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.