Here’s to Auld Lang Syne, Y’all

Auld lang syne.  Days gone by.

It’s that time…when we look ahead to a new year with anticipation, and look back on the last year, wondering where the time went and why it goes so fast.  As we begin the traditional countdown of the final hours and minutes of 2012, here’s a quick peek back at the holiday season my family and I enjoyed here in middle Tennessee.

We took advantage of one of the last warm days of 2012 to put up our outdoor lights.  It’s kind of weird to put up Christmas lights when it’s close to 70 degrees outside, but that’s life in the south.

As the sun began to set, the lights glowed, creating a pretty look from inside the porch…and from the yard, too.

Peeking inside, I decorated the dining room in a cool gray/white/blue scheme thanks to decorations from IKEA that I think blended nicely with plates and decorations I already had on hand.  Even better, once the Christmas trees are tucked away, the rest of the decorations can hold their own until winter loosens its hold…which could be in a few days, or a few months.

The Christmas village grew by one house this year…one from “It’s a Wonderful Life”  It’s behind the arbor and picket fence.  Fortunately, I think this collection is limited by the size of this hutch.  Unless I ever decide to tuck away the dishes and use the shelves for additional display space. Nooooooooo…….

The mantel this year was similar to last year’s, but I changed it up a little with a different garland and a woodsy theme.  They’re hard to see in this picture, but a trio of beaded birch candles from Pottery Barn inspired a woodsy, rustic “Father Christmas” feel.  I snagged the candles at a PB outlet last October, but if I had seen this DIY tutorial, I probably would have tried making my own for even cheaper.

On to the rest of the den.  Kindly ignore the cords.  (WHERE did they come from, anyway???  And how do I manage to overlook them every time I sit and watch TV?  Corralling them is a sure-fire to-do for 2013.)

Instead, focus on the nutcrackers.  Counting several others tucked in higher in the bookcase, there were 26 pairs of eyes staring at us every time we watched TV.  Displaying them all together was kind of cool, kind of freaky, and a whole lot of overwhelming.  Part of me says, “More nutcrackers!”  The rest of me says that’s nutsy.  We’ll see.  I hear there’s a whole set of Wizard of Oz characters. That would be pretty neat, right?  Anyhoo.

In the foreground is an oil-rubbed bronze trough filled with twine and twig balls (all scrounged from my attic), into which I nestled a trio of scented candles, another find on my fall trip to Atlanta and IKEA.

The tree this year was in the same spot as last year’s. The only real change (besides slipping in a few more ornaments) is the star on top.  It’s a heavy paper star with a Scandinavian feel, also from….you guessed it:  IKEA.  I had been looking for something traditional like this for several years and latched onto it when I spotted it. And it was cheap, to boot.  Yes, it *should* have had a light inside, but I kept forgetting to pick up the specific bulb it requires.  Good thing it folds flat for storage.  I’m sure I’ll remember to get a bulb for it next year.

And finally, my kitchen…and kitchen tree.  I went on a baking and candy-making spree (some new recipes are coming soon), then bundled up plates to take to the neighbors before Christmas.

The kitchen tree is similar to last year’s, but with a few more Fiesta ornaments I snagged on clearance at Macy’s on our New York trip.

And that’s it.  Thanks for strolling through our house and 2012 holiday memories with me.  I hope your look back on auld lang syne is full of fond recollections, too.  And may your hopes and wishes for the days ahead all come true.

Happy Monday,
Terry

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Tuesday? Trivia! Part Two

I love knowing odd bits and pieces of history, especially in subjects that interest me most, but also random facts that have nothing to do with anything.  They are simply fun to share with others.  I mean, who refuses to smile if you tell them today is National Cookie Day? (It is, by the way.)

A very happy (if belated) birthday to Charles A. Pillsbury, flour magnate, born in New Hampshire on December 3, 1842.  (I wonder if he was the inspiration for the Pillsbury Doughboy?)

And today back in 1884, the World’s Fair in New Orleans opened the Horticultural Exhibit, said to be the largest competitive exhibition of fruits in the world at that time.  Also today in 1854, Aaron Allen patented a folding chair.  Dinner hostesses everywhere owe a debt of gratitude.

