Merry Christmas

from our home to yours.

May Light and Love find you

however and wherever 

you celebrate.

Something Old and Something New

Today was the day before the day before, and the day to do some more cooking!

First up was something old, our traditional cardamom wreath bread for Christmas morning. 

Before we eat it on December 25th, it will be warmed and topped with icing and cherries.

 The recipe came from Sunset Magazine December 1972. I made it that year, and I have been making it every year since, even when we traveled to Colorado for Christmas. 

The recipe makes two wreaths, or one wreath and two pans dinner rolls. 

While the bread was proofing and rising and baking, I made the something new, or at least new for us, Santa's Rice Porridge.

This recipe came for this book. 

While rice pudding will be new to us, it is an ages old tradition in Sweden. I have long had an affinity for things Scandinavian and I loved traveling there to see the villages on my ancestors in Norway and Sweden.  Then last year I had my DNA tested and the results came back 70% Scandinavian!  Viking blood! I try to incorporate some ancestral traditions into our holiday. 

 The hot porridge is served hot in the morning, and it is important to leave a bowl for the Yule Tomten if you want to get gifts instead of sticks in your stocking. 

 But we won't be eating it as porridge for breakfast, but as pudding for dessert. Cooled, and with the addition of whipped cream and vanilla, it will be Christmas Eve dessert. 

Will my family like it? I don't know, but I tasted it, and I do!

God Jul!

Gatherings

I am fortunate to have friends and family close by so that we can celebrate the season together. 

On Friday, Dec. 11, we were invited to Becky's Brunch. 

(Back - Left to right-Becky, LaRae, Linda, Lela, Tom

Front - Colleen, Julie, Mavis, Jan)

These are my adopted friends, wonderful women that Tom worked with when he taught PE and then kindergarten at Des Moines Elementary School in the Highline School district, south of Seattle.  I got to know many of them when we hosted end-of-the-school- year parties in our garden. Many of them had their retirement parties here. Some of them are our regulars at Friday morning breakfast. 

On Friday Dec. 18th, we drove south 80 miles to Chehalis to have dinner with my siblings. We met in a restaurant and enjoyed good food and a good visit. 

(From the left, my sisters Laurie and Ilene, me, and Tom. In front my brother Hank with his daughter Jordan and wife Cindy)

They will all be with their own families for Christmas day. 

It's funny how, as we get older, we tend to talk about the past, even memories from our childhood, and questions about our parents we never got answers to. Only brothers and sisters share those memories. 

Saturday the 19th, we went to Tom's sister Jan's house for an early Christmas before she and her partner Ann travel south to be with their families in California. 

This was a low key event for tired students and teachers just out of school for the holiday break. Not sure what Tom's excuse is. 

 He did help Ann in the kitchen.

 There was more good eating and gifts were exchanged. It was a fun family function. 

Today, Solstice Day, Tom and I hosted a lunch for some of the same teacher friends you saw in the first photo.  We used to host a Lucia Day dinner, but with people passing or unable to attend due to health issues, and others not wanting to drive in the dark, we sort of let go of that occasion. Mavis, bless her heart, told me when we drove her home after Becky's brunch, how much she missed coming to our home for a Christmas gathering.

So today we had "Mavis's Lunch" also known as Solstice Day Lunch. It was wonderful to once again share our home with these fun and very appreciative guests. 

It may have to be an annual occasion. Jan says she's already put it on her calendar for next year!

And now it's time for the final countdown.  The cards and letters were sent out weeks ago. The gifts are wrapped, the baking is done, except for the Christmas morning Swedish bread, and the family plans are set. It will be the six of us here at our house for Christmas Eve dinner, and then we six will go to Jill's house for Christmas day. Christmas is where the kids live, as it should be.  I think Santa will be overly generous again, and there will probably be a walk while the turkey is roasting. 

Wishing everyone a Merry and Joyous Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. May the love of family and friends warm your heart no matter with whom you gather.  

Cookies

I wasn't going to bake a lot of cookies for this Christmas. There just weren't that many functions that I needed to supply cookies for this year.

But then I discovered I needed to bake cookies, because that's what I do. So I did.  Including the kinds that the kids helped with, I made ten different kinds of cookies.  Most of them went right into the freezer as soon as they were cooled.

Now they are emerging from the deep freezer to be shared.  I decided to give most of them away.

We had a little family Christmas with sister-in-law Jan and her partner Ann on Saturday evening.  That was an occasion for unpacking the Fitz & Floyd cookie tray and loading it up. The fatigmand, sugar cookies and gingerbread are on another tray. We ate lots of them, and then I packed up the rest to send with Jan to California, where she will join Brother Dave's family for Christmas. 

On Friday evening we joined my siblings for a get together at a restaurant in Chehalis.  I gave each of them a tin full of cookies. 

Friday morning I gave tins of cookies to our breakfast group, and have a few more friends to give to.

I should have just enough left for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Politics of Fear

I have been taking time from my holiday preparations most days to read editorials and Facebook links on what's happening in the world of politics.

