Today, ten of Hubbie's family came from other towns to spend the day with us. They traveled in thick fog this morning, so we were anxious until they arrived safe and sound.
We were amused when Hubbie's sister noted right away that all of us ladies were wearing bright red sweaters. Hubby blended right in, too, since he wore a red shirt. We looked very festive for a family snapshot later in the day.
In years past, Hubbie's family visited on the day after Christmas, and our tradition was to serve two kinds of soup...11-bean with Rotel and ham, and potato...along with deli meat and cheese sandwiches. But since the family came before Christmas this year, I thought it would be more fitting to serve a nice lunch of ham, baked sweet potatoes, California mixed veggies, and hot corn, along with biscuits, and use my "best" china on a burgundy tablecloth with white napkins in silver rings.
My "best" china consists of unmatched, but blended pink and blue floral plate and accessory pieces that I've picked up at yard sales and flea markets. The china looks nice, but is not so precious that I fear breakage. The tablecloth is a $4 clearance item from our local chain discount store.
The adults enjoyed the meal...the kids not so much. One adult and one child were looking forward to the soup and sandwich meal, so they were disappointed. I assured them I'd go back to the traditional meal next year. That's the thing about traditions. It's hard to break them and not disappoint some folks.
As soon as lunch was over, the kids begged to open gifts. Our gifts to the four little ones were stained glass coloring books. The pages in these books are clear, with line drawings of birds, flowers, and other things of nature. After they are colored with gel pens, the pages are to be cut out of the book and taped to a window, so the light can shine through them like stained glass. They are very pretty, and the kids enjoyed coloring them. The kids got several gifts from their doting aunts, too.
The ladies were delighted with the unusual wooden snowmen ornaments we gave them (I described these in a previous blog). In return, we received Christmas mugs filled with specialty tea and cocoa mixes, and grooming products from a stepdaughter who sells them for a beauty company. She included a pretty shade of lipstick in my gift bag.
We agreed years ago, that we would exchange only token gifts at Christmas, since the family is now so large. But we do splurge for birthday gifts for our kids...four of whom have December birthdays, and one who has an end-of-November birthday. We have six kids between us, with one having a February birthday.
From those kids, we have 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren, with two more great-grandchildren on the way next summer. Thus, only token gifts for Christmas!
It was a good day, in the good company of Hubbie's son, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, nephew, and great-niece.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Cup of Cheer
This afternoon, Mother and I attended a nice gathering at the home of one of the women I know from water aerobics class, who lives nearby. She invited us all (and the rest of the world, I think) to her "Cup of Cheer" come-and-go Christmas party, co-hosted by her sister. These two ladies know an awful lot of people in our small town, so her home, including the sun porch, was packed to the rafters with women decked out in sparkling and spangled Christmas sweaters, jackets, and jewelry.
We had our choice from several kinds of "cups of cheer," including wassail and Baptist punch (meaning that it was non-alcoholic, of course), plus an array of nibbles. Mother and I were interested in the homemade marshmallow squares on sticks, ready to be dipped in a fountain of flowing hot chocolate. We appreciated that the great-niece of the hosts went to the trouble of making the marshmallows, because, as several of us commented, we would have just bought bags of them. But the homemade ones were a nice touch, arranged in a crockery vase along with fresh strawberries, also on sticks.
The "Cup of Cheer" party was a festive ending to a mild, overcast December day that started with ominous early morning thunderstorms.
We had our choice from several kinds of "cups of cheer," including wassail and Baptist punch (meaning that it was non-alcoholic, of course), plus an array of nibbles. Mother and I were interested in the homemade marshmallow squares on sticks, ready to be dipped in a fountain of flowing hot chocolate. We appreciated that the great-niece of the hosts went to the trouble of making the marshmallows, because, as several of us commented, we would have just bought bags of them. But the homemade ones were a nice touch, arranged in a crockery vase along with fresh strawberries, also on sticks.
The "Cup of Cheer" party was a festive ending to a mild, overcast December day that started with ominous early morning thunderstorms.
Down Time
For the first time since the beginning of December, we had a couple of days with no holiday events on the calendar. So Mother and I spent Tuesday and Wednesday indulging in Christmas classic movies and shows. Since the TV is within viewing range of the kitchen, we also prepared Christmas goodies. Hubby, who isn't interested in seeing these shows for the 100th time, busied himself with outdoor chores.