On December 7, we can celebrate the anniversaries of a couple of patents:  one for Bakelite in 1909 and one for a household refrigerator cooled by sealed gas refrigerant, issued in 1926.  Where would we be without stove knobs and refrigerators?

And on the same day, we can wish a very happy birthday to Richard Warren Sears, who was born in 1863.  He would develop a mail-order jewelry biz into the Sears Roebuck & Company and eventually inspire countless children’s Christmas lists with his “Wish Book.”  It wasn’t the internet, but it brought the entire universe of toys to us in our homes, and that was pretty special.

And there you have it…a week’s worth of domestic trivia.  Share a cookie and a smile with someone today.

Happy Tuesday
Terry

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Countdown to Christmas begins….today!

I will go on record saying that I positively, absolutely, 100% ADORE Thanksgiving.

It is my favorite holiday for several reasons, namely because the retailers have never figured out how to commercialize it, and because we travel to my parents for the holiday, so my mom orchestrates the culinary extravaganza, and I simply work under her direction. This year, I managed to drag a croupy cough and cold along with me, so I steered clear of food prep and volunteered for more dish duty than usual. Her efforts yielded a fantastic Thanksgiving feast, and many delicious meals before and after, most notably an Apple Pancake I’m going to post this week.

We traveled home yesterday, and as is our custom, the driver gets to choose the radio station.  Me?  I break out the holiday songs.  I’m always surprised that “Spirit of Christmas” doesn’t get more (any?) airplay, even though it was featured in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  Here’s it is if you need a memory jog.

Now that another Thanksgiving is in the books, it’s time to set my sights on Christmas.  As usual, I feel I’m starting out at a disadvantage. Unlike my friends who put up their tree last weekend, and those super-organized women who already have their cards addressed, I feel like I should be scrambling to get “caught up.”   I am a conscientious objector to the bedlam we call “Black Friday,” but I did manage to buy a few gifts over the weekend. But I am not among the warriors who declare their shopping complete.

But after some consideration, I think I’m going to take things a bit slower this year – after all, we have an “extra” week because of the early Thanksgiving. This week I’ll get the trees out, buy the cards, and select my Christmas cookie and candy recipes (some new, some old.)  We’ll get the holiday lights up soon…although not on the level of Clark Griswold.

During the upcoming weeks, I’ll post my progress and the holiday recipes that make the cut.  So let’s stay calm and head for Christmas at a leisurely pace. And I hope you do the same.

Happy Monday,
Terry

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Time for renewing my resolve

To borrow from Lewis Carroll’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter,” the time has come.

(Do you remember the poem, recited by Tweedledee and Tweedledum?  This is the one stanza that always sticks in my mind…)

“The time has come,” the Walrus said,

“To talk of many things: 

Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax– 

Of cabbages–and kings– 

And why the sea is boiling hot– 

And whether pigs have wings.” 

Because we measure time the way we do, we are preparing to greet a new year at midnight.  And with the new year comes a fresh, new start, at least to our way of thinking.

For some reason, each year we choose this particular point in time and grant it the power to change us.   There’s nothing magical about this spot on the calendar – a resolution can be made at any time, and should be made sooner than later when we see something in ourselves that could stand to be improved upon.

But most of us will resolve – either today or tomorrow – to stop some bad habits and/or develop new, better habits.

Gotta love Calvin and Hobbes…

Calvin’s view of himself aside, most of us long to improve some area of our life – usually to become healthier and happier in some meaningful, tangible way. But the statistics are discouraging:  the vast majority of resolutions made each year are doomed to fail – my past resolutions are certainly part of the disappointing majority.

Even the word “resolution” has some interesting and paradoxical meanings:  on one hand, it is the quality of being resolute or firm,  on the other it is the act of dissolving or separating something into its basic parts.  At its root is the Latin word resolvere, meaning to dissolve. So which will it be:  will my resolutions remain firm and determined, or will they dissolve like salt in a glass of water? 

