Today I started taking down the Christmas decorations. It's a melancholy undertaking for me. I love Christmas and the decorations. I spend hours listening to Christmas music and putting up the old decorations and remembering the years past. They are always put up with the feeling of anticipation for the festivities to come spiced with the hustle and stress of many things yet to do. I linger lovingly over the placement of each piece in the manger scene, hunt the perfect place for the special ornaments on the tree, tenderly unwrap the little figurines that my mother painted only to wrap them back up until the little ones are bigger and less likely to demolish them. The house always looks so beautiful to me in the glow of the candles in the windows and the twinkle of the lights on the Christmas tree.
I have friends that just can't wait to get all the decorations down and put up. The day after Christmas everything is tucked away and all signs of the season are gone. For me the days after Christmas are the best ones of all. The pressure is off, everyone slows down, and I can finally just enjoy the seasonal finery. I love taking my coffee into the sunroom, turning on the lights on the tree, and enjoy a little early morning reflection. Hubby even commented on how much he was enjoying the tree and wondered if we could just leave it up until February. Considering that it was nearly March one year before I could stop anyone long enough to help me get it out of the sunroom and stored that was a particularly scary thought.
However, today it is 68 degrees out and the decorations must come down. Far better now than waiting a few days until it is rainy, cold and miserable. Actually, I'm only one day early. Traditionally I spend all of New Year's day taking down the decorations and putting them away. It keeps me entertained and I have a house full of men to help carry everything up to the attic. All I have to do is remember to ask during half-time or between games. That is all but one year. That year I decided to host a coffee for all the "ball widows". I invited everyone I knew to come and hang out. They did!! They arrived about 11 am and the last ones left at 4 pm. We sat in the floor, on chairs, and steps and ate stale Christmas cookies and drank coffee and had a ball.
I only got to do that one year, then hubby wanted his house back for the ballgames.
Maybe next time I undecorate early I'll plan another "widows" day.
Happy New Year!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Game Time
My husband loves football. He also loves basketball. He even likes baseball, soccer, tennis, golf and has occasionally watched rugby! What he doesn't like is to watch them alone. That means our den is constantly draped in long, lanky forms cheering or groaning as the games progress. My role is part waitress, bartender, and short-order cook.
Since these gatherings seem to be a little impromptu (probably everyone knows about them but me), I have learned to keep the freezer stocked with goodies. Thank goodness for Sam's. I've really gotten very good at producing munchies and goodies on short notice. Of course they are a little long on fats and calories, but who is counting. At least who was counting until the year the doctor told hubby he had to lower his triglycerides. That meant a real change in munching habits.
The guys gathered as usual to watch the home team play. They all settled in and began eyeing the kitchen door to see what would appear. Drinks were prepared and the coffee table cleared off for the hoped for food. The game started and one by one the guys appeared at the door to see if there was anything they could do to "help". Smiling, I told them to get comfortable that I had everything under control. The first hint that things were changing came when I placed a big bowl of air-popped popcorn on the table. One of the guys poked it gently and inquired "what's this". "Popcorn, silly" I replied. "Oh, I guess you forgot the butter", he smiled. "Nope. It's better for you plain." I smiled back. Looking a little pitiful they munched away determinedly.
However, when I arrived with a big relish tray with low-fat dip they were not amused. "You don't expect us to eat this do you?" "Those are carrots!" "How about some chips to use with the dip" "Surely, this isn't all we are going to get?" "Don't you have some cheese and crackers at least". I held firm, knowing that hubby would never be able to resist if I set it out.
This lasted for most of the football season and all of the basketball. I varied the offerings with other low-fat selections and they manfully tried them all. A few resorted to trying to sneak in chips and pizza but I soon discouraged that. Come spring hubby's visit to the doctor was a time of tense waiting for all. Cheers erupted when the news came back. Everything was normal!! They could eat again!!
They still gather to watch the games and eat. We are eating more "game foods" now but I try to keep them balanced with low fat offerings. We still eat pizza and sausage and cheese dip, but we also eat turkey sandwiches and salsa dip. One thing we don't eat is popcorn and relish trays!
However, every now and then, just for fun, I'll set out the celery and carrots. You should see their faces!
Since these gatherings seem to be a little impromptu (probably everyone knows about them but me), I have learned to keep the freezer stocked with goodies. Thank goodness for Sam's. I've really gotten very good at producing munchies and goodies on short notice. Of course they are a little long on fats and calories, but who is counting. At least who was counting until the year the doctor told hubby he had to lower his triglycerides. That meant a real change in munching habits.
The guys gathered as usual to watch the home team play. They all settled in and began eyeing the kitchen door to see what would appear. Drinks were prepared and the coffee table cleared off for the hoped for food. The game started and one by one the guys appeared at the door to see if there was anything they could do to "help". Smiling, I told them to get comfortable that I had everything under control. The first hint that things were changing came when I placed a big bowl of air-popped popcorn on the table. One of the guys poked it gently and inquired "what's this". "Popcorn, silly" I replied. "Oh, I guess you forgot the butter", he smiled. "Nope. It's better for you plain." I smiled back. Looking a little pitiful they munched away determinedly.
However, when I arrived with a big relish tray with low-fat dip they were not amused. "You don't expect us to eat this do you?" "Those are carrots!" "How about some chips to use with the dip" "Surely, this isn't all we are going to get?" "Don't you have some cheese and crackers at least". I held firm, knowing that hubby would never be able to resist if I set it out.
