for a noisy fun time with food and gifts. Would love to have a castle cake pan. How much fun!!!
Susan Fogarty says
I love Christmas parties!
Gwyn says
A ChristmasEve service, a quiet Chrostmas day and then are visiting our daughter and her new husband for the weekend after Christmas. That castle pan makes me think of the beach (where I wish we were going!)
Pat d says
Having dinner on the 22nd with friends.
Christmas Day is a quiet day for us.
Judy says
Happy, happy birthday!! Our children and grandchildren will be here for Christmas. I’d love to bake a castle cake for everybody 🙂
Delois D Dawson says
Happy Birthday and may you be blessed with many more. It will be a day of great expectation. It’s Christmas the celebration of the birth of Jesus. I will also test my smoker and my kitchen-aid mixer. I would really appreciate this cake pan.
Susan M. says
Driving to Florida to surprise my parents! 🙂
gillycat says
happy birthday and congratulations on making another trip around the sun!
Pamela says
Spending the day at home with my hubs and kiddos enjoying a nice relaxed family day!
LD says
Happy happy birthday Kevin!!! Adult children home from college and we are the ones in the South so will be home playing lots of games for Christmas.
Darlene says
Making dinner and having the kids and grandkids over. 5 grandkids 3 and under will be fun.
Ellen says
Happy Birthday! We will be continuing our family tradition of being thankful for what Christmas means and then spend the day with family stuffing ourselves with all the home made tacos we can eat along with downing sparkling apple cider and maybe a little wine.
Doris C. says
Christmas day will be with our 6 year old triplet grandsons.
Denise T says
Happy Birthday to you Kevin. I hope you are having some very nice gathering of friends to share your special day.
This Christmas I will probably try to fit my family here in my tiny house for Christmas Eve. I just don’t have the room or a dining room for Christmas dinner or larger meals anymore.
Please add me to the contest for the castle cake pan. I would love to make a spice cake and shower it w/snow and add holly accents.
Alix says
Happy Birthday Kevin. I’m spending a week with my extended family. My mom and dad always cook a big dinner in my kitchen, so I’ll be doing the dishes, along with my husband and maybe my kids. We could have castle cake for dessert!
Sandy Douglass Abalos says
Happy birthday, Kevin! My daughter Angela celebrates her 35th birthday on Dec. 22, so we are going to a casino for the occasion. If we hit a big jackpot, we may just stay thru Christmas! Otherwise we’ll spend the holiday in the pineywoods of deep east Texas.
Faye says
Children and families are coming over for Christmas dinner. Merry Christmas!
Nancy R. says
Happy birthday! We’ll be building a fire, spending the day with family & probably eating too much.
MonicaC says
Happy b-day.
Son and wife coming to Florida from Michigan for the holiday.
We will be golfing and soaking up the sun.
Janet says
For the first time in 42 years of marriage, we are not putting up a Christmas tree. We will be traveling to our daughter, son-in-law and grandson’s home in NC for Christmas! Our son, his fiancée, and our soon-to-be granddaughter will join us there! Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening says
We’ll be celebrating with family. We don’t do a fancy dinner, just lots of different snacks and nibbles throughout the day. I’ve made the castle cake from the Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls (circa 1965), which requires a lot of cutting cakes into shapes and assembling. This will be a lot easier.
Joanna says
Happy birthday!
Pam R. says
Quiet Christmas with friends. Happy Birthday to you, Kevin!
Chit says
Happy birthday Kevin! I enjoy your virtual friendship!
Julie B says
Happy Birthday, Cousin, and many thanks for sharing Aunt Nova’s recipe. It feels as though you’re sharing a bit of her with the world.
