A Tasty Christmas Day

.

We're heading into the last of 2011. Today was a time for me to tidy and clean and reflect on what a Merry Christmas I've had: my kids at home; delicious food and sweets, lots of wonderful gifts, some great sale shopping in the city, visits with friends-- all the makings of a great Christmas.
.
This morning I tucked the rest of our Christmas turkey into turkey pot pies; this turkey was a most delicious one. I cooked it a little differently this year (a la Jamie Oliver). So I wanted to share the recipe with you.
.
Christmas morning while the youngens' still slept, I put some festive music on the CD player, poured myself a glass of apple cider and began. I chopped fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, sage, marjoram) with a handful of dried cranberries; this was kneaded into a generous lump of soft butter. Using a soup spoon, I loosened the skin from the turkey breast (much easier than it probably sounds). The herb/butter mixture gets inserted under the loosened skin and gently worked around the top and down the sides. (As the turkey cooks, this will baste the meat and keep it moist.) I stuffed the cavity of the turkey with half an apple, orange, lemon, onion and more herbs. Skewer it firmly closed and roast as usual. .
Here is the beautiful result.

.

I let it rest for an hour or so. When I carved (and those nibbly bits dropped off), I can attest to the fact that it was soooo delicious and moist and fragrant.

.
I pre-made the dressing a week ahead and froze it. We are a bread stuffing family here; but I added a little cooked ground turkey for flavor, generous portion of bread cubes, and some chopped onions, apples, cranberries and herbs, as well as melted butter and chicken stock. (I also pre-made and froze a mashed potato, cream cheese, sour cream, chives casserole.) I thawed these 16 hr in the fridge; and after the turkey was cooked and while it was resting, I cooked these for an hour in the oven.
.
The dressing was very good but does need some further tweaking.
.
But overall, this was the best Christmas dinner I've ever made! And my guests all agreed that this was the best Christmas turkey they'd ever eaten! High praise indeed!
.
These new recipes will definitely all become part of my Christmas dinner menu for future.
.
Hmmmm! What'll I'll prepare for New Year's?
In spite of the delicious turkey, I think I'm ready for beef again!

Thursday at the Market

.
The potato casserole, dressing and Xmas Bombe are prepared and in the freezer; the cranberry sauce has been made; Rugelach and Gingerbread are finished and stored for the big day; girls are tired of being "Xmasie" and just want a regular day where they sleep until noon. So, today I did something I've wanted to do for years.....
.
I went to the Farmer's market in Lunenburg which I never get to go to because I'm working. What a wonderful time of year to visit the market! It is full to the rafters with Christmas -- smells, tastes, sounds, signs!
.
After visiting a bread stall (where I got a big fat pretzel), I visited Grand Pre Winery's stall (where I got 3 tiny samples of wine -- red, white and dessert). Yeah! Sure! I know it was only 9:30 AM. But if bread and wine are good enough for Jesus (who's birthday is very soon, ya know), then they're good enough for Sandy! And I'm sure that big fat pretzel soaked up any alcohol I might have imbibed!.
There were gorgeous displays of local cheese. (The Gouda was very gooda!) There was fresh haddock, salmon, lobster and sole; there was grain-fed, organic beef, pork and chicken. There were at least 4 different stalls selling breads and fruit pastries. There were several tables of jams and jellies and pestos and dips and pickles etc etc etc. -- with sampling! Be still my heart! Sampling! (I bought a Red Pepper Pesto and spiced mixed nuts. The middle Eastern pesto with dates & spices was divine too. Oh for goodness sake! It was all divine!)
.
There was one lovely booth full of fragrant Spanakopita, Mini Quiche, Tourtiere, Meat Pastries and such -- so lovely and fragrant and enticing that I bought their variety box for Xmas Eve dinner. With a green salad and a bottle of red, won't it be ducky, darling, delicious!.
There was greenery everywhere, and the smell of pine and fir was intoxicating.
.
And then there was this .....
The German Cake Lady! Have you never had traditional German baked goods? They are so good! (But a little pricey too! As much as I wanted that Chocolate Hazelnut Torte, I couldn't bring myself to pay $28; but I did get a sample!) I settled for a small plate of cookies -- Cinnamon stars, Almond stars, Linzer Torte & Sand crescents.
.
Why, even Santa and Mrs Claus were there playing harp and mandolin. When I asked if I could take their picture, Santa insisted that I come and sit on his lap and have my picture taken. (Ya know; Santa looks remarkably like Dr Abriel from Mahone Bay. Isn't that strange!)

