Happy Holidays!

Man, this is such a busy time of year. I know this because as I was going through the fridge to find something to cook up for dinner, I only found half a case of cream cheese that I bought 2 weeks ago, a couple of containers of really bad cottage cheese, something wrapped up in foil that might have been cake or meat, cream that was supposed to be whipped up for Thanksgiving, and a gallon of eggnog. Besides a couple of condiments that should have been thrown away a year ago, that's all that was in the fridge. I keep a huge bowl of fruit on the kitchen table with hope that my family will try to eat better. Another reason I know I have been busy is because I discovered today, that only the tops of the fruit looked okay, but all of it underneath had turned to mushy juice . Plus, the only thing left in the cabinet is garbanzo beans and refried beans. Seems like no groceries have been purchased in awhile. Since my three boys decided they would rather have something other than beans and eggnog for dinner, they have gone away in search of a meal. I should dump the bowl of liquid fruit, but, I have decided I will write instead. I'm going to write about Christmas although I'm not really "feeling" it this year. It's too bad for my family, since I normally really love this time of year! I do love dragging out the old traditions that I grew up with, and I love the newer traditions that we have started with our own little (yet, tall) family. Since my mom is German, we, kids, celebrated the German traditions, and I have made sure my own boys know about some of the fun traditions that I had growing up. Every year on December 6th, German children put their shoes out on the porch. We would go out later to find that Sinterklaus had been by and filled our shoes with either a "switch" if we were bad, or candy and toys, if we were good. I remember getting a switch once in my shoes, but I don't remember getting beat with it. My own kids still put out their shoes, and it's amazing to know what feats Sinterklaus goes to, in order to fill their shoes without being seen! This has included hiking up a nice, steep, sagebrush covered hill in, order to leave the car at the very bottom of a long driveway, sneaking around the house in mud, crawling on big, round belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly, to avoid being seen in the windows, being SO quiet so the wrappers don't rustle too loudly, and being stalked by.... a 15 year old son with a BB gun who's bound and determined to catch this "so called Sinterklaus"! Things now, are a little different than they were just a couple of years ago. There's not so much sneaking anymore (whew!), but the anticipation is still there, just the same. In fact, my 13 year old remembered all on his own this year that the shoes were to be set out. As he took his and his brother's shoes out, he was kind of chuckling to himself that Sinterklaus had probably forgotten this year, since I hadn't even mentioned it once that whole day, directing his "what kind of mom are you?" attitude towards me. I told him to go and check his shoes and see. They had only been out for less than 5 minutes, and both Craig and I had stayed right in the kitchen the entire time. He knows how it works. I urged him to go on out and take a look. He did, and what do you know, right there, kind of in the shadow, were their other shoes, filled to the brim with German goodies, like lebkuchen, and other assorted German cookies and chocolates. (How DID that work, then?) In fact, a little later, some brandy filled chocolates, also a common German chocolate, found their way into my hands. Man, that Sinterklaus really knows what kinds of goodies to get a person.

Growing up, we had traditional stockings hung by the fireplace, but a German tradition that I have incorporated at my house a couple of times, is to let St. Nick bring "bundt tellers", instead of filling stockings. They are plates filled with nuts, oranges and candy. Also, we have always, up until a couple of years ago, had advent calendars for the boys, always a gift from my mom, This was a big tradition for me growing up. I remember, as a child, opening the little doors and windows to a huge advent calendar that my Oma had made. It was in the shape of a house, and painted gold. It was around for years until it fell apart. I also grew up with an advent wreath. Four Sundays before Christmas day, a candle was lit on the wreath, which sits horizontal on a stand. The first week, one candle was lit, and so on, until the fourth Sunday, all four candles were lit. Christmas carols were sung while the candles burned. I only get the advent wreath out every few years with my family. Another tradition I had growing up, due to my dad, was oyster stew for Christmas Eve dinner. I do not miss a year with this tradition, as my boys, even since they were little, insist that we have "mouse soup" for Christmas Eve. The two new traditions that I love for entirely selfish reasons, have been started by Craig and they are for me. Christmas morning, after all the chaos, I happen to find something small, and precious on my kitchen windowsill. The first year was a set of three, tiny, porcelain skunks. It's always something small, vintage, and totally based on cuteness. The second tradition comes later, when I take the tree down, sometime between Jan 1st, and as late as the middle of February. (It's been known to happen.) Hidden somewhere amongst the pine boughs, is another little treasure that he has found in an antique store. It has usually been some type of vintage jewelry, a necklace, or pin. It's the traditions that make me giddy with anticipation for any holiday or annual event. Writing this entry and remembering traditions has put me in the Christmas spirit more than anything else has this year. In fact, instead of dumping the fruit, I may just see how fermented it is, strain it, and serve it up in the eggnog. This is the season for sharing and loving. I can't end this blog without saying "Froeliche Weinachten" and letting all my family and friends know that I wish you all to have the most joyous season! Know that you are loved and and appreciated, and after the eggnog and brandy chocolates, know that I will love and appreciate you all, even more.