There has been a meme circulating on FB about the day after Christmas, when some people went back to work, being the "Mondayest Thursday ever." I think that is today. After almost two weeks off, we are back to our normal school-work routine. The kids went back bright and early (the sky was bright, not them), as did Mama. I go back next week, but I am full into my chores--tons of laundry, a messy kitchen, a chaotic house, since we spent the whole time here.
Bud had asked for an at-home holiday but he got more than he bargained for: Mama and I had severe colds, with sinus infections, most of the holidays. Mama slept some of Christmas away; I lumped for days afterwards. We were supposed to go to Old Sturbridge Village candlelight with Ma and Gong, but we kept pushing it back and eventually had to cancel, disappointing us all. We're both only now starting to move more energetically.
We did do a few things. The kids and I went to see Cats on Christmas Eve morning, drawn by all of the horrible reviews we'd seen. First, I love the musical Cats, even with its lack of plot, and have seen it on stage three or so times, plus some filmed versions, so I was not bothered by the string of songs without much narrative glue. I didn't mind the kitty ingenue introduced to guide us through the story, which had been made more clear with the villain McCavity. And I really liked several of the actors, though not the fat-phobia for laughs inflicted on Rebel Wilson and James Corden. But, secondly, I found it really hard to watch all the CGI. I didn't mind the odd perspectives/size differences of the cats and the surrounding sets. But I was particularly bothered by the nude-like costumes (cats are fluffy with fur, not skin tight and smooth) and the synchronized snake-tails. Idris Elba looked very oddly nude-not-nude and I can't un-see Taylor Swift shaking furry-not-furry cat boobs. And I became entranced by how in some places the cats' feet weren't really touching the floor, which was also CGI'd. If they had just filmed them as-is, like the Broadway show, esp without those dancing tails, it might have been better. Because the dancing was extraordinary, the singing mostly good (except Jennifer Hudson's "Memory" which was about the worst I've ever heard), and several of the actors entrancing--love, love, love Judi Dench and Ian McKellen. So, not a waste of two hours, not awful, but still the CGI was terrible. We had fun.
Later that evening, we went to Vespers at church, taking a plate of cookies to share. I loved the carol singing, though I got teary through many of them. Not because Christmas carols make me sad, but because I missed hearing my mom and dad singing along. They are both good and enthusiastic singers. Our interim minister was very warm in his welcome of Mama and the kiddos, whom he hadn't met yet. We headed home and hung out until Goo arrived. We didn't stay up too late, as far as Christmas Eves go.
And then it was Christmas morning. Even though the kiddos are older, they still got us up at 7 in the morning and were excited to get downstairs to stockings and gifts. There were a lot of Dungeons & Dragons presents for Bud--books, Monster and NPC (non-player character) cards, setting tiles for visual ambiance--plus a beautiful dice tower for the whole family. I gave a lot of t-shirts to everyone--a Monty Python for Goo, "Significant Otter" plus some horse t-shirts for Mama, a horse hoodie for Sis, and #teamtrees shirt for Bud (who got an Amnesty shirt when Mama and Sis got holiday horse shirts.) I got some lovely soaps (I love smelly-goods like soaps and candles) and some tasty, fancy chocolates. Indeed, there were a lot of snacks in the various stockings. But not as many books this year. Sis got a few YA fantasy books to go with Bud's D&D books. I got an IKEA cookbook with my favorite little mazariner almond tarts.
We had breakfast just as Ma and Gong arrived and then hung out the rest of the day. Mama napped upstairs while I lounged on the couch; everyone else played a long and competitive game of Rummy. It lasted half the day. We had our usual gumbo and muffalattas for dinner, with Ma making some fried rice as well.
And then the next several days are a blur. We hung around, watched movies (Christmas Vacation, ELF, Emmet Otter, all of "Watchmen" and "Gentleman Jack," one episode of "His Dark Materials" and John Mulaney's musical kids special), ate lots of snacks and cheese and sweets, played Pokemon and Celeste and the new Zelda. I crocheted on a blanket for one of their friends having knee surgery. I also did some Zentangle.
I did manage to go out with Mama Teacher on Monday, to our local tea shop, during which we had a nice chat and exchanged gifts. Then we went grocery shopping; I was exhausted at the end of it all.
New Year's was similarly subdued. We did stay up until midnight, which is a rarity. See, BTS was performing two songs in Times Square so we stayed up to watch. I thought they did a wonderful job, with the slower, melodic "Make it Right" and the more iconic "Boy with Love." I also liked that they walked past the crowds between the two stages, since fans had trouble seeing the stages and had been their all day. And then they were there when the ball dropped--taking selfies, poking confetti, pointing and dancing! So cute.
We made an abbreviated Thanksgiving dinner, since most of us hadn't had Thanksgiving (with the stomach flu.) We had roasted turkey (well, thighs, drumsticks and a few cutlets--all the whole turkeys were frozen solid.) And then watched the new Doctor Who, which surprised us all.
And now it's back to the grind. It was sorta restful but not at all memorable, a huge contrast to last year in Thailand, which was never restful and completely memorable.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Friday, December 1, 2017
The New Advent Activities
With twin tweens in the house, I have a feeling our Advent Activities will be a little different this year. Already, Sis has said she doesn't want to host the cookie-decorating party that we've had for years. It was always a chaotic, messy, fun evening. Bittersweet to say goodbye to it. And I imagine that's the way some of our activities will go. In fact, this is more "my" list than "ours" now.
There is one thing I want to try as a family--an Advent of Gratitude exercise that I saw on FB. I think it's a thought-provoking activity in this time of abundance. When we're done, we'll have to think of a charity to which to donate it.
Our New Advent Activities List
- Make wreath with boxwood branches.
- Put up Christmas tree.
- Church cookie cafe.
- Put up lawn decorations.
- Send Christmas cards.
- Holiday horse picture photo shoot for Sis.
- See new Star Wars.
- Attend holiday strings concert at school.
- Participate in Girl Scout holiday service field trip.
- Go to office holiday party.
- Celebrate my birthday.
- Read A Christmas Carol.
- Watch Little Women.
- Attend Bud's Pianp recital.
- OSV Candlelight tour.
- Deliver gifts to vet, etc.
- Keep looking for Snowy Owls.
- Go to church vespers service.
- Have holiday game night.
- Celebrate Solstice
- Put up Christmas Lego Village on table.
- Make gingerbread houses
- Bake Christmas cookies
- Choose a family charity for Advent of Gratitude
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Catch Up
I'm pretty behind and so this will be sketches, vignettes of our holiday celebrations.
New Year's Celebrations: We didn't do much for New Year's besides letting the kiddos stay up late. Most of the day, we watched our new family show, "Once Upon a Time" (Disney-fied fairytales with a modern twist) and played games (I crocheted on a blanket for my hospice patient.) Sis made a delicious batch of oatmeal scotchies. Later, we all watched some of New Year's Rocking Eve and saw the Mariah Carey meltdown/technical difficulties; Mama, who did some sound work in Chicago, couldn't believe it would go so badly without the professionals fixing it (though, Carey didn't seem to be trying very hard.) We ate pizza for a late lunch and then had various snacks throughout the evening, including mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and breadsticks. The kids stayed up til 2 or 3 a.m., but Mama and I barely made it to midnight. The next morning, we repeated most of the same.
And so now it's Tuesday and everyone is back where they usually are (though I'm at home nursing a cold.) We liked having the day after New Year's off, to cushion the fact that we stayed up late. It was hard to get going this morning. There are a lot of great activities coming up this winter and spring, so we're looking forward to what 2017 holds.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle with Homemade Gingerbread
Easy Gingerbread
Gingerbread Bundt Cake
2 1/2 cups KAF flour
2 tablespoons gingerbread spice; or 2 1/2 teaspoons ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup water
Glaze
1/3 cup rum or water
1/2 teaspoon gingerbread spice or 1/4 teaspoon ginger and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 10- to 12-cup bundt-style pan.
- GS Progressive Dinner: For the GS Junior badge in New Cuisines, the girls planned a progressive dinner in mid-December. My house was the final stop--desserts! And we opted to make Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gingergread Trifle, but with homemade gingerbread from King Arthur Flour. The girls whipped cream from scratch (with brown sugar!), combined the pumpkin puree (with cinnamon and cardamom), and then combined it all with the gingerbread in 8 oz ball jars that they'd decorated. They were so proud of their efforts and delighted in presenting the jars to each guest when it was our turn. They also made crockpot hot chocolate and Zinger Punch. The other stops were just as tasty; it was a fun way to celebrate the holidays and earn a badge!
