And So This is Christmas

If you have watched any Hallmark Christmas movies, like at least of third of Americans, you know that aside from hot chocolate and romance, they are all about traditions and keeping them alive. Our Sentinel columnist, Scott Maxwell, who is normally a serious political reporter, had a funny column in todays paper about how even he has been sucked into the feel good movies that always have a happy ending. And he is not alone, according to this fascinating report about a Christmas convention! Some fun reading in that piece.

And so, although I am always poking fun at the movies while Bruce watches with nearly rapt attention, I am so onboard with the tradition part. In my opinion, traditions are such an important part of life that until they are no longer, many folks don't realize how much they depend on them. As Connie was leaving for St. Cloud yesterday morning, she relayed some of their family traditions, one of which is to have lox and bagels on Christmas morning in honor of her Dad. Her family has a big ranch and they spend most of the day outdoors, cooking ribs and playing kickball. Sounds like fun, right? And only in Florida, right?

Ours are mostly about the season, from church, to the kitchen, to the mall. I've spent time in all of those places this year. Cookies, Christmas cards, a tree decorated with ornaments collected over the decades, twinkling lights, and candles. I love it all! Oh yeah and then there are nights out looking at outdoor decorations and this one near Bill and Fallon's house is a doozy. Unbelievable really, and so bright it was nearly blinding! She tells me they also have a Santa on the weekends.

The truth is there was more, but it just would not fit into the frame, in spite of me going across the street and into a neighbor's driveway! There was no space lightless; can you imagine how long it took to put all that up? I can't! This morning, as I was waking up at 6:30AM, I heard Bruce call out "thank you" and I thought it was the paper man he was speaking to, however, it was an Amazon delivery person getting an early start. While that might not be the best shift to have, at least they are paid, unlike the amazing folks who spend weeks decorating for all to see. Thank you whomever you are!

The cookies. Not so many around anymore to eat them, but it is a part of the season that I can't let go of. Here's some good news---I found the recipe, stained with years of use.

Unfortunately I'd already made some Molasses Crinkles in place of said gingerbread, another old recipe from Bruce's Mom. I should be making Russian Tea Cakes, one of my Mom's favorites, but I don't think I have enough pecans in the pantry. I wish I did though because doing so makes our departed loved ones part of the holiday for me. Of course, I could go get some pecans, except that Jonathan and Alissa arrived last evening from Austin and are spending the day at Disney World with my car. Bruce is visiting a friend who is recovering from surgery. Funny thing is that I forgot I had no transportation and was dressed, ready to go pick up some last minute items for tomorrow. No car, no problem, I will ride my bicycle. Not happening as Bruce was the last one to lock it up and it is so secure I can't make it work. I'll walk....not in the rain I won't! Thus, I am here putting down memories.

While looking for the recipe above, in my stash I came across one for Chocolate Crinkle cookies, one I'd not made before. Everyone likes chocolate, so why not? Well, it is a good thing I did a little Google search on this because I was lucky enough to come across a detailed explanation on how to work with the incredibly sticky dough, the likes of which I've never seen before. Chilling the dough overnight helped some. The cookie scoop Bruce fixed broke on the first try, so it was a spoon and my hands, that while goopy, could have been worse had I not read  that the best method was to drop a big glop in the bowl of powdered sugar and then form the balls. A big shout out to Pat and Ruth who gifted me these wonderful cookie sheets many years ago. Because of the tiny ridges, they need neither parchment paper nor greasing.

Because of their dark color, more like fudgy brownie bites, it was hard to tell if they were done, but it seemed to have worked out just fine. The tray is from the dollar store up the street and makes for a lovely way to photograph them doesn't it?

Not photographed is my love of listening every single year to Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians recording called Christmas is Magic, two discs that cover the gamut of Christmas music from the true meaning of Christmas, to Toyland. For me it is not Christmas without this cherished music from long ago that fortunately I was able to locate for sale in the early days of internet shopping!

Our choir is no match for the Pennsylvanians, yet they are darn good, and sound even more beautiful when the church is decorated for Christmas.