Santa "Ho, ho, hoed" and said that it was probably a long, long time since I'd sat on Santa's lap: and I said yes, and that I hadn't been a very good girl since then!
.
But he said not to worry; he'll be here Saturday night!
.
.
PS: Santa did not say what he would bring me. But if he remembers my letters from the last 14 years, there'll be a 6' tall package named Carlos under my tree and 2 tickets to Guada la Hara in my sock!
.

Ghosts of Christmas Past

.
Today is cookie making day for the girls and I. So, while we create enormous amounts of delicious and hugely fattening goodies that will immediately be transferred to my butt, thighs and abdomen (but I'm smiling while it happens), here are a few memories of Christmas from my youth.
.

• My earliest Xmas memory was the year (circa 1963) I received my Tammy doll (instead of the Barbie I'd asked for which my Mom thought was too racy for a little girl). I loved Tammy dearly, and we had many years of happy play in her house at the bottom of my wardrobe.



• I remember a few years of transister radios and Nancy Drew books .... and many, many nights hiding under the covers with a flashlight, my earplugs and my latest book.



• I remember the Xmas my older brother built my excited anticipation daily by telling me about the wonderful gift he had for me under the tree. In the early hours of Xmas morning, I snuck out of bed by myself & without even looking at what Santa had brought, I found his gift, opened it ..... and discovered it was a potato! I was broken hearted! I crawled back to bed and cried and cried. .......... I remember sneaking back out to the tree, finding my gift to him, opening it ..... and eating every Turtle in the box (all 6 of them)! I then rewrapped his gift and went back to bed and cried some more. ..... But only after I'd washed off all the evidence, of course!



• I remember my Nanny always gave us flannel pyjamas, homemade mittens and our own individual little bags of candy --- every year! And I remember the year she made my dream come true and bought me a flannel nightie instead! Tres chic!



• I remember the Christmas dinner table. Few of the dishes matched, and not everyone could have a knife. But there'd be Mommy and Daddy, 4 sibblings and me, and my Nanny and Poppy ..... my Mom's wonderful turkey and savory bread pudding ..... tube-shaped cranberry jelly ..... and my Nanny's gorgeous Xmas pudding with caramel sauce.
  

.

So many happy childhood Christmas memories!

How about you. Do you have some favorites that come to mind automatically when you think of the Christmas' of your youth?

.

Christmas Menu: Breakfast

Yesterday was my last day of work until next year. So am I a lady of leisure? Not quite. There's menus to be planned and cookies to be baked and gifts-from-the-kitchen to be assembled and spit'n'polishing to be done.


In our house, we pretty much have the same menu for Christmas. But I do like to try change things up periodically with different variations of our basic menu. Last weekend, I got out my Christmas binder food book and began perusing. 'Cooker-girl' (as 8 yr old Molly used to call herself) was right in there with me. 'Texting shlumping-on-the-sofa-'cause-I'm-a-struggling-student-who's-home girl' (as I sometimes call Libby) has always been the type who's only interested in eating food - not making it. And 'Brazilian Beauty' is so agreeable about everything ("I don't know!" "Whatever you want!") that she's happy just to eat something yummy!


'Cooker Girl' is a joy to cook with; she's adventurous and learns quickly. But this mild-mannered child also has some dictator tendencies that only arise in the kitchen. "I'm not sure if I want that this Xmas, Molly". "NO Mom! We're making that this year!"
.
So, here's what Molly and I have decided on for Christmas breakfast this year:

• Mimosas - Berry or Campari or just simple orange juice? Unsure as yet.



• Soft-boiled eggs and glazed sausage & bacon - You simply fry 'em up, leave about 2 Tbsp of drippings in the pan, add 1/4 cup ea of apple juice & apple jelly, stir and add back the sausage and bacon to coat.