- Sis's Slumber Party: A few nights later, Sis hosted a slumber party for two school friends, with more food (mac and cheese) and a homemade birthday cake for one of her friends.
- Cookie Party: Then just a few days after that, we hosted our annual cookie-decorating party, with some friends from GS and from the slumber party! And, for once, they decorated cookies in a ways that they could actually eat them instead of piling on the frosting and the sprinkles.
- Gommie and Pop's Visit: Gommie and Pop arrived the day before school let out for the holidays, which made the kids going to school the next morning pretty tough. That gave us time to prep and wrap, though. The next few days were filled with musical performances (piano, violin, and cello--the kids even gave my folks little lessons!), games, swimming (at their hotel), and an extra speedskating practice to prep for January competition. One down side--Mama had a nasty cold along with vertigo, which kept her pretty much bedridden for most of the holidays. She did rally a bit for Christmas itself but paid for it in the following days.
- Christmas: It was a larger affair than usual, with both families here for Christmas--us, my parents, and Mama's brother and parents. Fortunately, we did the gifts in shifts! The kids were up early, of course--it's so sweet to hear them gather early to wake us up--and were soon met by my parents. We ate Sis's bacon bites and opened lots of presents. Not long after, Ma and Gong and Goo showed up and we opened even more presents. Soon after, we all ate baked brie, gumbo, muffalettas, various delicious pies (Mama brought them for Gommie and Pop to sample), Christmas cookies, and the gingerbread bundt cake I made. Everybody helped work on a Snowy Owl puzzle Gommie had brought; most of us tried our hands at a cup stacking game that Bud received from Gommie.
- Presents: There were some themes this year: Sis got a lot of horse-themed items, including a jacket from the farm where she rides. Bud got a jacket from the kung fu national team, as well as various Zelda-themed items. There were lots of videogames for different platforms, some books in their favorite series (Warriors for Sis, Wings of Fire for both, Magisterium for Bud.) I received what I call "smelly goods," or nicely scented candles and soaps, plus lots of Snowy Owl-themed gifts and bird books. Mama was in on the videogame haul. Plus the present I was most excited to give her--a c.1870 plaster cast of John Rogers's Parting Promise. Rogers created sculptural groups to mass produce, often depicting touching genre scenes of middle-class white Victorian America. This one shows a man putting a ring on his young love's finger before leaving, suitcase nearby. I like the detail and the scene, though our cast seems to have been painted a beige color and is flaking in places; I think it gives it character. Interestingly, we had just seen a set of Rogers's groups in Vermont (at the first Vermont Country Store, I think, in the rafters), so I was excited to find one at a local antique mall. I also picked up a silver card case, c. 1850, for an anniversary gift for Mama. Yes, it was an antique Christmas. (But we do both love history.) Gommie and Pop got a lot of history and bird books, plus some fancy hiking socks. Ma got her usual Hallmark ornaments and singing snowman, while we gave Goo, among other things, a gift card to King Arthur Flour.
New Year's Celebrations: We didn't do much for New Year's besides letting the kiddos stay up late. Most of the day, we watched our new family show, "Once Upon a Time" (Disney-fied fairytales with a modern twist) and played games (I crocheted on a blanket for my hospice patient.) Sis made a delicious batch of oatmeal scotchies. Later, we all watched some of New Year's Rocking Eve and saw the Mariah Carey meltdown/technical difficulties; Mama, who did some sound work in Chicago, couldn't believe it would go so badly without the professionals fixing it (though, Carey didn't seem to be trying very hard.) We ate pizza for a late lunch and then had various snacks throughout the evening, including mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and breadsticks. The kids stayed up til 2 or 3 a.m., but Mama and I barely made it to midnight. The next morning, we repeated most of the same.
And so now it's Tuesday and everyone is back where they usually are (though I'm at home nursing a cold.) We liked having the day after New Year's off, to cushion the fact that we stayed up late. It was hard to get going this morning. There are a lot of great activities coming up this winter and spring, so we're looking forward to what 2017 holds.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle with Homemade Gingerbread
Easy Gingerbread
2 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon each cloves and nutmeg
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup diced crystallized ginger (optional)
Grease and flour a 9" square pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Melt the butter in a heatproof measuring cup. Add the molasses to the cup, and pour into the dry ingredients in the bowl, mixing to moisten.- Add the water, stirring until everything is moistened. Whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Stir into the batter until it's evenly combined. Stir in the crystallized ginger.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cake just begins to pull away from the edge of the pan.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 15 minutes before slicing; gingerbread is best served warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
- King Arthur Flour
Gingerbread Bundt Cake
2 1/2 cups KAF flour
2 tablespoons gingerbread spice; or 2 1/2 teaspoons ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup water
Glaze
1/3 cup rum or water
1/2 teaspoon gingerbread spice or 1/4 teaspoon ginger and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 10- to 12-cup bundt-style pan.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, gingerbread spice, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir in the molasses.
Add the flour mixture in three additions alternately with the water, starting and ending with the flour. Mix just until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
Bake the cake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
While the cake is baking, make the glaze by stirring together the water spice and sugar. Set aside.
Remove the cake from the oven, cool it in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack.
King Arthur Flour
Brush the cake with the glaze, and allow it to cool completely before serving.
Brush the cake with the glaze, and allow it to cool completely before serving.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Advent All-Around
I'd say we're full of the holiday spirit now, with cheer arriving almost daily since our holiday/birthday weekend in Vermont.(I'll note one downside: the Snowy Owl died. She (or perhaps a juvenile "he") was probably exhausted from her journey from the Arctic and in organ failure (making it easier to photograph her, alas), then she fell through the ice and, despite being taken to a rescue organization, died two days later. I was very, very, very sad, as was Mama--and we decided not to tell the kids. Enough death this year. They got the lesson. So, please don't mention this. We've said the owl moved on so it's not here to be seen anymore. I read today that there's one in Hartford. Hopefully, it's heading south!)
Okay, back to the holiday spirit.
We're decorated (though, somewhat minimally this year), with presents wrapped and cookies baked, too. We watched Bill Murray in Scrooged and the kids even made a small snowman in the weekend snowfall. I did the grocery shopping today and finished my gift buying (I think.) We're not doing a big meal, just gumbo and muffalettas, with Vermont cheeses, homemade (and cookie cafe) cookies, hot chocolate, maybe the NYTimes hot chocolate red wine (!), and perhaps a gingerbread bundt cake from King Arthur Flour.
- Go to Cookie Cafe (Dec.3)--DONE
- Set up Lego Christmas village--DONE
- My birthday celebration--DONE
- Holiday weekend away--DONE
- Office party--DONE
- Look for Snowy Owl--DONE
- Family game night (probably Animal Jam)--DONE (we played Tenzi, too)
- Decorate house--DONE
- Build gingerbread houses
- Host cookie party--TODAY
- Make holiday wreath--DONE (two, actually--one with boxwood and one with twinkle lights)
- Stay up late, a la Solstice Camp Out the night of last day of school
- Gifts for teachers, vet, coaches--DONE
- Create and send family Christmas card--halfway done (the cards were just ordered)
- Watch "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas"
- Watch "It's a Wonderful Life!"
- Watch "Doctor Who" Christmas episode
- Christmas Eve service
- Drive around looking at lights
- Extra screentime--DONE
- STAR WARS!!!!!--DONE
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Belated Advent
We're a little behind with our Advent Activities, though we have been slowly getting in the spirit of things. We'll see what else we get to--here's a list to help me keep track.
- Go to Cookie Cafe (Dec.3)--DONE
- Set up Lego Christmas village--DONE
- My birthday celebration--DONE
- Holiday weekend away--DONE
- Office party--DONE
- Look for Snowy Owl--DONE
- Family game night (probably Animal Jam)--DONE (we played Tenzi, too)
- Decorate house--DONE, halfway
- Build gingerbread houses
- Host cookie party (Dec. 21)
- Make holiday wreath
- Stay up late, a la Solstice Camp Out the night of last day of school
- Gifts for teachers, vet, coaches
- Create and send family Christmas card
- Watch "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas"
- Watch "It's a Wonderful Life!"
- Watch "Doctor Who" Christmas episode
- Christmas Eve service
- Drive around looking at lights
- Extra screentime
- STAR WARS!!!!! (Dec. 16)
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Birthday Weekend in Vermont
Having enjoyed Vermont so much this fall, we decided to visit again, this time in winter and, after the events of the last few weeks--deaths and politics--it was good for us to get away for a holiday weekend (I'm sorry we missed you this time, Sew and Sow.) And it was marvelous! Here are a few snapshots outlining the fun.
Our first stop in Vermont was the Vermont Country Store. It's a rest stop, snack place, and souvenir shop. We started our holiday shopping, picking up things for each other and friends and family. We did not buy the hat that Bud models here!