 This past Sunday the fourth candle of Advent was lit,

with the center candle set for tonight. We had an interesting conversation with J & A about young people no longer attending church, although most consider themselves spiritual. In fact they kind of wonder why we go, and the answer is, in spite of the obvious faults,  it keeps us grounded in this crazy world. With so many, many, distractions, spending time in worship is very important in our lives. Not to mention opportunities to help others. Perhaps you remember this post when I read to Bruce how cremation works while we were driving home for an outing? Of all things, yesterday he learned how they are actually buried in the church courtyard. Long story, for perhaps another day.

The weather, while not as cold, has been Vancouver-like for the last few weeks, or so it seems. Night after night, the scene outside the door has looked like this.

There was a tiny reprieve from the gloominess this morning although short lived.

Shopping! Shopping! and more Shopping! This past Saturday we visited the mall together and moseyed, having gotten there early while parking was plentiful. Although we don't have the gorgeous window displays like a big city, there still are some that stand out. Always Louis Vuitton for a wow!

While I am not really a diamond kind of gal, I can still very much appreciate their beauty.

Seeing people in seriously mismatched outfits is something I do not get. Then again, I'm old fashioned, so what do I expect? I did think the window dresser should have pulled that one dress down flat.

Furthermore what is with the socks?The red handbag with that outfit???

Have you visited one of the cutsie Asian stores popping up around town? Not quite a dollar store, they sell inexpensive cute things that sometimes suffer in the translation. Both of these covers made me laugh.

"No matter how long night, the arrival of daylight association" should be what?? "The spring rain was soaking into the earth." Nothing wrong with a good laugh while out shopping.

Following shopping, the gifts go to Bruce who is our wrapper extraordinaire.

Note Hallmark movie on his office television! He wrapped for so long, I'm pretty sure he got through at least two of them in their entirety. For the most part, gift bags are not happening here. Scissors are a must on Christmas morning!

 I have a setting on my camera that gives this effect which is kind of fun.

Then again, that is almost the effect that oncoming traffic lights create while we are driving at night. This time of year it really limits what we do, but the Winter Solstice has passed for another year and from here on out, the days will lengthen.

We are barely touching the tree hoping the needles will remain mostly intact until it is time to put it all away for another year when Bruce will wrap gifts, the kids will be here, and I will bake cookies.

It is what we do.

This is Christmas.

And may you and yours enjoy your traditions this year, and for many more years to come.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours dear readers, whomever, and wherever you are.

your friend,

Gail

Ups and Downs

In a week with a fair share of ups and downs, seeing Bruce engrossed in a book warmed my heart.

Where the Crawdads Sing is the book he is reading; the sixth to do so after he gave it to me earlier this year. Now that is some serious re-using, huh? As well, he, like the rest of us, got into it pretty quickly. Although I've yet to finish it, I'm nearly done with the Nickolas Butler novel, The Hearts of Men, and to say it is full of ups and downs is a serious understatement.

So just what was a downer then? Well, I've had yet another flop come out of my kitchen, this time in the form of a Gingerbread Cake that I made for Michelle's birthday dinner last night. Doesn't that sound festive? Not the flop of course.

I used a Molasses Buttercream frosting, and my idea of decorating, a little clump of caramelized ginger in the center. You might be wondering where I got the idea, so let me tell you. In my search for the Gingerbread cookie recipe given to me by my mother in law, one I've had for our entire married life, I came across a spice cake recipe from years ago. The only thing is that, although it called for the above type of frosting, that part was cut off, so I turned to the internet. Voila...here's the one I used. While just doing a search to include that link, I see Nigella Lawson has one as do others, but alas, doing the search for just the frosting gave me the above result.

For her birthday Michelle likes me to make comfort food and that I do know how to do without much problem. Or, at least I used to. Anyway, last year she requested fried chicken served with mac and cheese, and this year she wanted meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  Following our meal it was time to light those candles and cut the cake! Oh no! It is crumbling!! I wondered why. Then we bit into it and my heart sank....very little spicy flavor and a texture that was indescribable. Dry and flavorless is one way to describe it. The frosting was good though.