• Scones (served with real butter!) - Something simple with raisins and almonds perhaps.



• Fruit Salad - Strawberries, mandarin oranges and bananas.

.

The fruit salad recipe never changes. I found this wonderful recipe years ago that's different and delicious; so it's our standard special occasion breakfast fare. Here's the recipe.

.

Will You Please Make that Fruit Salad?

2 or 3 bananas

1 large can or bottle of mandarin oranges

2-3 cups strawberries (or a large can of fruit cocktail)

1 small pkg instant Jello lemon flavored pudding

.

Put the dry pudding mix in a large bowl; add the juice (only) from the mandarin oranges and stir. It will be thick. Slice the bananas and stir them into the thickened pudding. (This will keep them from turning brown.) Add strawberries (or fruit cocktail) and stir. If it seems very thick, stir in a little of the reserved juide. Place in the refrigerator to cool and thicken slightly.

Enjoy!

.

Merry Christmas to Me

.
In between dropping babies at the airport and picking other babies up at the bus station, I did manage to get some Value Village shopping in. I had raided my coin piggy bank and came up with $78! And surprisingly, Value Village was not crowded nor was it picked over. What up wit dat?
.

• Xmas was 50% off so these were $3 total. This cute Noah's ark is a box with the roof opening (this now houses the remote for the DVD); 2 side plates to add to my small but still-growing collection of Petal dishes (a cheaper version of Fiesta ware); and another Mr and Mrs Claus for the hallway shelf collection.

.

• I love this Argyle print sweater ($6)
  


• 
  Both these items are brand new, tag-on. A gorgeous shawl sweater (expensive at $15) and Northern Reflections pants ($8)

• This jacket was $10. La-la-love it!




• The shops are full of bling and glitter clothing (usually worn by skinny, long legged women that don't really exist in real life 'cause really! Have you ever seen anyone who looks like that in your neighborhood?). Anyhow, I've had my eyes peeled for something similar for New Years (and all the other black-tie events I attend.) My peeled eyes did the trick on Sat because I found 3 pieces: on the left, a long sleeve chiffon beaded top ($8); and on the right, a shrug ($3) over a sleeveless chiffon top with built-in bling broach ($6). Now that I've got the clothing, I expect the invitations to be flooding my inbox -- at any time -- now!

After little sleep (due to a 3 AM wake up call and 2 cuties snoring/snuffling in the other bed) and this full day of successful shopping, this Mama put her feet up once she got home.

• But what's this on my aching feet? Why it's my brand new pair of Naturalizers picked up for $13 at Value Village!

.I do believe I was in the right place at the right time!

Tea and Thoughts

.
It's Dec 16th at 6:45 am. I'm sitting here with my tea and rice crispies listening to the quiet of the household and checking Facebook for updates from my youngest. She's on her way home for Xmas!
.
Outside is still darkness interspersed by a few Xmas lights; soooo pretty! And it only adds to my sense of joy and excitement. My baby will be home soon!
.

Soon Libby's laughter will ring through the house! Soon, there'll be lots of hugs and kisses (she's very affectionate). Soon, there'll be non-stop talking at the dinner table. Soon, there'll be more dirty glasses and bowls than I thought possible! And yes, because we are so much alike, soon, there'll be minor squabbles and bickerings that will be forgiven and forgotten almost as quickly as they started.

.

I've been thinking about that here in the dark and the quiet: about how we love them so deeply and ache to have them near and pine for the days when they were younger and the house was full of them and get so excited at the prospect of seeing them again! But after they're here for a few days, we find ourselves thinking about when they'll leave and we can return to the "NEW normal" we'd come to know while they were gone. And there's this little struggle that happens inside between wanting them near and wanting them gone. We are such strange creatures.

.

But because I've lived a few years on this earth, I know that life is constantly changing and there really is no "normal". There is just grabbing the joy that comes your way and running with it for as long as possible.

..

