One Part Inspiration...

Every year, my boss would say "We should go on a light tour".  It's become tradition to bring it up. We haven't always been able to carry it out because inevitably schedules fill up with Christmas events and it just doesn't work to add one more to an already full plate. However, this year, we have had the chance to look far ahead and make a plan. The plan turned out to be a work in progress.  There was a much discussion about who would drive, which route we would take, where we would eat ---all the important things. Eventually it was decided that since two of the six of us tend towards car sickness, and there were hills and turns to navigate, that we would be the drivers.  Then we phoned each other on our Bluetooth devices and that gave us the ability to hear what was going on in the other vehicle. As we passed the first neighbourhood, we realized we were very close to a former workmate of ours.  We decided spontaneously to stop at her house and sing a few ...

I started with the door wreath.  It was in the middle of November. I have been saving it since I got it at a such a good price at the end of last year.  All summer, I looked at the bag it came in, silently count the days til I could take it out and put it up in celebration.      My husband wondered why I put it on the inside of the door.  I told him it was so that I could see it. [It also means that I don't have to go outside to rescue it when the winter winds blow]    Can I just say, it gives me great pleasure to walk down the hallway and see the wreath hanging there as a harbinger of all that Christmas means.         Closer to the end of November, I told my him that the decorations would be like putting a frog in water and setting it to 'boil'.  He wouldn't notice too much at first, but eventually, he would clue in that we are now fast and furious into the Christmas season.  F...

When I was growing up, Christmas traditions included making gingerbread houses.  My mom got a recipe from a good friend of hers and although the German spice was terribly expensive and hard to find, every year, she managed to make at least four gingerbread houses.   We all took part in helping. Once the houses were made (a good test of our math skills, for it would never do to be short one-half of the roof), the leftover gingerbread was made into copious amounts of trees and log piles, and snowmen, to add to the charm of the houses themselvcs. Then it was onto making the icing.  Mom had a Seven-Minute Icing recipe which she had to cook over a double boiler.  It was an arduous process, and we usually waited impatiently to start getting the houses put together, so we could start decorating them.  Much as we liked the rest of the process, our favorite part was the candies.  My Dad judiciously measured out the amount each house would need - and of course,...

This is our Precious Moments Nativity Scene.  It has a story to it.  But you probably knew that. My Mother-in-law began collecting the pieces when her kids were still at home.  Each figurine represents someone in the family.  (Except for the baby Jesus)  She chose them for their unique properties.  My Father-in-law is the angel with the pilot glasses staring down at his feet.  This is because he took flying lessons.  There's a book under his arm that says "Flying Lessons".  The cow is for "Big Mama", a cow they had when they first moved from the city to the farm.  There's a couple of pigs.  One of them has a bird on its back, which is exactly what used to happen, apparently. My husband is the angel holding the lamb - because he used to be a sheep farmer - and then he was again.  The two grammas in the family (one is in heaven now) are sitting on the rocking chairs.   One of the things I like the best, is that m...

I planned a family dinner last week - to commemorate the choosing of names for our annual stocking exchange.  I made a big dinner - roast beef and potatoes and cheesy veggies and salad and blackberry-apple pie for dessert.  I know.  I went all out.  I was excited. Along with the excitement of choosing names, it was an initiation of sorts for my future son-in-law.  This year, we add his name to the stocking exchange. The time for him to find out what it is like to be part of this family tradition. We generally pick names amongst great discussion - and by discussion, I mean arguments  Either Someone gets the same name they've drawn for the last three years, or Someone picks their own name - and usually they are the last person to draw.  This means we have to start again.  Then, SomeoneElse suddenly decides to use the facilities.  This generates a run on the bathrooms because of the power of suggestion.  T...

