Christmas Seasoned

Yule Love It

2007-12-04T11:40:00.001-04:00

The burning yule log is symbolic of the light that will return after the dark days of early winter and gives us an excuse to gather with family and friends before a roaring fire.

The tradition is an old one, going back to the Druid custom of choosing a large log from an apple or oak tree, lighting it afire, and praying that it would burn forever.

In England, the log was selected months before Christmas. Because it was believed that all who brought it in from the woods would be protected against harm for the ensuing year, everyone lent a hand, making the event itself a festive time.

Custom also decreed that a piece from the previous year's log be saved to light the new log. As the yule log burned, everyone danced and cavorted in its heat and warmth, safe in the knowledge that the evil spirits would stay away for another year.

[source]

A Christmas Meme

2007-12-03T10:42:00.000-04:00

I found this meme on Travis Erwin's blog and thought I'd play, for the fun of it. Feel free to jump in yourself. :)

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Egg nog, please.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree? When my daughters were little, Santa never wrapped his gifts for them, but he does now. :)

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house? I like both, and I've had both on my tree. I think this year might be a white lights tree inside. Outside on the balcony, we have white icicle lights and colored lights on a small tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Outside, I try to have things ready to turn on December 1. Inside, well, that's a different story. Whenever I get things cleaned and can access the decorations in the mess that is called a storage room. :)

6. What is your holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I think it would have to be the turkey dinner -- stuffing is a favorite, as are cranberries. And I'm not sure I don't prefer the turkey cold, the day after. If dessert was included, a piece of GOOD mincemeat pie is a favorite with tea.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: I remember many happy times -- going to cut the tree with my Dad was always a favorite outing. I do remember a Christmas that I thought I really heard Santa and his sleigh! My Mom and Dad still tell the story. My godparents had horses, and it wasn't unusual for them to harness them to the sleigh and go for a night ride on Christmas Eve. One year, when I was trying desperately hard to fall asleep, I heard the bells on their sleigh as they pulled into our driveway and thought it was Santa, coming early! I dove under the covers and was scared to death Santa would know I was still awake! :)

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was old, by many standards, when I found out Santa's secret. I think I must have been close to 12 years old when Charlie Ross just blurted it out, and I never cared much for him after that!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, one.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With a wild assortment of ornaments -- some old, some new, some handmade, some store-bought.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Absolutely love it! (When all family and friends are safely off the roads, of course!)

12. Can you ice skate? I actually skate well. :)

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My favorite gifts have always been the homemade things my daughters made over the years, young and old.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being together with family.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Probably mincemeat pie, because we only have it for Christmas, although I love fruitcake, too.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas dinner at my parents, I think.

17. What tops your tree? An antique, glass spike that my parents bought for their first Christmas (similar, if not exactly, like this one).

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving, giving, giving...

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", sung by Andy Williams, is at the top of the list.

NaBloPoMo No Mo

2007-11-30T00:26:00.000-04:00

Ho-Ho-Ho! I made it through the 30 days of NaBloPoMo. To those of you who stumbled across this blog through NaBlo... I hope you'll come back often.

Thursday Thirteen #8

2007-11-29T10:12:00.001-04:00

THIRTEEN NOTABLE
DECEMBER 25TH HISTORICAL EVENTS

1. 1066 - Coronation of William the Conqueror as king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London.

2. 1223 - St. Francis of Assisi assembles the first Nativity scene.

3. 1643 - Christmas Island founded and named by Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary.

4. 1818 - The first performance of "Silent Night" takes place in the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.

5. 1868 - U.S. President Andrew Johnson grants unconditional pardon to all Civil War Confederate soldiers.

6. 1917 - Why Marry?, first dramatic play to win a Pulitzer Prize, opens at the Astor Theatre in New York City.

7. 1950 - The Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, is taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students.

8. 1968 - Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the very first successful Trans Earth Injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit.

9. 1971 - In the longest game in NFL history (82m 40s of game time), the Miami Dolphins defeat the Kansas City Chiefs at Kansas City Municipal Stadium 27-24.

December 25 Births of Note:

10. 1642 (O.S.) - Sir Isaac Newton, English physicist and mathematician (d. 1727)

11. 1918 - Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, Nobel laureate (d. 1981)

12. 1924 - Rod Serling, American television writer (d. 1975)

13. 1971/1973 - Justin Trudeau, and his brother Alexandre Trudeau, sons of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau

* * *

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Nargles

2007-11-28T11:07:00.000-04:00

I found a simple but wonderful recipe at Tempest in a Teapot this morning. Kristina calls these delectables "Nargles", which is delicious in and of itself. :) She provided a link to the original recipe. I plan to make some of these for family and some to give as gifts.

The countdown is on! How are your preparations and plans coming along? Are you a pre-planner or a panster? Are you organized and compiling lists, or do you wait until those first December days inspire you?

I'm farther ahead this year than usual, but still have much to do.

* * *

I close this post with the lyrics from "Christmas Time is Here", from the Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown soundtrack. I never knew until now who wrote the song, but here's a photo of the sheet music. (click to enlarge)

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...

Printable Christmas Cards

2007-11-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

You will find several nicely done, printable Christmas cards on this site.

Holiday Gift Tags

2007-11-26T22:17:00.001-04:00

One of the things I enjoy most about holiday preparations is gift wrapping. Yes, I know there are many who don't. :) I like making the wrapping and trim as unique as possible--to me, it's part of the gift.

I ran across a great site with some free printable gift tags--check them out and see if you can work them into your creative wraps this year.

One Month Countdown!

2007-11-25T21:42:00.000-04:00

"Hear! hear!" screamed the jay from a neighboring tree, where I had heard a tittering for some time, "winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, if you know where to look for it." - Henry David Thoreau, 28 November 1858 journal entry

(c) Nancy Bond

Don't forget to get some goodies for your fine feathered friends!

One Month to Christmas Eve!

2007-11-24T20:10:00.000-04:00

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

- Dr. Seuss

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

2007-11-23T00:23:00.001-04:00

Gingerbread cookies require a bit of work, but make a great near-Christmas activity for kids, look wonderfully old-fashioned on a tree, and also make beautiful gifts for family and friends. Not to mention that they're mmm-mmm good!