Besides Xmas here hasn't been "normal" for a lot of years. The faces and the numbers at my Xmas table are always changing. My tall, slender, creative daughter is not coming home this year :( And my little almond-eyed beauty with the wonderful sense of humor leaves today for Xmas in Korea.

.

So I gladly welcome my loud, messy, affectionate daughter and her intrusion into life here at our little home. She can join the nerdy, introverted, messy daughter downstairs, the soft-spoken, messy Brazilian daughter upstairs, and the long-suffering, outspoken, nut-case of a mother who tries to keep this all together. .

FAMILY! There's no telling what it will look like; but ain't it grand!

.

.

The Fab 4 - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

.
A little foolishness for Beatle lovers! Enjoy!

Dishin' around the Xmas Tree

.
When I was little, I dreamed of Lennox Xmas dishes. At that point, they were the only ones I'd ever seen, and even then, they were only in glossy magazine photos.
.
I still don't have Lennox. But I do have a lovely selection of much cheaper festive tableware. So for Dawn (and anyone else out there who likes to peep in other peoples' cupboards, here's what I have.
.

• I have 2 sets of these 4 salad plates that are used for every day. My toast and maccaroni taste much better on these pretty plates.
  

.

I also have 2 sets of these 4 bowls for everyday use. Just imagine chowing down on your black bean soup and being greeted at the bottom by Santa or Frosty!

.

• If you're having dessert at my house (which would NEVER happen, right?), you have a choice: you can choose to sing for your supper with a chorus of "Deck the Halls"or


• "All I want for Xmas". (The trip to Paris would be my first choice!)

.

• And for an après ski (or in my case, après le pelletage [shovelling]), you can have your shortbread on this little square plate and your hot chocolate in this cute cup!

.

• If you're staying for dinner, I have 4 of these plates which I thrifted.

.

• The first dishes I ever bought and still my all-time favorite set are these ivy patterned set; they come out on Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. And like all my dishes, these were very inexpensive. And I also love my stemware. Arby's (the fast-food beef sandwich chain) offered these many, many years ago for an extra dollar or two with your meal, a different glass or dessert cup each year. And I've been fortunate enough to pick up extras at thrift stores.

The Holly set are a great match for my Xmas dinner dishes. The snowy scene ones are really pretty as well and almost always hold my wine and/or egg nog.

.

Perhaps some day, I'll own a piece of Lennox. But until that lucky day when I find it at Value Village, I'm quite content with my other pretty pieces.

.

So how about it! Do you have a love for festive dishes?

.

.

Sing with me: "There's no Plates like Home's for the Holidays"

.
Friday was a cleaning and cooking day -- soup, chilli, pitas.
.
That evening, I had the luxury of being by myself. So, I finished my Xmas decorating and got the Xmas plates (and bowls and cups, etc etc) out of the jelly cupboard. Now we can eat in the spirit of the season.
.
Then I wrapped the children's gifts and put them under the tree. I don't label them: I have a color and wrapping paper code for identification. Xmas Eve, they'll be taken out from under the tree and put in a neat stack with their Santa socks on top. Besides, they're good little girls and not snoopers at all.

.
Then I relaxed in front of the television and opened up this wee little bottle of raspberry wine. Jost (pronounced Yowst) is a Nova Scotian winery on the Northumberland Shore (facing Prince Edward Island); I bought this bottle on my summer tour with my parents.
It was absolutely delightful! A deep raspberry flavor with a hint of spirits at the end. Quite yummy. I probably spent too much for is seeing as it was just 2 glasses; but it was a lovely treat after a day of cooking and cleaning and wrapping.

.
Especially with the soft glow of fairy lights on the tree and candles behind the nativity..... and tootsies soaking in a eucalyptus bath! Ahhhh!

.

Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum; how lovely are your branches!

