A Year of Blogging: December 31, 2011

December 31 is New Year's Eve. It's the last day of the year. Tonight is possibly the biggest party night of the year, regardless of your nationality. It's time to say goodbye to this year, and prepare for new beginnings. This is the last entry in this blog. My year-long challenge is complete. I have learned a lot from this experience. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that it has been a tremendous confidence booster. Before I started this blog, I was hesitant to let anyone read anything that I had written. Many of my friends, and perhaps some strangers, have read my daily musings, and have provided valuable feedback. I no longer feel the need to hide my writing, or my talents. I feel like I have come out of my creative shell and am ready for the world to accept me as a creative, talented person. Sure, I still have some doubts. I think the doubts will always be there. But I think this exercise is something I needed. I needed confidence. While my family and friends have always been supportive, this experiment gave me that extra boost I needed. I also learned that the things you enjoy doing shouldn't ever feel like a chore. If they feel like a chore, it isn't fun. I never want my writing, or my knitting, or any of my creative outlets to rank in the same category as scrubbing the bathrooms. So there were days I walked away from the writing. It's ok to do this. There may be writers who will argue with me. Maybe for them, walking away isn't the best. I found though that if I walked away for a day or two, the creative juices returned. I didn't resent the project. I still enjoyed it. Even though there were plenty of days that were curve balls and left me digging a little deeper into my creative pot to find something to write about. I had originally hoped to have my first book published by the end of 2011. Due to family issues, work commitments, and life in general, it didn't happen. I don't think of that as a failure though. Because I was writing. Maybe it was just a blog, but it was writing. And after years of not writing at all, it was a huge step forward. I am not a person to make resolutions. I don't have a lot of will power (if you've ever seen me with a box of chocolates or shopping in the yarn section at the craft store, you can vouch for that). I always felt that making resolutions was just setting myself up for failure. After a couple weeks, it's much easier to say 'I'm not going to work out today'. And then the next day you think 'what's another day going to hurt?' and then before you know it, your gazelle glider has been stored against your bedroom wall for months, and the only exercise it gets is holding your towels after your shower. I learned years ago to stop torturing myself with fake promises. That doesn't mean I don't set goals. I do. While there is a part of me that is sad to see this experiment come to an end, I am much more excited about the prospects for 2012. I have eluded to them periodically, so I guess it's time to let you in on my plans. A few weeks ago, a dear friend sent me a picture of a yarn ball wreath. It was a wreath, made out of various colors of green balls of yarn, with a pair of knitting needles stuck through a red bow. Very simple. She said I needed to make myself one of those. Something inside me kind of snapped, and a plan hatched. I started researching how to make them, and realized it would be a great way to use up the odds and ends of yarn that I have leftover from all my knitting projects. So I thought I'd make them for gifts for my mom, sister, and maybe aunt next year for Christmas. Then another dear friend asked if I would take orders, or maybe sell them online. The small seed that had been planted by friend #1 sprouted into a live oak tree, with branches extending in various directions. The idea was fertilized by my new found confidence. In the matter of hours, the idea went from making Christmas presents for family members to opening my own shop on Etsy to sell the wreaths. But it didn't stop at just the wreaths. I enjoy knitting, so why not make blankets to sell too? I've run out of people to make them for. Even though sometimes it is painful to do (but I've learned that just like my writing, it's ok to leave it alone for a day or two), I like keeping my hands busy. It's a great way to pass time in doctor's offices, or even as I'm watching TV at night. I had the day after Christmas off since Christmas fell on Sunday, so Erich and I went to Michaels. All yarn was on sale. Some was 50% off, others were maybe only $1 off. I bought yarn for eight projects. Some of the yarn they didn't have enough of for a full blanket, so I'll have to go back. I have enough to keep me busy for a while. I bought some baby soft yarn, some that is good for kids or teenagers, and some that will make beautiful blankets for adults. I filled the cart with yarn. Which really isn't saying much, because their carts are small. Between Erich (who has decided he's going to take up knitting also) and I, we spent $200. Which seems like a lot, but we did get some good deals. I need to create some projects, or 'stock', before I open the store. You have to have things to sell. I figure this may take me three or four months, so hopefully, my store will be open by my birthday. I did wrestle with my internal voice about selling the things I have created. I quieted her by telling her when the books get published, it would be the same thing. And yes, I know that my friends will be looking at the store, and that seems a little weird. I don't expect any friends to buy anything. I don't want them to feel obligated. If they find something they like and are moved to buy, that's wonderful. But I don't want my friends to think I'm going to start being a high-pressure sales person. I do hope they will share the site with their friends. As if the plans for an Etsy store were not enough, around this same time I was emailing my youngest cousin, Mike. Mike and two friends opened their own graphic design company earlier this year. They made up t-shirts with their company logo and were selling them. I like to support family, so I ordered one. And then I thought: graphic design, I know Mike's an artist, hey... So I asked if their company would be able to do illustrations for children's books. I've been wanting to write children's books for years, I already have the ideas and some of the books half written in my head. But I cannot draw. So that has been keeping the whole project from moving forward. Mike responded with the answer that further changed my plans for 2012: Yes! We still have to work out the details, which means I have to really get the characters down and figure out what I want. It felt like the missing puzzle piece had been found. And it was hiding right in the family! I plan to have at least the first of the books published next year. It will most likely be self-published, which I think is fine. I'm planning a whole series of books. The books are based on the adventures of two adorable beagles. Writing 101: Write about what you know! At the end of November, I had no real thoughts on 2012. I was hoping it would be better than 2011. I was hoping there would be no emergency trips to NY. I knew I'd be joining the family in Orlando for a week in September, and hope to drop a few more pounds by then. I also knew I really do need to start using my gazelle glider again, so I can build up my stamina to walk through amusement parks. And I was certain it would be a good year because it's an even numbered year and I will turn 36. I really dislike odd numbers, and it seems my best years are always the even ones. Then, within a matter of a couple of weeks, I have amazing prospects for 2012. I feel like I have a reason to get up every day. I am incredibly excited about these new ventures. Sure, I'm taking a risk. What if no one likes my crafts or my stories? I brush that doubt away with all the positive feedback I have gotten on the pictures of the various crafts I've posted on Facebook, and with the feedback provided by my friends on this blog. There is always risk. Life is a risk. I cannot remember the last time I felt so full of promise and excitement as January 1 approached. I hope each of my friends and family members will enjoy the same enthusiasm, and that each of you will have the best year! Remember, even though this blog is now closed, you can still keep up with me at my other blog (which hopefully I'll have more time to write on now). Thank you all for your support and encouragement throughout this project!