I admit it.  Gifts are one of my favourite things.  To me, the best gifts are those that are well-thought out and speak to the inside of a person - not just a quick stop at the store to pick up a sausage because it's 4:00 on Christmas Eve.  This is the 24th Christmas I have spent with my husband and when I think back on some of the gifts he has given to me, one of the most memorable was the sewing machine.  The reason for this is that I know that he'd been saving up to buy a computer for himself, and instead, he turned it into a gift for me.  First of all, he wrapped up a pencil sharpener that was shaped like a sewing machine.  He put it in a big box and when I opened that one up, there was a note inside that said "For the real version, go downstairs".  When I went downstairs there was the most beautiful sewing machine.  It runs like butter.  And even though I am not the best seamstress, every time I pull out the sewing machine for a littl...

Many years ago, the day after Valentine`s Day, I called my mother to tell her some very good news.  The night before, my boyfriend had proposed.  I was going to be married!  I remember that I didn't sleep very much at all, after arriving home with a ring on my finger.  I could hardly wait until the morning hour which would make it legimately late enough to call home to tell my mom the happy news.  She lived in a time zone that was three hours ahead of where I was.  I think it was about 6 a.m. my time, when I phoned. What made that conversation even more sweet, is that I had pre-arranged a surprise trip back to my home town. I was leaving that afternoon.   It was a break week from school - the college was going to be shut down anyway, and my brother had agreed to pick me up from the airport, keep me overnight at his apartment, and then take me to the bus the next day, where I would travel a few more hours to make it...

The tree. The tree.  Ah the beautiful tree.   But before that, these: Generally there is a natural disaster that occurs when approaching the tree-felling/decorating event. Needles fall off the tree faster than the water flows down Niagara Falls.....  The lantern fails to light. .... It's too cold and the children stand in one spot and cry they can no longer feel their feet.  .....they get one boot stuck in the mud and are too embarrassed to say anything until the family has arrived back home.  ....SOMEONE forgets to bring rope and SOMEONE ELSE has to ride home with their arm out the window, desperately clutching one branch to stop the tree from falling off the roof while the cold wind whistles past.  .........the discovery that there is only one way to let it stand in the corner because it only has one good side, but SOMEONE failed to notice that little detail when the flashlight shone on it in the field.....or it is too big to fit in the st...

Do you know what a kerschizzle is?  A kerschizzle is an electric impulse which is sent to the limbic system in the brain.  The limbic system is closely associated with the eyebrows and when a kerschizzle happens, it makes a person frown distractedly.  The kerschizzle response is usually the result of many experiences which wreaked havoc in the person's life.  Whatever the subject of said havoc, when the word is mentionse, memories to return in a rush, causing a collapse in a heap with loud moaning. The word that does causes this reaction in me is DECORATIONS.  Specifically the Christmas type.  I have so many havoc-wreaking memories of DECORATIONS, that around this time of year, I experience kerschizzles on a regular basis. That is until this year. It suddenly occured to me that I needn't allow the "D" word to conquer me. Whatever happens happens. Que sera, sera. Fa la la la la la.  I have ...

Another one of my favourite things at Christmas is to play music.  One year, not too long ago, my husband gave me a stereo which plays 3 CDs at a time.  It also has a 'shuffle' feature, so I can listen to three varieties for over two hours.  My current modas operandi is to pick one CD with instrumental music, one with peppy music and one with more meaningful music.  It is a nice balance. That way, I never get bored with one type and if I don't like a particular version of a song that the artist does, I figure something better must be coming up next. There is one caviat to enjoying Christmas music.  I can't play it if I feel the least bit melancholy. Playing well known and such sentimental music can create a kind of a homesickness inside of me and before long, I find myself in a puddle.  Finding myself in a puddle is not always a bad thing though, especially if my husband is around to see me dissolve.  He is a pretty good...

There's certain things about the Christmas season that I love.  One of them is the  movies.  I love Christmas movies.  The plots are so thin you can see right through them.  And that's one of my favourite things. They usually feature a well dressed individual, who doesn't have their priorities straight.  They live in a beautiful neighbourhood and yet never get around to enjoying their surroundings because they are too busy working all the time.  The car they drive is always expensive looking and fast; they tap their fingers distractedly on the steering wheel alot - usually while they are talking on a Bluetooth to reschedule all their appointments because they are stuck in traffic. Somewhere along the line, something catastrophic happens. Or perhaps I should say something magical.  There is a """"RANDOM"""" (*wink** wink*)  meeting with a person who has the power to effect change.  Once th...