*GINGERBREAD COOKIES*

1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. dark molasses
1/4 c. water
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 to 1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

Beat sugar, shortening, molasses and water in a large bowl on low speed until blended. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, 1 to 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Roll out with a rolling pin until 1/4 inch thick. Cut with gingerbread man cutter. (Other cookie cutters work well, also.)

Lift cookies carefully with a large spatula onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate cookies with raisins, if desired. Bake until set, approx. 8 to 10 minutes. Let cookies cool 3 minutes, then carefully remove from cookie sheet with a spatula.

Cool and decorate with frosting if you like. Makes about 1 dozen cookies, depending on size of cookie cutter. Yum!

Thursday Thirteen #7

2007-11-22T09:54:00.001-04:00

THIRTEEN DISHES TO MAKE
FROM LEFTOVER TURKEY

1. Turkey Enchiladas

A light enchilada dish made with turkey, salsa, cheese and green chile sauce.

2. Turkey Tacos

Whether you serve your tacos crispy or soft, you'll love this turkey taco filling and it's a great way to use up those leftovers.

3. Turkey and Corn Soup

Warm and comforting, this soup will win you over with it's simple flavors and hearty chunks of turkey.

4. Shredded Turkey Sopes

If you've had sopes before you already know how delicious they are. Try these turkey-topped sopes for a filling meal.

5. Turkey con Arroz (Turkey with Rice)

Easy to make and tasty to eat. A one skillet dish that combines two great tastes, turkey and rice. Just make the recipe for Mexican White Rice and add as much leftover turkey as you like.

6. Turkey Tostadas

Tostadas are served like an open-faced taco, with different layers of ingredients. Top your tostadas with a layer of refried beans, shredded turkey, shredded cheese, tomatos, onions and cilantro.

7. Turkey Flautas

Kind of like a tostada, these crunchy-fried rolled tortillas stuffed with turkey, and chile sauce is a great meal or a snack. Make as many as you like with this adjustable recipe.

8. Turkey Empanadas

This turkey and sweet onion filling for empanadas is slightly sweet and very unique. Since your turkey is already cooked, it's even easier to make the filling.

9. Turkey Tortas made with Bolillos

A thick, chewy bread that you can fill with shredded turkey, guacamole, sliced tomatoes and lettuce.

10. Turkey Tamales

11. Curried Turkey Dinner
A quick and convenient dish on busy weeknights, made with frozen broccoli and cream of mushroom soup.

12. Turkey Mandarin Salad
Cooked turkey with mandarin orange slices and poppy seeds, topped with a tart red wine vinegar dressing.

13. Turkey Pineapple Curry
An easy one skillet dish made with leftover cooked turkey, pineapple, rice, and seasonings cooked in broth.

Traditional tamales with a turkey, potato and chile filling. Make extras to freeze so you can enjoy them all year long.

* * *

A Gift for Your Feathered Friends

2007-11-21T10:05:00.001-04:00

A great use for those empty 1 and 2 litre bottles is to make them into bird feeders. This can be done by simply cutting a smooth, round hole in the side, toward the bottom of the bottle, and filling it with seed. Turned away from the prevailing wind, it will usually stay dry and snow free. Hang with a piece of wire or heavy string.

But this weekend I spied a nifty little gadget that I'm sure isn't new...just new to me. I bought one to try and the birds seem to love it. We had a steady stream of friendly chickadees, golden finches, and sparrows yesterday.

The feeder simply threads onto the bottle and disperses seed as needed. I use black sunflower or "oil" seeds. The birds prefer them to regular sunflower seeds and they are easier to break open. Finches relish niger seed, but at $1/pound, they'll have to be content with the sunflower seed. :)

My parents are journal-keeping birdwatchers -- my older daughter is a wildlife Biologist whose specialty is ornithology. Me, I just enjoy their antics.

Easy Marble Bark

2007-11-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

This is another recipe taken from Country Living Magazine. It's easy to make and yields a delicious candy that perfect for your holiday guests or to give as gifts.

*Ingredients*

4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (Baker's)
6 squares white chocolate (Baker's)
1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds or coconut (Baker's)

1. Microwave dark and white chocolate squares, in separate bowls, on HIGH for approx 2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring half way through heating time. Remove and stir until completely melted.

2. Stir 1/2 of the nuts or coconut into each bowl of melted chocolate. Alternately spoon melted chocolates onto waxed-paper lined cookie sheet or tray. Swirl chocolates together with a knife to "marbleize".

3. Refrigerate at least one hour until cool and firm, then break into pieces. Makes approx. 1 pound of bark.

Making Christmas Memory

2007-11-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

Got a friend or family member who is into computers? Here's an easy-to-make ornament idea.

Simply take some sticks of discarded RAM from an old computer -- my significant other is a computer tech, so I have easy access, but most computer service centers will have boxes of old, unusable memory they may part with.

Lay the memory sticks on a sheet of newspaper or large plastic sheet and spray with a light coat of silver, gold, or any other festive color. When they're completely dry, attach bows or other small decorations with a glue gun and insert a tie or hook for hanging. Voila!

What easier way to create a Christmas Memory? :)

Mistletoe Magic

2007-11-18T22:35:00.000-04:00

Although many sources say that kissing under the mistletoe is a purely English custom, there's another, more charming explanation for its origin that extends back into Norse mythology.

It's the story of a loving, if overprotective, mother. The Norse god Balder was the best loved of all the gods. His mother was Frigga, goddess of love and beauty. She loved her son so much that she wanted to make sure no harm would come to him. So she went through the world, securing promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--fire, water, air, and earth--that they would not harm her beloved Balder.

Loki, a sly, evil spirit, found a loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow from its wood. To make the prank even nastier, he took the arrow to Hoder, Balder's brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at Balder's heart, and he fell dead. Frigga's tears became the mistletoe's white berries.

In the version of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that she reverses the reputation of the offending plant--making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.

Country Living's Holiday Fudge

2007-11-17T21:44:00.000-04:00

This recipe came from a back issue of Country Living Magazine (which has some beautiful Christmas ideas!). It makes approx. 36 pieces, depending on how you cut it. It's a sweet way to greet your guests and makes a wonderful gift when placed in a festive tin or basket. It's easy to make, and for me, has been never fail.