A Year of Blogging: December 30, 2011

December 30 is 'Bicarbonate of Soda' day. I would bet you have some of this in your house. Somewhere. It is most commonly found in a yellow box under the name 'Arm and Hammer'. Bicarbonate of soda is more commonly known as Baking Soda. Baking Soda has many uses. While you may think of all the ways you use it in cooking- cookies, breads, cakes, there are many household uses for baking soda also. It is a terrific deodorizer. Have you noticed that your refrigerator or freezer has an odor? Perhaps your refrigerator smells of the leftover onion you are storing there, or your freezer smells like last month's catch of the day. Put an open box of baking soda in the frig and freezer, and it will absorb the odors. You should change the box every 3 months. Since baking soda is a great deodorizer, you can use it in those unspeakable places- like a litter box or diaper pail. We have a stainless steel double sink in the kitchen, and it can be hard to clean. Sometimes the drains also smell unpleasant. I cover the inside of the sinks with baking soda and pour vinegar over it. Let it set for a few minutes, then rinse with hot water. It helps keep the sink clean and gets rid of the funk coming from the drains! If you mix baking soda with water, you could use it to clean your stainless steel appliances. Unlike many other cleaners, it isn't toxic or harmful to the environment (or your family). You can freshen your carpets easily without steam cleaning them by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or more if there are strong odors) and then vacuum the carpet. It won't damage your carpet and will leave the house with a pleasant refreshing feel. Apparently you can also use it as a pet shampoo. Create a thick paste of baking soda and water to remove tarnish from silver. How often have you fixed dinner, only to have the pan or dish covered in cooked on food that you have to scrub for days to get clean? Dampen the area covered in food, sprinkle with baking soda, and let set overnight. Then scrub with a sponge. I think I'll be trying that next time Erich forgets to use the Pam on a baking dish! Baking soda has many uses for health as well. You can use it as an antacid to help with an upset stomach. You can gargle it as a mouthwash. Or you can use it as a toothpaste. When I had my braces, the orthodontist recommended baking soda and peroxide toothpaste. It didn't taste very good, but it did help keep my teeth nice and clean. It will also soften your skin- add one half cup to your bathwater and soak away. This is such a versatile staple, it's no wonder most people have it in their pantry. And if you don't buy it because you thought it was just for baking, maybe you look at that yellow box differently now. For more ideas on how to use baking soda around the house, check out this link.

A Year of Blogging: December 29, 2011

December 29 is 'Pepper Pot' day. Pepper Pot day commemorates the first time Pepper Pot soup was made. We heard in our history classes how harsh the winter of 1777-1778 was for the Continental Army and George Washington's troops. According to legend, on December 29, 1777 George Washington asked his chef to create something that would warm the troops and lift their spirits. The chef took scraps of tripe (stomach from an animal such as a cow), pieces of meat, and peppercorn and mixed it with other ingredients. The soup was hot and kind of spicy. The troops loved it. It has been called 'the soup that won the war'. I know, many times when we've celebrated a particular food day, my friends have gone searching the web for a recipe. I have tried to save you some trouble, and found a recipe for you: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/authentic-pepper-pot-soup/ . From what I've read, you can still make the 'authentic' soup but substitute beef, chicken, sausage, or ham for the tripe. Good to know! I know very few people who like tripe.

A Year of Blogging: December 28, 2011

December 28 was 'Card Playing 'day. Playing cards is a good way to pass a cold winter day. My dad's side of the family are really into playing cards. In the basement at Grandma and Grandpa's house is a bar. Not the yuppie type of wet bar that you find in so many basements today. When you walk into Grandma & Grandpa's basement you think you've walked into the bar on the corner. There's a huge bar, which when I was a child always had a keg of Genesee (or Genny as everyone calls it) beer on tap. There was a big table that was used for playing poker. I think it was felt covered, but I could be wrong. I haven't been in that basement in easily 20 years. Big, colorful glass lights hung over your head. Each year at the Labor Day party, the table was full of Dad's cousins playing cards. They played poker, pinochle, and hoss (which we pronounced haas-ey). There were some people that you only saw when they came out to get food. You could go all day and not know they were at the party. Grandma and Grandpa loved to play cards. They played in tournaments at the Senior Citizens. They had friends over for card nights. From the family stories I've heard, Grandma's family loved playing cards too. Several of Dad's siblings play cards, and some of my cousins do. Dad goes to a Texas Hold-em game at least once a month. If there's a party or dinner with several Primeaus in attendance, you can bet at least four of them have a deck of cards between them. I have never really gotten into playing cards. As children we played Go Fish with my parents. I remember one babysitter taught us to play War. Somewhere along the way we learned to play Uno, and I still enjoy playing that. Usually I end up playing it with my parents. Erich isn't really into cards or games at all. The top part of the closet in the bear room is full of board games that we have never played. If you enjoy playing cards, now is a good time to have some friends over. Socialize and snack without feeling rushed. The bulk of the holidays are over, it's time to unwind.