Next up: King Arthur Flour. Last time, we arrived very late in the day, when the bakery was almost completely empty of its goodies. So we made an effort to arrive midday. Oh, so good. We had lunch--tasty grilled cheese, delicious homemade kaiser rolls, chocolate croissants, cardamom roll, and my favorite almond cloud cookies. I liked the quote on the wall near the cafe, "All sorrows are less with bread" (Cervantes.) And of course we did some shopping. Sis was so excited to pick up boxes of cinnamon puff muffin mix, her new favorite. And I got some unique mixes--Portuguese sweet rolls, Scottish oat bread, orange cranberry brioche. It was a tasty way to begin the weekend.
Another stop we made on the way was the Vermont Toy and Train Museum in Quechee. There we wandered amid the displays of toys from our childhoods--Cher doll, Luke and Leia dolls, Donnie and Marie dolls, Holly Hobby dolls, various lunchboxes including Holly Hobby, Happy Meal toys, bubble bath dispenses, boxed Halloween costumes with plastic masks, Fisher Price Little People. And there was a great model train through the Vermont countryside in summer, fall, and winter.
In the same complex, there were various shops, including an antiques store, with old photos ("instant ancestors"), tools, tea sets, food tins. Fun to wander with the kids.
And then we arrived in Woodstock, considered one of the most picturesque towns in the country. With holiday decorations, snow, early American houses, a preserved downtown including old dry goods store and pharmacy and unique shops, covered bridge, nearby river, and the surrounding mountains, it really is a great little place. And we were staying at the Woodstock Inn, a venerable hotel sitting back from the town green. (Lambeth, the kids said it was second only to the Lainston as their favorite place to stay!)
In our room were two treats--chocolate-covered strawberries and a notice that we would be riding in the town's Wassail parade, on the hotel's own wagon, both arranged by Mama and the concierge for my birthday!!!! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. It made for the perfect weekend.
But before the parade Saturday afternoon, we spent Saturday morning wandering the town, listening to the high school band play carols, and visiting the Dana House and the historical society with its displays on Christmas past. (This was after breakfast, when we discovered our waitress grew up in the town we live in and her cousin owns the deli near our pediatrician's office. Small world.) Sis and Bud even ran down to the river behind the house, enjoying the snow (which we haven't really had in Connecticut.)
The parade!! Mama had given me a heads-up about it, actually, first to see if I were interested and second so that I could pick a festive outfit. As the theme was Victorian, I wore one of my long historic house skirts and my lovely blue wool cloak from Gommie, under which were layers of sweaters, leggings, extra skirts, and warm socks--because the morning temperature had been 3F!! We all got a ride to the staging area where Sis was in her element around all of the horses. Across from us was the donkey brigade which we just read about in the morning's paper (the group helps youth and adults with developmental disabilities who take care of the miniature donkeys.) The little donkeys wear stuffed animals on their backs and pull small carts, led by their handlers.
And then we got on our wagon, wearing matching plaid fleece scarves supplied by the hotel. The festooned wagon was led by two humongous Belgian draft horses. We rode along with another family and an older couple, singing "Rudolph," "Jingle Bells," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!" and waving to the crowds (over 2,000 cheering people!) It really was wonderful to see all the holiday cheer. And I liked seeing the old town from the wagon, which put me back in the 19th century. Though, it was pretty cold.
After the parade, we warmed up by the fire at the hotel with hot chocolate (and Bailey's!) At 4pm, we went to look at the town tree, Yule bonfire, and luminaries as the sun set. Dinner was the Wassail Feast at the hotel, with a variety of dishes such as prime rib, sliced salmon, Yorkshire Pudding, pumpkin bread pudding, buche de noel, and trifle. Mama and I made Yard of Flannel--hot apple cider and rum-whipped cream--and sat by the fire.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There was one uncomfortable thing that happened repeatedly in Vermont: there were a lot of questions about our family, race- and/or gender-based. From the woman at King Arthur Flour who thanked me for having a big heart and adopting Sis, to a white woman who said hi to Mama in Mandarin and was surprised she didn't speak Chinese, to the six or seven people (and I'm not exaggerating here) who mistook Mama for a boy/my son, Sis for a boy, and Bud for a girl. Never have so many assumptions been spoken to us aloud by so many in such a short time. It was rather disconcerting. We've had less trouble in rural Texas, for goodness sake. Come on, Vermont, what's with that? (And no, it wasn't just the tourists from elsewhere.)
Our first stop in Vermont was the Vermont Country Store. It's a rest stop, snack place, and souvenir shop. We started our holiday shopping, picking up things for each other and friends and family. We did not buy the hat that Bud models here!
 |
| A lovely tree with cookie ornaments |
Next up: King Arthur Flour. Last time, we arrived very late in the day, when the bakery was almost completely empty of its goodies. So we made an effort to arrive midday. Oh, so good. We had lunch--tasty grilled cheese, delicious homemade kaiser rolls, chocolate croissants, cardamom roll, and my favorite almond cloud cookies. I liked the quote on the wall near the cafe, "All sorrows are less with bread" (Cervantes.) And of course we did some shopping. Sis was so excited to pick up boxes of cinnamon puff muffin mix, her new favorite. And I got some unique mixes--Portuguese sweet rolls, Scottish oat bread, orange cranberry brioche. It was a tasty way to begin the weekend. 
Another stop we made on the way was the Vermont Toy and Train Museum in Quechee. There we wandered amid the displays of toys from our childhoods--Cher doll, Luke and Leia dolls, Donnie and Marie dolls, Holly Hobby dolls, various lunchboxes including Holly Hobby, Happy Meal toys, bubble bath dispenses, boxed Halloween costumes with plastic masks, Fisher Price Little People. And there was a great model train through the Vermont countryside in summer, fall, and winter. In the same complex, there were various shops, including an antiques store, with old photos ("instant ancestors"), tools, tea sets, food tins. Fun to wander with the kids.
In our room were two treats--chocolate-covered strawberries and a notice that we would be riding in the town's Wassail parade, on the hotel's own wagon, both arranged by Mama and the concierge for my birthday!!!! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. It made for the perfect weekend.
But before the parade Saturday afternoon, we spent Saturday morning wandering the town, listening to the high school band play carols, and visiting the Dana House and the historical society with its displays on Christmas past. (This was after breakfast, when we discovered our waitress grew up in the town we live in and her cousin owns the deli near our pediatrician's office. Small world.) Sis and Bud even ran down to the river behind the house, enjoying the snow (which we haven't really had in Connecticut.)
The parade!! Mama had given me a heads-up about it, actually, first to see if I were interested and second so that I could pick a festive outfit. As the theme was Victorian, I wore one of my long historic house skirts and my lovely blue wool cloak from Gommie, under which were layers of sweaters, leggings, extra skirts, and warm socks--because the morning temperature had been 3F!! We all got a ride to the staging area where Sis was in her element around all of the horses. Across from us was the donkey brigade which we just read about in the morning's paper (the group helps youth and adults with developmental disabilities who take care of the miniature donkeys.) The little donkeys wear stuffed animals on their backs and pull small carts, led by their handlers. And then we got on our wagon, wearing matching plaid fleece scarves supplied by the hotel. The festooned wagon was led by two humongous Belgian draft horses. We rode along with another family and an older couple, singing "Rudolph," "Jingle Bells," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!" and waving to the crowds (over 2,000 cheering people!) It really was wonderful to see all the holiday cheer. And I liked seeing the old town from the wagon, which put me back in the 19th century. Though, it was pretty cold.
After the parade, we warmed up by the fire at the hotel with hot chocolate (and Bailey's!) At 4pm, we went to look at the town tree, Yule bonfire, and luminaries as the sun set. Dinner was the Wassail Feast at the hotel, with a variety of dishes such as prime rib, sliced salmon, Yorkshire Pudding, pumpkin bread pudding, buche de noel, and trifle. Mama and I made Yard of Flannel--hot apple cider and rum-whipped cream--and sat by the fire.
That evening we sat in the room, warming up from the day. I worked on my crocheted birthday blanket, in Lion Brand Thick and Quick Celestial Stripes. The kids made Rainbow Loom bands and played with their light-up wheelie bopper toys from the Vermont Country Store. (It was a no-screen weekend.)
Sunday, though it was cold again, we went to Billings Farm--with its draft horses, decorated farmhouse, and craft activities. The kids dipped their own candles and then Bud made a pomander with cloves and a clementine. Sis was enamored with the white Percheron draft horses and some more Belgians. And I liked the snow, the barns, and the warm kitchen with apple pie and roasted pumpkins.