*Holiday Fudge*

3 6-oz packages semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14-oz can of sweetened, condensed milk
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups broken walnuts (you can use pecans, cashews, etc)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup each cut up red and green candied cherries (optional)

Line an 8x8" baking pan with waxed paper or foil. In a heavy saucepan, combine chocolate chips, condensed milk and salt. Cook over very low heat until chips melt. Remove from heat. Stur in nuts, vanilla and cherries (if deisred). Spread mixture evenly in pan and refrigerate for 2 hours, or until firm. Cut into squares.

Yes, Westaff, There Is A Santa Claus..."Ho, Ho, Ho"

2007-11-16T10:32:00.001-04:00

Just when you think you've heard it all, someone, somewhere, comes up with another imbecilic jaw-dropper, and such was the topic of discussion and viewer mail this morning on our local Breakfast Television show.

A company that hires seasonal Santas in Sydney, Australia recently encouraged its St. Nicks to drop the “Ho, ho, ho” for a “Ha, ha, ha.”

The U.S-based Westaff says it was leaving it to their Santas' discretion, but that in the U.S. the word ‘ho’ had become synonymous with a derogatory slang term for a prostitute. And the phrase, they thought, might frighten children or make them uncomfortable.

Give me a freakin' break! Political correctness is one thing, but I think this crosses the line into sheer idiocy! Any woman who would misconstrue Santa's traditional "Ho, ho, ho" for a derogatory slur would have to be a complete and total moron! And make children uncomfortable? Puleez! I doubt there are many 3-year-olds who'd get the point they're trying to make -- to children, to those who believe, Santa brings only hope, joy, love and magic.

Most activities associated with Santa Claus are extraordinary, such as delivering presents to all of the believing children in one night, how he squeezes down chimneys, how he enters homes without chimneys, why he never dies, and how he makes reindeer fly -- "magic" is used to explain his actions. In a world and at a time when we ask teenagers to go to war, don't we take that magic away soon enough? Leave Santa alone!

It's a reflection of the "skepticism of a skeptical age".[1] It's sad and pathetic and ridiculous. Why mess with a tradition that brings happiness and awe to millions of children around the world...children of all colors, creeds, religions, boys and girls alike? Santa's "Ho, ho, ho" is as much a part of his persona as his white beard, or his rosy cheeks, his ample belly or his flying reindeer.

Published in The New York Sun, 1897:

"There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished...You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond."[2]

Let Santa be...Santa. Ho-Ho-Ho.

____________________________________________

[1][2] Francis P. Church, The New York Sun, September 1897

Thursday Thirteen #6

2007-11-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

THIRTEEN FACTS ABOUT
BOSTON'S CHRISTMAS TREE

1. The relationship between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia goes back as far as the days of the colonies, but one specific event is responsible for the Boston Christmas tree.

On the morning of Dec. 9, 1917, two ships (one carrying munitions) collided in the Halifax Harbor. The resulting explosion destroyed part of the city of Halifax, killed more than 1,900 people, and injured more than 9,000. It was Nova Scotia's greatest disaster. Within 24 hours a train from Boston arrived with doctors, nurses, and supplies; they were the first to arrive and the last to leave, a fact that the people of Nova Scotia did not forget.

2. As a thank you for Boston’s help following the 1917 Halifax Explosion, Nova Scotia has donated a giant evergreen to the people of Boston each year since 1971.

3. The Nova Scotia tree is Boston’s official Christmas tree and the focal point of the yearly televised lighting on Boston Common. For several years, representatives of Nova Scotia have joined the City of Boston for the lighting ceremony.

4. The tree generally comes from a private land owner and is selected by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

5. The tree must be balsam fir, white spruce, or red spruce.

6. The chosen tree must be forty-five to fifty feet tall.

7. The tree must also be healthy with good color, medium to heavy density, uniform and symmetrical, and be easy to access.

8. The tree is lit in late November or early December during an annual public tree lighting ceremony and stays lit into the new year.

9. This year's tree was donated by Christopher and Lisa Hamilton of Annapolis County, who became part of Nova Scotia history here Wednesday.

10. They gifted a 65-year-old white spruce which will be delivered on Friday.

11. The man who built their house was from Concord, Mass. He and his wife and their family spent their summers here in Nova Scotia and planted the tree in 1942.

12. Ross Pentz, a Christmas tree specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, has picked the Boston tree for the past six years. He said he spotted this tree a couple of years ago and has had it on his list of eligible Christmas trees. While several trees are identified, the final selection is made in October, after the hurricane season.

13. 300 school children were bussed in to watch Andrew Ross, a student in the forestry program at Nova Scotia Community College’s Bridgewater campus, fell this year's tree.

* * *

Favorite Christmas Stories

2007-11-14T18:40:00.000-04:00

Part of Project Guttenburg

THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
by O. Henry

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.

There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.

While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.

In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."

The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.

Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.

There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art.

Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.

Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.

So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.

On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.

Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie."

"Will you buy my hair?" asked Della.

"I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."

Down rippled the brown cascade.

"Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.

"Give it to me quick," said Della.

Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget the hashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present.

She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the stores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was a platinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious ornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even worthy of The Watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.

When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth task.

Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically.

"If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before he takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?"

At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops.

Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit for saying little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty."

The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.

Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.

Della wriggled off the table and went for him.

"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you."

"You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor.

"Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?"

Jim looked about the room curiously.

"You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of idiocy.

"You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?"

Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.

Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table.

"Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."

White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine change to hysterical tears and wails, necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.

For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.

But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"

And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"

Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit.

"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."

Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.

"Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."

The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

Holiday Eggnog

2007-11-13T09:59:00.000-04:00

I remember my mother making eggnog for me when I was recovering from a bad cold or flu, extolling the virtues of the protein rich drink. But best of all, I recall the large punch bowl of festive eggnog that sat in the middle of the table on Christmas Eve, for family and visitors alike.

I have tried to duplicate her recipe, and the closest I've ever come is this recipe from the Company's Coming Holiday Entertaining cookbook.