A Year of Blogging: December 27, 2011

December 27 is 'Fruitcake' day. Ah, fruitcake. That old holiday joke. You've heard of fruitcakes sticking around for years. Last week on the local news there was a story of a fruitcake made by the Kroger Company (a grocery store chain based in Cincinnati) in 1941. Someone bought it in 1941, and then proceeded to drag it with them as they moved around the country for 30 years. In 1971, they sent the fruitcake to one of the stores, with a letter explaining the adventures of the fruitcake. The owner thought Kroger might like to have it back. Kroger wasn't interested, but the manager of the store kept it anyway. This year an estate company put it up for auction. The 70 year old fruitcake sold for $525- with all proceeds going to charity. The TV station interviewed 'experts' who felt it would still be good to eat, because it was still in the vacuum sealed canister, and the seal had not been broken. Kroger immediately released a statement recommending that whomever bought the fruitcake should not eat it, but just keep it for a conversation piece. I have never eaten fruitcake. Mom never made it. When Mom was here for Thanksgiving, I found out that my Grandma Wager used to make fruitcakes. At first I chuckled. And then Mom told me that Grandma was famous in town for her fruitcakes. My grandmother was an incredible cook, so if anyone could make fruitcake desirable, it would have been her. But then Mom told me Grandma's secret. Mom said they started making the fruitcakes in September. I forget how many she said Grandma made, but I know it was several dozen. She wrapped each fruitcake in cheesecloth, and stored them in the basement on shelves. Each week until Christmas, Grandma went through the fruitcakes and doused each one with a healthy dose of alcohol (I forget if Mom said Brandy or Rum). So by the time Christmas came along, you could get quite a buzz off Grandma's fruitcakes. Which is why people lined up for them, and thought it was wonderful to get one. I'll never think of fruitcake in the same way again!

A Year of Blogging: December 26, 2011

December 26 was 'Whiner's Day'. I guess it's a good day for you to whine about the presents you wanted but didn't get. Or maybe it has its roots in children whining because they are already bored with their toys. Either way, it doesn't seem to be a very pleasant day. One of the advantages of being an adult is you can buy your own things. If there was something you wanted that you didn't get, you can just go buy it. I tend to make a list of things I'd like to get 'someday'. Sometimes I give the list contents as gift suggestions (such as the tea box I wanted). Otherwise, I just keep the list and buy it when I have the funds (or when I remember). So there should be no whining. Here in the US, December 26 starts the next big round of shopping. It's time to head back to the stores and return the gifts you don't like. Or that don't fit. The news said it's the day we take back all the things we don't want our cousins knowing we are returning. Our cousins? Diane Sawyer must be closer to her cousins than I am to mine. We don't exchange gifts. Maybe some of the 13 of them do, but none of them exchange with me, nor I with them. I don't often have to return gifts though. The way to avoid returns is to either be very specific about what you want, or ask for gift cards. Or books. December 26 is also a good time to snatch the sales on Christmas merchandise. We went to Target yesterday. I'm going to start making yarn ball wreaths to sell in my upcoming Etsy shop. Some of the wreaths I saw online also have Christmas ball ornaments. So I went to Target to get some! I found sets of 50 ornaments online. Regular price $15, online they were on sale for $10.50. In the store, they were 50% off- so $7.50 each. I thought for sure they'd be sold out, but the store still had a great selection. I bought six boxes of ornaments, plus a few boxes of mini ornaments, to vary the sizes on the wreath. I saved $68! I was so excited, I drove across the parking lot to Michaels' and spent all that I saved at Target, and then a whole lot more. I needed yarn for my many projects. I bought yarn for eight different projects. I am so very excited about 2012 and the new opportunities in front of me. I think instead of whining today, everyone should take time to look at the gifts they received, the family that surrounds them, and the new year stretching in front of them. I'm sure everyone has plenty not to whine about. Maybe you'll even find that while your life isn't perfect, it certainly is blessed.