Last year, I had the bright and novel idea (don’t snicker) of making monthly resolutions instead of annual ones.  I didn’t put it into practice – the months slipped by, and my good intentions sailed on the wind just like my past annual resolutions.

Suddenly, here I am again, at the threshold of another new year, fresh and bright with all its potential and promise.

My personal commitments for 2012 are much like those of past years – they represent areas of my life where I want to grow and mature.  “They” (those wise, anonymous people) say you shouldn’t make more than  one large or three small resolutions.  I say I have five fingers on one hand – surely I can remember – and work on – that many goals, so here are my 2012 resolutions:

1. Make time each day to cultivate a deeper prayer life (a new prayer journal is due)
2. Read the Bible through this year – no ifs, ands or buts.
3. Exercise at least 4 days a week and drop the last 15 pounds I want to lose.
4. Get my desk re-organized – and maintain it throughout the year.
5. Cultivate the fruit of the spirit in my life:  more love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

That last one is less concrete and measurable, but my plan is to share each month a recap of my struggles and successes in these areas here with you, and I hope you’ll encourage me with your comments and input. What are you committed to changing this year?

I hope that each of us will take a few moments to ponder our progress over the past year and make a solemn promise to ourselves – even if it is basic, simple and small – to become better in some way in 2012.  Let’s be resolute and committed, so we can achieve our goals, however lofty or small.  And if/when we find ourselves standing at the brink of 2013, we can look back on this year and see where we made some positive strides. 

Happy new year,
 

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Saving Christmas: Now what?

The last two weeks have been just a little hectic.  My daily to-do’s frequently got jumbled and spilled over to the next day.  Even though I’m a pretty active person, the relentless pace of those days pushed me beyond my comfort zone.

Saturday’s shindig was small and intimate, but a lot of fun:  we seated nine for a festive sit-down dinner of prime rib, potatoes au gratin, cherry tomato crisp, green bean bundles, topped off by cheesecake.

Sunday was supposed to be a catch-up day, but it turned into a catch-up-on-sleep day and I took a much-needed nap.

So what remains to be done during the twelve days before Christmas?  This week’s list is blissfully light – the reward for cramming in so much during the last two weeks. 

Monday – mail the Christmas cards.  They’re going out about 10 days later than I had hoped, but that’s the way the Christmas cookie crumbles sometimes.

Tuesday – put the finishing touches on gift baskets for Mr. Official’s staff and wrap our own gifts (despite my good intentions, gift wrapping took a backseat to the other to-do’s.)

Wednesday - make up gift bags for my third grade Bible class students:  Christmas mugs filled with packets of hot cocoa mix and bags of homemade marshmallows.  It’s also my last day to finish up some last-minute baking (one red velvet roulade coming up!)

Thursday - finish packing for a weekend getaway and set my alarm for a really early wake-up.

Friday – our plane departs extremely early and will take us as far south as you can get without a passport.  We are reasonably confident the kids and pets and house will be fine while we’re gone.

Once we get back, we’ll be counting down the hours to Christmas Eve and the big day itself.  There will undoubtedly be a few last minute trips to town for this’n that, but all in all, it’s beginning to look a LOT like Christmas here.  I hope it is for you, too!

Happy holidays!

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Recipe of the Week: Quick and Easy Jambalaya

This is the month of glad tidings, great joy and sugar plum dreams.  It’s also an incredibly busy month, when dinnertime is frequently tested by extra-curricular activities.  Jambalaya is colorful, flavorful and highly adaptable to our hectic schedules.  Here’s my rendition (because everybody has their own idea of what jambalaya should taste like.)

You can have it on the table in under 30 minutes from start to finish, or place it on the back burner and let it simmer for an hour or two.  Need more flexibility?  Double the recipe to feed a crowd, and feel free to scale back the shrimp (or substitute cooked shredded chicken for some or all) if your family isn’t big on skrimps.

