My First Kringle

My best pal Marcus (above) recently performed a holiday show at a local preschool, and they sent him home with a large flat bag from a bakery in Wisconsin. "One of the parents brought some in" said the director. "Very cool!" says he and stashed it in his jingle bell bag. Back at home what did we discover in the large flat bag? A kringle! I thought Kringle was the last name of Kris, a good friend of Santa Claus. Well, a kringle is a pastry from Denmark, it's a round affair with a fruit filling sprinkled with that chunky bakery sugar. See above. You've heard of a "Danish" . Well these Danes make a kringle too, and it's some serious pastry.

This particular kringle comes from Bendtsen's Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin which has a large Danish community. Wow, fresh pastry from the midwest - all the way to our back porch in Maine. Mmmmm....even smells good. Can't wait for lunch to be over so I can try some!

Come on Marcus, don't just stand there staring at it!  That guy sure gets dreamy sometime! 

Here's the wrapping for the "authentic" kringle, hand made with all natural ingredients by the Bendsten family, originally from Odense, Denmark. Since 1934 the bakery in Racine Wisconsin ("Kringle Capital of America") has been using the original recipe from the old country.

And it was tasty... Marcus and I ate about half of it in ten minutes!  What a nice surprise holiday gift!

Merry Kringles everyone!!  

Love and Hugs from Big Dog

North Berwick Tree Lighting

In North Berwick, Maine, the Saturday after Thanksgiving means lighting the town Christmas tree

on the town green, known as the Mill Field. A pair of local horses are kind enough to pull a wagon

giving rides to happy children and parents.

All bundled up on this brisk November afternoon. One of these children seems to be a lot bigger!

  

Yup, there it is , the official town tree. Students from the Primary School made the decorations.

 

Seacoast Christian School bell choir. Making heavenly music and having fun too!

Now that's a well decorated gazebo!

                                                                                

                                                         Blue skies and late fall breezes.   

It's always good to see Mrs. Claus again. This year she is sitting in for Santa, who was way behind on the

toy making and couldn't attend the festivities.

Mrs Claus, ready with the candy canes and waiting to greet the children.

                                                                                

Mail for Santa at the North Pole can be deposited here for overnight express delivery.

Brother and sister are very happy.

Hmmmm..... now what do I REALLY want for Christmas?

Another happy brother/sister team receives their candy canes.

Light is fading as the church choir sings.

 Marcus Gale takes the stage with some cheery tunes.

 

Town folk gather round. Soon we'll break out the jingle bells.

The tree is LIT!!

 

Night falls on North Berwick Maine as the holiday season begins.