A Year of Blogging: December 25, 2011

Today is Christmas. I was really looking forward to having Christmas in my own house. I could sleep in because I didn't have any place to be. It was going to be a nice, leisurely holiday. And I was determined not to miss my family (too much). I wasn't going to cry at the thought of missing them. This was going to be a wonderful Christmas. It was a great Christmas, although not quite the storybook one I envisioned. It was more of a hilarious Christmas. But that's ok. At least it wasn't a blue Christmas! I woke up around 9:30. Not as late as I usually sleep on Sundays, but it wasn't incredibly early either. I keep the beagles' Christmas gifts upstairs until Christmas morning. I learned the first year that if I put their gifts under the tree, they will tear everything apart looking for them. I came downstairs with their bag and put it in the middle of the floor while Erich got the video camera ready. They circled the bag like vultures- sticking their noses in and trying to get to the goodies. Once the camera was recording, we sat down to open presents. Onyx decided the entire bag was for her, and plopped herself down right in front of the bag. Every time Cobalt came near, she licked his face. Licking him is one of her many ways of chasing him off. It annoys him when she licks his face, so he leaves. I have a video clip of this- several minutes of her pushing him away as I tried to open their presents. I just can't seem to upload it. After the beagles opened their presents, it was our turn. I bought Erich a new coffee maker in November, and he had given me money (all in dollar and half dollar coins. I think he did this to annoy me.), so the gifts were mostly from our families. Erich's parents gave me a very generous cash gift that left me speechless. And you know how hard it is to leave me speechless! My sister gave me a calendar and new pictures of Syd and Drew. My big gift from my parents is a family trip to Disney World in September, 2012. But my mother believes even if you are getting a 'big' gift, you still have to have something to open. I had quite a lot to open. I had originally asked for the complete Little House on the Prairie DVD set. All nine seasons, plus the specials, are in one boxed set. A couple of months ago, Mom asked 'what else I wanted in case she couldn't get that'. It was an expensive set, so I understood that. After all, these were just supposed to be little things to open. So I asked for a tea box. I have wanted a tea box for a while- a nice box to keep the different types of teas in. Erich and I are big tea drinkers, and we each like different types. I like to be organized, and thought it would be so much nicer to have all our teas in one place, than boxes all over the place. I was so incredibly surprised and happy this morning to unwrap not only the DVD boxed set, but also a tea box. The tea box is filled with teas- so first we have to enjoy the 8 different kinds of teas in the box, and then I can refill it with our usual. If you're going to have a tea box filled with teas, you need something to brew them in. Mom bought me a tea ball, it's this little personal sized tea pot. It has a filter basket inside it. You put the tea in that, then pour the hot water around it and let the tea steep in the pot. It's kind of neat. I've already used it tonight and sampled the cherry tea from my new tea box. There was a Yankee blanket and a book about baseball. I suspect Dad helped Mom with her shopping at that point. There was a new reusable grocery bag, but this one is insulated which will come in really handy in the summer. Erich and I received ceramic travel mugs. His is red and mine is blue. My mom knows us so well! And then, there's a cookbook. I thought perhaps Mom gave it to me as a joke. But it's a Potluck Cookbook, filled with recipes that you can take to a Potluck supper (or Covered Dish Supper or Pitch-in). Most of them are casseroles, and I love to make something that goes in one dish, so I know why she gave me the cookbook. It was a great Christmas! We were supposed to have Erich's parents over for dinner, but his Mom is sick. We didn't want the sickness to spread, and she didn't feel well enough to come over. So dinner then became a 'cook and transport' operation. I would cook everything at my house, divide it in half, and take their half over to them. It's a good thing they live close by! The only problem is that the turkey wouldn't cook. We had a turkey breast roast- which is basically just the breast meat rolled up. There's no bones in it. It was 4 lbs, and should have only taken 2 hours to cook. I poured maple syrup over it for flavoring. Maple syrup will caramelize as you cook it, so it created a nice glaze. We kept checking it and checking it, and it still wasn't done. When we thought it was done, we used my meat thermometer, which isn't the trustiest of things. We took a chance, cut it open, and half of it was still pink. One end was done and one wasn't. My oven is only a couple of years old, so it's not the oven. We cut the turkey into medallions and put them into a pan, and put them back in the oven. I turned on the 'speed bake', which turns on the convection part of the oven to cook things faster. We walked the sides and desserts over to his parents and I carried over their present. I felt terrible that the turkey wasn't cooperating. No one else seemed to mind. They opened their blanket and loved it. And they started right in eating the sides. When the turkey was finally done, we realized that half of it was white meat and half dark meat. None of us like dark meat. Erich took the white meat to his parents, and ate some of the dark meat himself. So after all that, I didn't even get any turkey! It's ok, we had too much food anyway so the sides were enough. By this point, I was worn out. I've wondered where all of my energy came from over the past couple of weeks. Well, that tank hit empty this afternoon. I curled up on the couch to rest while Erich worked on clean up. At this point, I think Cobalt must have had enough of his sister bullying him all morning. He marked his territory all through the house from the living room to the dining room. He is usually so good about telling us he needs to go out. So Erich immediately steam cleaned the carpets. All we could do was laugh. Not your typical Christmas, but it's one that is memorable! Even though the day had it's moments that were borderline dysfunctional, it was still a wonderful day. I am so blessed, and days like today remind me of that. Merry Christmas!