Ahhhh! Christmas is coming out in full force at the little brook house in Bridgewater. The entrance is hosting Santas and Snowmen galore. My latest acquisitions are the row of 4 tiny Santas on the top "Family" shelf (all 4 for $1 at The Daisy) and Mr & Mrs white Snowman on the bottom shelf (both for $1 at The Daisy). I love The Daisy! The big snowman shown on the right was bought at Value Village last year for $9.99; he lights up and changes color. .
The main highlight is, of course, the tree. Molly and I picked out a beautiful Christmas tree last Sunday. Lunenburg County Nova Scotia is the Xmas tree capital of the world, so we can get one for a really good price. My fat beauty cost me $25. Look at her! Isn't she gorgeous!
And here are some of my old friends on the tree: the peasant couple from Austria; Ernie and Snoopy were early Xmas gifts from my husband; the little wooden bird was made by an old gentleman in Dartmouth & I've had it for 30 years; 2 of the 12 wooden ornaments that my sweet German daughter Nadine sent me last year; my gilded pear and strawberry; and my new ornament from my trip to PEI this summer with my parents..

Elly and Mariana helped Molly and I to trim the tree. I think it was their first time! Elly had a bad case of butterfingers -- she broke 4 old fashioned glass ornaments (but thankfully the plain ones) and got a few shards in her toes! She then volunteered to only put on the unbreakable ones! But they had a lot of fun and did a great job.

.

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,

wie treu sind deine Blätter!

Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,

Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,

wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

Not only green when summer's here,

But also when 'tis cold and drear.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging!

.

.

.

Christmas Wanderings

.

My Saturday featured a trip to picturesque Mahone Bay for their 2-weekend Father Christmas Festival. The weather was lovely and warm (6 deg F). We went to a local craft show, wound our way in and out of lovely little shops (where I bought a little icicle garland for my tree), and then had a long, relaxing, delicious lunch at The Biscuit Eater (carrot soup, vanilla latte and pecan shortbread)..

There was such a happy, carefree, festive feel everywhere we went. Here are just 3 of the many beautiful Santas to be found. There was an old fashioned brass band playing Xmas caroles outside the bake shop. Santa himself was selling Xmas trees next door. And there were 2 horse drawn wagons that passed us carrying people on a mini-tour of the village.

The highlight of the day for me was -- as is every year at this time -- the Suttles & Seawinds barn which is set up as a old-timey shop selling all sort of tasty treats (and their tasty free samples!) from local artisans as well as a few from other parts of the province. A different winery is featured each of the 4 days: I bought icewine to give as a gift. There were home-made chocolates and wonderful cookies & squares; plum puddings, peanut brittle, jams, jellies 'n' chutneys. And my favorite bakery, Julian's of Chester, had a display of wonderful breads; Diana and I went halves on one of his Xmas stolens -- the one with the yummy chunk of marzipan in the centre!.

Upstairs in the barn was an enchanted forest for the kiddies; and outside the Suttles shop, they had these gorgeous little gnome homes. So cute!.

After a short rest period at home (because enjoying oneself is sooooo tiring!!), the girls and I joined about 60 others at a turkey dinner for the international students and their host families. Dessert is pot luck, so there was a wonderful variety of goodies to choose from. Then Santa showed up!

.

I didn't sit on his lap this year, but I did press my luck and ask for some extra special gifts. (I pointed out the money he'd save on wrapping paper and ribbons by simply putting my living, breathing, 6' hunka-hunka gift in a body bag.)

Santa laughed at me!!!

.

Regardless of rude Santas, I just love this time of year!

.
.

.

Hope

.
Just catching up on some posts this morning when I found this story posted by Joanna Goddard at A CUP OF JO under Have a good weekend (Getting mugged in NYC). It really touched my heart. I know muggings don't usually work out the way it did for Julio Diaz; but it give us hope.
.
.
March 28, 2008
.
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
.
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
.
Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."
"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."
.
Produced for Morning Edition by Michael Garofalo.
.
.

Ho Ho Rabbit Rabbit - Dec 2011!

.
Rabbit Rabbit everyone!


It's finally here! December -- one of my favorite months.



.



With surprise (and even greater relief) that I find December is not as chock-a-block full of observances as some of the other months. But that's because there's more than enough to do in December with preparing for Christmas. Still, if you find that you need a break from holly hanging, gift wrapping and ho-ho-ho-ing, there are lots of other things to observe.

• On the serious side, December is World Aids Month and National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month; as well, Dec 2nd is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery Day. .