Ingredients:

12 eggs
3 1/4 cups icing sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup vanilla (pure, if you can)
10 cups milk (I splurge, calorie wise, and use homogenized)
*Brandy (or rum, rye, scotch)
Nutmeg for garnish

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until very light and lemon colored.

Gradually beat in the sugar, salt and vanilla. Stir in milk, using a larger container if needed. *Add liquor. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. To serve, run small batches through blender to foam up. To store for a few days, keep covered in refrigerator. Garnish with nutmeg.

This recipe yields about 25 (5oz) punch cups.

* Alcohol may be completely omitted -- substitute rum flavoring instead.

Who Was Parson Brown?

2007-11-12T09:10:00.000-04:00

"Winter Wonderland" is a pop standard written in 1934 by Felix Bernard (composer) and Richard B. Smith (lyricist). It has been recorded many different times by such artists as Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Karen Carpenter, and Cyndi Lauper.

Smith, a native of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, was reportedly inspired to write the song after seeing Honesdale's Central Park covered in snow. The original recording was by Richard Himber and his Hotel Carelton Orchestra on RCA Bluebird in 1934. At the end of a recording session with time to spare, it was suggested that this new tune be tried with an arrangement provided by the publisher. This excellent "studio" orchestra included many great New York studio musicians including the legendary Artie Shaw.

Due to its seasonal theme, "Winter Wonderland" is often regarded as a Christmas song on the Northern Hemisphere, although the holiday itself is never mentioned in the lyrics.

The following lyrics compose the musical bridge of the song:

"In the meadow we can build a snowman,
then pretend that he is Parson Brown.
He'll say 'Are You Married?'
We'll say 'No man, but you can do the job when you're in town!"

Given that a Floridian orange grower was the only well-known person by the name of "Parson Brown" at the time the song was composed, one can assume that "Parson" is used as a first name rather than a title. In the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as a Protestant ministers) often traveled among small rural towns to perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not have a local minister of their own faith. It is therefore likely that the children are pretending that their snowman is a parson with the surname "Brown" who would be visiting the town again in the future.

[source - Wiki]

Jack Frost

2007-11-11T23:04:00.000-04:00

Someone painted pictures on my
Windowpane last night --
Willow trees with trailing boughs
And flowers, frosty white,
And lovely crystal butterflies;
But when the morning sun
Touched them with its golden beams,
They vanished one by one.

- Helen Bayley Davis, Jack Frost
[photo]

Lest We Forget

2007-11-10T17:12:00.001-04:00

Origin of the Christmas Card

2007-11-09T09:14:00.001-04:00

The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London, 1843, and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. A batch of 1000 cards was printed and sold for a shilling each.

Early English cards rarely showed winter or religious themes, instead favoring flowers, fairies and other fanciful designs that reminded the recipient of the approach of spring. Humorous and sentimental images of children and animals were popular, as were increasingly elaborate shapes, decorations and materials. In 1875 Louis Prang became the first printer to offer cards in America, though the popularity of his cards led to cheap imitations that eventually drove him from the market. The advent of the postcard spelled the end for elaborate Victorian-style cards, but by the 1920s, cards with envelopes had returned.

Cards continued to evolve throughout the 20th century with changing tastes and printing techniques. The World Wars brought cards with patriotic themes. Idiosyncratic "studio cards" with cartoon illustrations and sometimes risque humor caught on in the 1950s. Nostalgic, sentimental, and religious images are once again popular, and reproductions of Victorian and Edwardian cards are easy to obtain.

"Official" Christmas cards began with Queen Victoria in the 1840s. The British royal family's cards are generally portraits reflecting significant personal events of the year. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House card. The cards usually depict White House scenes as rendered by prominent American artists. The number of recipients has snowballed over the decades, from just 2000 in 1961 to 1.4 million in 2005.

Modern Christmas cards can be bought individually but are usually sold in packs of the same or varied designs. A revival of interest in paper crafts, particularly scrapbooking, has raised the status of the homemade card and made available an array of tools for stamping, punching and cutting. Advances in digital photography and printing have provided a more technological way to personalize cards with photos, messages, or clip art.

Technology may also be responsible for the decline of the Christmas card. The estimated number of cards received by American households dropped from 29 in 1987 to 20 in 2004. Email and telephones allow for more frequent contact and are easier for generations raised without handwritten letters - especially given the availability of websites offering free email Christmas cards. Nonetheless, with 1.9 billion cards sent in the U.S. in 2005 alone, they are unlikely to disappear any time soon.

From the beginning, Christmas cards have been avidly collected. Queen Mary amassed a large collection that is now housed in the British Museum. Specimens from the "golden age" of printing (1840s-1890s) are especially prized and bring in large sums at auctions. In December 2005, one of Horsley's original cards sold for nearly £9000. Collectors may focus on particular images like Santa Claus, poets, or printing techniques.

[source]

Thursday Thirteen #5

2007-11-08T09:17:00.000-04:00

THIRTEEN BITS OF CHRISTMAS FOLKLORE

1. "To have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve."

2. "Eat plum pudding on Christmas and avoid losing a friend before next Christmas."

3. "On Chrismas Eve all animals can speak. However, it is bad luck to test this superstition."

4. "The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune."

5. "Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck."

6. In Ireland it is believed the gates of Heaven open at midnight on Christmas Eve. Those who die then go straight to Heaven.

7. If you refuse a mince pie at Christmas dinner, you will have bad luck for the coming day.

8. If you eat a raw egg before eating anything else on Christmas morning, you will be able to carry heavy weights.

9. "Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green."

10. "Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.

11. "Place shoes by side on Christmas Eve to prevent a quarreling family."

12. "A clear star-filled sky on Christmas Eve will bring good crops in the summer."

13. "A blowing wind on Christmas Day brings good luck."

And two more for good measure:

14. You will have as many happy months in the coming year, as the number of houses you eat mince pies in during Christmastime.

15. "Shout 'Christmas Gift' to the first person knocking on your door on Christmas Day and expect to receive a gift from the visitor.

* * *

Deck the Halls...Safely

2007-11-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

Tips to make your holiday a safe one:

* When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

* When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

* When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

* Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.

* Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.

* Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.

* Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

* Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

* Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

* In homes with small children (and curious pets!), take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

* Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

* Use candles wisely, always extinguishing before going to bed or out of the house. Place lit candles safely away from draperies and other combustible materials.

Every year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, so decorate smartly and safely this year!

[source]

Easy to Make Christmas Wreath

2007-11-06T10:03:00.001-04:00

The instructions for making this Crystal Christmas Wreath can be found on this page. They are clear and easy to follow.

I made one of these wreaths when I was in elementary school, as did one of my daughters. My mother still hangs the one my daughter made for her every year.

The wreath featured here is made from sandwich bags -- those, or any other thin, clear plastic bag, such as dry cleaning bags, give the wreath an icy/frosty look, but they can also be made from green garbage bags, grocery bags, blue recycle bags, etc. for different looks.

Not only are these wreaths pretty and a great way to recycle, but they're weatherproof as well and look beautiful on your front door, inside or out!

It's a Wrap!

2007-11-05T10:10:00.000-04:00

One of the most time consuming and [sometimes] aggravating parts of Christmas preparations is the wrapping of gifts. Simply gathering all the tools required is a feat in and of itself -- where are those scissors? ... what?! no tape? ... WHY do they have to secure the end of a roll of wrapping paper with TAPE that either rips the edge or removes part of the design? ... grrr!

Well, here are a few alternatives to the traditional gift wrap -- some that I've used, and some that I'm going to try this year.

1. Try tissue paper. Different colors layered on one parcel gives a lovely effect and you will also have some on hand to line boxes with as well. Dollar Stores usually have large packages for...a dollar.

2. Oddly shaped parcels, as well as baked goods and other gift baskets, look very nice when wrapped in cellophane. Use dark colors or several layers if you wish to hide the contents. Simply bring the sides up, twist slightly, and tie off with a piece of festive ribbon.

3. Gift bags are another good alternative that can be purchased inexpensively at a Dollar or department store. Top the bag with tissue paper, fill out a tag, and you're done! Also good for oddly shaped parcels that won't fit into a box. Gift boxes, either plain or decorated, are also an inexpensive alternative. Attach a pretty bow or ribbon.

3. Plain, craft paper makes a great wrap! It's tough and doesn't tear easily so is particularly good for boxes with sharp corners. You can stamp the paper to make a pretty design -- stamps can be purchased in most craft sections of department stores, or you can make your own potato stamp! Craft paper is also nice when left plain -- tied off with a bit of raffia and with a pinecone or spring of greenery attached, it makes a very rustic, country wrap.

4. Small towels, tea towels, scarves, pillowcases, placemats all make beautiful wraps and can be used as a gift themselves, once opened.

5. Pages of comics from the Sunday paper or road maps make a colorful gift wrap for a child or teen!

6. Save the cans that chocolates and cookies come in and use them for gifts of homemade candies and baked goods. If you're feeling particularly ambitious, the covers and lids can be covered with festive fabric for an extra special gift. Just cut the fabric to fit, glue into place, and let dry.

7. Wrap baby items in a receiving blanket, tie with a bow, and add a small toy or stuffed animal as decoration.

8. Consider replacing bows and ribbons with more imaginative decorations such as pieces of jewelry, hair accessories, a pair of mitts or gloves, oven mitts, kitchen utensils, cookie cutters, silk flowers, tree ornaments, etc. The list is endless!

So when you're ready to wrap, pour yourself a mug of your favorite brew, play some Christmas music, and try some of these wrapping suggestions. :)

Favorite Shortbread Cookies

2007-11-04T00:02:00.000-03:00

One of my favorite Christmas goodies is the Shortbread Cookie. My Mom always requests a batch of these buttery bites every year, and I give some as gifts in inexpensive baskets, lined with a festive tea towel or cloth napkins.

I'm a Shortbread purist. :) I make mine from a more traditional recipe which uses brown sugar, rather than confectioner's sugar. They're easy to make, if you don't mind the rolling out of the dough, and make a large batch that freezes well. They're a melt-in-your-mouth tradition in our house.

Ingredients You'll Need:

1/2 pound REAL butter (1 cup), softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
pinch salt

Method:

Mix well, using your clean, jewelry-free hands. The heat from your hands will help melt the butter into the sugar and allow you to make sure there are no hardened "lumps" in the sugar. When the dough is well-mixed (but do not overwork!) roll out to about 1/4-inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Or, roll into small balls; place on lightly greased cookie sheets and flatten with the bottom of a glass.

Bake at 300° F. for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, until cookies are a light golden brown. Watch carefully that they don't burn!

Tips:

* try not to use darkened cookie sheets as cookies will burn easier OR line sheets with aluminum foil, dull side UP
* if I'm using newer cookie sheets, I don't grease them...the cookies have enough fat in them so that they don't stick

2007-11-03T00:57:00.000-03:00

Noel, Noel... No, not the carol. :) Just a heads up that Hurricane Noel is supposed to blow directly over Nova Scotia tomorrow, and downed trees and power outages are expected. If I miss a NaBloPoMo post, it'll be because we're without power, but I'll catch up should that happen.

Festive Centerpieces

2007-11-03T00:37:00.000-03:00

All it takes to transform your house and beautify your holiday table for the festive season is candles, fruit, fresh greenery and a little imagination! The following ideas come from Kraft Canada:

Place greenery on hearth or in the centre of table. Add candles to the centre of the greenery. Candles can be different colors, shapes and sizes based on your preference. Simply surround the candles with bright coloured Christmas balls, berries or other festive decorations.

On a pedestal platter, arrange sliced lemons, limes, red grapefruit, oranges and kumquats. Drape with a few long strings of citrus zest, ribbons or add some greenery or holly.

Fill a glass bowl or tall glass vase with water and add fresh cranberries. Place floating candles on top and light. (I've used this one and it makes a lovely arrangement.)

The kids' table will be sweet fun with this mini centerpiece. Wrap the outside of a coffee tin with brightly colored ribbon, securing with tape or glue. Fill coffee tin with multi-colored Life Savers Candies and candy canes.

Dinner guests can help capture holiday dinner memories with this centerpiece. Wrap three or four disposable cameras in tissue paper with a ribbon to look like mini presents. Arrange wrapped cameras in a bowl, with pine cones and cuttings of cedar or holly. (I LOVE this idea!)