A Year of Blogging: December 24, 2011

December 24 is Christmas Eve. For me, Christmas Eve has always seemed like the most magical and traditional of days. It is possibly one of my favorite days of the year. We never had school on Christmas Eve. Sometimes Mom still had to work at the bank, but Dad always had the day off. If Mom was working, we made a final cleaning pass through the house to make sure it was clean for company (Mom's house was always spotless, but we still had to clean). We'd finish preparing any baked good for Christmas. This usually included making the birthday cake for Jesus. My mother insisted on making a cake every year. Even though we had a smorgasbord of desserts, we still made a cake. We also sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. It's a tradition I would continue if I had children, or if I were going to have a lot of people here for the meal. But I don't, because truthfully, Erich and I don't need a whole cake to eat. My sister has continued the tradition with Sydney and Drew. I know there are some parents who don't tell their children about Santa, because they do not want to cloud the real reason for Christmas. I'm not going to tell any parent they are wrong. It is an individual decision. But I can tell you that we believed in Santa, yet we also knew why we celebrated Christmas. My parents did a wonderful job providing balance for us. We went to church every Sunday. We knew the Christmas story by heart. We helped others throughout the year, especially at Christmas. We weren't rich. My parents believed that we needed to share our blessings, so we helped others. Even something that seems small to you, might make a world of difference to someone struggling. We celebrated Jesus' birthday. And there were no presents until after Mass on Christmas Eve. We ate dinner before Mass because Mass was usually at 7, if my memory is correct. Our church was a rural church, and you didn't really dress up for Mass. But we did on Christmas Eve. One year, when we were teenagers, we even wore the fur stoles that belonged to my Grandmother and Aunt. A normal mass was short and sweet. We didn't have singing. The Priest was very brief. We could be out within half an hour. Which is very short for a Catholic Mass. Christmas Eve Mass was a different story though. We sang all kinds of carols and hymns. The lights were dimmed in the church. The nativity set sparkled. As a child, I always felt Christmas Eve Mass was magical. Thinking about it still takes my breath away. At our church, the manger stayed empty until Christmas Eve Mass. Each year, a child was chosen to carry Jesus down the aisle and place him in the manger during the Christmas Eve Mass. I still remember my turn. I was so proud, and terrified. We had a large nativity set, so baby Jesus filled both hands. The aisle seemed never ending. Faces stared at me from every angle. It was my turn to deliver Jesus to the front of the church. There was no more important job in the world that night. After Mass, we went home. We lived behind the church, so unless the weather was really bad, we walked. When we got home, we were each able to have one present. My sister had spent weeks carefully scrutinizing every present with her name on it, trying to find the perfect gift to open on Christmas Eve. I usually just chose one, I knew they'd all be open the next day anyway. We left our tree on all night Christmas Eve. We left the outside lights on too. That way, Santa could find his way to our house. We left cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Santa asked for Oreos at our house. How very funny that Oreos were Dad's favorite cookie too! I don't remember sneaking back downstairs after we went to bed. I liked sleep, even then. My sister was usually the first one up on Christmas morning. My parents said we couldn't open presents until everyone was awake, so once Laura was up, she came in to wake me. She did everything- jumped on me, pulled open my eyelids, dragged my blankets off the bed. Eventually I gave in, and we rushed downstairs. Whether you are enjoying old traditions or creating new ones, I wish you and yours a blessed and Merry Christmas!

A Year of Blogging: December 23, 2011

December 23 was 'Roots' day. It's the day to explore your genealogy. Your roots. It may seem like an odd time to celebrate it, but really, it makes sense. Families are gathering for Christmas. There will be time spent sitting around the table talking. Or maybe your family sits in the family room or game room and chats. If you're surrounded by relatives, it's a good time to get some of those family stories. In case this seems overwhelming, just ask your parents to tell you about Christmas when they were children. What were their traditions, who made dinner, things like that. You might find as they start talking that one story leads to another. And I would bet you will learn something you didn't know about your family. Granted, it might be a story you don't want to tell outside of the family... I have been actively researching my family history for more than five years. I don't know that I'll ever have answers to all my questions. Sometimes it seems the further I dig, the more questions I have. My biggest regret is that on some sides of the family, my best resources (relatives) are gone. I even sat down with my grandparents and asked questions. I knew quite a bit, but there are still puzzles. Genealogy is one of my many hobbies. Sometimes I joke that my hobbies could be a full time job. Genealogy could be one full time job, and my other hobbies could be another. But it is really quite interesting. I like finding new cousins. It was neat to find out that I was related to all the old blood in both my hometown and my Dad's. It seems every time I work on the genealogy I find another tidbit of wonderful information. I will caution you though, in the same way that my Aunt cautioned me. Be careful when you dig- you might find some interesting characters. The actual warning was that I might find horse thieves. Which I did. No one mentioned that I'd find the Democrat though!

A Year of Blogging: December 22, 2011

December 22 was 'Date Nut Bread' day. I know this is a holiday favorite for many people. It's not something I care for. I like banana nut bread, and may even throw some walnuts into cranberry bread. I'm just not really a fan of bread that only contains nuts. On this day in 1864, General Sherman presented President Lincoln with Savannah as a Christmas gift. Sherman captured the city after his March to the Sea from Atlanta. Savannah had been one of the last major ports still open to Confederates. On December 22, 1900, the first Mercedes was delivered. Austrian racer Emil Jellinik commissioned the cars from the German company Daimler- Motoren- Gesellschaft. The car was lighter, faster, and sleeker than any car the company had previously made. Jellinik was certain the car would win races and people would buy them. He ordered 36 of the cars. In exchange for his large order, the company agreed to name the car after Jellinik's daughter- Mercedes. Hmm.. If only his daughter had been named Amy!

A Year of Blogging: December 21, 2011

December 21 is 'Humbug' day. It's a day to vent your frustrations during the Christmas season. We all have those moments. The holidays, like funerals, can bring out the worst in anyone. I have had humbug years. Christmases where I haven't been in a very festive spirit. This year is not one of them. I don't know if I'm making up for the humbug years or what. I just feel so full of the Christmas spirit this year. The tree has been up since early November, the shopping was finished around the same time, I've gotten in all my baking, everything is in order. The blanket will be finished- only about 12" to go, although tonight I was too tired to pick up my knitting needles. I delivered overfilled goodie bags to my coworkers, shipped a couple of boxes to friends (hopefully the post man will deliver them tomorrow), and tonight I took a care package of cookies, jam, and a casserole to another friend who is caring for her elderly and ailing father. On the drive home, I thought my Grandparents were smiling down on me. Mom told me that on holidays, Grandma Wager would fix plates of food and take them around to the various elderly housebound relatives. Mom always made sure neighbors and elderly in the community were taken care of. We were raised to help others. While I wasn't able to do as much with charities this year due to our financial situation here at Goofy Grape, I have still helped others. I've delivered smiles and given some people a bright spot at the holidays. It's a nice feeling. I am a little sad that in a week it will all be over. It feels like I've been preparing for Christmas for most of the year. In reality, it's only been a couple of months. I realized I only have a few more days to enjoy my Christmas tree. Well, I could enjoy it for months if I wanted to leave it up, but it will come down at the latest on New Year's Day. Most likely, it will be down before that. I have my humbug period when Christmas is over. When the gifts are opened and the excitement is gone, it is for me, a huge letdown. So I like to get my house back in order and prepare for the new year. It's ok if you want to have a humbug day today, just don't let it take root and ruin your spirit!