The last big news event was the Republican Debate Tuesday evening.  I did watch some of it, about a half hour or so.  That was enough. The biggest topic of debate seems to be who will take us into war the fastest and the messiest. Fear permeates everything. Everyone seems to be the enemy: the Muslims, the terrorists, the illegal immigrants, the potential legal immigrants, the drug peddlers, the abortionists, the gun control supporters, the President and Hillary. 

The candidates took shots at each other and more than once ended up in a shouting match.  Falsities were presented as facts, and posturing predominated. 

The bottom line was that we must all be afraid, very afraid, and it's working on a large segment of our population. I have thought about this a lot.  There are a lot of unhappy people in our country. Why? Well, since 2008, people have lost good paying jobs and can only get low paying replacement employment. Due to economic downturn, it is harder to get ahead, and even to hang on to what they had. There is limited and unequal opportunity. When this happens, people tend hang on tightly to what they have, become more selfish, and draw in, like turtles.  Then they have a limited view of the real world. They feel insecure, and look to protection from walls, guns, bigger military guns, and politicians who tell them they should be afraid.  Fear mongering is good politics. 

Today I read a New York Times editorial written by Charles M. Blow that attempts to put this fear phenomenon into perspective. Here is an excerpt. 


"It has been said that this Republican cycle is dominated by fear and frustration among Republican voters who are not satisfied with national politicians and are becoming increasingly afraid on a number of fronts.

"The anger I agree with completely, but I prefer another way of phrasing — or possibly explaining — the fear: overwhelming insecurity.

"I would posit that most of the issues that get traction in these debates, and indeed have gotten traction among Republican voters this cycle, have to do with a tremendous insecurity about power and safety — terrorism, the economy, immigration, gun rights, refugees, exploding drug addiction among white youth, policing, all of it.

"We live in an America that is changing in dramatic demographic ways right before people’s eyes. Many of our largest cities are already majority-minority or soon will be. The electoral map, altered by this growing number of minority voters, makes it increasingly difficult for Republicans to win the presidency, even as they enjoy overwhelming successes on the state and legislative levels.

           ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++.

" Pew Research Center on Tuesday published a piece, “Five Facts About Republicans and National Security,” that included the following observations:

1. For Republicans, international concerns now dominate.

2. Republicans broadly support an aggressive approach toward the Islamic State and global terrorism.

3. Republicans are more concerned than Democrats about a number of overseas security threats.

4. In September, Republicans opposed the United States decision to accept more refugees.

5. Most Republicans associate Islam with violence.

"Want to understand why the Republican primary session — including last night’s debate — seems like such an absurdity to those of us who feel grounded in the belief that smart solutions can be arrived at, solutions that don’t involve bombing Middle Eastern countries until we can determine whether “sand can glow in the dark”? There is one word you have to keep in mind: “insecurity.”

               ***********************************************************

I want to emphasize a line from that last quote from the editorial: "why the Republican primary season...seems like such an absurdity to those of us who feel grounded in the belief that smart solutions can be arrived at, solutions that don't involve bombing Middle Eastern countries..."  Add to that solutions that don't include building walls, closing mosques, prohibiting immigration or pathways to citizenship, and arming yourself. 

Yes, I do believe we can arrive at smart solutions.  I also believe we can adjust to our changing society.  I believe the answer to many of these issues is to become informed and educated. Our free public school system is what assures that we continue to be a melting pot.  Being sure of facts before accepting rumors, half truths, and outright falsities is essential to maintaining balance and overcoming fear.

As we enter into this holiday season, I will not watch and live in fear of my fellow man. As we approach the solstice and the gradual return of the light, I will work to stay enlightened to the truth, and do my best to spread that light.

Peace be with you.

Tom's Christmas Project

When Jill and her kids moved into their newly purchased 1960's split level home three years ago, there were lots of things that needed fixing. The most necessary things came first, like unclogging the plumbing, adding some electrical outlets, fixing the roof, and last summer, removing the non-functioning hot tub, refurbishing the deck, and installing a new hot tub.

In an effort to make her small kitchen more functional. Jill moved the refrigerator out of it's space to a blank wall, leaving a hole in the cabinets and counter top where it used to be. She had a drop in cook top with no counter tops beside it, and a small wall oven.  For Christmas she asked Santa for a new kitchen stove and cabinets to finish off the space.

Santa Tom has been busy fulfilling her wish.  Jill picked out her stove several weeks ago. We were able to match the stock cabinets and counter top. This Monday, with Jake's help, the transformation began.

Cook top gone. 

Cabinet gone. 

Jake helping install new cabinets.

Counter tops on. 

Leveling the stove. 

Tuesday Tom built a shelf for the microwave and added trim pieces.

 Today, Wednesday, I helped install the shelf, and we got everything cleaned up.  This evening Tom applied the first coat of Verathane to the new cabinets. 

Jill will have her gift in time for cooking Christmas Day dinner.