As you know, she was a most wonderful woman and would have been delighted to have her treats featured in your blog.
peggy leonard says
I live in the frigid, Land of Wisconsin. My daughter bought me a ticket to see her and my three grandchildren (ages 5, 8 &12) in Austin Texas for Christmas. I will be there for two weeks. It would be a wonderful surprise if I could make the kids a castle cake!! The cake will have to be organic and as sugar free as possible. They do, however, make a sugar filled, chocolate-mint, hard sheet candy every christmas. Send me a great cake recipe and the cake mold and I will send pictures of us with our castle in my Land of Christmas Wishes Come True.
alice says
Staying home and hoping my son can make it home. He didn’t for Thanksgiving because of snow
Mary says
First off, Happy Birthday. It’s my grandfather’s birthday as well. And – a date that will live in infamy!
Anywho….headed to my mom’s in Colorado this year! And having prime rib. Yum! 🙂
peggy leonard says
Oh my, I forgot to send my birthday wishes in my previous comment. I’m, of course, wishing for you the happiest birthday you’ve ever had. I also send a wish that your Christmas be filled with family, friends and an abundance of JOY.
Donna-mae Tegelber says
I am working 24,25,26 . Hopefully making my patients have the merriest christmas I can,since the are spending it in hospital.
chris says
Happy, happy birthday! I would make,this and,share it with my master gardener buddies,at our next meeting!
patrice caden says
Hi Kevin, children and grand children are coming for dinner and the day. Always a wonderful time with family and friends.
Veronica says
It’s a day with the in-laws! Food and love from the ‘other’ side. 😉
gloria says
Happy Birthday!!
Joan says
We are spending Christmas at home, just our family which is three boys who are away at school and my husband. I relish the moments we can be together! I hope your birthday was a wonderful day for you!
Debbie says
Will be spending Christmas at home with family, including my mother, children and grandchildren. Happy Birthday!
Naomi Shelton says
Kevin, are you sure it’s your birthday? So soon?! I swear we just celebrated it not six months ago! Now tell the truth, you didn’t say it was your birthday just so you could bake yourself one of those cool castle cakes, did you? Well, whatever you say, I’ll go with it and wish you the Happiest of Birthdays! AND I am aware of how fast a year can fly by. AND I really want that cake pan because I think it would make really awesome b’day cakes for my three, three and four-year-old grandsons. They would LOVE it! So if I DON’T win, where did you say you got the one you have?
diana murphy says
Waiting for Santa! Food,family, and fun. Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!
Linda Woodworth says
Hosting the extended family here at our family farm! The castle cake would be a lovely addition to our big dinner. Happy birthday! You are a gift to your readers!
Naomi Shelton says
Oh, dear! I forgot to tell you what I am doing for Christmas! Oh well, tho’ I know you said only one e-mail per person, I will still tell you. I”ll just have to buy that damn cake pan myself!
Altho’ I wish fervently that I were flying to some place warm with my family to celebrate Christmas, I will actually be hosting the kiddos and all their chaos right here in frigid central Michigan in my just over 1,100 square ft. ranch home with minimal kitchen counter space and a too small dining area. Yes, indeed, it will be a raucous time! And then, thank God (or whomever) they will ALL go home.
Linda Cannady says
Happy Birthday, Kevin! We are having all 6 of our grown children and spouses and 5 grandchildren visiting us at home in Michigan for a week over Christmas. It will be crazy fun and would be lovely to have a special cake made from this cake pan!
Margret Bullard says
My family tries to stay flexible with our scheduling so that we can include as many members as possible. We are pretty simple in what we do and what we spend nobody has much so it is all about the kids. Some members will be traveling to Ohio and California to see family so we will share with them according to their schedule. The rest will gather at my house for a traditional family Christmas. We have enough cooks that having a meal together is fairly simple. The littlest ones are staying with me so all I have to do is get up and enjoy.
Margret Bullard says
I loved reading the other comments!
Zoe Williams says
all 11 grands and greatgrands, Christmas ever and we are going to a grands for Christmas dinner. At 75 I only cook for one, but we will have cocoa and popcorn and a Christmas movie and afloor full of kiddos…. Ho Ho HO. Maybe we can bake a Christmas cake, or if all else fails well add apples and Halo oranges to the mix. Like fish company shouln’t last over two days…..