The two-day movie marathon included the animated features, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," narrated by Boris Karloff, and "Polar Express." We also watched the movie musical, "Mrs. Santa Claus," starring Angela Lansbury (I love her in anything she does), and "Scrooge," the lively and fun 1970 musical starring Albert Finney. To round out our marathon, we watched the incomparable Mikail Baryshnikov in his classic performance of "The Nutcracker."
We're not done watching Christmas classics, but we need to spend today sprucing the house for guests coming tomorrow...Hubbie's family will be here. So we'll resume our marathon Saturday. Can't let the holiday get away from us without seeing "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Story," "Miracle on 34th Street," and my all-time favorite, "Scrooge," starring Alastair Sim.
The two-day movie marathon included the animated features, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," narrated by Boris Karloff, and "Polar Express." We also watched the movie musical, "Mrs. Santa Claus," starring Angela Lansbury (I love her in anything she does), and "Scrooge," the lively and fun 1970 musical starring Albert Finney. To round out our marathon, we watched the incomparable Mikail Baryshnikov in his classic performance of "The Nutcracker."
We're not done watching Christmas classics, but we need to spend today sprucing the house for guests coming tomorrow...Hubbie's family will be here. So we'll resume our marathon Saturday. Can't let the holiday get away from us without seeing "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Story," "Miracle on 34th Street," and my all-time favorite, "Scrooge," starring Alastair Sim.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Free Meal and a Sales Pitch
We frequently receive invitations in the mail to attend "seminars" that include free meals. The seminars are sales pitches, of course, for various products or services that we're not interested in...we're just interested in the free meals, particularly on days when we don't want to cook. Today was just such a day. The seminar was held at a local restaurant only minutes from our home, so it was convenient.
The speaker was entertaining, even though we were not convinced of the validity of his claims for the product he was marketing. Anyway, at this time of year, we're not willing to plunk down $1,500 or so, even if we think a product is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Two or three people were willing to buy, though, and were filling out paperwork as we got up to leave, appetite satisfied and purse strings tightly knotted.
The speaker was entertaining, even though we were not convinced of the validity of his claims for the product he was marketing. Anyway, at this time of year, we're not willing to plunk down $1,500 or so, even if we think a product is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Two or three people were willing to buy, though, and were filling out paperwork as we got up to leave, appetite satisfied and purse strings tightly knotted.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Christmas Parties, Concerts, and a Ballet
We crammed a lot into a few days, starting last Thursday with the Master Gardener Christmas party...a potluck lunch and dirty Santa gift exchange. This year, my MG husband came home with another plant to add to the jungle of plants already in our sunroom. Right now, it's sitting on the hot tub lid. I don't know where it's permanent home will be.
The potluck of homemade food was delicious, as usual. We took a hot corn dish (recipe follows):
HOT CORN
1 stick butter or margarine
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
2 (12 oz.) cans shoe peg white corn, drained
1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chilies, drained
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional...we don't use them)
Melt butter or margarine in small saucepan over low heat. Add cream cheese mixture with remaining ingredients in 2-quart baking dish. Add jalapeno peppers, if desired. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
On Friday, Mother and I went to the water aerobics group Christmas gathering at a local restaurant. In the past, this group did the dirty Santa thing, too, but this year we opted to just exchange Christmas ornaments...we numbered the gifts, and then drew numbers to get a gift. I prefer this to dirty Santa, because it doesn't take as long. Dirty Santa seems to drag out forever, sometimes.
On Friday night, we traveled to another town to attend a Christmas show. The college there sponsored a troupe from Branson, MO, that sang and danced to numbers from the 1920's through the 1960's. It was a really energetic, upbeat show with lots of colorful costumes, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Saturday was the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop, of course. And then Saturday night, we attended a performance of "The Nutcracker," performed by local dance studios. The show featured two performers from out-of-state colleges, as well. Lots of colorful costumes in this show too...and I love the music from "The Nutcracker."
This afternoon (Sunday), we went to a local college to hear the area's high school jazz and concert bands perform Christmas music. A highlight of the program was a teacher (that we know from community theater) reading "The Night Before Christmas," in a British accent. She did a superb job. We were quite impressed with the jazz and concert bands, who have won numerous awards in regional competitions.
Can't help being of good cheer after all that!
