Category: Holidays

After Christmas

This year my Christmas Day was filled with little foot beats, giggles, laughs and a lot of noise, happy noise. My three grandchildren I cared for during the Spring and Summer and their parents spent Christmas at Granny’s house. It has been twelve years since a child spent Christmas Day at Granny’s.

The past years we have celebrated Christmas with family on a day other than December 25. After everyone has celebrated Christmas with their families and others, we would choose a date in January for a feast and gift exchange with us. Christmas Day past has been a quiet day with my husband.

Today, the grandchildren, my son and daughter-in-law started their trip returning home. The house is quiet, the train under the Christmas tree is still. I will miss them, each and everyone, but there is plans for them to visit again in April, and the coming summer.

The past week I have focused on painting snowflake decorations with my grandchildren, playing “Shark Bite”, baking and decorating sugar cookies for Santa. Times of doing chores and petting newborn lambs. Reading a bedtime story. Many meals to prepare and serve, thankfully my daughter-in-law washed the few dishes as paper plates were used for all meals.

Today is the day to change the focus to the approaching New Year. Plans are being formed and changes have to be made. Some of the changes will be sad ones. Thoughts of new adventures in creating income. Memories of this Christmas to help me keep my chin up as I begin a new and change year.

amtolle

A Little Thought for You.

In the United States we travel straight from Thanksgiving to Christmas, almost missing Thanksgiving and Halloween. Christmas is almost here with people busy buying gifts and making travel plans to celebrate with family and friends.

I have been busy with addressing and signing Christmas cards. Why send Christmas cards? I debate on whether I should also send along the yearly letter stating the adventures of the year. This year, I am only sending Christmas cards. The thought and time required to pick out the Christmas card design and message, sign with a small note, address the envelope, place a stamp and put in the mail box, lets the receiver know at least one person thought of them this year.

The usual clutter of envelopes and postcards we receive in our mailbox is advertisements to coerce some sort of purchasing of a product. This usual clutter can be depressing and aggravating, sometimes overwhelming with all that ends in can to be thrown out, extra work in a busy day. A Christmas card brings a thought and message of caring, affection and connection. A Christmas card provides a light during the darkest time of year.

Last year I planned on making the Christmas cards to send this year. Life events, work did not provide the opportunity for such a creative endeavor. Perhaps next year there will be time provided to create the carrier to send the thoughts of caring and affection to those I know and love.

My life did get very busy this year. The desire to create individual Christmas gifts was detoured with the lack of time. I have been able with saving money and purchasing through out the year to be able to obtain gifts for family and friends. Simple gifts I know the individuals will enjoy. Each gift carefully thought out to meet the personality and joys of the person. No random spontaneous shopping for gifts to fill a spot on the gift buying list.

Of course most of my grandchildren are easy to buy a gift for as they all enjoy reading or being read to depending on their age. Simple gifts to share with their young minds. Books and stories I enjoyed, their parents enjoyed are gifts this year for them to enjoy and share again with their parents. Creating memories and reviving old memories to span the years.

Christmas is almost here.

amtolle

Thankfulness

In the United States people celebrate a holiday of Thanksgiving in November. Thanksgiving, a time of giving thanks with a celebration of families and friends gathering together to feast on turkey or ham and a time to be thankful. The holiday is said to have begun with the first harvest of the Pilgrims in the “New Land”. The celebration after a harvest is not new to the Pilgrims or the “New Land”. Many cultures celebrated the conclusion of fall harvest with a feast being thankful for the crops that will provide the yearly food until next fall. Being a farmer for most of my life, I have always been thankful when the harvest is completed.

For several years I practiced writing or saying something I was thankful for each day of the month of November. Being aware to be thankful for those in our lives and the good events during the year condensed into one month, November. As years brings wisdom, in recent years, I make a point to be thankful for something or someone each day.

During the hard times or times of struggle it is easy for us to focus on the problem. I would focus on the problem or struggle and loose sight of what was good around me. My mind going into a downward spiral of depression. I have realized that we need to be mindful of the problems or struggles in our life at the time, but not have our total focus on those things. It is important to see and focus on what is good in our life during those times as well.

Giving thanks daily helps me to realize the good that is happening in my life and around me. Yes, there are struggles, there are unlikable situations, but there is also the good, the beautiful. To keep my mind from the downward spiral, I focus on what is good, what is beautiful and know that the sun will come up tomorrow shedding light on a new day and a new possibility.

Wishing everyone a time of thanksgiving happiness. Thank you to all those who stop and read my posts, follow my writing during the year. Thank you to those who leave comments and likes. I may be busy and not read or respond as quickly as I would like to, but I do read each one.