Merry Christmas, thought about rum and fuitcake but too amny teenagers to 2 year old
Jutta Middel says
I will be baking a castle cake of course!
… after that, a traditional German Christmas Eve and a traditional American Christmas morning with the kids.
Happy Birthday!
suzanne hissung says
My sis is back stateside and wants to host Christmas this year. I’m thrilled to have a cohort to help with the large family holiday get togethers. Loved your recipe for this cake and your tip to get the bubbles to. Merry Christmas!
Joyce Brennan says
Happy birthday. We will ho to church and ham a ham feast after opening gifts.
Sarah says
Happy Birthday!
Katherine says
Happy Birthday to You! My Grandmother’s Birthday was today, too. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She came from Budapest Hungary, learned English by listening to the radio, watching TV and reading the newspaper.
Kelly D says
I am going to my parent’s house for dinner, and we will see our extended family there.
Lee Carlson says
I am so fortunate to live with my youngest daughter and son in law and their 5 children so Christmas will be very exciting. My oldest daughter will come with her two and their spouses and my great grandson.
May God bless you and keep you on the day of your birth.
Janis says
celebrating with family
Darlene B says
Looding forward to having all the college kids home for Christmas! Happy Birthday Kevin!!
Bonnie Taormina says
Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have many more to come. We always get together with our kids and have dinner and unwrap our gifts. Taking pictures and just enjoying the time together. We always eat way to much and are to full to move after we eat lol. After everyone leaves we take down our Christmas tree and put that away. We usually play with the stuff we get for gifts and see what is what.
Blessie Nelson says
Going to have a quiet time with the family at home.
Joan C. says
Our three boys will be home from school and we will celebrate together at home. I can hardly wait to have them all here!
Christina M. Giordano says
I’ll be with my newly expanded family….new significant others for my daughter and son-in-law. By the way, Kevin, Happy Birthday and thanks for all the great advice and recipes.
Lisa lee says
Happy birthday! Our fam of 5 will have gone skiing then spend a nice quiet Christmas at home in Ohio outside of Columbus.
barbara says
Christmas means tempting fate again with the trek from the northern Adirondacks to mid-coast Maine and hoping for clement weather. Blizzards are generally in order; complications ensue. The definition of insanity is repetition of the same conduct and expecting a different result. Maybe I will not be trapped in Maine with a snow shovel Christmas week?
Happy Birthday!
Bonnie says
Happy Birthday. This is fun. Spending Christmas in Texas with family.
Monica Schryver says
Surrounded by my family enjoying a day of surprises, naps, and great food and drinks.
Arianna Norris-Landry says
I actually have this pan and find that either a spice cake dusted with powdered sugar snow or a quick bread done up the same way is marveleaux. I’ll probably win since I don’t need it, so IF I do, please pick again…..and send me the food processor I asked Santa for! 🙂
My son will be moving just after Xmas, so there won’t be much baking this year, but it will all work out. Hope you have a Happy Birthday!
Diane McDaniel says
We are planning a delightful Christmas here at our home in Raleigh, NC, with my two sons and families, three grandsons, and my stepson and stepdaughter. On December 20 we are planning to go see a live production of A Christmas Carol.. Next Sunday we are hosting a party and I may make one of your delightful desserts! Kevin, Happy Birthday and Happy Holidays!
Charlotte says
Happy Birthday Kevin!
I will be thanking God for His many blessings and then visiting family, friends, and shut-ins, spreading the joy of this holiday with as many as I can.
Karen O. says
Happy Birthday to you. My husband and I will be home for Christmas day and my grown son will be spending the day with us.
Terry Smith says
Celebrating Festivus on the 23rd with friends, then joining the aging parents for Christmas Day.
Liisa JW says
Hope you have a great birthday. Family coming to my place for a huge feast.