On our way home, we ate at delicious Worthy Kitchen (poutine! fried chicken! pickled pineapple!) and then moseyed our way home. We did stop at the lake we'd visited with my folks in October--it was completely frozen and snow-covered. I did a 20-yard hike into the woods and watched Sis poked the ice with her toes.
We got home after dark, with snow falling gently on our town, the last little treat of the weekend.
My favorite photo, from town (actually taken from the car as we drove by.)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There was one uncomfortable thing that happened repeatedly in Vermont: there were a lot of questions about our family, race- and/or gender-based. From the woman at King Arthur Flour who thanked me for having a big heart and adopting Sis, to a white woman who said hi to Mama in Mandarin and was surprised she didn't speak Chinese, to the six or seven people (and I'm not exaggerating here) who mistook Mama for a boy/my son, Sis for a boy, and Bud for a girl. Never have so many assumptions been spoken to us aloud by so many in such a short time. It was rather disconcerting. We've had less trouble in rural Texas, for goodness sake. Come on, Vermont, what's with that? (And no, it wasn't just the tourists from elsewhere.)
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Christmas Baking
It was our annual holiday party for volunteers at the historic house, with delicious food and friendly faces. So I made a cake!
As a little girl, I remember our family getting boozy cakes in a box--rum and amaretto, I think--tender, moist, strong, small. They might have come from Foley's. I loved getting a little piece of them. I haven't had a boozy cake in decades.
So when I saw this recipe in Taste of Home AND needed something to take to the party, I chose this cake. And it was delicious, even though I rushed the glazing--I baked it this morning, kept it in the pan, poured half of the glaze on the cake about 20 minutes after it was out of the oven, and then took the cake out of the pan an hour later and glazed the top. Yum!
I can't wait to try it with Amaretto and perhaps almonds.
I can't wait to try it with Amaretto and perhaps almonds.
Rawhide's Whiskey Cake from Taste of Home1 package spice cake mix with pudding (regular size)
1 package (3.40 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup canola oil (I used grapeseed oil)
3/4 cup whiskey (I used bourbon)
4 large eggs
1-1/3 cups coarsely chopped walnuts, divided
GLAZE:
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon water
1/2 cup whiskey
Preheat oven to 300°. Grease and flour a 10-in. tube pan.
Combine the first six ingredients; beat on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes; fold in 1 cup nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan; sprinkle with remaining nuts. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 60-65 minutes. Cool in pan.
For glaze, mix all ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Cool 3 minutes. Pour one-third of glaze over top of cake, allowing some to flow over sides. Let stand 1 hour. Remove from pan to cool completely; cover.
The next day, reheat glaze; brush half over cake, cooling before covering. Repeat the following day, using remaining glaze.
Yield: 16 servings.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Second Christmas
We had our second Christmas Eve and Christmas day all rolled into one last night. We started by taking Gommie and Pop to a local Italian place--not just pizza and spaghetti with meatballs, but a place with duck and boar and such. Mama and I had been once before and had a great meal but some unfortunate experiences (I got too warm, felt sick, shifted in my chair, and pulled a muscle in my back, ending the meal early)--I was glad to replace the memories.
And it was great food--white bean and sauteed tomato dip, spinach and mushroom crepes, butternut squash ravioli, short ribs, spinach salad with warm goat cheese fritters and a poached pear, shrimp with pasta, sole with pasta, lobster ravioli, mushroom ravioli, chicken marsala, s'mores creme brulee, Nutella cup, apple caramel crumb, almond tart, cappuccino, and espresso. The atmosphere was lovely; we sat near the fireplace, which warmed our poor thin-blooded Texans (I wore a plain t-shirt under a sweater so as not to overeat per the earlier meal.) Delightful.
The kids didn't even rush us, though we were opening presents afterwards. Another sign they're growing up. We did have fun opening presents, a flurry of wrapping paper all around. There was kung fu souvenirs straight from China for Bud, some jade and a name chop stamp for Sis and me, and books for Gommie, Pop, and Mama.
Bud got one extra surprise: he lost a tooth! And the holiday Tooth Fairy brought him a couple of Lego Dimensions figures (just as the same crazy-generous Tooth Fairy gave Sis a Lego on Monday morning--it's been that kind of week.)
And now Christmas is really pretty much all over.
Let the new year begin.
Happy 2016, y'all!
And it was great food--white bean and sauteed tomato dip, spinach and mushroom crepes, butternut squash ravioli, short ribs, spinach salad with warm goat cheese fritters and a poached pear, shrimp with pasta, sole with pasta, lobster ravioli, mushroom ravioli, chicken marsala, s'mores creme brulee, Nutella cup, apple caramel crumb, almond tart, cappuccino, and espresso. The atmosphere was lovely; we sat near the fireplace, which warmed our poor thin-blooded Texans (I wore a plain t-shirt under a sweater so as not to overeat per the earlier meal.) Delightful.
The kids didn't even rush us, though we were opening presents afterwards. Another sign they're growing up. We did have fun opening presents, a flurry of wrapping paper all around. There was kung fu souvenirs straight from China for Bud, some jade and a name chop stamp for Sis and me, and books for Gommie, Pop, and Mama.
Bud got one extra surprise: he lost a tooth! And the holiday Tooth Fairy brought him a couple of Lego Dimensions figures (just as the same crazy-generous Tooth Fairy gave Sis a Lego on Monday morning--it's been that kind of week.)
And now Christmas is really pretty much all over.
Let the new year begin.
Happy 2016, y'all!
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Whirlwind
Happy post-Christmas!
We've been quite a buzz since Friday or so. I'm not even sure I can remember what all. Not that it was eventful per se--we didn't go to kung fu or ice skating, to any parties or big outings. We mainly stayed home and played with toys and games and watched tv and such, slowly creeping back into the real world of laundry and garbage and such. By Sunday, some of us had been together non-stop for nearly five days, which is a long time, and there was the usual post-Christmas tension from too much activity, too many late nights, too much greasy and sugary food, too much off-routine, too much excitement, too much clutter, and, quite honestly, too much togetherness, what Pop used to call, sarcastically, "family fun at its finest." It didn't help that three of their computer games crashed mid-game in one afternoon, momentously frustrating. But we got over it quickly enough and re-set ourselves by Monday.
Which is the day Gommie and Pop arrived. The kids could barely contain their enthusiasm which I couldn't even damper with frequent request to "pick that up" or "take that upstairs" and the like so that the house was reasonably inhabitable by two more people (though they sleep at a hotel, they spend all day here.) Gommie and Pop were here by 4 and there was a whirlwind of showing off Christmas presents--BB8s and SW books--and performing--piano, "Just Dance" routines. I think they even squeezed in a game of Scrabble and some puzzle-work. We had baked chicken and the fixings for dinner and they stayed pretty late considering they'd been up at 4 something.
And lo and behold, their very first night in CT and it snowed! Just a dusting, but it's the first snow we've seen since March or so. Pop, particularly, was happy. Even if they were late getting to my house because the scraper wasn't in my van! Who knew it was going to snow?? We stayed in most of the day--once they did a morning doughnut run to our knew favorite place--that is, until dusk.
Mama had to work Tuesday but she was meeting us at the movie theater for--yep, you guessed it--STAR WARS! We played more at home and then showed them Return of the Jedi to get ready. Of course, Gommie had seen it 32-odd years ago when she took me out of school to go see it, but she'd pretty much forgotten most of it. Though, they both remembered the Ewoks. And neither knew about the prequels. Lucky them.
We got to the theater about an hour before showtime and it was more crowded with longer lines than we'd seen it at the other two showings. I guess the weather brought people out. There was even a line of people waiting an hour to see the Chipmunk movie . . . ??? Who does that? We got our popcorn, got our seats, and settled in for another great viewing I won't give any real SPOILERS here, only to say that Pop actually got teary at one point, which made me extra-teary. Gotta love Star Wars. And I think they really did.
We went out for sushi afterwards, for a late-dinner treat at Bud's favorite place. He and Mama shared the big sushi boat, while Sis, Pop, and I sat on the "chicken" (i.e. teriyaki and katsu) end of the table. Gommie ate some hand rolls and had some sake. And we tried not to say anything spoiler-y outloud. We even had mochi for dessert. Then we separated in the parking lot til morning.
This morning, Gommie and I went for coffee while Pop played with the kids (or, more likely, watched the kids play--"they only let me cut a couple of pieces of fruit," he said, referencing Fruit Ninja.) Gommie and I brought home dominos and checkers home, since these are two games Pop plays. Sis just wiped the floor with Gommie at checkers; there's talk of a tournament. And Bud impressed us all with his use of "adept" in Scrabble. I didn't notice the outcome of the two dominoes games. I'm shocked to see this; in 18 years of living at home and all the time since then, I've never known my dad to play games! But he's already played Scrabble, two types of dominos (42 and Moon), and checkers. I'm dumbstruck.