• We associate December with the usual Xmas food. But it's also Quince & Watermelon Month, Root Vegetables & Exotic Fruits Month and Tomato & Winter Squash Month. Dec 7th is National Cotton Candy Day, Dec 26th National Candy Cane Day and Dec 28th & 29th National Chocolate Day. (I think I'll start practicing for that last day beginning ... say, Dec 3rd --- just so I'll be ready!) .





• AND ...Dec 16th is National Chocolate-covered Anything Day. Indulge in a chocolate something that you've never tried before: bacon? I'm up for that one. Profiteroles? Yummy! Chocolate-covered fruit? So healthy (well it can be!). .





• December is Spiritual Literacy Month. I'm a born-again Christian; and Jesus is the reason for the season. But I think that we all need to believe in something; and we need to know what we believe. Did you know that experts say that it's better for your health to have a spiritual belief in a higher power?
  

.

• Dec 1st-7th is Cookie Cutter Week and Recipe Greetings for the Holidays Week; AND Dec 4th is National Cookie Day. I'm sure there will be a lot of cookie making throughout the whole month. (I'm looking forward to using my snowflake cutters again this year as well as the girls making their cut-out gingerbread hobos, Donald Trumps and street-walkers. I have very creative kids!)

.

• Dec 1st is Chester Greenwood Day -- otherwise known as Earmuff Day. I used to have these gorgeous and oh-so warm silver Fox fur earmuffs in the 70's that I just loved. My cat ate them in the '80's. (Obviously a surreptitious member of Greenpeace.)

.

• Dec 5th is Bathtub Party Day. Huh? What's that about? Well, seeing as I do like to observe as many occasions as possible, I'll participate. But I'm tellin' you! After I have a party cleaning my bathtub and surround, I'll pour in the bubbles, turn on the ocean wave music, pour myself a glass of vino and have my party --- for 1 and 1 only! What kind of gal do you take me for? (Yeah, I know! A lonely, single one. Sigh .....)

• Dec 6th is the birthday of Saint Nicolas. When the girls were young, we always had a little party for him. These days, I think he and I will get enough sweeties this month, therefore, no celebration will be had!

.

• Dec 9th is World Choral Day. One of my favorite things to do during this season is listen to local chorales; and we have some lovely ones!





• Dec 12th is Poinsettia Day. Do you have yours yet?





• Dec 14th is National Salesperson Day; and with the crowds of frantic shoppers, these people need their own day, poor things. Perhaps I'll go round with a box of chockies this year.





• Dec 14th is also Monkey Day? And Dec 15th is Cat Herders Day? I don't know; December can be a strange one!!!

.

• Dec 21st is Crossword Puzzle Day. I love crossword puzzles!





• Dec 21st is also Humbug Day. I'm an optimist; so I'm going with the British hard candies and NOT the Ebenezer Scrooge version.





• Dec 22nd is National Haiku Poetry Day. Anyone up for it?





• Dec 23rd is Festivus Day -- a day for those who wish to take part in the beauty of the Christmas season without partaking in the pressures and commercialism.





• Dec 24th is Christmas Eve -- a day of excitement and anticipation, Xmas Eve services and favorite old-timey Xmas movies in our house.





• And Dec 25th is Christmas Day - a celebration of the birth of the Christ child, a day of family, food and fun.





• Dec 26th is Boxing Day; and this is when the real relaxing begins for me.





• National Whiner's Day is Dec 26th as well. That's for the ungrateful people who didn't get what they wanted for Xmas.





• Dec 30th is (appropriately) Falling Needles Family Fest Day. Many trees are taken down in observance of this day. But not mine! Not yet!





• Dec 31st is a big day as well. Not only is it New Year's Eve, but it's also Make up your Mind Day. (Ya know: What will I wear? Where will I go? What should I bring? Should I kiss ___ at midnight? Should I add that to my resolution list? Scheesch!)





• Dec 31st is also World Peace Meditation Day.

Now there's a resolution for you!

.

Happy December everyone. May your preparations be happy and stressfree; and don't forget to breathe deeply and enjoy muchly!

.

.