Corby says
Kevin, I hope it has been a wondrously momentous Happy Birthday for you. I so enjoy your blog. I will spend Christmas this year at home with my brother and my two grown children and niece. We are enjoying our lovely new decorations, a 7.5 ft. artificial PINK tree (I have always had a cut live tree and love its scent, but it got to be too much work and too costly) and completely changed my colors to bright pinks, purples, turquoises, acid green, oranges, etc. and it feels young and vibrant and cheerful. Next year, pink lights! I think a Castle Cake is just what we need to go with all the vivaciousness! Thanks for all you do. Merry Christmas!
Carole says
Happy December Birthday Kevin! This year, as usual I will be hosting the family for Christmas Day dinner. I cannot wait to present a lovely meal to my family. This year will be especially meaningful as we will include my first grandchild, now just six months! What a blessed day we will enjoy. Good luck to everyone!
Susan Golden says
If anyone deserves a Castle Cake, it is you! You and your partner are turning your lovely home into a castle right before out eyes! Hope you had a wonderful Birthday! 🙂
Lou says
Happy birthday!
Spending time with family!
Michele Layne says
Oh my! Who doesn’t want a castle cake pan! I would love one Kevin.
Now what I am doing for Christmas is staying home this year to do some remodeling of our bathrooms and a dinner with my husband. We traveled to my daughters house in California from Arizona this thanksgiving so it is nice to be home. We usually travel but I do love decorating my home at Christmas so it will be nice to stay home.
Linda says
We will start Christmas off with a dinner and gift exchange with my husbands daughter and granddaughters families. Then Christmas Day we will drive to my daughter’s to share in the festivities of her children coming home with their spouses, and we will meet our brand new great granddaughter, who is due any day now! Happy times and good food! Merry Christmas to you Kevin and readers.
Tracey says
Happy Birthday Kevin! My daughter Charlotte shares your birthday 🙂 Tx
Terri Burton says
We are expecting family The day after Christmas so I expect I will be cooking uP a storm in preparation and eating way too much!
Anne q says
Spending the day with my beloved husband with all our pets and pondering the beauty of winter life.
Betty says
Happy Birthday Kevin! Hope you Enjoy a Birthday Week and Cent ‘Anni!
This year I will be home for Christmas, have a wonderful meal and some cocktails.
🙂
Martha Starks says
Will be spending Christmas with all my family. Eating, drinking, and enjoying this quality time.
Thelma says
Husband and I will be celebrating Christmas with our Daughter, Son-in-law, two Grandsons and 93 year old Father-in-law.
Sherlie Magaret says
Quiet day at home, thank you very much, 🙂
Laurie-Annya Linfoot says
My new husband (of 3 months!) and I will be sharing Christmas at home with our two cats, Greta and Sadie. And drinking champagne…..
Sharon says
We’re hoping both kids will be able to make it home for a Christmas visit. Lots of cooking, baking, decorating.
Nina says
We are thankful to be able to enjoy the holiday season together at home in Colorado this year. I am thankful to you for creating and sharing a true gift that keeps on giving – all year long I look forward to each new post of ‘A Garden for the House’. Wishing for you, dear Kevin, a very special birthday! Have a blessed holiday season and new year!
Roxanne Danek says
The thin veil of Christmas will find us soaking up the spiritual comforts of the night. Christman day our son and his husband will fly in from NY. This is the first Christmas in 10 yrs. they have been able to join us. Our youngest son, wife and 2 adorable children will join us for an afternoon of laughter, fun and food. Yesterday I sent them all an email asking for suggestions on the main course. They each asked for the same family favorites. If I win, I will need to have them draw straws for the mold. Please draw my number! And, a very Happy Birthday to you!
Joey says
Local family drama, unfortunately.
William Dotson says
Hopefully spending time with our daughter.
Ann says
we are enjoying a nice day at home with the girls. Family time!
Bev says
Spending time with family including my children and grandchildren, my sister and her children & grandchildren and my sister-in-law and her children and grandchildren. There will be a total of nine grandchildren with the oldest being 8. Let the fun begin!