We also watched Inside Out, while Pop napped on the couch, with Mojo curled up on his lap. Mojo likes yarn and Pop had at least two afghans on--I can't turn the heat up high enough for these thin-blooded Texans, and that's with their thermals on!
Now we're biding time til dinner reservations at the Italian place at 6 p.m. I'm stretching my back and blogging upstairs with two cats; the kids are introducing Gommie to the "Great British Bake-Off." I imagine Pop is back under his blankets.
After dinner, we'll do Christmas gifts, which gives us more to do for the next few days. Stay tuned.
We've been quite a buzz since Friday or so. I'm not even sure I can remember what all. Not that it was eventful per se--we didn't go to kung fu or ice skating, to any parties or big outings. We mainly stayed home and played with toys and games and watched tv and such, slowly creeping back into the real world of laundry and garbage and such. By Sunday, some of us had been together non-stop for nearly five days, which is a long time, and there was the usual post-Christmas tension from too much activity, too many late nights, too much greasy and sugary food, too much off-routine, too much excitement, too much clutter, and, quite honestly, too much togetherness, what Pop used to call, sarcastically, "family fun at its finest." It didn't help that three of their computer games crashed mid-game in one afternoon, momentously frustrating. But we got over it quickly enough and re-set ourselves by Monday.
Which is the day Gommie and Pop arrived. The kids could barely contain their enthusiasm which I couldn't even damper with frequent request to "pick that up" or "take that upstairs" and the like so that the house was reasonably inhabitable by two more people (though they sleep at a hotel, they spend all day here.) Gommie and Pop were here by 4 and there was a whirlwind of showing off Christmas presents--BB8s and SW books--and performing--piano, "Just Dance" routines. I think they even squeezed in a game of Scrabble and some puzzle-work. We had baked chicken and the fixings for dinner and they stayed pretty late considering they'd been up at 4 something.
And lo and behold, their very first night in CT and it snowed! Just a dusting, but it's the first snow we've seen since March or so. Pop, particularly, was happy. Even if they were late getting to my house because the scraper wasn't in my van! Who knew it was going to snow?? We stayed in most of the day--once they did a morning doughnut run to our knew favorite place--that is, until dusk.
Mama had to work Tuesday but she was meeting us at the movie theater for--yep, you guessed it--STAR WARS! We played more at home and then showed them Return of the Jedi to get ready. Of course, Gommie had seen it 32-odd years ago when she took me out of school to go see it, but she'd pretty much forgotten most of it. Though, they both remembered the Ewoks. And neither knew about the prequels. Lucky them.
We got to the theater about an hour before showtime and it was more crowded with longer lines than we'd seen it at the other two showings. I guess the weather brought people out. There was even a line of people waiting an hour to see the Chipmunk movie . . . ??? Who does that? We got our popcorn, got our seats, and settled in for another great viewing I won't give any real SPOILERS here, only to say that Pop actually got teary at one point, which made me extra-teary. Gotta love Star Wars. And I think they really did.
We went out for sushi afterwards, for a late-dinner treat at Bud's favorite place. He and Mama shared the big sushi boat, while Sis, Pop, and I sat on the "chicken" (i.e. teriyaki and katsu) end of the table. Gommie ate some hand rolls and had some sake. And we tried not to say anything spoiler-y outloud. We even had mochi for dessert. Then we separated in the parking lot til morning.
This morning, Gommie and I went for coffee while Pop played with the kids (or, more likely, watched the kids play--"they only let me cut a couple of pieces of fruit," he said, referencing Fruit Ninja.) Gommie and I brought home dominos and checkers home, since these are two games Pop plays. Sis just wiped the floor with Gommie at checkers; there's talk of a tournament. And Bud impressed us all with his use of "adept" in Scrabble. I didn't notice the outcome of the two dominoes games. I'm shocked to see this; in 18 years of living at home and all the time since then, I've never known my dad to play games! But he's already played Scrabble, two types of dominos (42 and Moon), and checkers. I'm dumbstruck.
We also watched Inside Out, while Pop napped on the couch, with Mojo curled up on his lap. Mojo likes yarn and Pop had at least two afghans on--I can't turn the heat up high enough for these thin-blooded Texans, and that's with their thermals on!
Now we're biding time til dinner reservations at the Italian place at 6 p.m. I'm stretching my back and blogging upstairs with two cats; the kids are introducing Gommie to the "Great British Bake-Off." I imagine Pop is back under his blankets.
After dinner, we'll do Christmas gifts, which gives us more to do for the next few days. Stay tuned.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Christmas Gift!
We hope you had a very merry holiday. We did and so there's a lot to tell, so let's break the last few days down into bite-size chunks.
Wednesday:
The kids had a half day of school, so I ran the last bit of my errands and then finished wrapping presents. I delivered the pink scarf I made to my friend for her daughter and we shared a coffee. Otherwise, it was a lot of traffic and rain.
At some point, I lost the tv remote control. I had been wrapping presents (about which I am very proud--it's been a long time since I could sit and to the wrapping, but I could this year), answered the phone while pausing my annual viewing of Love Actually, and then couldn't find the remote later to unpause the show. I joked on FB that I must have wrapped the remote into a gift. Wrapping gifts in silence was an interesting exercise, for awhile.
The kids got home in jovial spirits--the real holiday had begun! They stayed up til midnight, a kind of free-for-all, playing games and such. See, they didn't need the tv remote to play their games. I bribed them with extra screen time if they could find my flipper, to no avail.
Mama couldn't find it later either.
Thursday:
Merry Christmas Eve!
It didn't feel at all like Christmas, except maybe Christmas in Texas, very warm and wet.
Mama was off to work long before the rest of us even woke up but only had a half-day. At home, we wrapped some gifts, had a deli lunch, and watched some Doctor Who--not only were we counting down to Christmas but to the Doctor Who Christmas special as well.
Mama got home midday and did a lot of her own wrapping, helped me make gumbo, and watched some Simpsons Christmas specials. We also had a long nap, while the kids played Minecraft.
Then it was church for carols and candlelight, one of our favorite Christmas and Unitarian Universalist traditions. We sing lots of songs (I love "In the Bleak Midwinter"), hear a few short and uplifting remarks, light each other's candles during "Silent Night," and eat some cookies. It's a nice, quiet pause in the middle of the chaos of the hectic holiday, as encapsulated in this reading:
It was the first Christmas Eve in a long time that we didn't have Goo, who had to work the day before and the day after Christmas. With all the food made and all the gifts wrapped, we didn't have much to do, except straighten up for Santa.
Ah, Santa. He's been the topic of discussion several times this season. It all started with the "sad, nostalgic" hug Bud gave me at Old Sturbridge Village, which I believe he meant in reference to growing older and not believing anymore. Since then there have been more indirect queries and discussions. On Christmas Eve, another one arose.
It was actually a double-whammy. We were sitting listening to the soundtrack of Fun Home, break from carols, when Bud turned to me and asked, "How do two men have sex?" in reference to the song about the father and his high school crush. Deep breath. And I calmly explained the simplest of mechanics, to some discomfort. There was a question about how that would feel good and I basically said that if sex didn't feel good--that it made them mentally or physically uncomfortable when they were older--that they needed to stop, because they were dong it wrong. It was about pleasure. Sis quietly leaned over, "So then how do two women do it?" It was only then that I blushed.
Sigh. Not the Christmas Eve discussion I thought I'd be having.
Then, in less than five minutes, Sis asked me, "Is Santa real?"
I think I liked the sex question better.
I asked if they really wanted to know. Bud said unequivocally no. But Sis did, so I took her into the kitchen and said. "There is no one Santa. All the adults in your life are Santa. We all make the magic of Christmas. And now you are growing up and can help make the magic, too. But don't tell anyone the secret; it's part of the fun and the responsibility." I reassured her that nothing would really change--we would still do cookies, and oatmeal for the reindeer, and stockings. Christmas was still Christmas.
She said she'd guessed a few years ago because she found the "Santa" wrapping paper. I knew it! I knew she'd guess from the paper; she's just so observant. We had tried to keep them separate and specific, but we must have faltered. She wasn't upset though, just curious. "So who buys your Santa presents?" And her eyes grew wide--with envy perhaps?--when I told her that we bought our own presents! She also wanted to know who ate the cookies. We do, of course.