Thank you.

amtolle

Christmas Planning

It is September, fall, time of harvest and preparing for winter. I am also preparing for Christmas. This year is planned to be different from other years. Since my husband and I have been married, we have celebrated Christmas Day as only a couple. He usually had to work, our children and their families live in other states away. This year, the plans are for my son, his wife and the three little grandchildren to spend Christmas Day with us, unless a blizzard is happening between their home and ours.

Decades back, when my children were young, I started planning Christmas in January. We did not have much money, so I would watch my children and see what they were really longing to have, and buy for a Christmas present or Birthday present when I had the money to do so. Stretching out the Christmas present purchasing to all year long, allowed me to give my children several gifts, instead of just one gift.

I took the same idea to when purchasing food for Christmas dinner. I would buy a bag of chocolate chips or nuts or extra cans of vegetables during my regular grocery shopping a few months before. Spreading out the cost of Christmas dinner over several months was easier on my budget than purchasing the one week of Christmas.

My daughter-in-law and I have discussed the menu, and it is set. Main course is salmon. The salmon was on sale, I was hungry for salmon, so I purchased some. I always buy turkeys and ham when they are on sale during that time of year. I will probably prepare a turkey or ham for Christmas dinner to join the salmon, for those who may not want to eat salmon. The rest of the menu will be purchased, little by little at each grocery shopping day.

A new addition this year is going to be the “Mystery Box”. Since my daughter-in-law and I like to do crafty things. Children love to do crafty things. This “Mystery Box” will be supplied each day with a different Christmas type craft for the family to craft together. One day will be clothes pin snowflakes. I will glue the clothes pins into various snowflake shapes and paint them white before they arrive. Everyone will decorate them with glitter, paints, and other items. The Mystery Box will have an activity of stringing popcorn one day, and another day of making Christmas chains from red, green and white construction paper. I have supplies to make reindeer and decorate foam Christmas trees. All items crafted will be used as part of the decorations in the house. At the conclusion of their visit, they can take the decorations they have made home if they wish.

On Christmas Eve, we will do the age old family tradition of decorating sugar cookies with colored frosting and candy decorations for Santa. The boys will help me make oatmeal cookies for the reindeer. When it is time for bed, we will gather for the poem, “The Night Before Christmas”, and the Christmas Story.

Seems like a lot to prepare for and do. But by purchasing needed cooking and crafting supplies, a little at a time, I will be able to stay within my budget and enjoy a festive time of the year with children and grandchildren.

amtolle

Valentine’s Day

February 14 – Valentine’s Day.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Historically and commercially it is a day for romantic couples to celebrate their love. Leaving out those who do not have a romantic partner to share the holiday celebration with. Love is so much bigger. Everyone has and receives love from someone. To me these relationships are just as important.

When I was much younger and in school we celebrated Valentine’s Day. We would make some creative object to contain the valentines we received on the day of celebration. Each student was expected to bring a valentine for everyone in the class. There were students I did not want to give a valentine card to, so I would select what I considered the “ugliest” valentine to give to them. If the cards I was handing out that year had candy, those I did not like would get the broken candy. I am sure I was not the only child to do distribute valentines in this manner. The celebration was not true of the representation of the holiday. As I advanced in school, Valentine’s Day was celebrated by those who had a romantic partner, and I was left out.

Love is so much bigger. I celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special effort of sending a card to those I love and care about. This started when my children were small. During one of the times they were getting ready for their Valentine Day’s celebration at school and writing names on valentine cards for each student in the class, I decided to make cards for each of my children. I hid them in their pile of cards to hand out. A surprise as they placed cards for others, there would be a card with their name on it just for them. Through time this has evolved to sending cards to my children, and eventually grandchildren.

A few years back, I started sending cards expressing how important a friendship was to me. I feel that others should know they are appreciated and important to someone else. A way of letting my friends know I value their friendship, the times they were there to support me or encourage me when I needed it. Also, to let them know I am there when they need support or encouragement. These are not romantic cards at all, but ‘thank you for being my friend’. Valentine’s Day history and celebration has been to celebrate romantic love, love is so much bigger.

Today, I celebrate Love. Love of family, friends and my husband. I celebrate the fact I am loved. I celebrate that I love myself. I have spent most of my life not loving the person I was created to be. Three years ago, I started the journey to love myself.

This Valentine’s Day celebrate love. Love of a partner if you have one. Love of family and friends. Love from the Creator. Mostly celebrate the love for yourself.

amtolle

So Long 2022

The year 2022 has been good, a big improvement over the two years prior. There were many blessings for me and my family. But it is now time to bid you farewell. I will see you to the door while holding a glass as I toast in the New Year. You have not been a bad year, but I do believe it is time for you to go.