Tammy says
Happy Birthday Kevin!! I am driving to my parents to spend the weekend with them for Christmas. I will be a wonderful Christmas this year since my dad just had by-pass surgery and should be on the mend nicely by then and it will be nice to see him up and about again.
Beverley says
I’ll be heading to Almost Heaven West Virginia to spend time with the family! God Bless!
Diane says
Quieter Christmas this year as my out of state nephews won’t be able to make it back to Michigan. Still, looking forward to a restful time and preparing for then next show at the Player’s Guild of Dearborn.
eileen says
Staying home with family, maybe alot of snow here in Buffalo ! Happy birthday 🙂
cheri b says
Watching the snow fall in my northern Michigan woodland home and being grateful for love, laughter, and nature’s beauty. Happy Birthday, Kevin. Love your website! Your article on the Joan Crawford approved tomato trellis made me laugh for days. I’m a big tomato grower.
France says
I am alone on Christmas Day but I would love to win this castle cake pan to make for my grandchildren on a special occasion.
thank you for considering my request & have a happy holiday.
Lindsay MBE says
Well happy birthday to you, Kevin! I hope you don’t get the ‘combo’ birthday/Christmas gifts and celebrations that often happen to December babies! 🙂
My wife and I got married in June of this year, and in October it was finally recognized as legal in Indiana, so after 15+ years together and 2 grown children, we’re finally able to celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple. So this year we plan on staying in town (maybe with a quick jaunt to northern IN to visit family), having a nice Christmas dinner, and having our kids come over to eat and to exchange gifts. This is always a special time, because I tend to be able to get off of work over the Christmas to New Year’s time period, so it’s an extended vacation for me and allows for alot of quality family time. I can’t wait!
Shirley B. says
This year we’ll be gathering at my niece’s for Puerto Rican food. We pick a different country each year to be the theme for our Christmas dinner.
Vicki Young-Ferreira says
Hi Kevin:
Happy Birthday!!! We are headed to Austin as my daughter is having a Christmas baby! We are very excited and would love to have a castle pan to bake a wonderful cake to celebrate the homecoming of our new grandson!
Thanks so much! I love your newsletter!
Hope you make lots of memories for you birthday!
Vicki
Carol H. says
We will be gathering at our house here in the country and will put together some fun activities for the kids — maybe a hay ride, a bonfire by the big pond, and luminaria along the driveway and back porch (with flameless candles due to the fire risk of using real candles). For food? Maybe a beef roast with au gratin potatoes, veggies, and a big caramel apple cake for dessert… Hmm, hard to decide… I hope you had a wonderful birthday! You bring joy to your readers and we love you for it. I especially appreciate it when you advise us to use mixing bowls or spatulas of certain colors… Cracks me up…
Debbie says
Happy Birthday Kevin,
Your blog is always so fun! My Christmas Day I will be with family at my sister’s home with lots of fun, food and games.
Merry Christmas and Have a great new year to from Illinois.
Deb
Melissa says
Bon anniversaire, my fellow Sagittarian!
Christmas Eve will be food and fun with the fam. Guesstures and Pictionary are a hoot with four generations playing.
Cathy O'Daniel says
Happy Birthday….hope it’s the best ever! I’ll be celebrating with my family at my home. My grandkids would love a special castle cake for Christmas. The look on their faces would be priceless……
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Cathy
Joy says
Family & friends…baking……wrapping….mailing… bringing out those meaningful bits of glass and tinsel and glitter to capture & reflect every ray of sun at this darkest time of the year. Wassail, wassail, wassail!
Marilyn Purdy says
Hosting my very large, loving family at our home. What could be more fun! Happy belated birthday!
Gaye McGill says
I’m planning on heading out of town to spend Christmas with family. And Happy Birthday (a day late), Kevin!
Marilyn Martin says
I hope you’re still enjoying your birthday, Kevin. We’re not sure yet what we’re doing. I am having back surgery on Dec. 10, but am hoping that one or two of my children will be here.