This lasted for most of the football season and all of the basketball. I varied the offerings with other low-fat selections and they manfully tried them all. A few resorted to trying to sneak in chips and pizza but I soon discouraged that. Come spring hubby's visit to the doctor was a time of tense waiting for all. Cheers erupted when the news came back. Everything was normal!! They could eat again!!
They still gather to watch the games and eat. We are eating more "game foods" now but I try to keep them balanced with low fat offerings. We still eat pizza and sausage and cheese dip, but we also eat turkey sandwiches and salsa dip. One thing we don't eat is popcorn and relish trays!
However, every now and then, just for fun, I'll set out the celery and carrots. You should see their faces!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Holiday Havoc
I apologize for my lengthy absence. I'm not sure what happened but the days in November and December quit having 24 hrs and were reduced to about 12. That's the only thing I can figure out to explain how I have managed to get to Christmas without getting anything done. For the first time in history I have not sent a single Christmas card, much less a thoughtful handwritten note. The grandkids have all but disowned me because there is not a single piece of candy or a cookie in the house (even the Halloween candy is gone!) The meals have leaned a lot more toward McDonalds than Gourmet and you know what....we've still had a great Christmas!
Surprise! Christmas isn't about beautiful packages or 50 kinds of cookies. It's about family, kids, giggles, secrets, whispers, and love. That much we have had in abundance.
However, I have noticed that as I winged my frazzled way from upheaval to disaster, my daughter has begun to give me worried looks. You can tell she is remembering days when I entertained with everything organized, done ahead and looking easy. I think she is pretty sure that the old show horse is about ready to be put out to pasture. Of course, in those days my kids were younger but they knew better than to interrupt when I was deep into cooking and would never have yelled for Jo-Jo to come work a puzzle with them. When I hear that call I can't help but think "Now what do I really want to do. Cook or play with the grandkids?" What do you think happens? We can eat at McDonalds--again.
I know I am getting older. I know I am slowing down. I know it's harder every year to get everything done. However in my defense I am working with a slight handicap. I had two kids. Now I have two "visitors" and five grandkids. My normal routine is shot all to ____! Every time I turn around there is another pile of stuff on my counter, more shoes in the entryway, more coats on the chairs, and toys everywhere. Someone is always eating or rummaging in the refrigerator. Towels and washcloths start to multiply in the utility room.
But you know what the real show stopper is? You know what really keeps me from getting all my chores done? I just can't resist sitting down with a cup of tea for a quick chat with my daughter or running out to the barn to see the newest baby calf with my son. I had no idea it was such fun to work giant floor puzzles with my grandson or read books with my granddaughter. Who would have thought it would take so much time to tell the grandkids the stories about all ornaments on the Christmas tree....from our first little plastic ones to the ones our kids made?
The long and the short of it is that our Christmas wasn't a Hallmark moment. However there were a lot of hugs, stories, laughter and tears. My Christmas cards will be done after Christmas (although I swear, I will write notes to all my dear friends), we'll gain less weight due to less cooking, the presents were in bags instead of elegantly wrapped boxes, but we had a lot of fun! After all, now that they are all gone I have until next Christmas to get ready for 2011!!
Next year they are all getting summer clothes because I am starting in JULY!!
Surprise! Christmas isn't about beautiful packages or 50 kinds of cookies. It's about family, kids, giggles, secrets, whispers, and love. That much we have had in abundance.
However, I have noticed that as I winged my frazzled way from upheaval to disaster, my daughter has begun to give me worried looks. You can tell she is remembering days when I entertained with everything organized, done ahead and looking easy. I think she is pretty sure that the old show horse is about ready to be put out to pasture. Of course, in those days my kids were younger but they knew better than to interrupt when I was deep into cooking and would never have yelled for Jo-Jo to come work a puzzle with them. When I hear that call I can't help but think "Now what do I really want to do. Cook or play with the grandkids?" What do you think happens? We can eat at McDonalds--again.
I know I am getting older. I know I am slowing down. I know it's harder every year to get everything done. However in my defense I am working with a slight handicap. I had two kids. Now I have two "visitors" and five grandkids. My normal routine is shot all to ____! Every time I turn around there is another pile of stuff on my counter, more shoes in the entryway, more coats on the chairs, and toys everywhere. Someone is always eating or rummaging in the refrigerator. Towels and washcloths start to multiply in the utility room.
But you know what the real show stopper is? You know what really keeps me from getting all my chores done? I just can't resist sitting down with a cup of tea for a quick chat with my daughter or running out to the barn to see the newest baby calf with my son. I had no idea it was such fun to work giant floor puzzles with my grandson or read books with my granddaughter. Who would have thought it would take so much time to tell the grandkids the stories about all ornaments on the Christmas tree....from our first little plastic ones to the ones our kids made?
The long and the short of it is that our Christmas wasn't a Hallmark moment. However there were a lot of hugs, stories, laughter and tears. My Christmas cards will be done after Christmas (although I swear, I will write notes to all my dear friends), we'll gain less weight due to less cooking, the presents were in bags instead of elegantly wrapped boxes, but we had a lot of fun! After all, now that they are all gone I have until next Christmas to get ready for 2011!!
Next year they are all getting summer clothes because I am starting in JULY!!
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