Dishin' around the Xmas Tree

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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.
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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.
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• 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.
  

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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!

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• 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!)

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• 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!

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

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• 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.

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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.

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

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

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Friday was a cleaning and cooking day -- soup, chilli, pitas.
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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.
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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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!

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Christmas Wanderings

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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!

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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!!!

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

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Hope

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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.
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March 28, 2008
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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."
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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.
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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."
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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."
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Produced for Morning Edition by Michael Garofalo.
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Ho Ho Rabbit Rabbit - Dec 2011!

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Rabbit Rabbit everyone!


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



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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?
  

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• 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!)

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• 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.)

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• 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!

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• 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!!!

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• 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!

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

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Black Friday Rebuttal

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Remember how I said I was jealous of Black Friday shopping? Well, I'm taking it back. You're right, my friends. No bargain is worth what happens on Black Friday. After all the reports of macing and fights and just general bad behavior, I don't want to be in the middle of that. And I've seen the cartoon that's making the rounds about people rushing and fighting for things that they want on Friday the day after they've given thanks for what they already have! Hmmmm! Cause for reflection.
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So, as is any woman's prerogative, I'm taking it back. I've decided to create my own Black Friday celebration:
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• Beautiful black, starry nights (relative easy for me to find and dirt cheap)

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• Delicious black bottomed cupcakes or Black Forest Cake (not difficult to find but will cost me a little coinage)
  

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• A darling little black dress (To find the right one can be quite difficult and certainly expensive)
  

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• And this beautiful, delicious, darling black man - Shemar Moore! He makes me drool more than any of the above! (Definitely hard to find because there simply is no one equal to Shemar Moore. And cost? Well, there's any dignity I may have claimed to have as well as my virtue and my good Christian name. But something are worth the risk! Sighhhhhh!)

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However, as an poor, aging Canadian living in rural Nova Scotia, THIS is probably the only Black Friday I'll be taking part in for a while:
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Ah well; I can always sweeten the pot and throw in a cruller!

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