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         

Advent Updates

Well . . . we haven't used our sock Advent calendar once yet, though we've been doing a bunch of our usual holiday activities.  I think we all miss the ritual of the socks but just don't have it together yet.  We still have a week to go, so maybe I can figure something out.  I imagine we'll get a few of these done before Christmas Eve . . . .

POSSIBILITIES

1. Build gingerbread houses
2. Stay up late, a la Solstice Camp Out the night of last day of school
3. Make a snowman (weather permitting; if not, turn fridge into a snowman)
4. Deliver gifts to vet, pediatrician, etc.**
5. Choose family holiday charity (seals?  owls?  cat project?)**
6. Deliver ELF bags to friends in need of holiday cheer**
7. Sew buttons on Christmas stockings
8. Drive around looking at lights
9. Make origami ornaments for tree

Other ideas:  make candles or soap; follow UU Advent Calendar from Alice the Chalice;  look for Snowy Owls; make a card for my hospice patients; watch It's a Wonderful Life; 

DONE

1. Piano recital (Dec 6)
2. Go to Cookie Cafe (Dec 5)
3. Make latkes on first night of Hanukkah (Dec. 6)
4. Watch "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas" (we actually did this last night!)
5. Make holiday wreath (well, we bought one from a neighborhood Boy Scout)
6. Create and send family Christmas card
7. Office holiday parties
8. Celebrate my birthday at Old Sturbridge Village candlelight
9. Watch original A Miracle on 34th Street
10. Host cookie party (Dec. 18)
11. STAR WARS!!!!! (Dec. 17)
12. Begin reading A Christmas Carol
13. Make cards for teachers, babysitters, etc.
14. play with Lego Christmas village

Advent Activities: In Pictures

House decorations

Baking cookies--6 dozen!

Our only snowflakes this season

Waiting for Star Wars 7

Kindness Elves appear, getting ready for our cookie party

Sis's cookies

Making a scarf for a friend's daughter

We Saw It (No Spoilers)

The Force is still with us.

(more--still spoiler free--tomorrow.)

Sock Fun Left and Right

We had our Mother-Daughter Book Club holiday party last night, which was loads of fun.  Each family brought a read-aloud book and a wrapped pair of fun socks.  After reading several of the Christmas picture books--Sis had me perform Cajun Night Before Christmas in my best Cajun accent--the girls exchanged the socks by playing a special game.  They sat in a circle while the host read an adapted Twas the Night Before Christmas with the words "left" and "right" included, directing the girls to pass their wrapped socks either way.  By the end, they all had a different pair of socks.  Sis got the pink ones, above, having brought the long red-striped ones to her right.  Then they ate cookies and hot chocolate.  It was a sweet night, simple but fun.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Here's the amended story, in case you need it for a gift exchange.  Cute idea.

Twas The Night Before Christmas Story

Twas the night RIGHT before Christmas
when RIGHT through the house
Not a creature was LEFT stirring, not even a mouse—
The stockings were hung RIGHT by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be RIGHT there
The children were nestled RIGHT snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced Right around in their heads
And mama LEFT in her kerchief, and I LEFT in my cap
had just settled RIGHT down for a long winter’s nap,
When RIGHT out on the LEFT lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang RIGHT from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the RIGHT window I LEFT like a flash;
Tore open the RIGHT shutters and threw up the LEFT sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
LEFT the luster of mid-day to objects RIGHT below
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver RIGHT lively and quick;
I knew RIGHT in a moment it must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came;
And he whistled and shouted, and called them RIGHT by name:
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen!
To the RIGHT top of the porch! To the LEFT top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash RIGHT away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet RIGHT with an obstacle,
mount RIGHT up to the sky,
So RIGHT up to the housetop the coursers they LEFT flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard RIGHT on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little RIGHT and LEFT hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Down the LEFT side of the chimney St. Nicholas
came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur,
RIGHT from his head to his LEFT foot,
And his clothes were all LEFT tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he flung RIGHT on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His RIGHT and LEFT eyes, oh how they twinkled!
His dimples? Oh how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was LEFT drawn up like a bow!
And the beard LEFT on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held RIGHT in his teeth,
and the smoke– it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a round little belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was RIGHT chubby and plump,
a RIGHT, RIGHT jolly old elf,
And I was LEFT laughing when I saw him in spite of myself.
A wink of his LEFT eye and a LEFT twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing LEFT to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went RIGHT straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; LEFT to RIGHT,
then turned with a jerk
And laying his finger to the LEFT of his nose,
And giving a nod, he LEFT… Up the chimney he rose.
He sprang RIGHT to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all LEFT like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he LEFT—out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all—to all a good night!”