Fire and ice! For a dazzling mantel top: fill a clear glass bowl with crumpled plastic wrap to 3 inches from the rim. Pour water into vase, leaving space for a floating candle. When lit, the candle appears to be floating on ice!

In The Company of Children

2007-11-02T10:03:00.000-03:00

"Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need to be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive." - Robert Lynd

photo © Nancy Bond

Thursday Thirteen #4

2007-11-01T06:00:00.000-03:00

THIRTEEN FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES

1. Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

2. He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~ Roy L. Smith

3. I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~ Charles Dickens

4. The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~ Burton Hillis

5. Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~ Charles Dickens

6. What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~ Agnes M. Pharo

7. Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

8. I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~ Charles Dickens

9. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~ W.T. Ellis

10. Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~ Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

11. I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~ Harlan Miller

12. Let Christmas not become a thing
Merely of merchant's trafficking,
Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath
And surface pleasure, but beneath
The childish glamour, let us find
Nourishment for soul and mind.
Let us follow kinder ways
Through our teeming human maze,
And help the age of peace to come
From a Dreamer's martyrdom.
~ Madeline Morse

13. I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays - let them overtake me unexpectedly - waking up some find morning and suddenly saying to myself: "Why, this is Christmas Day!" ~ David Grayson

* * *

NaBloPoMo Begins November 1st!

2007-10-31T22:06:00.001-03:00

Thursday Thirteen #3

2007-10-25T12:08:00.000-03:00

THIRTEEN GIFTS UNDER $20

1. For the kitchen connoisseur, line a mesh basket with a brightly colored dishtowel. Add a variety of bottled spices from the dollar store.

2. Most popular CDs cost less than $20. Buy one or purchase a gift certificate for one at your local music store. This gift will be a hit for all ages.

3. How about a restaurant or coffee shop gift certificate?

4. Gift the gift of your time. Books of "certificates" that can be redeemed for an evening of babysitting, a home-cooked meal, a favorite baked treat, a massage, "taxi service", etc. make thoughtful gifts that are appreciated by all.

5. Traditional play is all the rage. Give a family a board game, a basketball or football, or a badminton set.

6. Give an aspiring writer (or teen!) a handsome journal and a classic pen.

7. A pound of coffee from a gourmet coffee shop or packs of hot chocolate mix and two mugs from the dollar store make a great gift for any couple to wake up to.

8. Give the gift of good luck. Fill a velvet pouch with a deck of playing cards, some dice, and a half-dozen lottery scratch tickets for a present with earning potential.

9. For the gardener in your life, buy a terra cotta plant pot. Fill with a small trowel, gardening gloves, seed packets, and plant food.

10. For the bird watcher, you can buy an inexpensive but attractive bird feeder at any department store, include a small bag of seed or a suet block.

11. Give a letter-writing grandmother or college student a selection of pretty notecards, a pen, and a book of stamps.

12. Indulge a chocolate lover with the best of the best. Excellent quality chocolates can be purchased for less than $20.

13. For child or adult, department store sets of hats and gloves or mitts and scarves can be found for less than $20. As well, many craft shows and fairs sell homemade mittens, etc. for ridiculously low prices.

[some gift ideas found here]

* * *

It's Fruitcake Day!

2007-10-19T10:52:00.001-03:00

Yes, it's time to bake that traditional, fruity wonder -- the fruitcake! Now, I know there are many of you who don't like fruitcake. I think, like coffee, it's an acquired taste. Sometimes, it's the bitter pieces of candied peel that turn people off, so I leave it out of my recipe. Neither do I include anything with a very strong or overpowering flavor, such as candied ginger. A well made fruitcake is moist, buttery, and loaded with fruit and, to me, is one of the special traditions and rituals of Christmas. I've made a large enough recipe this year to make three cakes so I can gift one to my Mom and Dad.

Making fruitcake is hard work! There is the cutting up of fruit and nuts the night before, remembering to set out the butter to soften...the eggs to warm to room temperature. Once the batter has been assembled, I add it to the fruit rather than adding the fruit to the batter, and mix it with my clean, bare hands. I find that's the only way to make sure all those jewel-colored bits of fruit are incorporated into the mix.

I'll post a photo to accompany this post when the hand-wringing is over and the cakes have come out of the oven and cooled.

So, who else clings to this delicious tradition?

For those who are interested, check out these links at The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Fruitcake!

Thursday Thirteen #2

2007-10-18T10:43:00.000-03:00

THIRTEEN SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS

1. Mistletoe and Holly -- Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.

2. Poinsettias -- Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.

3. The Christmas Tree -- The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820's.

4. Xmas -- This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

5. The Candy Cane -- Candy canes have been around for centuries, but it wasn't until around 1900 that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into the shape of a cane. They were sometimes handed out during church services to keep the children quiet. One story (almost certainly false) that is often told about the origin of the candy cane is as follows:

In the late 1800's a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a symbol made of candy. He came up with the idea of bending one of his white candy sticks into the shape of a Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols of Christ's love and sacrifice through the Candy Cane. First, he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death on the cross. There are three of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd's staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name. The candy maker made these candy canes for Christmas, so everyone would remember what Christmas is all about.

6. Santa Claus -- The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was very pious from an early age, devoting his life to Christianity. He became widely known for his generosity for the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. But when Constantine became emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas was a delegate to the council. He is especially noted for his love of children and for his generosity. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also, of course, the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, in Anglican, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nick," which was later published as "The Night Before Christmas." Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit.

7. Advent Wreath -- Four candles placed on a wreath. One candle is lit each Sunday before Christmas in anticipation of Christ's birthday.

8. Christmas Bells -- Church bells rang to announce the birth of Jesus. They still ring today.

9. Christmas Carols -- When St. Francis of Assisi created the first "creche" or Nativity (manger) scene, he and others sang the first carols. Most carols were handed down by word of mouth for hundreds of years. Most of the early carols were about Mary, the shepherds, the Magi and the birth of Jesus . Later carols were sung by groups of people who would go to homes and sing in harmony.