The potluck of homemade food was delicious, as usual. We took a hot corn dish (recipe follows):
HOT CORN
1 stick butter or margarine
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
2 (12 oz.) cans shoe peg white corn, drained
1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chilies, drained
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional...we don't use them)
Melt butter or margarine in small saucepan over low heat. Add cream cheese mixture with remaining ingredients in 2-quart baking dish. Add jalapeno peppers, if desired. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
On Friday, Mother and I went to the water aerobics group Christmas gathering at a local restaurant. In the past, this group did the dirty Santa thing, too, but this year we opted to just exchange Christmas ornaments...we numbered the gifts, and then drew numbers to get a gift. I prefer this to dirty Santa, because it doesn't take as long. Dirty Santa seems to drag out forever, sometimes.
On Friday night, we traveled to another town to attend a Christmas show. The college there sponsored a troupe from Branson, MO, that sang and danced to numbers from the 1920's through the 1960's. It was a really energetic, upbeat show with lots of colorful costumes, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Saturday was the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop, of course. And then Saturday night, we attended a performance of "The Nutcracker," performed by local dance studios. The show featured two performers from out-of-state colleges, as well. Lots of colorful costumes in this show too...and I love the music from "The Nutcracker."
This afternoon (Sunday), we went to a local college to hear the area's high school jazz and concert bands perform Christmas music. A highlight of the program was a teacher (that we know from community theater) reading "The Night Before Christmas," in a British accent. She did a superb job. We were quite impressed with the jazz and concert bands, who have won numerous awards in regional competitions.
Can't help being of good cheer after all that!
Happy Hearts and Happy Feet
There's nothing like a visit from little ones to gladden the heart at Christmas time. As I mentioned in my previous blog, my daughter brought three of my great-grandchildren up from another town to visit for the day and go to a graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop.
After the workshop, we came back home for steaming bowls of homemade chicken noodle soup and deli turkey sandwiches. Then the kids opened little gifts from us...these were just token gifts, so they'd have something to entertain them while they were here. One of the gifts we gave the six-year-old great-granddaughter was a paper doll book that just fascinated and absorbed her. The other two kids got puzzles and games that kept them busy and amused. Sometimes, I think the best gifts are the old-fashioned ones.
Later, we went downtown to visit "Ho-Ho," as my three year old great-granddaughter calls Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus was with Santa, and all three kids seemed to be charmed by her. But my six-year-old kindergartner great-granddaughter asked if that was really Mrs. Claus. I gave some lame answer, knowing that what she was really getting at was...if that wasn't really Mrs. Claus, then Santa probably wasn't really Santa (because the buzz at school is that Santa Claus isn't real, anyway).
Once the kids had given Santa their wish list, we were ready to leave and go shopping at a wholesale store. My daughter picked up several inexpensive activity books for the kids, including "Happy Feet" books (about the penguin that dances in the popular animated movie). The books feature clickers, attached to bands, that are designed to be worn on shoes or bare feet. The kids couldn't wait to try them. For the rest of the time they spent at our house, three pairs of happy feet went click-clacking through the rooms, and up and down stairs.
It was a fun day, perfect for re-living in memories.
After the workshop, we came back home for steaming bowls of homemade chicken noodle soup and deli turkey sandwiches. Then the kids opened little gifts from us...these were just token gifts, so they'd have something to entertain them while they were here. One of the gifts we gave the six-year-old great-granddaughter was a paper doll book that just fascinated and absorbed her. The other two kids got puzzles and games that kept them busy and amused. Sometimes, I think the best gifts are the old-fashioned ones.
Later, we went downtown to visit "Ho-Ho," as my three year old great-granddaughter calls Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus was with Santa, and all three kids seemed to be charmed by her. But my six-year-old kindergartner great-granddaughter asked if that was really Mrs. Claus. I gave some lame answer, knowing that what she was really getting at was...if that wasn't really Mrs. Claus, then Santa probably wasn't really Santa (because the buzz at school is that Santa Claus isn't real, anyway).
Once the kids had given Santa their wish list, we were ready to leave and go shopping at a wholesale store. My daughter picked up several inexpensive activity books for the kids, including "Happy Feet" books (about the penguin that dances in the popular animated movie). The books feature clickers, attached to bands, that are designed to be worn on shoes or bare feet. The kids couldn't wait to try them. For the rest of the time they spent at our house, three pairs of happy feet went click-clacking through the rooms, and up and down stairs.
It was a fun day, perfect for re-living in memories.
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