Quick and Easy Jambalaya

Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound Polish sausage (I use turkey sausage and it’s awesome), sliced into 1/4-inch slices
1-2 pounds frozen raw shrimp, peeled and deveined(can substitute cooked chicken for all or part)
1/2 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 red or green pepper, diced into small chunks
1 can (16 ounces) diced tomatoes (I used Italian style with basil and garlic), undrained
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, or to taste
chicken broth*
1 cup uncooked rice*

Directions:
In a large heavy pan or 5-6 quart Dutch oven, heat oil and saute sausage just until it starts to brown a little.  Add onion and celery; cook for a few minutes until onion begins to soften. Add diced pepper, shrimp/chicken, tomatoes and seasoning.

Option 1 (Creole style):  Add one cup chicken broth; bring to a boil and add 1 cup rice.  Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender. Add a little more broth if it seems gummy; serve.

Option 2 (“White Jambalaya”):  Add 1/2 cup chicken broth; allow to simmer for 20 minutes, or as long as two hours; add broth if it gets too thick. (You could also transfer the sauteed sausage, onions and celery to a slow cooker, then combine all other ingredients as above and cook for 3-4 hours on low.) Before serving, cook rice separately according to package directions and add to the jambalaya, stirring to incorporate.

Makes 4-5 generous main dish bowls, or 6-8 servings as a side dish or first course.  Serve with hot sauce for those who want to crank up the heat, and a basket of warm and crispy French bread for sopping up the juice.

Happy cooking!

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Saving Christmas: Decorating Dilettante-Style

We’re back from our Thanksgiving trek.  On the trip home, we were briefly serenaded by Christmas music, just to put us all in the holiday spirit.  And now begins the countdown to Christmas.  So how does a dilettante do Christmas?  Here’s this week’s list of my must-do’s:
 
Monday: Laundry and cleaning the house are at the top of my to-do’s for this evening; it’s also  a chance to snag the last of the fall decor from around the house.  If there’s time, I’ll print off Christmas card address labels, even though we won’t have cards ready to mail just yet.
Tuesday:  Up goes a new (bigger) kitchen tree, bedecked with Fiesta ornaments and assorted kitchen-related accoutrements I’ve collected over the years.  A few weeks ago, I snagged several packages of bright-colored rick-rack to hang the ornaments this year, for a truly Fiesta feel.  The kitchen table and china hutch will also get a quick green/red makeover.
Wednesday: The dining room gets shifted from fall to wintery white and shimmery blue and silver; it’s the easiest room to switch up, so I scheduled it for the night I have the least free time.  The off-white Christmas dishes will be washed and stacked on the buffet for easy use.
Thursday: The bonus room tree goes up, displaying our true colors, loud and proud:  it’s orange and white all the way, baby.
Friday: Mr. Official is working the Tennessee 5A championship game tonight, so I may or may not have time to Christmas-tize the den and sunroom, or just prepare the spot for the big tree.
Saturday:  Fun, old-fashioned family breakfast followed by outdoor decorating and indoor tree-trimming activities.  I debated on the cut tree vs. artificial tree, and decided to go back to my artificial tree for this year since I have room for it.   Weather permitting, we’ll also get the outdoor porch decorating done, then spend the afternoon and evening putting ornaments on the tree in the den, and get a family Christmas photo in the process.
Sunday:  As soon as the family shot has been uploaded and photo cards ordered, it’s time for some rest and relaxation so we’re prepared to launch into the next week full-throttle. Unless I get the urge to put up another tree or two in the bedrooms.  But if not, it’s no big deal.

Bottom line:  This week’s list is daunting for sure.  But keep in mind we travel cross-country for Thanksgiving and the typical weekend-after-Thanksgiving tree-trimming activities are on hold until we get back. However, it’s feasible to squeeze these tasks into evening and weekend hours because my decorations are fairly well organized and accessible from the walk-in attic.  (I’ve said it before, but really – God bless the person who first thought of giving over some second-floor room to attic storage.  You have my undying gratitude.)

Next Monday, I’ll post pictures of the to-do’s that have turned into “done’s” along with a rundown of the second list of must-do’s, so we can get to the fun stuff.

Happy holidays!
 

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