Another Wildtree Recipe Hack

So, a week or so ago, I converted the Wildtree Pollo Asada Bowls into chicken tacos to great success.  Tonight, I made the Chicken Bruschetta Salad into a pasta dinner:  simply spoon the chicken (shredded, cubed, or whole) over pasta.  Bud had 3 bowls!  I think the same base would work with meatballs instead of chicken.  Yum!!

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Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
1 1/2 to 2 lbs chicken breasts
28 oz. diced tomatoes
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons Wildtree Bruschetta Blend
2 tablespoons Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water

Combine ingredients in slow cooker and cook on LOW 6-8 hours.  Serve over pasta.

Mommy Hungry via Wildtree

Birthday Weekend

It was a wonderful birthday weekend, made special by family and friends.  Thanks to Gommie, Aunt Banana, and Lambeth for calling with birthday wishes.  

Friday:
I had a little holiday coffee Friday morning, inviting many friends over for treats.  I don't like to be all alone around my birthday and have long hosted my own little get togethers.   Only a few friends could make it, but we had a jolly time together, setting the spirit for the whole weekend.

That evening was the annual big holiday party.  Mmm, mmm good:  

• Steak, green beans, baked potato, slab bacon, with Peter Luger sauce 
• chicken tikka 
• spinach dal 
• chicken taco 
• corn and mushroom taco 
•  Italian sausage pasta 
• spinach pizza 
• prosciutto, mint, and mozzarella pizza
• pesto orchiette
• Turkey and stuffing bread 
• porchetta slider
• cheese burger
• Smoked tofu noodles
• chicken sausage and pancake corn dogs 
• scrambled eggs with tater tots 
• s'more doughnut
•  cappuccino doughnut
• homemade Twinkie 
• homemade Ho Ho
• homemade chocolate cream Ho Hos
• Captain Crunch marshmallow treat
• Fruit Loop marshmallow treat
• homemade malomar bar
• Concord grape pop tart
• alcoholic creamsicle drink
• alcoholic holiday julep drink

Saturday:

We awoke early to head to Boston where we would see the exhibition, Class Distinctions:  Art in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer, at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.  I have always loved Dutch 17th-century painting and even minored in it as part of my graduate school studies, taking classes even with Simon Schama (who broke his leg during our semester!)   Genre paintings are my favorite and so knew there would be a lot to like in this show.

We got there around 11 a.m., and went straight to the exhibition.  It was crowded, as expected, but not so much as to be unenjoyable.  We talked to the kids about the 17th century, the rise of the middle class, Dutch trade and merchants, conventions of landscape painting (the brown-green-blue progression) and portraiture (pendants, status markers), and practiced "reading" what was happening in the various genre paintings.  There were many wonderful paintings--not only Vermeer and Rembrandt, but by Hals, Ter Borch, de Hooch, Steen, Maes, Metsu, van Ruysdael, etc.  The names meant little to the kids, but they liked some of the paintings.  Mama and I felt like we were walking through an art history text!  We had a midday snack before looking at some of the 20th century works by Pollock and Picasso at Sis's request and then browsing the bookstore.  Had to get the heavy art catalog!  

Then it was off to our second stop:  early dinner at the Publick House, where we'd eaten the before our Girl Scout overnight at Old Sturbridge Village in March (four days before my surgery.)  Again we sat by the huge and lovely fireplace, unlit in our remarkably unseasonably-warm December weather.  I had a full turkey dinner plate with butternut squash soup and Indian pudding; Mama and Bud had lobster pie and clam chowder and raspberry tart, while Sis had chicken pot pie with apple pie.  It was a lovely meal sitting in the old space cheerfully decorated for Christmas, setting the mood for our next outing.