At some point, Bud peeked in but didn't really want to listen. He knows but doesn't want to know. Fine. He's struggling with a lot of big emotions about growing up right now and there's no need to push. He fears loss now that he better understands crisis and mortality (my surgery, the deaths of Aunt Sis and our friend Sunny) and struggles with change. Last night, he looked at a selfie we took in front of the tree--"my face has gotten thin. I'm not chubby anymore." He isn't quite ready to get bigger.
So, we did Christmas Eve just like all the others--books and pajamas, cookies for Santa, reindeer food, staying up too late. We eventually tucked them in and finished up Christmas prep. There's always the last few gifts to locate and worries about whether it's all balanced (quality vs. quantity, you know.)
And then we got to go to bed, too.
Oh, it was our 7th wedding anniversary, but we don't pay much attention to this one. The August 23 date is more our celebration time. But we do try at least to remember we got legally married, in CT anyway (at the time not federally recognized, until 2014, then nationally legal in 2015. Which doesn't include our Civil Union date in October 2005, a week after that was legal), on Christmas Eve.
Friday:
Christmas Gift! (as my dad's side of the family says.)
The kids slept in, or more specifically waited patiently and quietly, until 7 a.m. to get us up. Ma, Gong, and Goo arrived shortly thereafter and we all circled round the glowing tree. We actually had some of the windows open and had discussed turning on the AC; it would get above 65F, with high humidity. Most of us were in t-shirts. And our only fire was a video on the tv!
But the warm weather didn't melt the spirits.
We started with stockings as we always do (when I was a kid, we read the biblical verses of the nativity, but since we hear those at evening service, we don't read them again now.) And from the very beginning, it was a Star Wars: The Force Awakens Christmas, just like I had a few times as a child; with five of us really devoted and all of us having seen it, everyone but Ma got some SW stuff. Throughout the day, there would be SW ornaments, SW figures, SW magazines, several SW books, SW Legos, SW trading cards, SW, car windshield cover, SW measuring cups, SW micro-machines, SW Infinity figures, SW wall lights, SW t-shirts, SW bobbleheads, and, the two biggest of all, real flying Millennium Falcon drones and actual robotic BB8s.
There were some non-SW things. I think. Lots of Warriors books and horse-themed gifts (pillow kit, painting kit, plaque) for Sis; the Doctor Who Lego and a refurbished iPad for Bud; a Lego Dimensions game set for the kids; a Playbill organizer for theater programs and Shaun the Sheep and Felines of New York book for Mama; and some Great British Bake-Off books and Mandala coloring book for me. As a family, we also got a guidebook to Colonial Williamsburg, where we'll be going for a slightly extended February school break.
And I got a Tile, which is a GPS-like locator system to avoid losing things. Like the remote control. Which Goo found wedged behind the small couch, where we'd already unsuccessfully looked. But, yay for him! And for me.
We laughed about the Tile, now intended for the peripatetic flipper. And about the empty gift I got. Mama had gotten me an iPad stand for when I cook from the computer. Except when I went to look at it, the box was actually empty! We thought this was funny and referred to it again and again; she took it well, though was aggravated by now having to go deal with the store. And I celebrated each time Mama opened a gift that she didn't know about (you know, since we buy our own presents.) I think there were three--Playbill binder, Shaun the Sheep, and Felines of NY. That's a good year. We also continuously pelted her with paper "snowballs" (since it certainly wasn't a white Christmas), because she was sitting next to the recycling box. I'd say we rarely made the box, mostly on accident.
It was a big, indulgent, materialistic Christmas; the kind we actually always talk down but often seem to then create. I figure it won't last much longer, as the kids' wishes for toys decrease (though Mama's wishes increase.) It also brings so much pleasure to Mama to spoil the kids. And that makes me happy. We just try to throw in extra charitable donations and acts of kindness to somewhat balance it out. All the while, talking about it. Not ideal.
I will say that one of my favorite gifts was actually unwrapped today: handmade gold-painted pasta ornaments in the shape of symmetrical mandalas with the kids' photos in the middle, which they made at school this week. LOVE these. We don't have many school ornaments and so these are extra treasured, along with the ones from preschool.
We ate, too, though it's never the focal point of Christmas. I gave up the big roast dinner a few years back and have been much happier ever since. We had a corned beef hash and also orange biscuit breakfast, followed by gumbo and muffulettas later in the day. Not many snacks, just some Christmas cookies. And cheesecake. A big, delicious, plain cheesecake that I bought a few years ago from a friend at an auction for another friend but didn't collect until now (the cheesecake is not years old; the idea of the cheesecake is.) And it was so good! Best part was the crack, seriously, which signified the crack in the Whovian universe for us, perfect on the day of the Whovian Christmas special.
After opening gifts and eating, we spent the rest of the day playing with said gifts. Ma and Gong helped Sis put her horse puzzle together. Bud put his Doctor Who Lego together. Mama, Gong, and co flew the drone outside. Everybody drove BB8s around the living room, intriguing the cats. Goo played video games with the kids. I read and crocheted.
And at some point, Sis went outside to the neighbors and took a rope climbing lesson. In short sleeves. Our neighbors are Jewish and were having a non-Christmas gathering of family and making a lot of food. So they invited us over for some; we took cookies and cheesecake. And Sis got a lesson in rope climbing from the dad of the house. I can't explain exactly what she did--there were clamps and belaying lines and carbiners and a full-torso harnass and she was supposed to bend a knee while extending an arm, then stand up on a rope and start again. Harder than it looked, I'm sure. But she had a good go at it and then swung around and hung upside-down. Goo tried it too, but Bud took a pass; I didn't even think about it. Some of the other kids and adults tried, too. And all we could all talk about was how warm it was. Most were in a single layer, not a coat in sight. The mom was even in flip-flops! It was a quirky but welcome addition to our Christmas day.
The cats stayed mostly upstairs, though, when Albus and Hermione did venture down, they were rewarded with the big cardboard cat tree Mama had made for them. Mojo eventually came out and sat in his spot in them middle of the couch under a crocheted blanket most of the day. At one point, he somehow slipped out from underneath his blanket and Goo gamely remarked, "You left the cat open." Mr P couldn't handle any of it and hid on our bed upstairs.
Ma and Gong left soon after and ran into a ton of rain that never made it to us; they did get home safely, though. Goo stayed until Who-time, playing games and eating dinner. We're so glad he could join us. He really makes the holiday special and is an integral part of our family celebration, for both Mama and I and the kids.
And then it was Doctor Who time. The return of River Song, after too many sad episodes saying goodbye to Clara (who, thankfully, we learned in the last of three episodes, didn't actually die.) It was great to see Alex Kingston in the role again and it was delightfully funny, with some great one-liners but also some touching twists and speeches. The only tears were happy ones. (Yep, I'm still hormonal. Cried at carols on Christmas Eve, cried reading my SW magazine, cried watching DW. Blah.)
The kids stayed up late, as part of their Christmas celebration, playing with their toys and snacking all over again. I think we were all asleep after midnight.
I don't know how many magical childhood Christmas we have left. It definitely changes as children age, not bad and in many ways perhaps less frantic and more reflective, just different from the joy and exuberance (and yes, greed) of the first decade or so. But this year at least, they still didn't sleep and they still squealed and hugged in gratitude and laughed and were merry the whole time. And that, for us (since we aren't Christians anyway, but Unitarian Universalists celebrating family and the wonder of every child), is the reason for the season.
Wednesday:
The kids had a half day of school, so I ran the last bit of my errands and then finished wrapping presents. I delivered the pink scarf I made to my friend for her daughter and we shared a coffee. Otherwise, it was a lot of traffic and rain.
At some point, I lost the tv remote control. I had been wrapping presents (about which I am very proud--it's been a long time since I could sit and to the wrapping, but I could this year), answered the phone while pausing my annual viewing of Love Actually, and then couldn't find the remote later to unpause the show. I joked on FB that I must have wrapped the remote into a gift. Wrapping gifts in silence was an interesting exercise, for awhile.
The kids got home in jovial spirits--the real holiday had begun! They stayed up til midnight, a kind of free-for-all, playing games and such. See, they didn't need the tv remote to play their games. I bribed them with extra screen time if they could find my flipper, to no avail.
Mama couldn't find it later either.
Thursday:
Merry Christmas Eve!
It didn't feel at all like Christmas, except maybe Christmas in Texas, very warm and wet.
Mama was off to work long before the rest of us even woke up but only had a half-day. At home, we wrapped some gifts, had a deli lunch, and watched some Doctor Who--not only were we counting down to Christmas but to the Doctor Who Christmas special as well.
Mama got home midday and did a lot of her own wrapping, helped me make gumbo, and watched some Simpsons Christmas specials. We also had a long nap, while the kids played Minecraft.