A Year of Blogging: December 20, 2011

December 20 was 'Go Caroling' day. I have only been caroling once. When I was in high school, several of the churches in my hometown (there are five I think in the small town. Maybe more, I forget!) grouped together and went caroling around town. It is usually cold in December in Upstate New York, and frequently there is snow. The night we went caroling was no exception-it was cold and snowy. One of those nights you can't add enough layers. Afterwards, we went to one of the churches for hot cocoa. I don't remember why we didn't try it another year. Or maybe they did and I just didn't go. The caroling wasn't as much fun as it seemed to be in the movies. I've never had carolers come to my house. I don't think people really carol any more. We're all too busy with our own thing to go singing door to door in the neighborhood. In our neighborhood, we barely know the neighbors. We know Erich's parents, obviously, but that is about it. We know some of our neighbors names, and the rest we've made up names for them. I don't see any of us caroling. I won't be, because I'd have to sing in public. I have a rule about that. I don't do it! I sing alone. I rarely let Erich hear me sing. There's no way I'd sing in front of strangers. I'm curious though if there are places where people go caroling. Maybe my friends have wonderful experiences to share. I'd like to think the tradition hasn't totally disappeared.

A Year of Blogging: December 19, 2011

December 19 was 'Look for an Evergreen' day. If you are looking for a real Christmas tree, December 19 is the day to do it. Although, if you're waiting until 6 days before Christmas, you're probably a bit of a procrastinator. You should not delay any longer, or you may end up with a tree worthy of the Peanuts gang. I've never had a real tree. My parents have had an artificial tree for as long as I can remember. Mom doesn't like the mess that a real tree causes with the needles dropping. Real trees bother my allergies. The tree we had for most of my childhood was one that Mom bought on clearance at Montgomery Ward after Christmas. I was about 3 and my sister was 1. Mom said the sales person offered her an extra discount on the floor model if she undecorated it. My sister was in her stroller, and I helped Mom take all the ornaments off the tree so it could be ours. We had that tree until I was a teenager. Not bad for an after Christmas special on a floor model! When we bought a new store, we went to this craft store that had a big Christmas section. We selected a beautiful tree. The display tree was on the wall, and it looked much bigger than the tree actually was. Our old tree had been a six foot tall tree, the new one was barely five. We didn't realize that though until we got home and tried to put the tree together. Mom was working on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so Dad and my sister and I put up the tree. Dad and I were surprised that is was much smaller than the old one. My sister took one look at the bottom of the tree. The branches were touching the ground. She wailed "There's no room for presents!" and ran upstairs. My dad's best friend stopped by about this time, and got a kick out of my sister's reaction. He said he could fix it. He went home and came back a little later with an old wooden box. It was large enough and sturdy enough to support the tree, and raised it off the ground high enough that we could put presents under the tree. We wrapped the tree skirt around the box, and it worked just fine. I like to sit near the tree with a cup of tea and just look at it. I love Christmas trees. I noticed from the window that our neighbors across the street have a beautiful tree. I'd love to get to see it up close. For me, there's something magical about a Christmas tree. And that magic remains whether I'm looking at an artificial tree or a real one. Even if my allergies allowed me to have a real tree, I don't think I would. The beagles would be sniffing it all the time determining how many squirrels had ever sat in the tree! I suspect the tree would have difficulty staying upright!

A Year of Blogging: December 18, 2011

December 18 was 'Bake Cookies' Day. Well, for once I was actually participating in the daily celebration. December 18 was the fourth and final day of my marathon Christmas baking. Over the course of two weekends, I made approximately 70 dozen cookies. I lost count, so I don't have an exact figure. And then I gave away 90% of the cookies. People think I'm crazy for making so many cookies. I have never argued that point. I enjoy baking, and for me, baking is actually a great stress reliever. I feel so much better throwing flour around and rolling out the sugar cookie dough to make cut out cookies. Of course, later my shoulders and arms ache. Then there's that issue of having to clean up my mess. But I feel so great while making the cookies! I will admit, I made too many cookies this year. I didn't intend to make so many, and it just kind of got out of control. As long as I have everything out, I make extra for Erich and I. I like the Chocolate Snow Tops. They taste kind of like a brownie rolled in powdered sugar. I can't get enough of them. Each year I think "I need to make these during the year, not just at Christmas." And each year I seem to only make them at Christmas. So I make an extra batch and freeze them for me. I make an extra batch of the chocolate chip cookies, because Erich likes those. We will have fresh cookies all winter long! I package them in freezer bags, one dozen to a bag. This is kind of portion control- if I only have a dozen available, we only eat a dozen. If I make a batch, which is several dozen cookies, we have several dozen to eat. Which we do. Several people have asked me 'why do you do it?' The answer is simple. I like to make people smile. When I pick out gifts for loved ones, I think of their reaction when they open it. I don't just grab something and say 'this is good enough'. For me, giving is always better than receiving. I like making people happy. If I give you a bag of cookies, how are you going to react? I've found even the grumpiest person manages a smile. If someone is having a rough time, the cookies lift their spirits. Even if it's only temporary. I brought a smile to someone's face. That's why I do it.