Yep, Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village!  We hadn't been since 2012, having been three years in a row, so it seemed new and unfamiliar to the kiddos.  But for Mama and I, it was much the same;  tastings of cider, gingerbread, plum pudding, roasted chestnuts; demonstrations of tinsel making (but we never found the cornucopia making); riding the horse-drawn carriage; and watching the roaring bonfire (and each practicing taking photos.)  I liked the carol-singalong, which was a first for us this year.  Sis and Bud loved watching the potter at work, making cups and candleholders out of lumps of clay.  The potter had a wonderful kinda grumpy rapport with all the kids standing around--saying that he wasn't an artist and only made things to be useful not beautiful, that no farmer wanted to find clay, that he would have rather been a sailor, and so forth.  All the while his fingers pressed and worked the slippery stuff.  We each got to select a free clay ornament:  teapot, bunny, goose, and heart.   

We stayed much longer than we expected, almost closing the place at 9 pm, which means we got home very late.

Sunday:  

We were up early for church; I was the assistant RE teacher.  After that, we had a seafood lunch and . . . Mama and I slept for 3+ hours while the kids played!  We didn't mean to nap the day away.   Later, we finished the day with dinner and the original Miracle on 34th Street.  

Bittersweet

It was a bittersweet morning doing Christmas cards.  I keep a long spreadsheet of addressees and like looking over it, even if I've lost touch with many of the people and no longer send cards.  I took the radical step of paring down my list considerably; just don't feel the need to send cards to so many anymore, which makes the task more pleasurable.

But this year, it wasn't quite a pleasing walk down memory lane:  two people I've sent cards to for years died since last Christmas, my beloved Aunt Sis and my friend Sunny.  Sad not to write their names on an envelope and send them holiday wishes.

I'll keep their names on the list so that I can remember them at this time each year.  And I know it will sting a little less each year, but this morning it was hard.

Three's (Dinner for) Company

Another month, another Wildtree slow cooker workshop!  Yep, I've been to three in as many months. But you know I love cooking with a Crockpot and I like my Wildtree rep friends and their products.

It's been hit or miss, recently, though.  None of us liked the Hoisin Chicken Wraps.  Maybe because we're used to Chinatown hoisin.  Sis loves the WT Rancher's Steak Rub on roasted potatoes or even roasted broccoli.   And we've eaten several of the WT Big Meatloaves.

And now, I've had a hit with Chicken Tacos!  I thought Sis would balk at the visible tomatoes . . . but at least I didn't add the can of black beans that the original calls for!  And we love cheddar cheese and taco shells.  I can even see this as a meal I could take to someone in need.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos a la Wildtree

1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1⁄2 medium onion, diced or 1 tablespoon dried shallots
15 oz can of diced tomatoes
12 oz frozen corn
2 tablespoons Wildtree Spicy Carne Asada Seasoning 
1⁄2 tablespoon lime juice (provided at workshop)
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 cup water 

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.  Serve, perhaps using slotted spoon, in taco shells with all the fixings.

adapted from Wildtree Pollo Asada (rice bowls)


Big Meatloaf
1 lb ground beef or sweet Italian sausage
1 lb ground turkey
1 cup oatmeal or WT meatloaf packet
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup milk
ketchup for the top

Combine first six ingredients (I do add a squirt or two of ketchup to the mix.)  Top with ketchup, barbecue sauce, or even slices of bacon.  Bake at 350F for approximately an hour, until internal temperature reaches 165F.

Note:  kids might like chunks of cheddar cheese in the mix.  This would also work as meatballs or mini-meatloaves.

adapted from Wildtree Just Like Mom's Meatloaf Packet

Because Cats

In more ways than one, we need some photos of lovely colors and peaceful cats today.

Stand Up for the Lookout

The hateful rhetoric and violent actions in the US these last few weeks and months disturbs me.  More than that: infuriates, disgusts, frightens me.  

I have Martin Niemoller's quotation* in mind:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Except, today, with Trump spewing vile, you could substitute Muslims, Mexicans, African Americans, people with disabilities.  Include the vitriol of his followers and add LGBT folk, women, and more.

I don't talk much about it to the kids, except in the most general terms regarding San Bernardino, Planned Parenthood, even Paris.  They know there is hate and violence; we encourage them to look for the good, for the helpers, as the meme about Mr. Rogers encourages. 

It's hard to have hope.  I'd love to turn away from the news, but somehow I feel called to witness what is going on--I am so fortunate not to deal with violence or hatred directly so I don't want to ignore it just because I can.  Even if I don't think it helps much.