Kimberly says
We stay home with our two teenagers. We have a huge dinner on Christmas Eve, sometimes with friends or family, then I don’t cook or do much of anything on Christmas Day except open presents, eat candy and leftovers and play games. So much fun.
Martha says
Happy birthday! Christmas and Hanukah at home—New Year’s in the Virgin Islands!
I have an awesome gluten free chocolate fudge cake that would make a great castle.
Jan Johnsen says
Happy Happy! I hope to win the castle cake maker – it looks so fun!
Patricia C. says
Staying at home. Making Christmas dinner for my children, grandkids, sister in law and her
children and grand daughter. Traditional fare with some new recipes. We always try a new soup. Last year we did broccoli potato soup topped with crumbled crispy bacon. We have a few vegetarians, some dairy free and a grandson who is allergic to a ton of things including wheat so he is gluten free. I am amazed by the variety of recipes available on-line currently. The internet is a great resource. I love your website. I’m glad I found it. Blessings to you, Pat
Karen Carpenter says
This will be the first time in all of my 55 years that I will be going on a Christmas vacation to Niagara Falls. My husband and I, along with a dear friend of ours, will be enjoying Christmas dinner in the Skylon Tower’s Revolving Dining Room.
Debbi says
Heading to the state of Washington to spend time with my daughter & her family! Can’t wait!
Happy Birthday to you and Love that pan!
Lisa says
We are never too old for wonder and imagination. Love your site and look forward to each week’s additions.
Judy says
I’m cooking at home for my parents, husband and son! Looking forward to my son coming home from college and seeing my parents who are 91 and 92 and in very good health!! Happy Birthday to you a day late Kevin! I enjoy your blog so much – it quite an inspiration.
Annette says
Happy birthday and merry Christmas!
Bruce says
The kids (all adults) are coming over for a brunch. Doug (my partner) and I are making Bacon, sausage, eggs cooked to order, fruit and Belgium waffles with a choice of home made maple syrup or homemade strawberry syrup. Then there will be shots of espresso for all as we open gifts.
Marie says
Merry Christmas, Kevin! Our family will go to Christmas Eve Mass, then go out for Chinese food, and stop by my niece’s for dessert. On Christmas Day, family members- around 30 of them- will gather at our home to celebrate together. Decorating, shopping, baking,and ugh, cleaning – I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me!
Julie says
Hi, Kevin, and Belated Birthday Greetings! My 70th was 12-1. Last weekend my daughter and her family came down, and I was given a silver bundt pan charm, as she says I’m “Queen of the Bundt cakes.”‘ It would be great to win the castle and see if I can be ” Queen of the Castle Pans,” too! I’ll share my blue ribbon winning recipe with you and the winner, if you’d like me to.
Barbara says
Several years ago now our traditions were forced into another direction when the hosts divorced and headed to the far ends of the country. Since that time we’ve gathered together the other displaced persons, several family members and friends from our original cohort and spend a joyful Christmas Eve together. We are linked by our memories of friends and family not present and the youngsters then children now young adults taking their places at the table. Family extends beyond the blood and embraces the new. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and Happy Birthday to you!
D.C. says
I’ll be staying home with family. Maybe this will be the year the tree is fully decorated before Christmas Eve!
Annette says
I’ll have staying home for the holidays, but getting together with friends and family.
Sunny says
Cute pan!! My husband would love a birthday cake like this Feb1st. 🙂
We’re spending a quiet Christmas at home.
Kip Morrissette says
Congratulations to Sheryl, #61. If anyone should have won the castle, it is Sheryl.
I read her message and would have routed for her all the way! God Bless You Sheryl and wishing you all the best with your treatments. Merry Christmas!
Marie says
My family will have Christmas dinner (and his 12/21 birthday) at my brother’s. I’ll go over early and make beef wellington (his request this year). I’ve wanted the castle cake pan since it came out, but since I already have the cathedral pan, couldn’t justify buying it. Happy Birthday, Kevin.
Karen says
Kevin, Just wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love your site!