10. Gingerbread -- Making gingerbread cookies and gingerbread houses is a popular activity during the Christmas season. Gingerbread cookies were used to decorate the tree in the early days. It is called gingerbread because of the "ginger" spice that is used in making the cookies. Gingerbread houses were first made in Germany. The gingerbread house was popular after the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel became well-known.

11. Tree Ornaments -- The first Christmas trees were decorated with real fruit and flowers. Cookies, nuts , candies and other kinds of food were added later on. Lighted candles were also used but there was the danger of fires when the candles were lit. Tiny gifts were also hung on the trees for ornaments. In Germany glass blowers began making glass balls to decorate the trees.

12. Yule Log -- In early days fire was a symbol of the home, safety and warmth. The English took on the custom of burning the yule log on Christmas Eve. It was considered good luck to sit on it before it was burned and it was bad luck if the fire went out quickly. After the holidays had ended (twelve days of Christmas) a piece of the log was saved to rekindle the next year's log.

13. Christmas Colors -- There are many colors assocaited with Christmas such as the red of holly berries, of Santa Claus or Father Christmas outfit; the green of fir tre4es; the gold of candles and stars; the whiteness of snowy fields.

Red is the color that is considered the greatest excitement, and is also the color of the month December. As the religious symbol it stands for fire, blood and charity.

Green is the symbol for nature, youth and the hope of eternal life. It is for this reason that Christmas is a feast of hope, with a newborn child as its central symbol.

White is the religious symbol which stands for light, purity, joy and glory. White is seen in the robes of Christmas angels, in Santa's beard and suit trimmings, as well as in Christmas snow and snow flakes.

In Northern Europe and in some of America, snow covers the ground at Christmas. In southern California roses are blooming. In the warmer climate but the snow is artificial, so as to show the link with the Northern Yuletide.

Gold stands for sunlight and radiance. It is the color of the christmas stars, tinsel, candles, electric lights.

Christians who were once pagans saw the new god as they had the sun, that is the radiant being who lighted the world. Many artists show Christ in a pool of light, or with a bright halo around his head.

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Thursday Thirteen #1

2007-10-11T12:59:00.000-03:00

THIRTEEN FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS
AND THEIR ORIGINS

1. Carol of the Bells -- The Carol of the Bells lyrics were added to the original folk music from the Ukraine by Peter Wilhousky. The lyrics and words to this popular Christmas song celebrate the festive season and its traditions such as the pealing of church bells at Christmas and of the singing of Christmas Carols - caroling. The original Ukrainian lyrics to the song was entitled Shchedryk meaning bountiful and were traditionally sang to celebrate the New Year.

2. Away in a Manger -- Away in a manager is always the first carol that children are taught. Away in a Manger was originally published in 1885. The publication of Away in a Manger was in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The author is unknown. The music to Away in a Manger was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.

3. Deck the Halls -- The music to Deck the Halls is believed to Welsh in origin and was reputed to have come from a tune called "Nos Galan" dating back to the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century Mozart used the tune to Deck the Halls for a violin and piano duet J.P. McCaskey is sometimes credited with the lyrics of Deck the Halls but he only edited the Franklin Square Song Collection in which the lyrics were first published. The first publication date of Deck the Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the words are said to originate in America.

4. Silent Night -- The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time.

5. O Come, All Ye Faithful -- The text to the Carol O Come All Ye Faithful was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn, it is attributed to John Wade, an Englishman. The music to O Come All Ye Faithful was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published in a collection known as "Cantus Diversi" in 1751. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar translation of O Come All Ye Faithful which replaced the older Latin lyrics "Adeste Fideles".

6. Joy to the World -- The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Nonconformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).

7. Jingle Bells -- Believe it or not Jingle Bells, one of the most famous American Christmas songs, was originally written for Thanksgiving! The author and composer of Jingle Bells was a minister called James Pierpoint who composed the song in 1857 for children celebrating his Boston Sunday School Thanksgiving. The song was so popular that it was repeated at Christmas, and indeed Jingle Bells has been reprised ever since. The essence of a traditional Christmas is captured in the lyrics of Jingle Bells and the sound effects using the bells have become synonymous with the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus to the delight of children of all ages.

8. White Christmas -- The song White Christmas is undoubtedly the most famous and popular of all the Christmas songs. The music and lyrics for White Christmas were written by Irving Berlin in 1942 and originally featured in the movie Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby. The lyrics of White Christmas struck a chord with the soldiers fighting in the Second World War and their families who were waiting for them back home. The song and recording of White Christmas by Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter's orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers was so popular that it was later reprised in the movie called after its name - White Christmas. The film White Christmas once again starred Bing Crosby together with Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

9. Winter Wonderland -- The famous Christmas song Winter Wonderland was first published in 1934. The composer was Felix Bernard (1897-1944) and the lyricist was Richard B. Smith (1901-1935). Probably the most popular versions of this classic Christmas song, Winter Wonderland, were recorded to high acclaim by the Andrews Sisters and Perry Como. The lyrics of Winter Wonderland have undoubtedly contributed to the magical vision of snow at Christmas together with the tradition of building snowmen and therefore turning fantasy into reality by creating a real Winter Wonderland.

10. Little Drummer Boy -- The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy were composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958. The lyrics of Little Drummer Boy consist of no less than 21 rum pum pum pum - a major part of the song and therefore presenting an apparently easy task for the lyricist. However, Little Drummer Boy has been a huge hit for several artists. The most notable rendition was created by the most unlikely combination of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. This version of Little Drummer Boy was a massive hot for the artists and was in fact Bing Crosby's most successful recording since the legendary White Christmas.

11. The Twelve Days of Christmas -- The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) start with Christmas Day and finish with the eve of Epiphany on 5th January. The Twelve Days of Christmas dates back to English origins in the sixteenth century although the music is reputed to be French. The first publication date for The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) was 1780. Each of the The Twelve Days of Christmas has a religious significance and are symbolised following the lyrics of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

12. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...) -- Chestnuts roasting on an open fire is definitively called the Christmas Song. The lovely music and lyrics were composed by Torme and Wells in 1946. The most popular recording of this truly great Christmas song, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire was recorded by Nat King Cole. The strong imagery in the words to this Christmas song are also complimented by such sentiments as reflected in one of its lines "from kids from from one to ninety-two" which encompass the essence of the family Christmas. The notion that a traditional Christmas should be white is also profligated in the lyric of this Christmas song.