WHEN IT COMES TO DECORATING A HOUSE, THIS IS MORE MY STYLE Last night, I was out to coffee with a friend of mine, and we got talking about Christmas decorations.  She asked me if I had mine out and had I decorated yet?  I said a firm "NO--EWW".  The thing that is holding me back, is that the decorations are all in storage.  I like the fact that they are neatly in boxes. Bringing them out only heralds a few days of upheaval.  I am upheaval-weary.    Not that I have a particular excuse, since we have been at The Pokeaway for over a year and are settled here.  But honestly, the thought of digging through the cubby hole fills me with a certain dread. For one thing, I'm not a Martha Stewart decorator.  I see the magazine displays and quite frankly, the thought of having more than one tree, or decorating more than one room, exhausts me.  In order to decorate like her, I would have to add more garland and lights and baubles.  I ...

'Tis the Season...on the 15th of November, I was making supper - I was all by myself.  I don't like to work in silence.  It feels too lonely.  I went into the living room to turn something on, and then I paused.  Would it be too early?  Once it starts, there's no stopping it.  Then I smiled and went to the cupboard and got out the box.  I sorted through the selections and came up with three that were contrasting - without being too overt.  And then I set the stereo to 'random sort' and turned up the volume.  Soon, I was enjoying music from "The Nutcracker Suite", Josh Groban's Christmas album, and Johnny Reid (just to rock out a bit).  Not too long after that, my husband walked in and loudly proclaimed "What is THIS?!"  and then he remembered my many lectures about how, when I dig out Christmas music or decorations, the Rules of Supportive Husband apply.  No disparaging comments allowed.  Only nods of apprecia...

It was just the three of us. The time had come to go get the Christmas tree. My husband had done his research and found a local tree farm that we could walk to. My husband loves walking around the neighbourhood. And a tree hunt was the perfect opportunity. Off we went, with our wagon, to find the perfect tree. Of course, we waited until the snow was flying in our faces, our little noses were completely frozen, and we couldn't talk very well, because our lips were stuck in one position from the cold. It's in the rules. " Getting the Christmas tree must be an adventure. " We walked down the street and around the corner, [calling the dog back many times from her explorations of the frozen grass]. And then we knocked on the window of the house of the young tree farmer. He came out, and gave us the hack saw. We tramped out in the field, looking for the perfect tree. After a bit, we found one. Actually, they were all in good shape, but it wouldn't do to choose the first...

Every Christmas I make a little game of trying to find the present that has a 'wow' factor. This is what fuels my gift-giving. I love wrapping up the gift, knowing that the person will totally love what I am giving. I can hardly wait for them to open it up and see it. I have enough experience to know I cannot possibly find the perfect gift for everyone on the list, but if I have at least one person to whom I can give the most wonderful present, I am happy. This year, it was a co-worker of mine. We always draw names amongst the staff for an exchange we have sometime in December. When I saw her name on the paper I drew, I clapped my hands in excitement. She is a person whom I have come to love and respect. We share a common province of origin, a common workplace, a common faith, and we both have children. Over the years I have come to admire her ability to see the bottom line, and define it in a most logical, no-nonsense-mixed-with-compassion, sort of way. One year, I was lament...

We have at least two local radio stations which are playing Christmas carols full time for the season. I have found both of them by chance, as I drove my son to yet another social commitment. While the music is festive, and a cheap way to celebrate the coming of the season, I have to say most of it is very cheesy. And I find that a turn-off (the radio). I am not sure why the stations have a need to make sure that every hour has a rendition of " A Holly Jolly Christmas " , or " Rockin' around the Christmas Tree ". There are hundreds and thousands of Christmas albums to choose from, with hundreds and thousands of songs which have more message than " I Want an Alien for Christmas ." So I have resorted to listening to my own collection. I like it much better. And I can switch up the CDs three at a time for even more variety, now that I have my stereo back. Yay! Merry Christmas to me! [On a side note about radio carols, I think the worst Christmas c...