Then it was church for carols and candlelight, one of our favorite Christmas and Unitarian Universalist traditions. We sing lots of songs (I love "In the Bleak Midwinter"), hear a few short and uplifting remarks, light each other's candles during "Silent Night," and eat some cookies. It's a nice, quiet pause in the middle of the chaos of the hectic holiday, as encapsulated in this reading:
Christmas Prayer by Lois Van Leer
Let us still the world for a moment
Let it be blanketed by a soft darkness that quiets
Let us be brought to our knees
By innocence
By hope
By peace
In this night
Let something be born in us
That heals all brokenness
That does not bow down to hatred and fear
But rather meets them gently and offers them love
Let us chose all the gifts of life we are offered
Tonight is about the impossible
But no more so than any other impossibility
That fills our days
So let us embrace a story, a myth
If for a moment
Let us be carried away in its arms
Held tenderly, rocked, comforted
Let this night, these stories transform our hearts
That we may become
Joy
Hope
Love
Peace
Enfleshed
Incarnate.
May it be so. Amen.
Let it be blanketed by a soft darkness that quiets
Let us be brought to our knees
By innocence
By hope
By peace
In this night
Let something be born in us
That heals all brokenness
That does not bow down to hatred and fear
But rather meets them gently and offers them love
Let us chose all the gifts of life we are offered
Tonight is about the impossible
But no more so than any other impossibility
That fills our days
So let us embrace a story, a myth
If for a moment
Let us be carried away in its arms
Held tenderly, rocked, comforted
Let this night, these stories transform our hearts
That we may become
Joy
Hope
Love
Peace
Enfleshed
Incarnate.
May it be so. Amen.
Ah, Santa. He's been the topic of discussion several times this season. It all started with the "sad, nostalgic" hug Bud gave me at Old Sturbridge Village, which I believe he meant in reference to growing older and not believing anymore. Since then there have been more indirect queries and discussions. On Christmas Eve, another one arose.
It was actually a double-whammy. We were sitting listening to the soundtrack of Fun Home, break from carols, when Bud turned to me and asked, "How do two men have sex?" in reference to the song about the father and his high school crush. Deep breath. And I calmly explained the simplest of mechanics, to some discomfort. There was a question about how that would feel good and I basically said that if sex didn't feel good--that it made them mentally or physically uncomfortable when they were older--that they needed to stop, because they were dong it wrong. It was about pleasure. Sis quietly leaned over, "So then how do two women do it?" It was only then that I blushed.
Sigh. Not the Christmas Eve discussion I thought I'd be having.
Then, in less than five minutes, Sis asked me, "Is Santa real?"
I think I liked the sex question better.
I asked if they really wanted to know. Bud said unequivocally no. But Sis did, so I took her into the kitchen and said. "There is no one Santa. All the adults in your life are Santa. We all make the magic of Christmas. And now you are growing up and can help make the magic, too. But don't tell anyone the secret; it's part of the fun and the responsibility." I reassured her that nothing would really change--we would still do cookies, and oatmeal for the reindeer, and stockings. Christmas was still Christmas.
She said she'd guessed a few years ago because she found the "Santa" wrapping paper. I knew it! I knew she'd guess from the paper; she's just so observant. We had tried to keep them separate and specific, but we must have faltered. She wasn't upset though, just curious. "So who buys your Santa presents?" And her eyes grew wide--with envy perhaps?--when I told her that we bought our own presents! She also wanted to know who ate the cookies. We do, of course.
 |
| And Albus helped. |
At some point, Bud peeked in but didn't really want to listen. He knows but doesn't want to know. Fine. He's struggling with a lot of big emotions about growing up right now and there's no need to push. He fears loss now that he better understands crisis and mortality (my surgery, the deaths of Aunt Sis and our friend Sunny) and struggles with change. Last night, he looked at a selfie we took in front of the tree--"my face has gotten thin. I'm not chubby anymore." He isn't quite ready to get bigger.
So, we did Christmas Eve just like all the others--books and pajamas, cookies for Santa, reindeer food, staying up too late. We eventually tucked them in and finished up Christmas prep. There's always the last few gifts to locate and worries about whether it's all balanced (quality vs. quantity, you know.)
And then we got to go to bed, too.
Oh, it was our 7th wedding anniversary, but we don't pay much attention to this one. The August 23 date is more our celebration time. But we do try at least to remember we got legally married, in CT anyway (at the time not federally recognized, until 2014, then nationally legal in 2015. Which doesn't include our Civil Union date in October 2005, a week after that was legal), on Christmas Eve.
Friday:
The kids slept in, or more specifically waited patiently and quietly, until 7 a.m. to get us up. Ma, Gong, and Goo arrived shortly thereafter and we all circled round the glowing tree. We actually had some of the windows open and had discussed turning on the AC; it would get above 65F, with high humidity. Most of us were in t-shirts. And our only fire was a video on the tv!
But the warm weather didn't melt the spirits.
We started with stockings as we always do (when I was a kid, we read the biblical verses of the nativity, but since we hear those at evening service, we don't read them again now.) And from the very beginning, it was a Star Wars: The Force Awakens Christmas, just like I had a few times as a child; with five of us really devoted and all of us having seen it, everyone but Ma got some SW stuff. Throughout the day, there would be SW ornaments, SW figures, SW magazines, several SW books, SW Legos, SW trading cards, SW, car windshield cover, SW measuring cups, SW micro-machines, SW Infinity figures, SW wall lights, SW t-shirts, SW bobbleheads, and, the two biggest of all, real flying Millennium Falcon drones and actual robotic BB8s.
There were some non-SW things. I think. Lots of Warriors books and horse-themed gifts (pillow kit, painting kit, plaque) for Sis; the Doctor Who Lego and a refurbished iPad for Bud; a Lego Dimensions game set for the kids; a Playbill organizer for theater programs and Shaun the Sheep and Felines of New York book for Mama; and some Great British Bake-Off books and Mandala coloring book for me. As a family, we also got a guidebook to Colonial Williamsburg, where we'll be going for a slightly extended February school break.
We laughed about the Tile, now intended for the peripatetic flipper. And about the empty gift I got. Mama had gotten me an iPad stand for when I cook from the computer. Except when I went to look at it, the box was actually empty! We thought this was funny and referred to it again and again; she took it well, though was aggravated by now having to go deal with the store. And I celebrated each time Mama opened a gift that she didn't know about (you know, since we buy our own presents.) I think there were three--Playbill binder, Shaun the Sheep, and Felines of NY. That's a good year. We also continuously pelted her with paper "snowballs" (since it certainly wasn't a white Christmas), because she was sitting next to the recycling box. I'd say we rarely made the box, mostly on accident.
It was a big, indulgent, materialistic Christmas; the kind we actually always talk down but often seem to then create. I figure it won't last much longer, as the kids' wishes for toys decrease (though Mama's wishes increase.) It also brings so much pleasure to Mama to spoil the kids. And that makes me happy. We just try to throw in extra charitable donations and acts of kindness to somewhat balance it out. All the while, talking about it. Not ideal.
I will say that one of my favorite gifts was actually unwrapped today: handmade gold-painted pasta ornaments in the shape of symmetrical mandalas with the kids' photos in the middle, which they made at school this week. LOVE these. We don't have many school ornaments and so these are extra treasured, along with the ones from preschool.
We ate, too, though it's never the focal point of Christmas. I gave up the big roast dinner a few years back and have been much happier ever since. We had a corned beef hash and also orange biscuit breakfast, followed by gumbo and muffulettas later in the day. Not many snacks, just some Christmas cookies. And cheesecake. A big, delicious, plain cheesecake that I bought a few years ago from a friend at an auction for another friend but didn't collect until now (the cheesecake is not years old; the idea of the cheesecake is.) And it was so good! Best part was the crack, seriously, which signified the crack in the Whovian universe for us, perfect on the day of the Whovian Christmas special. After opening gifts and eating, we spent the rest of the day playing with said gifts. Ma and Gong helped Sis put her horse puzzle together. Bud put his Doctor Who Lego together. Mama, Gong, and co flew the drone outside. Everybody drove BB8s around the living room, intriguing the cats. Goo played video games with the kids. I read and crocheted.
