As I rummage through the bins of decorations, nostalgic remembrances pop up. These bubble lights bring back warm sentiments of my paternal grandparents. When I gaze at their bubbles, I am transported back in time--I'm about 6 years old standing before Grandma's Christmas tree in the living room of the farm house with those mesmerizing lights reflecting back at me.
Although this teapot rests on our mantle year-round, at Christmas time it gets adorned with a red bow. The pot came to America from Sweden with Jay's paternal grandparents. His grandfather's name was Johnny Johnson (he pronounced it as Yonnie Yonson, and he told folks, “I'd give ten dollars if I could yust say yug!”)
Jay's mother gave me this little cardboard cut-out bear for an ornament. She put it on her tree when he brought it home from school in 1944 (his name date are on the back). It is hard to imagine what Christmas might have been like that year, what with the Battle of the Bulge raging in Europe and the U.S. preparing to drop the Atomic bomb on Japan.
This sled sits on the front porch and it also gets a bow adornment at this time of year. It seems impossible, but my sister and I rode this downhill at the same time. Sorry Sis, but I don't think our derrieres would both fit on it today!
I love this wreath with the old ice-skate in it. We three kids all got ice-skates for Christmas one year and we spent lots of time on the pond afterward—sometimes upright but often times not. As a matter-of-fact I have a dislocated tailbone, and the most likely culprit is too many unions between ice and rear end!
“Oh Holy Night” is my favorite carol. For some reason I am crazy about John Denver's version of it. The piano and violins are so pleasing to me in this rendition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMMpqP0C5SM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMMpqP0C5SM
I photographed the mailbox because I like to send and receive real Christmas cards. I spend some time putting together a letter to go in mine. If you would like a copy, just email me (jandta@frontiernet.net) and I will send it to you (either via email or the real McCoy in your mailbox).
My favorite drink to get warmed up with is hot cocoa with peppermint. If you really want to get warmed up, add a stiff shot of Peppermint Schnapps to make the drink called a 'snow bunny'.
Pair that drink with these cookies and you have a perfect holiday treat in my opinion. The cookies are not made by me, but rather by a talented baker friend. I am not that artistic. I love the plate too. It was a gift from an old friend.
“A Christmas Story” is my favorite holiday movie. The whole thing just cracks me up, but I especially like the part where Ralphie gets his mouth washed out with soap. He says something to the effect that over the years he eventually became somewhat of a connoisseur of soap, and actually developed a taste for Lux, because of the slightly piquant flavor. It makes me laugh just thinking about it now!
Jay reads “Twas The Night Before Christmas” on most Christmas Eves—a carry-over from reading it to his kids when they were urchins. We now have the Cajun version too--”Twas the night before Christmas An' all t'ru de house, Dey don't a t'ing pass, Not even a mouse.” Well you get the idea. I dare anyone to read it without cracking a smile.
Here is our tree. I had some help from a friend getting it put up this year. With a fire in the fireplace and a glass of wine for sipping, it was pleasant way to spend an afternoon. When we were kids we had one of those aluminum trees that is illuminated by the revolving colored light wheel for a few years. Actually, they really were pretty fun to watch, despite being so artificial.
I don't remember receiving any particularly favorite Christmas gift. I just remember always getting new slippers, pajamas and bubble bath nearly every year. The smell of certain bubble bath crystals still reminds of Christmas. My sister and I got Hullabaloo sweatshirts for Christmas and wore them to our maternal grandparents' farm that day. We must have been about 14 and 15 years old, respectively. The show only lasted about a year and half, but we really liked it.
Let's have little fun now. I have worn this mistletoe headband on several occasions to various gatherings. It is always good for a laugh and a kiss or two from just about everybody. I got it as a gag gift at Bridge Club years ago. They are available at Amazon.com if you simply have to have one!
Two other things I like at Christmas are a fire in the fireplace and a red poinsettia (I know the other colors are pretty too, but it just seems more original to have the red one). We never hung stockings up at Christmas when we were young—maybe because we didn't have a fireplace! I really do like the tradition though.
Lastly, and most importantly of all, my very favorite thing about Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