Last week, I saw a swastika painted on a lamppost in a local parking lot.  I was horrified.  So hateful, so close to home.  I talked to the store manager; I called the local police.  I called again.  And I went to the precinct.  And I called the management company of the shopping center.  I posted a lot of it on FB to enlist the help and support of my friends to help me get it painted over.  We had plans to paint it ourselves before the first night of Hanukkah.  I had my minister's cell phone number on speed dial in case we got arrested while vandalizing vandalism!  And in 48 hours, it was gone.  The police must have gotten through to the management company who put on a fresh coat of paint.

But town feels a little tainted for me now, just like the country does, with Trump resurrecting horrific ideas reminiscent of the Holocaust and Japanese internment.  It turns my stomach and so, in my own way, I will not be quiet.  Because, sooner rather than later, I belong to one of the groups that the extremists would wipe off the face of the earth.

How will you stand with me?

-=-=-=-=-

*The origins of this poem first have been traced to a speech given by Niemöller on January 6, 1946, to the representatives of the Confessing Church in Frankfurt. There are numerous versions.

Answers

Have I told you how much I like questions?  You know, silly list-icle questions.  Like an interview.  Maybe it taps into my adolescent fantasy of being famous, which otherwise I have left far behind.  Or an almost-universal human need to be known and understood and remembered.  I think they're fun.  

So, here are some answers to a meme that's been floating around FB.  (And stay tuned for our semi-annual family questionnaire come January.)

Three names I go by
1.  Mom
2.  Jamie
3.  Hon

Three places I have lived
1.  Houston
2.   San Antonio
3.  Chicago 

(must also mention NYC.  And, interestingly, our house in CT is the home I've lived in the longest, at 13+ years, mainly because my time in Houston was split between two houses.)

Three places I have worked (choosing the odd ones)
1.  Kinder Care
2.  1 day for an independent baker in NYC (she was . . . odd.)
3.  picture resource library in NYC

(and, for the best stories around Christmas, a Hallmark in the mall)

Three things I love to watch
1.   Sis ice skating
2.  Bud kung fu forms
3.  "Tudors"

Three places I have been
1.  Greece (Athens, the Peloponnese, some of the islands)
2.  Tunisia (mainly Carthage, with trips to Sousse, El Jem, Monastir)
3.  Rome (for a summer in college)

(you know about London and environs, but also Munich and Berlin, a few other places in Italy, Paris for a weekend, a place in Turkey for a day, and various US states but not too many)

Three things I love to eat
1. pizza
2.  chicken fingers
3.  chocolate cake

Three things I'm looking forward to
1.  my birthday this weekend
2.  another Christmas holiday with the family
3.  more travels (on the short list:  England and Scotland, New Orleans, (old) Williamsburg, Quebec, Maine/Vermont)

Advent Activities: One More Christmasy Weekend Thing

Cookies!!  Christmas cookies from the annual sale at our old church.  Froze three bags for the holidays:  Snickerdoodles, orange marmalade, lavender shortbread, rum balls, mocha, jam thumbprints, pinwheels, M&Ms, lemon ricotta, cranberry nut balls, pink cherry, and more.

I saw several long-time friends from our almost 9 years at the church.  We cross paths on FB but rarely in person.

And I got a great purple carousel tin, on top of it all!!

Smiles all around.

Advent Activities: Christmas-y Weekend

On Saturday, we went to the mall, our annual pilgrimage to the altar of American consumerism.  But not for the shopping.  Bud's kung fu team was doing a performance to entertain holiday shoppers.  We did do a little shopping at Hot Topics, with all its geeky Doctor Who and Star Wars stuff, more to distract Bud from his performance than anything else.

After a stellar event, and some Froyo, we watched that very traditional holiday film . . . Hunger Games.  Yep, the kids are knee-deep into the story of Katniss and Panem, plowing through the books and now starting the movies.

Yesterday was the kids' annual December holiday piano recital, which went off swimmingly with Sis playing "Hedwig's Them" and "Shake it Off," and Bud playing "Home Fried Potatoes" and something which title I forget ("Stepping" or "Swinging," something.)  They went first and second and were glad to be done, sitting quietly through numerous Christmas, pop, and classical songs and waiting patiently for the snacks at the end, including my orange poundcake, which was popular.