And at some point, Sis went outside to the neighbors and took a rope climbing lesson. In short sleeves. Our neighbors are Jewish and were having a non-Christmas gathering of family and making a lot of food. So they invited us over for some; we took cookies and cheesecake. And Sis got a lesson in rope climbing from the dad of the house. I can't explain exactly what she did--there were clamps and belaying lines and carbiners and a full-torso harnass and she was supposed to bend a knee while extending an arm, then stand up on a rope and start again. Harder than it looked, I'm sure. But she had a good go at it and then swung around and hung upside-down. Goo tried it too, but Bud took a pass; I didn't even think about it. Some of the other kids and adults tried, too. And all we could all talk about was how warm it was. Most were in a single layer, not a coat in sight. The mom was even in flip-flops! It was a quirky but welcome addition to our Christmas day. The cats stayed mostly upstairs, though, when Albus and Hermione did venture down, they were rewarded with the big cardboard cat tree Mama had made for them. Mojo eventually came out and sat in his spot in them middle of the couch under a crocheted blanket most of the day. At one point, he somehow slipped out from underneath his blanket and Goo gamely remarked, "You left the cat open." Mr P couldn't handle any of it and hid on our bed upstairs.
Ma and Gong left soon after and ran into a ton of rain that never made it to us; they did get home safely, though. Goo stayed until Who-time, playing games and eating dinner. We're so glad he could join us. He really makes the holiday special and is an integral part of our family celebration, for both Mama and I and the kids.
And then it was Doctor Who time. The return of River Song, after too many sad episodes saying goodbye to Clara (who, thankfully, we learned in the last of three episodes, didn't actually die.) It was great to see Alex Kingston in the role again and it was delightfully funny, with some great one-liners but also some touching twists and speeches. The only tears were happy ones. (Yep, I'm still hormonal. Cried at carols on Christmas Eve, cried reading my SW magazine, cried watching DW. Blah.)
The kids stayed up late, as part of their Christmas celebration, playing with their toys and snacking all over again. I think we were all asleep after midnight.
I don't know how many magical childhood Christmas we have left. It definitely changes as children age, not bad and in many ways perhaps less frantic and more reflective, just different from the joy and exuberance (and yes, greed) of the first decade or so. But this year at least, they still didn't sleep and they still squealed and hugged in gratitude and laughed and were merry the whole time. And that, for us (since we aren't Christians anyway, but Unitarian Universalists celebrating family and the wonder of every child), is the reason for the season.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Pre-Holiday Dinners
It often amazes me that I have to cook dinner even as I prepare for big events like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes the daily grocery list gets lost among all the other items and errands. But I've done rather well for the last two days, without a lot of effort or planning. Both were eaten by everyone in the family and would be meals I would make again. And we have enough for lunches and leftovers, which just makes life easier.
One is Wildtree, again, from the slow cooker workshop. I've talked to my friend and rep Miss L about becoming a rep, too, if only for the discount and the recipes!! It would be easy to host a slow cooker workshop or two a year. Stay tuned.
Mock Italian Wedding Soup
1 lb ground turkey
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I use Penzey's Tuscan Sunset)
1 egg
8 cups chicken stock
garlic powder and dried shallots to taste
1 cup carrots, chopped small
1/2 box ditalini or other small pasta
4 generous handfuls fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Bring chicken stock to a simmer. (Optional: you could start by sauteing garlic and onion, but I was in a hurry and just added some dry.)
Combine ground turkey with seasoning and egg. Drop small meatballs into strongly simmering stock.
Add carrots and pasta until cook til both meatballs and carrots are done.
Add spinach and parmesan cheese and simmer until cooked through.
Serve.
Wildtree Turkey Breast, Adapted
2-3 lbs turkey breast or cutlets
3-5 yukon gold potatoes, cubed
20 baby carrots
1 package Wildtree Ranch Dip (minus 1 1/2 Tablespoons)
2 teaspoons Wildtree Blazin' Buffalo Dip mix (I would leave this out next time)
(I also added about 1 teaspoon each Wildtree Garlic Galore and Rancher's Steak Rub after I added the water, which seemed to wash the other seasonings off the turkey)
Layer ingredients in slow cooker (I put carrots and potatoes on the bottom), seasonings, and add 1/2 cup water. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
One is Wildtree, again, from the slow cooker workshop. I've talked to my friend and rep Miss L about becoming a rep, too, if only for the discount and the recipes!! It would be easy to host a slow cooker workshop or two a year. Stay tuned.
Mock Italian Wedding Soup
1 lb ground turkey
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I use Penzey's Tuscan Sunset)
1 egg
8 cups chicken stock
garlic powder and dried shallots to taste
1 cup carrots, chopped small
1/2 box ditalini or other small pasta
4 generous handfuls fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Bring chicken stock to a simmer. (Optional: you could start by sauteing garlic and onion, but I was in a hurry and just added some dry.)
Combine ground turkey with seasoning and egg. Drop small meatballs into strongly simmering stock.
Add carrots and pasta until cook til both meatballs and carrots are done.
Add spinach and parmesan cheese and simmer until cooked through.
Serve.
Wildtree Turkey Breast, Adapted
2-3 lbs turkey breast or cutlets
3-5 yukon gold potatoes, cubed
20 baby carrots
1 package Wildtree Ranch Dip (minus 1 1/2 Tablespoons)
2 teaspoons Wildtree Blazin' Buffalo Dip mix (I would leave this out next time)
(I also added about 1 teaspoon each Wildtree Garlic Galore and Rancher's Steak Rub after I added the water, which seemed to wash the other seasonings off the turkey)
Layer ingredients in slow cooker (I put carrots and potatoes on the bottom), seasonings, and add 1/2 cup water. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
Kindness with Cookies
-=-=-=-=-=-
Aunt Banana's Punch, Adapted
2 liters of Sprite
8 zinger tea bags--I had a combo of Wild Berry and Raspberry (Red works great, too)
2 containers raspberry sorbet
Put 4 tea bags in each Sprite bottle, re-cap, and refrigerate.
Serve hours later, with sorbet.
Snickerdoodles (with cinnamon on outside of cookie)
yields 6-7 dozen
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (or coconut oil)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
yields 6-7 dozen
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (or coconut oil)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
For cinnamon-sugar: 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon (if desired, use colored sugar; Sis used red and green, splitting the mix)
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the shortening and sugar till smooth, then beat in the eggs, again beating till smooth.
Beat in the vanilla, cinnamon baking powder, then add the flour, mixing slowly till combined.
Place about 1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar in an 8" or 9" round cake pan or in a zippered bag.
Drop the soft dough by teaspoonfuls into the pan with the sugar, about 6 to 8 balls at a time. Gently shake the pan to coat the dough balls with sugar. Place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie till it's about 1/2-inch thick. Repeat till you've used up all the dough.
Bake the snickerdoodles in a preheated 400°F oven for 8-11 minutes. They'll be set and just starting to turn golden. Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool them on a rack.
adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
For cinnamon-sugar: 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon (if desired, use colored sugar; Sis used red and green, splitting the mix)
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the shortening and sugar till smooth, then beat in the eggs, again beating till smooth.
Beat in the vanilla, cinnamon baking powder, then add the flour, mixing slowly till combined.
Place about 1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar in an 8" or 9" round cake pan or in a zippered bag.
Drop the soft dough by teaspoonfuls into the pan with the sugar, about 6 to 8 balls at a time. Gently shake the pan to coat the dough balls with sugar. Place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie till it's about 1/2-inch thick. Repeat till you've used up all the dough.
Bake the snickerdoodles in a preheated 400°F oven for 8-11 minutes. They'll be set and just starting to turn golden. Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool them on a rack.
adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Advent Activities: Christmas Prep
It was our "down" day today . . . so we did everything but relax! (And my hormones were raging--have all month--and so there was some grumping and crying and then apologizing over dinner.)
We made 5 dozen spritz cookies which remind me of the ones my Aunt J would make (using a friend's recipe, to see if it was a softer, easier dough)--hers were frosted; Gommie made long flat ribbon ones which were super-crunchy and my paternal grandfather's favorite.
We made 6 dozen snickerdoodles as part of Sis's Girl Scout Bronze Award, not pictured here.
I knitted and pulled out a foot of stitches and started again.
We wrapped presents, cleaned the house, played Minecraft, watched "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," napped, cleaned the garage because we couldn't find the tree stand.
We found the tree stand.
So we decorated the tree. Our approach is what you might call horror vacui. Some branches have two or three ornaments.
We ate dinner and then watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Pressed
Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups
flour
¼ tsp baking
powder
1 cup butter
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp almond
extract
Colored
sugars and sprinkles
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Whisk together flour and baking powder in small bowl.
Cream butter and sugar thoroughly in a large bowl. Beat in
the egg and almond extract.
Gradually blend in dry ingredients.
Fill cookie press, and form cookies on ungreased sheets.
Decorate with colored sugars and sprinkles.
Bake 6-8 minutes.
Carefully remove at once to cooling racks.
Makes about 6 dozen
Miss RM's recipe
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