Last Friday night we attended a Christmas party hosted by a local home medical service. I've served on the board of the service for about 15 years, and my husband and I look forward each year to this employee get-together.
The party is held at the local lodge, a very popular place for all sorts of events that are booked months, even years, in advance. It's owned by a down-home sort of lady, who has collected antiques for many years, and enjoys displaying them at the lodge, and selling them in her antique shop downtown.
The facility has several bedrooms, all featuring rugged bedsteads, constructed of huge, treated logs, and covered in handmade quilts. The rooms are decorated with such things as fishing nets, cowboy boots, overalls, mounted animals, galvanized bath tubs, and deer antlers. In fact, every corner, dresser top, table, bathroom vanity, mantel, and wall are used as display areas.
At this time of year, the lodge is trimmed in outdoorsy Christmas decorations. Pine cones, cranberry strands, bird's nests, and the like adorn Christmas trees, along with camouflage caps and western hats as tree toppers. The dining tables, set in festive holiday ware, feature centerpieces created from whatever is at hand.
The dinner was buffet-style and, as usual, included a salad (a yummy mix of lettuces, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts, with a sweet dressing), two meats, two vegetables, herb-flavored mashed potatoes, and big, homemade yeast rolls, plus a choice of two desserts. Diet is a four-letter word at this affair.
This year, the event included a little game. Each table had gift on it...wrapped or in a gift bag. Someone started music playing, and guests at the tables passed the gift around. When the music stopped, the one holding the gift was eliminated, and the game proceeded until only one remained not holding the gift. That person was the winner.
Both my husband and I were eliminated quickly, which meant that we could sit back and laugh at the others, particularly when the game got down to two people, who vigorously threw the gift at each other in an attempt not to be holding it when the music stopped.
The event also included a Christmas ornament exchange, and bingo, played for prizes. The start of those activities was our cue to head home, well-fed and in high Christmas spirits.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Card's From Who?
The first of the Christmas cards arrived today. Got one from someone named Louis Branch.
"Who's Louis Branch?" Mother asked.
"Don't know," I said. Maybe one of Hubbies many relatives?
"Louis Branch?" Hubby asked. "Let me see that card."
Glancing at it, he said, "Put your glasses on! This is from the St. Louis Branch of our bank!"
Oh.
"Who's Louis Branch?" Mother asked.
"Don't know," I said. Maybe one of Hubbies many relatives?
"Louis Branch?" Hubby asked. "Let me see that card."
Glancing at it, he said, "Put your glasses on! This is from the St. Louis Branch of our bank!"
Oh.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Christmas Parade
We missed the Christmas Parade this year, because we were out of town that day. But our local programming channel videotaped it and aired it last Monday night. Since we were scheduled to go to a concert that evening, I recorded it on the DVR, and we watched it when we got back home.
It was a typical small-town parade, featuring a caravan of fire engines, ambulances, and tow trucks, along with convertible after convertible of beauty queens, antique cars, and horses and riders, as well as several nice floats, the Shriners on motor vehicles, and high school bands, including one led by a pep squad in flirty Santa costumes doing a Rockettes-type routine.
But in the midst of it all came something that surprised us, and that we've never seen in a parade before...a truck and trailer hauling portable toilets! Hm-m-m. I'm still trying to relate those to the spirit of Christmas. An outdoor potty for that hard-to-shop-for-person on your Christmas list, maybe?
It was a typical small-town parade, featuring a caravan of fire engines, ambulances, and tow trucks, along with convertible after convertible of beauty queens, antique cars, and horses and riders, as well as several nice floats, the Shriners on motor vehicles, and high school bands, including one led by a pep squad in flirty Santa costumes doing a Rockettes-type routine.
But in the midst of it all came something that surprised us, and that we've never seen in a parade before...a truck and trailer hauling portable toilets! Hm-m-m. I'm still trying to relate those to the spirit of Christmas. An outdoor potty for that hard-to-shop-for-person on your Christmas list, maybe?
College Chorale Concert
A local college chorale presented their Christmas concert last night, and of course we were there, along with a loyal contingent of other senior citizens. One of the special things about small town events is that you can look around the audience and spot lots of folks you know and can visit with before the performance begins.
Each year, the concert chorale attempts difficult music, and last night was no exception as they attempted Bach's very challenging "Magnificat, BWV 243."
Preceded by a reading: The Canticle of Mary, Luke 1:46-55, the music is divided into twelve parts and lasts about 30 minutes.
It is, of course, sung in Latin, but the translations are:
I. My soul magnifies the Lord.
II. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
III. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden:
IV. For behold, henceforth all generations shall call Me blessed.
V. For He who is mighty has done great things to me;
and Holy is His name.