As I prepare to celebrate your departure, I reminisce of this year’s events. You, Year 2022, will be most remembered as the year that marked the arrival of my last grandchildren. This year will be remembered as I look at my son and daughter-in-law’s long desired daughter, four boys and finally a daughter to make their family complete. Four boys are good, but sometimes mothers want a little of themselves to share. I am sure she will be spoiled. She has the look of a princess with four knights by her side.

Let us not forget the journey of Baby A, Baby B and Baby C. A huge surprise you brought us in March. A year entangled with prayer and hope to see if a set of triplets would enter our family fold. We were not disappointed, they arrived all well and good. Three growing healthy boys we added in the end.

Not least among the year’s events was a visit from my oldest daughter with her three children in tow. There first visit to the farm brought lot of laughter and joy. Grandchildren finally were able to ride the famed Victoria and found all the stories were true. She will follow a cow without a miss or a cue. Her sudden moves a little scary, but the ride was exciting. We ate, played games, laughed and had fun. As I reminisce this year 2022 the creation of memories to last a lifetime we made.

You were not all joy and fun, you brought some strong winds of change. Some might call it a tornado when a source of income is done. My husband’s on a journey of finding work again. Where we might land is the question. But you will not bring the answer to us, for your time is now done. The New Year will determine where and when we land.

There are dreams and hopes we have as our New Year arrives. The New Year will bring untold blessings and challenges that will be revealed as the New Year and us journey forward together.

You and I will travel towards the door of departure with games, fun, food and fest. Out the door you must go and have your rest.

amtolle

Silent Night

Christmas Eve has arrived. I have completed my list of things to have done for Christmas. The Church Windows as our family always called the chocolate, marshmallow, coconut candy is done.

The recipe is simple: 1/2 cup of butter or one stick ; 1 – bag of semi-chocolate chips 24 ounces; 1 – bag of colored mini marshmallows 10 ounces; 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract; 2 cups of coconut (optional)

In a pan on low heat, melt the butter. In a bowl pour the marshmallows.

While the butter is melting, I set up the aluminum foil and wax paper to put the candy mix on to form a roll. I put down foil, then wax paper, then a row of coconut. This year I am only doing coconut on half of the roll, as my granddaughter does not like coconut. Other options for coconut is almond slices, chopped pecans, or graham cracker crushed.

When the butter is melted add the chocolate and peppermint extract to the pan. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Once the chocolate is melted, pour chocolate over the marshmallows and stir until all the marshmallows are covered.

1/2 coconut, and 1/2 without.

Spoon mixture onto the wax paper in a row on top of the coconut. Put coconut on top of the mixture, gently press roll together. Wrap with wax paper, twisting the ends, then roll in the aluminum foil. The aluminum foil keeps the wax paper from coming apart from the candy, creating a mess in the refrigerator. Cool for 1 hour or freeze to use later ( I have kept it for 6 months) then cut into 1/2 inch slices and enjoy.

The recipe makes two rolls approximately 12 to 15 inches long. I did not get as much coconut as I usually do as I was in a hurry.

amtolle

Brrrr, It’s Cold Out There

Children dream of a white Christmas. Part of my childhood we lived in an area where I always had a white Christmas. I never thought of the cold, or preparing for the cold. My thoughts were on building a snowman, snow ball fights with siblings and cousins, and sledding. The fun activities of snow. After playing in the cold, chilly snow, we were greeted with a cup of hot chocolate in a warm cozy home.

Children do not have the cares or worries adults carry when there is a white Christmas. The preparation of water lines and making sure the heat stays on before the cold weather arrives. As a child we were dependent on propane, that was delivered, for heat in our home. My parents would check the propane tank and make sure there was sufficient propane for all of winter before winter arrived. The company would not deliver propane if the roads were icy and unsafe to drive on.

This year my son, daughter-in-law and their five children will have their first white Christmas in Indiana. They moved to Indiana because my son’s job transferred him there. For Christmas celebrations, they were going to his parents-in-laws. This morning, my son, his wife and four children were heading back home. They left yesterday afternoon on a road trip to spend Christmas with her family. They managed to travel one hour from the house, but the journey took four hours due to white out conditions. They were able to get a hotel for the night. With the weather still precarious, they made the choice to return home and celebrate Christmas there. They are disappointed in not sharing Christmas with her parents. But more important is to stay safe to celebrate next year.

There are many who are left in airports, and other places away from where they were planning on being for Christmas – all because of the weather. Others are driving on slippery roads trying to reach their destination or just to go shopping for groceries and last minute gifts. I do not think any of them are happy about a white Christmas, their only focus is on staying safe in their travels.

We have had our disappointments for Christmas celebration as well. Our plans were to spend Christmas Day with my daughter, her husband and four children. But, my daughter and her husband, and oldest daughter came down with Covid. No trip for us on Christmas Day. And no snow. In the fourteen years I have lived in Texas, we have had only one White Christmas.