The truth is, I'm still uncertain as to why it was so dry, but my research suggests that perhaps I cooked it too long. Anyway, in a real first for me, I trashed all that you see, shoving it down the disposal, big hunks at a time. Next year I am just going to make a Texas sheet cake which never fails!

Speaking of baking, well I guess lots of folks are this time of year, we had a get together at Pam and Glen's beautiful home on Sunday night.

That would be Glen on the right, and Pam is in the background wearing glasses. Anyway, she made some very scrumptious brownies that were as tasty as they were attractive.

Every now and again she has folks over for a soup party, always a treat. As were these amazing cones that Sally made using her Grandmother's recipe. Alongside this tray was a bowl of perfectly whipped cream that you spooned inside. Oh my goodness! Heaven in a cone!

There began a discussion regarding the practice of sifting flour. Some of us do, some don't. I'm generally in the don't camp, but to see if it really makes any difference, while making another batch of the sugar cookies, I sifted.

To tell you the truth, I don't think it made one iota of difference. What I'd really like to master is having all batches of cookies turn out the same shade, something that eludes me in spite of using the same cooking time. Plus I rotate the cookie sheets. Yet, they turn out....

that back row....

As well, my cookie scoop literally fell apart as I was making them, thus I went back to the tried and true two spoon method. While it works beautifully to put the dough on the sheet, they are never quite as round as when using a scoop.

A few days ago, I think while I was baking, I got a call from Westminster Towers regarding Maureen so I do what I do. Put some shoes on, and drove over which, thankfully, is fairly close because driving in Orlando is not for the faint of heart. But that's a story for another day. Hopefully the situation is straightened out, yet this last visit left me feeling plenty down in the dumps. Clearing my head was next on my agenda so I stopped by Lake Davis on my way home for a little walk . It was lovely that afternoon, something that cannot be said for a good part of the week which, although not too cold, has been mostly gray and gloomy.

The puffy clouds! The changing Cypress trees! Plus, I finally got a decent close up of the Blue-Winged Teal that reveals where the name came from.

Isn't that such a lovely shade of blue? Wish I would see one in flight as is pictured here. Now that shot really shows off those colorful wings!

So that was definitely an up. As was seeing the owl again once I returned home!!!

It just so happened I glanced out the window and there he was! Plus, the Hooded Merganser has a girlfriend now. They've yet to come any closer and this is as far as my zoom will take me. Or us, for that matter.

Her head is sort of a cinnamon color; as is so common in the avian family, the male is usually flashier. As you can well imagine, because no female was around last year, this sighting got me pretty excited. Adding something more in the up column, two otters were playing near the shoreline this week after going AWOL for the last two or so months.

Bruce has been a busy beaver at the church, repairing more wood as they paint the side porches. He is not a man who enjoys too much leisure time, so having these projects is a bit of a godsend, if you will. Last week, while we were visiting Maureen at the same time she reminded me of a cell phone pouch that I made for her last year. That one went missing, so I made another one, as well as a potholder. Quite the combination, huh?

The potholder was for me as the ones in my cupboard are not fit for company. I'd made the small blocks as practice and they remained on my sewing table for ages. Don't look for a pattern because there is none, merely sewn together at random. It took me far too long to make the pouch because I am so bad with making stuff up, however, eventually it all came together and I took it over the next morning. The good news is that it is large enough for her phone, glasses, and Chapstick. Count me shocked when the house phone rang yesterday and the caller was Maureen telling me how useful it was. Why so shocked, you ask? Her ability to use said mobile phone is not without challenges, so receiving a call was nothing short of a miracle. Maybe an exaggeration, but not by much.

There were struggles this week trying to buy gifts for our London loves that were not resolved. Well, that's not entirely true as I did manage one gift. Every year it is such the challenge to buy gifts for our children, who, btw, would say the same thing about us. Perhaps it is a lack of imagination on my part? This is such a first world problem, right? As Christmas approaches, our first without Carol, I am reminded what a blessing it is to even be alive.

your friend,

Gail

Change

I've been thinking a bit about the word change and how since it's been attached to the climate, it has a bad connotation. But seriously, isn't that what life is all about?  Saturday morning began with torrential downpours, however, by three in the afternoon, the day was glorious with abundant wind rustling the leaves in the trees behind our place along with warm sunshine casting long shadows.