VI. And His mercy is on them who fear Him, From generation to generation;
VII. He has shown great strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud,
Even the arrogant of heart.
VIII. He has deposed the mighty from their seats,
And exalted the humble.
IX. The hungry He has filled with good things,
And the rich He has sent empty away.
X. He has helped his servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy.
XI. As it was spoken to our fathers,
To Abraham and his offspring forever.
XII. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
World with out end, Amen.
For more information about the "Magnificat," go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/magnificat.
A couple of other offerings of the chorale were "Hanukkah Wish," and "Owari," a Japanese Haiku that translates as "All's well that ends well!"
The homily address, given by the college's woman chaplain, reminded us that for all the stress we (women especially) put ourselves through during this season, and our pledge to not go overboard next year, we should remember that we are blessed not to have to, in the last stages of pregnancy, travel by donkey 70 or 80 miles over rough terrain, in harsh weather, minus personal hygiene amenities, to be registered in a census and be taxed, and then give birth to a child in a stable.
Point well taken.
Each year, the concert chorale attempts difficult music, and last night was no exception as they attempted Bach's very challenging "Magnificat, BWV 243."
Preceded by a reading: The Canticle of Mary, Luke 1:46-55, the music is divided into twelve parts and lasts about 30 minutes.
It is, of course, sung in Latin, but the translations are:
I. My soul magnifies the Lord.
II. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
III. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden:
IV. For behold, henceforth all generations shall call Me blessed.
V. For He who is mighty has done great things to me;
and Holy is His name.
VI. And His mercy is on them who fear Him, From generation to generation;
VII. He has shown great strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud,
Even the arrogant of heart.
VIII. He has deposed the mighty from their seats,
And exalted the humble.
IX. The hungry He has filled with good things,
And the rich He has sent empty away.
X. He has helped his servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy.
XI. As it was spoken to our fathers,
To Abraham and his offspring forever.
XII. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
World with out end, Amen.
For more information about the "Magnificat," go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/magnificat.
A couple of other offerings of the chorale were "Hanukkah Wish," and "Owari," a Japanese Haiku that translates as "All's well that ends well!"
The homily address, given by the college's woman chaplain, reminded us that for all the stress we (women especially) put ourselves through during this season, and our pledge to not go overboard next year, we should remember that we are blessed not to have to, in the last stages of pregnancy, travel by donkey 70 or 80 miles over rough terrain, in harsh weather, minus personal hygiene amenities, to be registered in a census and be taxed, and then give birth to a child in a stable.
Point well taken.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
A Hearty Stew and a Concert
In August, a local college formed a band for the first time in many years. Last night, they presented a concert that was well-attended. The program was short, only about 45 minutes long, and, along with tunes for the season like "White Christmas," it included a John Philip Sousa march, and the spiritual, "Amazing Grace." We thought the band did a great job, considering that they have only practiced together one day a week for about three months.
Since yesterday was a bit nippy, I decided to make a pot of warming beef stew to enjoy for supper before we went out into the cold to attend the concert. I figure there are as many beef stew recipes as there are people making them, but here's mine:
BEEF STEW
1/2 to 1 lb. beef stew meat
2 quarts of water
1 envelope Golden Onion Soup Mix
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 large onions, chunked or quartered
4 large carrots, cut into chunks,
or equivalent in baby carrots
2 celery ribs, cut into chunks
5 banana peppers, chopped
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic (bought in a jar)
Seasoning salt to taste (my recipe is in another of my blogs)
Pepper to taste
4 large potatoes, quartered
1/2 cup macaroni (opti0nal)
Kitchen Bouquet
Roll stew beef in flour and brown in canola oil on medium high heat (I use a Dutch oven for this). Add 2 quarts water, soup mix, garlic, celery, carrots, onions, and banana peppers. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer until beef is well done and vegetables are tender, about one hour. Bring stew to full boil and add potatoes and macaroni. Cook about 30 minutes, until potatoes and macaroni are tender. Add just enough Kitchen Bouquet to make the broth a golden brown. If the broth is not thick enough, blend about two tablespoons of corn starch with a little water and add to boiling broth, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps. This recipe makes about 10 one-cup servings.