We headed home, counting Christmas trees as we went--we count all season and are up above 90 spotted on the roof of cars from the nearby popular tree farm.  We have an artificial tree, because of the cats, and have decided to put it up on the last day of school and making a celebration of it by staying up late decorating the house.

On the way home we also saw a holiday bazaar in an historic building and stopped to look around.  I picked up a Bucilla Christmas ornament kit exactly like the one my great-grandmother made for Aunt Banana and me when we were little, with kittens and mice in stockings.

And I took some photos of decorated doors on historic houses in the area, which really capture New England Christmas for me.  Makes me doubly glad we'll be doing Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village soon.

But first, we watched . . . Catching Fire.  Such cheerful holiday fare.

First Anniversary

A year ago yesterday, we welcomed 15-year-old brother cats, Patron and Mojito into our home.   As you may recall, they were being surrendered by their long-time owner whose daughter had developed some allergies.  The cats themselves were somewhat unhappy with the situation, too (there was a new French bulldog.)  The owner was going to give them to a no-kill shelter, but we took them instead.  

We weren't sure how geriatric cats would handle such a huge change.  And there have been some touch-and-go moments, both with Patron's health (now called Mr. P) and with relations with our existing cats.  Otherwise, it's better than we could ever have hoped.  The NYCats no longer hide in the basement under the bookshelf but wander all over the house.  Right now, P is on our bed on the second floor.  And Mojo (or Mo-jee-to, Jeetz) loves to sit on the couch next to or better yet under afghans; he likes yarn.  There's not even daily hissing between them and the Connecticats, which is excellent.  They've worked out the timeshare.

And we love them.  Mr. P sat next to me all spring and summer as I recovered from surgery; Mojo eventually came up, too.  Now he sits on my lap whenever he can, especially when I'm crocheting.  And the kids both like petting Mr P and holding Mojo.  It's wonderful.

And so some of my favorite pictures of our "new" ol'boys, who will be 16 come March.  (P is more easily photogenic than M, who likes to hide under blankets.)

Mojito aka Mojo

Patron aka Mr. P

Something Bright and Cheerful

With gray days and darker news, I was glad to start a new granny stripe afghan with this yarn.

Taking the Cake

Tonight, the historic house hosted its annual holiday celebration for volunteers and supporters.  As usual, the board members brought all the food.  There were the usual kielbasa in mustard, veggie triangles, endive with roquefort and apples, meatballs, and a selection of cookies and other sweets.  This year, there were great pistachios cookies, like Mexican wedding cookies but with pistachios instead of pecans, and also delicious pie dough cookies (with brown sugar, butter, and chai spice spread in the center of store-bought dough then rolled like a pinwheel and sliced.)  Sis and I made Orange Poundcake, based on the recipe for lime poundcake in the book Tangle of Knots (from our book club), which in turn is from Real Simple.  I found the glaze via Pinterest, from Two Peas and Their Pod.  We doubled the recipe so that we have cake to take to the piano recital on Sunday (it's unglazed and in the freezer.)  And I started daydreaming about other possibilities--the cranberries mentioned on Two Peas and Their Pod, or maybe mini-chocolate chips, or lime, or lemon poppyseed. I can see it being our go-to poundcake--it's got good structure and flavor (though, I think I slightly overbaked it.)

Even better than the desserts was that my friend Miss J was recognized as Volunteer of the Year.  I know she teases me when I congratulate and thank her for the work she has done.  She stepped in so quickly when I had surgery and then really went above and beyond just covering for me and really made the spring and fall tour seasons her own.  (I know she sometimes reads this, too.) I hope the historic house does appreciate her, for she brings great energy, knowledge, ideas, enthusiasm, and networking, plus a real dose of humor and practicality, to the organization.  And I'm not just saying that because I want her to keep being in charge, and not just because I burned out (and really do hope to start actively pursuing hospice chaplaincy soon.)  I really do think she is what the historic house needs right now.  Congratulations, my friend!!!  Very well deserved.



Orange Poundcake

4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons grated orange zest

2 tablespoons orange juice
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Heat oven to 325° F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, and zests. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the butter for 2 minutes. Add 1 1/4 cups of the sugar and the salt and beat for 2 minutes. Slowly add the egg mixture. Beat for 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the flour. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes.
3. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Using a knife, loosen the cake from pan. Invert it onto the rack. Turn it over again onto a serving plate.
4. Cool completely before glazing with Orange Glaze below.
5. Optional:  serve with spiced cranberry sauce on the side.