We live close enough to my daughter and her family, we can reschedule for a weekend day to celebrate. But others, they have taken time off for the trip and celebrations. My son and his family, will have to schedule a time when he has more than three days off as the distance takes a day of good roads to get there.

Packages can be mailed. Facetime can be used to watch grandchildren open gifts. There are ways to celebrate with today’s technology without being there physically.

Stay safe. Celebrate with a joyful heart. It is not the place or who you celebrate with that makes Christmas important, it is why you celebrate that makes Christmas important.

amtolle

My Christmas List is Almost Complete

Today, I have one item left to do on my Christmas List. Today, the other gifts arrived for my grandchildren. They are wrapped and under the tree, ready for delivery.

I finished decorating the gingerbread houses. I am pleased with their appearance. This year I used fondant on the roofs. I used fondant frosting for the first time this summer, when I made a birthday cake for my granddaughter, with the help of my grandson. I enjoyed the look and working with fondant this summer. So, I used what was left over to decorate the roofs of the gingerbread houses. I also used fondant to make a snowman. Did you see him? I will definately be experimenting with fondant next year and next Christmas.

I have a few other ideas on decorating next year’s gingerbread houses. Yes, my creative mind is thinking a whole year ahead. This summer, when my grandson was visiting, as per his request, we watched baking shows and baking challenges. These baking shows inspired us on making a birthday cake. He is still fond of baking shows, only his brothers do not like to watch them. It was nice talking about my ideas for next year’s gingerbread houses with him.

The Christmas cookies are baked. I made M&M cookies using red and green M&M for the season. My base recipe is from Nestle’s Toll House Chocolate Cookies, I substitute the M&M for the chocolate chips.

There is only one item left, the Church Windows. Another name is no-bake stained glass window candies, if someone wanted to search the internet. I have a few different substitutions and ingredients than the recipes I found on the internet. But I am sure which every recipe is used, they will taste delicious. Tomorrow the Church Windows, then we are ready for Christmas.

This year, our plans have changed. My husband and I will be celebrating as a couple. My daughter and her husband are sick, and they requested we stay home. It is nothing for my husband and I to celebrate as a couple. We have been doing so for most of our married life. We will deliver the Christmas gifts on or after the New Year. Most years we have had the family gathering after New Year’s Day, when others were able to come.

For Christmas Eve, I will be making a pot of green chilli. We will have frito pies, nachos or just a bowl of chilli. There will be other items such as some finger foods, a relish tray and deviled eggs. We will snack and watch Christmas movies, until my husband is too tired and we retire to be about 9:00 pm.

Christmas Day, I will fix cornish game hens, stuffing, green beans and crescents. Dessert will be butternut squash pie, cookies, or whatever. Maybe a bowl of ice cream.

amtolle

Made a List, Checking it Twice

I am a list person. I get more things done by making a list of things to do the night before. The list keeps me focused on what I prioritized to be done the next day. I am a person, I will be working on something, then go to get a tool or put an item away and see another things that needs to be done, and start working on that task and not finish the one I was working on first. A list keeps me from starting a lot of projects and finishing none. I also make a list when it comes to celebrating a holiday or preparing for a visit. My list for Christmas is almost complete.

Decorate tree – done

Decorate inside of house – done

Send Christmas Cards – done

Bake cinnamon rolls – done

Bake cookies – on the to do list

Make Church Windows – on the to do list

Buy Christmas Presents – done

Wrap Christmas Presents – almost done, waiting for one more delivery.

Decorate gingerbread houses – half done.

My list for Christmas 2022 is almost done. All that is left to do is the fun things, cooking and decorating cookies and gingerbread houses. One of my favorite interests is cooking, baking and decorating cookies and cakes. I get joy out of the presentation of the food I prepare and cook, as well as the taste.

This year, I made a conscious effort to enjoy each task on my list. I want to savor the moments of this Christmas. A couple of months back, I did some reflection on Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations and realized I was busy doing the decorating and preparing for the holidays, but not savoring the individual moments. This year I decorated slower, took my time and enjoyed each part of the process. Tonight I wrapped all the gifts for my husband and my daughter’s family. I took special time and creative effort with this year’s wrapping and presentation of each gift.

It is so very easy to fall into being so busy, working at a fast pace to get everything done and go to every Christmas event – we forget to enjoy and savor each activity. Slow down, breathe and savor the moments that make Christmas 2022. There will be only one Christmas 2022. Next year we will celebrate Christmas 2023.

This year I made a smaller list of tasks to complete for Christmas 2023. I did not decorate the outside of the house, as I did not have time due to working on some other projects with my husband. There is still time to adjust your list of tasks you want to complete to allow you time to enjoy the moments of celebrating the holiday, instead of hurrying through the holiday season.

amtolle