A Year of Blogging: December 17, 2011

Once again, I'm a little behind. First it was the baking, now it's the knitting. Throw in a migraine or two, and blogging has been low down on my list of things to get done. Sometimes it's hard to believe that there's only a couple of weeks left on this project. And I've already got a lot of plans for the extra time! December 17 was 'National Maple Syrup' day. I feel like I've already written about Maple Syrup, but maybe I just feel that this day should have been celebrated in the spring, when the sap is running and it's time to make syrup. If this is a repeat, my apologies. Maple Syrup is one of my favorite condiments. Yes, I think of it as a condiment. After chocolate, I'd have to say my favorite flavor is maple. I put maple syrup on of course, pancakes, french toast and waffles. I cook sausage and bacon in maple syrup. If we have breakfast with hashbrowns, I put maple syrup on my hashbrowns. I like to bake with maple syrup. And I love maple syrup over vanilla ice cream. I am a maple syrup snob. I like the pure maple syrup, not the processed Aunt Jemima stuff. I also like to get my syrup from New York. Sure, Vermont is the biggest producer in the US of Maple Syrup. I know I've said before that my hometown is closer to places in Vermont than it is cities in New York. But when it comes to my syrup, it has to be NY. And I want the dark amber. It is the sweetest variety, and really tastes like liquid gold. It's also harder to make. Some years, there isn't any dark syrup. The years it is available, it is limited. I currently have a gallon that I'm savoring- 2011 was a good year! My mom works with a guy who has a sugarbush. This fall, my cousin married another maple producer. It's good to have certain people in your family. In my opinion, having someone who makes maple syrup is very high on the list! I should never have to worry about running out. If you need a maple fix, look up my cousin & her husband's farm- Platte Creek Maple Farm. They're on facebook! Take time to see how many ways you can enjoy maple syrup today.

A Year of Blogging: December 16, 2011

December 16 is 'Chocolate Covered Anything' day. I'd have to say my favorite chocolate covered anything is chocolate covered cherries. I like the ones with the liquid in them, but not the ones that have the white stuff. I don't know what the white stuff is called officially. I think those are called cherry cordials, but I could be wrong. This time of year is a wonderful time to buy chocolate covered cherries. Erich bought me a box of them a couple of weeks ago. I found myself eating all of them, so I bought another box for 'us'. Ok, I bought two boxes because they were 2/$6. I came home and he said he doesn't eat them. I was better off thinking he did, because I realize I've eaten half the box already. They are just so good! People cover all kinds of things with chocolate. It seems the most popular lately is chocolate covered bacon. I haven't tried it. I like bacon, occasionally. It has to be very crispy. I can't imagine the crispy bacon dipped in chocolate though. Then again, I was skeptical about chocolate covered potato chips. A local candy store offers them for a limited time each year. Chocolate covered potato chips are actually delicious. And irresistible. Which makes sense. Who can eat one potato chip or one piece of chocolate? Enjoy your favorite chocolate covered treat today. Just try to do so in moderation. Yeah, right!

A Year of Blogging: December 15, 2011

December 15 was 'Bill of Rights' Day. On December 15, 1791 the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution were added. These ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. At one point in school, we had to memorize the Bill of Rights. I remember most of them, but I figure many of us need a refresher, so here you go: (note: I've put them into layman's terms). Amendment 1: Freedom of speech, press, and religion Amendment 2: The right to bear arms Amendment 3: Homeowners are not required to house soldiers except in times of war Amendment 4: Protection from unreasonable search and seizure Amendment 5: Rights to due process, protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination Amendment 6: Right to a fair and speedy trial Amendment 7: Right to a trial by jury in civil cases Amendment 8: Protection from cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail Amendment 9: The listing of rights in the Constitution is not comprehensive, individuals retain other rights not specified in the Constitution Amendment 10: States rights This is a very brief history lesson. If you want to learn more, today's a good day to study the Constitution a little more closely.

A Year of Blogging: December 14, 2011

December 14 is 'Bouillabaisse Day'. Not only did I have trouble spelling it, but I have to admit I have no idea what it is. My first thought would have been some sort of pasta dish. I was wrong! Bouillabaisse is a seafood soup. It is made with various cooked fish, shellfish, vegetables, and herbs. It originated in the French town of Marseille. Well, I have to say, that's as much as I care to know. You lost me at 'seafood' and 'soup'. I don't eat seafood, and I really dislike soup. So if you enjoy bouillabaisse, today's a good day to eat it. I think we are running out of days, because neither the calendar I clipped from the newspaper 11 months ago or the website www.holidayinsights.com list an alternate for this day. Fortunately, my own family has a lot of events this time of year, so I can fill in a little. Today is my parents' anniversary. They married 37 years ago at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in my hometown of Berlin, NY. I asked them why they got married in December. In NY! It's not like we're talking a nice tropical place like Hawaii. They both love Christmas, and enjoy Christmas decorations, so they thought December was the perfect time. It is no real surprise that on Saturday, December 14, 1974 they got a blizzard. After all, it snows in New York in December. The wedding was at the Catholic church in Mom's hometown (Dad was Catholic, Mom converted) and the reception was held closer to Dad's hometown. Between the two stood the infamous Mountain. Dad's parents slid off the road coming over the mountain on the way to the wedding and Mom's slid off the road on the way over the mountain to the reception. At least I think that's the way it was. Mom's father put on his suit, then put his overalls over it, and went out and changed the oil in his car while he waited for Mom to get ready. My grandmother had a fit over that! My parents took a rather unusual honeymoon. They came to Canton, Ohio to the Football Hall of Fame. For the longest time, the picture on Dad's dresser was of Mom standing in front of Vince Lombardi's statue. Once we were old enough to understand honeymoons and romance, we asked my mom why on earth they went to the Football Hall of Fame for their honeymoons. She responded "I was in love. It didn't matter where we went." My sister strongly disagreed, and declared that she would go to Disneyworld for her honeymoon. And she did. Six years ago, when Mom and Dad came out for Thanksgiving, we took a little trip through Ohio. We went to Amish Country, to Longaberger, and yes, to the Football Hall of Fame. I took their picture in front of the sign. Mom liked to say that people said it wouldn't last, and there they were, 31 years later back at the Football Hall of Fame. Happy Anniversary to my parents. Even though I know it hasn't been 37 years of perfect bliss, they have always given me the best example of a loving relationship.