Since yesterday was a bit nippy, I decided to make a pot of warming beef stew to enjoy for supper before we went out into the cold to attend the concert. I figure there are as many beef stew recipes as there are people making them, but here's mine:
BEEF STEW
1/2 to 1 lb. beef stew meat
2 quarts of water
1 envelope Golden Onion Soup Mix
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 large onions, chunked or quartered
4 large carrots, cut into chunks,
or equivalent in baby carrots
2 celery ribs, cut into chunks
5 banana peppers, chopped
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic (bought in a jar)
Seasoning salt to taste (my recipe is in another of my blogs)
Pepper to taste
4 large potatoes, quartered
1/2 cup macaroni (opti0nal)
Kitchen Bouquet
Roll stew beef in flour and brown in canola oil on medium high heat (I use a Dutch oven for this). Add 2 quarts water, soup mix, garlic, celery, carrots, onions, and banana peppers. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer until beef is well done and vegetables are tender, about one hour. Bring stew to full boil and add potatoes and macaroni. Cook about 30 minutes, until potatoes and macaroni are tender. Add just enough Kitchen Bouquet to make the broth a golden brown. If the broth is not thick enough, blend about two tablespoons of corn starch with a little water and add to boiling broth, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps. This recipe makes about 10 one-cup servings.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Festival of Lessons and Carols
Yesterday afternoon, we attended the Festival of Lessons and Carols, a worship service sponsored by the music department of one of our local colleges. The program was held in a little church that features a beautiful Dutch pipe organ. Folks from various denominations and walks of life participated, including a community flute choir, a guitarist, and solo singers.
The traditional English format for the service featured nine Christmas carols interspersed with nine readings from the Bible. This year's readings were: Genesis 3: 8-15; Genesis 22: 15-18; Isaiah 9: 2-7; Isaiah 11: 1-9; Luke 1: 26-38; Matthew 1: 18-23; Luke 2: 8-16; Matthew 2: 1-11, and John 1: 1-14.
The carols included "Once in Royal David's City," "O Come, O Come, Emmanual," "What Child is This?", "In The Bleak Midwinter," We Three Kings of Orient Are," and "Joy to the World," among others.
For more information about the Festival of Lessons and Carols tradition, go to http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/programs/festival.
The traditional English format for the service featured nine Christmas carols interspersed with nine readings from the Bible. This year's readings were: Genesis 3: 8-15; Genesis 22: 15-18; Isaiah 9: 2-7; Isaiah 11: 1-9; Luke 1: 26-38; Matthew 1: 18-23; Luke 2: 8-16; Matthew 2: 1-11, and John 1: 1-14.
The carols included "Once in Royal David's City," "O Come, O Come, Emmanual," "What Child is This?", "In The Bleak Midwinter," We Three Kings of Orient Are," and "Joy to the World," among others.
For more information about the Festival of Lessons and Carols tradition, go to http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/programs/festival.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
A Cavern of Carolers
Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for a road trip to the north part of our state for an afternoon Christmas caroling performance. The event, in its sixth year, is unique because it takes place in a cavern. The harmonizing voices of the six carolers, four women and two men, resonate throughout the chamber in a way that no sound system could duplicate. Neither could a set designer duplicate the wonderous backdrop of the strategically lighted stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones, and other fantastic formations of the 58-degrees cool cavern.
The hour-long program flew by, and we would have loved to hear more, but we knew the singers needed to rest their voices for a second performance last evening. This is a very popular event, and seating is limited for each of several performances over two weekends in December. In fact, it's so popular, that I purchased advance tickets last summer.
In the past, we could only get tickets for evening performances of this Christmas event. Yesterday, though, our tickets were for 2:30 p.m. Since we traveled in daylight, I noticed, for the first time, the area's street names, and was amazed at how many reminded me of Christmas: Ivy Loop, Mt. Joy Road, Evergreen Road, Pine Tree Road, Twinkle Circle, Church Street, Holiday Mountain Road, Lemon Road (reminded me of "Troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops," from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), and Clarence Street (reminded me of Clarence the angel who earned his wings in "It's a Wonderful Life.")
The hour-long program flew by, and we would have loved to hear more, but we knew the singers needed to rest their voices for a second performance last evening. This is a very popular event, and seating is limited for each of several performances over two weekends in December. In fact, it's so popular, that I purchased advance tickets last summer.
In the past, we could only get tickets for evening performances of this Christmas event. Yesterday, though, our tickets were for 2:30 p.m. Since we traveled in daylight, I noticed, for the first time, the area's street names, and was amazed at how many reminded me of Christmas: Ivy Loop, Mt. Joy Road, Evergreen Road, Pine Tree Road, Twinkle Circle, Church Street, Holiday Mountain Road, Lemon Road (reminded me of "Troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops," from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), and Clarence Street (reminded me of Clarence the angel who earned his wings in "It's a Wonderful Life.")
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