13. Let It Snow! -- (One of my personal favorites!) The wonderful Christmas song Let It Snow was created by lyricist Sammy Cahn and the composer Jule Styne in 1945. The words and lyrics of Let It Snow reflect the feeling of warmth and security associated with Christmas and also brings in the more modern customs of popping corn! The song Let It Snow was reprised in recent years when used in the Bruce Willis film Die Hard which started with the film's hero travelling to meet his family at Christmas.

[information obtained here and from Wiki]

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Festive Movies

2007-10-02T11:21:00.001-03:00

"The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting." -- Louisa May Alcott

Nothing adds to my enjoyment of the Christmas season like a good holiday movie. Whether snuggled under a quilt with a bowl of popcorn or decorating the tree, it just wouldn't seem like Christmas without those beloved holiday flicks.

Some of my favorites:

A Christmas Carol (1938 version)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
It's a Wonderful Life
The Polar Express (see this in 3D IMAX!)
White Christmas
The Christmas Shoes (made for TV)
Miracle on 34th Street
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 TV version)
Little Women

These are just some of the movies I look forward to each year. Share your favorites!

Music of the Season

2007-09-28T11:39:00.000-03:00

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day;
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet, the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good - will to men!"
- Longfellow

Part of what makes the holiday season so special is the music--those once-a-year tunes that have the power to transport us back to childhood and memories of Christmases past.

While most of us have a varied selection of Christmas CDs in our collections, I've found an online "radio station" that I tune into year round, but especially at Christmas. Live365 has tens of thousands of music stations--something to suit everyones' tastes. Their Christmas stations are no exception.

If you check out the site, try some of these stations that have become my favorites--Winterscapes used to be my very favorite until they switched to VIP. I now listen mostly to Noel! Noel! Noel! as they have a very good mix of older and contemporary songs.

Christmas Music 24/7
Christmas Broadband
All Christmas Radio
Christmas and Then Some
Beautiful Christmas
Holiday Moods
Noel! Noel! Noel!
Winterscapes (VIP)*
Christmas Notes (VIP)*
Christmas Notes, Too (VIP)*
A Shiny New Christmas (VIP)*

* VIP stations require a paid membership. All other Live365 stations are free.

Time for Fruitcake

2007-09-27T13:24:00.000-03:00

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things—not the great occasions—give off the greatest glow of happiness." - Bob Hope

I've always loved Christmas: everything Christmas. The planning, the preparations, the shopping, the forgotten promises from previous years, and yes, even the waiting for it. And I'm sure there are many others just like me out there, so I thought I'd start collecting my thoughts and ideas in a blog.

I hope to share some reminiscences, recipes, decorating ideas, gift ideas, photos, etc. And I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions and hope that you will share some of the simplest things with me.

As Nova Scotia experiences one of the warmest Septembers on record, you wouldn't imagine it would put one in the mood for thoughts of Christmas. But I keep Christmas with me all year round--even on the darkest and hottest of days--and after all, it's 89 days and counting! It's almost time to think about making that fruitcake!

I get a kick out of this image--a fruitcake being used as a doorstop! Sacrilege! I guess I'm one of the handful of people on the planet who love fruitcake. It was always traditional Christmas fare in our house when I was growing up--and it just doesn't seem like Christmas without it.

My Mom has stopped making the heavy, delicious cakes she used to make, as arthritis makes the mixing just too difficult. Years ago, she used to make both a dark and light fruitcake (much to my Dad's delight), but omitted the dark a few years ago. Her cakes were always moist and fudge-like in consistency, baked to a perfect golden brown and never iced. Heavy, fragrant, spicy, fruit-filled delights! The recipe she used was one her mother made...one of those stained and sticky pages of the cookbook which was closely guarded.

She would watch the store flyers, beginning in early October, until the ingredients were at the best price, and then stock up on candied green and red cherries, pineapple, mixed fruit and peel, golden raisins and bags of almonds. Only real butter would do (which is probably why her cakes were so moist), and the spices had to be fresh as well.

An evening would be set aside for the preparation of the fruit and nuts which had to be chopped and floured and set aside in a huge mixing bowl. It's a lot of work, and it's hard work, to make a fruitcake! The next morning, the batter would be mixed, the fruit added and mixed with her bare hands, then patted into an appropriate pan--usually a tube pan which gave an even bake.

I wasn't allowed near the kitchen once the cake had been put in the oven, lest I should jump and cause the cake to fall. Hours later, the delicious aroma would fill the house and the cake would be turned out onto a rack to cool, with the appropriate ooohs and aaahs. As a little girl, I didn't like fruitcake either, but as I got older, and exchanged my milk and juice for tea and coffee, I discovered there was nothing more delicious than a slice of fruitcake and a cup of hot brew.

Here is a recipe for Easy Light Fruitcake from the Company's Coming Cakes book that I have made a few times and which always turned out well. Make at least a few weeks ahead.

Easy Light Fruitcake

1 lb candied cherries, halved
5 (or more) candied pineapple rings, cut up
2 lbs golden raisins
1/2 lb cut mixed candied peel
1 cup pecans or almonds (other nuts may be used)
1 cup flour

1 lb butter (margarine may be used but butter is better)
2 cups white sugar
6 eggs (at room temperature)
1/4 cup prepared orange juice
1 tsp vanilla

5 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (I usually use closer to 1 tsp)

almonds for decoration

Preheat oven to 275F (140C). This batter will fill two 9x5x3" loaf pans with some left over. I use a 10" tube pan. Whatever pan you choose to use, fill only 3/4 full of batter and grease with shortening and flour well. Recipe calls for lining pans with brown paper, but I've never found that necessary.

Mix first 6 ingredients together well in bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in orange juice and vanilla.

Combine second amount of flour, baking powder, and salt. Add and stir. Add floured fruit and mix together. Spoon in prepared pans.

(Arrange almonds on top at this point, if desired for decoration.) Bake in over for about 3 hours until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean. Cover with foil if top gets too dark while baking. Weighs approximately 9 pounds.

Mmm...fruitcake. Part of my holiday tradition and a simple thing, Christmas seasoned!