For the Orange Glaze, combine:
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest

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Miss JA's Party Meatballs

The meatball recipe is very difficult. I go to BJ's and buy a 5 lb package of Swedish meatballs. Then I take two cans of jellied cranberry sauce and 2 jars of Heinz chili sauce ( it is with the ketchup). Heat them together until the cranberry sauce melts. Pour over meatballs and I heat them in a crockpot Recipe is on both cranberry sauce and chili. Good luck!

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Miss JR's Pie Dough Cookies

Roll out store-bought pie dough. Spread with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and Wildtree chai spice. Roll like a Swiss roll and cut like pinwheel cookies. Bake at 350F until golden brown.

Priceless

Mindful knitting retreat:  $$$
Icelandic Lopi yarn:  $$
Hours knitting:  ##
My first non-rectangular project:  PRICELESS

Advent Activities: Start the Calendars

Rabbit, rabbit, as they apparently say here in New England on the first day of a new month (I know, I don't really get it either.)  And it being December, it's the start of Advent.    Which means calendars.

We haven't unearthed our Christmas boxes yet so the Advent socks aren't hung on the mantle with care.  But we do have our now-traditional Lego Advent calendars--Friends for Sis and Star Wars for Bud this year.

And they got me a calendar, too!  It's not a Lego calendar, nor is it actually a countdown to Christmas.  It's a Lighthouse from the LL Bean outlet that now counts down to my birthday!

This morning, the #1 drawer was filled with a little pastel origami pinwheel, Sis's new origami specialty.  Apparently, each drawer until my birthday will have a little treat.

Such a sweet idea, especially because I love my birthday and I loved Advent calendars as a kid.  I always had a paper one from Hallmark, usually with anthropomorphic animals.  Since then, I've had felt ones from the Art Institute and a beautiful quilted one from Gommie.

And now this wonderful lighthouse . . . .

Advent Activities: Something Old, Something New

This is our sixth year of Advent Activities and our sock Advent Calendar (see the lists here--2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) 

This year, I'm adding a new twist:  kindness elves!  I have two little elves I purchased (alas, not from the people at Imagination Tree who came up with the idea; they sold out) and they will make occasional, random appearances during Advent to encourage us to spread the joy this holiday season.  I've put an asterisk after those that would work.  You may recall how much I dislike the Elf-on-the-Shelf tradition with its focus on threatening children into good behavior with a Big-Brother spying Elf in the house who otherwise will lead them to material reward on Christmas morn, which is now all part of a huge consumerist trap with books, clothes, accessories, etc. for said Elf.  Yay.  I like these 25 ways to spread kindness during the holiday season.

And here's our own list, both fun things to do and kindness to spread:

1. Build gingerbread houses
2. Host cookie party (Dec. 18)
3. Make holiday wreath
4. Stay up late, a la Solstice Camp Out the night of last day of school
5. Make a snowman (weather permitting; if not, turn fridge into a snowman)
6. Deliver gifts to vet, pediatrician, etc.**
7. Create and send family Christmas card
8. Office holiday parties
9. Watch "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas" (we actually did this last night!)
10. Make cards for teachers, babysitters, etc.**
11. Watch "Doctor Who" Christmas episode
12. Choose family holiday charity (seals?  owls?  cat project?)**
13. Deliver ELF bags to friends in need of holiday cheer**
14. Piano recital (Dec 6)
15. Celebrate my birthday at Old Sturbridge Village candlelight
16. Go to Cookie Cafe (Dec 5)
17. Sew buttons on Christmas stockings
18. Watch Geminid meteors (Dec. 13-14 peak)
19. Drive around looking at lights
20. Begin reading A Christmas Carol
21. Make origami ornaments for tree
22. Watch original A Miracle on 34th Street
23. STAR WARS!!!!! (Dec. 17)
24. Make latkes on first night of Hanukkah (Dec. 6)

Other ideas:  make candles or soap; follow UU Advent Calendar from Alice the Chalice; make cinnamon buns for Santa Lucia day (Dec. 13); look for Snowy Owls; make a card for my hospice patients; watch It's a Wonderful Life; play with Lego Christmas village; 

Come January, I think I'll have another list of Winter Fun activities.