Hurrah for Santa Tom/Dad!

More Cookie Baking

It's an annual event. The "kids" gather in our kitchen for the cookie extravaganza. 

They were all here because Tom and Jake spent the day working in Jill's kitchen, and Jill's kitchen was not yet ready for cooking. That's another post. 

I made beef stew for dinner and had the cookie dough made and ready to go. First off was the gingerbread cookies, but we were all done cutting those out before I had time to clean my hands and grab my camera. 

 Jake got involved in decorating the sugar cookies with sprinkles. 

 After that we moved on to frosting the details on the cooled gingerbread cookies. 

 Jake was done by now and left for home.  Maybe it is because he doesn't have a nifty apron. I made them a long time ago. Isaac complained when his mother insisted he wear his.  "I'm almost 13 and I got this when I was four! It doesn't fit!" That's true, but he wore it anyway. Jill is perhaps more into tradition than I am! Maybe I'll have to make him a new one.

 We all got into the act of decorating the gingerbread using royal icing in zip lock bags with one corner snipped off. 

 I requested that Jill take a few photos with me in them.  That got a bit silly. 

 But it got even sillier when Isaac got a hold of the camera. 

 We waited until everyone went home to start the clean up.  It's easier that way.

 And here are the results of this year's cookie extravaganza!

St. Lucia Day

History doesn't make it clear how a young Sicilian woman born in the year 284 and martyred at the age of twenty for not renouncing her Christian faith could, in the late 1700's, become almost a patron saint in Sweden. But she did, and the tradition of St Lucia Day, on December 13th, is stronger than ever. 

Perhaps it was because "Lucia" means light, something the Swedes are lacking in the dark of December. I can relate. Perhaps it was because Lucia was known to help the poor and bring gifts of food to those imprisoned, and with her hands full, she strapped a torch to her head. Perhaps it was because the day of her death, December 13th, was also the Winter Solstice under the Julian Calendar. For these and other reasons unknown, Lucia is the bringer of light in the Swedish family.

The oldest daughter is the Lucia, wearing a crown of candles, and  along with her siblings, all dressed in white gowns, they knock on the bedroom door of their parents on the morning of Dec. 13th and enter bearing breakfast trays. Saffron laced Lucia buns are traditional. It is a national holiday and a day of family celebration.

 Saturday evening, as part of shopping and watching a lighted boat parade in Gig harbor, we also attended a little Lucia fest at the Harbor Museum. The kids were going to stay over night with us while Jill went to a party, but at the last minute she opted to come with us instead. The kids did not stay over, so this morning Tom went to fetch them while Jill caught up on some much needed sleep.

 We had a little Lucia breakfast, with lighted candles on the table, not on Irene's head. The buns were croissant, not saffron, but with raspberry jam, Irene thought they were wonderful.  Isaac loved the bacon. 

After breakfast we got to work making fatigmand. This is a traditional cardamom flavored cookie that I have made once in a while. The name translates to "poor man's cookie", but I prefer to think of them as "fat man's buckles" or Santa's buckles. 

 Once I showed her how, Irene quickly became expert at tucking the tails through the slits. 

 Issac was coaxed off his phone by the prospect of the hot vat of frying oil. 

 I rolled the dough and cut, and my crew did the rest.

 Fried and cooling, the first batch is done. 

 The final stage is to shake them in a paper bag with powdered sugar.  And there you have it, fatigmand!

Irene said they were OK on the taste test.  Isaac declared them delicious.  Yum.

We had the Seahawks on the TV, and at half time we helped the kids wrap the gifts for their mother that they had purchased on Wednesday, when we took them shopping at the mall. 

We've had some busy days around here, and more to come. 

We'll have to wait for December 22 for the real solstice, and the returning of the light, but today helped.

Happy Lucia Day. 

Field Trip Part 2 - Wight's Home and Garden

Each year Wight's turns into Christmas Land, with dozens of decorated theme trees and thousands of ornaments. It is a wonderland, and the one stop on our field strip that does not change. 

We entered through the Seahawks themed door, hurriedly, to escape the rain.

 We went our separate ways, some headed for specific treasures.  Tom and I just started at was what nearby, slowly working our way through the amazing maze. 

 We noticed in both shops a return to the vintage - here new icicles packaged to look old. 

 And you thought MY tree was stuffed!

 The little cone and feather birds were so cute!

 From the forest to the formal to the sea!

 Oh, I did find a very special Santa to add to my collection, but alas it was a bit too precious, to the tune of $246.99! No wonder it was locked in a glass case. It did not come home with me. 

 How about this for Christmas tea?

 I liked these fused glass plates. 

 Gingerbread you don't have to bake.

 Oh, you could have a Seahawks/Sounders themed house!

 Between the two shops I did come home with a few treasures.

Feathered and glass clip on birds for the tree, plus a pineapple and a Santa ornament.  Yes we did find room for them on our tree. 
And for the Santa collection, just this little velvet old style Father Christmas. There's always room for one more, as long as they are small.