A Year of Blogging: December 13, 2011

December 13 is 'Violin Day'. I appreciate music, and I was in band, but I don't know a whole lot about violins. I know they are part of the string family. Erich would probably know more, since he played viola in school. I'm amazed that his school had a string section, and then I think of how big Middletown's high school is compared to my little school in New York. We didn't have a string section. The only people I knew who played violin were people who took private lessons. And they were considered a bit snooty. But Erich doesn't talk very fondly about his viola days. The only reason he took viola was because it was the instrument his sister had played. They are seven years apart in age (even though they basically have the same name, which causes everyone to think they are twins). When Erich wanted to take up an instrument, his parents told him 'we have a perfectly good viola sitting here'. So the decision was made for him. I guess, in that regard, my sister and I were much luckier. We could start music lessons in sixth grade. I chose the flute. An instrument that became very challenging to play once I got braces, but I still played it. Mom and Dad bought my flute, rather than have me lease one from the school. Two years later, it was Laura's turn. When my parents repeatedly denied her request to take up drums, she settled on the clarinet. In high school she bought herself a saxophone and played it as well, although not in band (there were too many people already playing saxophone). So even though we were both playing woodwinds, they were very different. As concerts approached, we grew tired of practicing. Yet, we had to practice. I got tired of 16th notes (a popular thing for flutes). I don't know what Laura got tired of. I just remember on Saturday mornings, we'd both be in our rooms sitting in front of our music stands practicing our respective pieces. Eventually one of us would migrate, with her instrument, into the other's room. And while my flute piece had bored me to sleep, her clarinet beckoned. I have always loved the sound of a clarinet. Probably, if I had it to do all over again, I would take up the clarinet. She always had extra reeds, so I put in my own reed and started playing. As appealing as her clarinet was to me, my flute held the same appeal to her. I had showed her how to hold her lips to play the flute shortly after I started playing. So I'd play her clarinet, squeaking my way through the piece. She would play the flute, blowing air through the high octave but never achieving a note. It never took long before Mom came to the bottom of the stairs and yelled 'Get in your own rooms and play your own instruments or put them away!' I wonder how Mom would have reacted to hearing us attempt the violin!

A Year of Blogging: December 12, 2011

December 12 is 'Poinsettia Day'. Poinsettias are a popular decoration during Christmas. The day was created by an Act of Congress, to honor the first Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett brought the plants back from Mexico. He grew them on his plantation in SC and gave them out to his friends. Poinsett died on December 12, 1851. My mother loves Poinsettias. She says it's one of the reasons she and Dad got married so close to Christmas- they loved the Christmas decorations. I like them too, but Poinsettia's are poisonous to dogs so they are not allowed in our house. December 12 was the birthday of Ol' Blue Eyes- Frank Sinatra. Today he would have been 96. I know that because my Grandpa Wager would have also turned 96 today if he were still with us. That's right- my Grandpa and Frank Sinatra were born on the very same day. I have always been a Sinatra fan, and I think it's partly because of the connection with the birthdays. Grandpa was the first member of our 'Double Digit Birthday club'. He was born on 12/12. The other members of the club were my other Grandpa (1/1), my Dad (3/3), and I (6/6). Grandpa was born in 1915. I've never really given a lot of thought to what he saw in his 84 years on earth. He was born in the house next door to where I grew up. Yet it is likely the house did not have plumbing or electricity when Grandpa was born. Horses were still the primary mode of transportation. Women weren't allowed to vote. The Lincoln Monument in Washington D.C. was under construction. World War I was raging in Europe. Babe Ruth hit his first home run in 1915. The first stop sign appeared in Detroit, Michigan. Taxicabs first were available in 1915, with fare costing a nickel. And just two days before Grandpa was born, the one millionth Model T rolled off the assembly line. So much of what we take for granted today was unheard of in 1915. When I look at the pictures of him as a young boy, it looks like it was so long ago. Then again, I guess it was. These are my two favorite pictures of Grandpa. The first is him as a young boy. I love it because he is resting his arms on books. He looks like the perfect student, and that means a lot to me because he loved learning and he loved books. The second picture was taken in the early 1990's. The lobster hat is mine. But this shows Grandpa being a goofball. As serious and smart as he was, he had this funny side. His humor was very dry. Sometimes he'd say something and it took you a minute to get it, then you broke out laughing. He was a one of a kind.