Our Scripture reading yesterday from Isaiah 35 was chock full of changes, both in nature and humanity.

The desert and the parched land will be glad;

    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;

    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the Lord,

    the splendor of our God.

3 

Strengthen the feeble hands,

    steady the knees that give way;

4 

say to those with fearful hearts,

    “Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

    he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

    he will come to save you.”

5 

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 

Then will the lame leap like a deer,

    and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

    and streams in the desert.

7 

The burning sand will become a pool,

    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

Sorry, there will be technical difficulties henceforth as it is rare that I actually cut and paste something which means I don't know what I'm doing! There was a time, however, when most things were not difficult, mostly because I was younger. And is there anything more demonstrative of change than aging? One day I am walking like a champ, the next, my right knee is killing me for no obvious reason.  

Alas, what got me thinking this deep you ask? 

Wait, before I go on, don't you absolutely love the idea of the lame leaping like a deer? There was a time when I'd not seen that happen, but now that I have, oh my! Although this isn't the best photograph, it gives one a notion of the movement.

Then too, I'd never seen a crocus flower before, but in Vancouver, when they just starting popping out of the ground, I watched in amazement. 

Where this whole thing about changes originated is a dream I had the other night about doing an IVP, which stands for Intravenous Pyelogram. For those not familiar with Radiology lingo, that procedure, at one time, was the gold standard for diagnosing a kidney stone. 

Now it has been eons since last I took regular x-rays, but it is not something you ever forget, or dream of on occasion.

I was but six weeks post high school graduation, 17 1/2 years old, when I began my training at Winter Park Memorial Hospital. I suppose that is one big change, what was once a small community hospital is now a part of a mega brand. While we parked in a dirt parking lot, that has most definitely changed! As has taking x-rays. To someone who trained back when an automatic processor for developing took 3 1/2 minutes to instantaneous results readily available today, well that is amazing. Of course, prior to automatic processing, you dipped the x-ray film directly in the solutions and hung them to dry. We had that equipment in surgery one place I worked which was actually very helpful as you could dip, look and hope for something that would not cause the Orthopedic surgeon to scream at you. 

When I began my training I had not the foggiest notion of what I was getting myself into. Barium Enemas? I didn't even know what an enema was! Watching an autopsy performed as part of my training? Seriously? Yes indeed, they were serious. Once I fainted as I held the arms of a patient who was having a spinal tap done. Learning to give direct 50 cc injections with a 19 gauge needle? Yes again. In those days it was so much more than it is today, primarily because there were only two imaging modalities...x-ray and nuclear medicine. As students we had to learn something like fifty different procedures, how to both position the patient and the seemingly infinite number of machine settings. I needn't tell you that it was very challenging because each patient is different, requiring adjustments to the technique. And then there was that 3 1/2 minute wait to see if your films were good enough, or had to be redone, much to both the techs and patients chagrin. 

Then there were the portable machines which would be unrecognizable to anyone today. One was about five feet tall, weighing what seemed like a ton that had to be wheeled to the patients' bedside. Just last week I saw a couple of guys wheeling a portable x-ray machine out of Westminster Towers, pushing the tiny thing with one hand! Amazing! 

Our class of six girls wore white dresses, hose, and shoes that had to be polished to a gleam. One of our classmates was actually kicked out of our twenty four month program for having a job at Sears on the weekend, a big no-no; to this day I don't really know how anyone found out that Suzy was working. We were at the hospital 40 hours a week, just like a regular job, with classes all afternoon, after spending the morning working on the "floor" as we called it. The only job you were allowed to have was being a patient transporter on the weekends which, needing money, I took advantage of, at least once working 7 days a week for about six weeks. You know, one thing I needed money for were those damn stockings that were constantly running and cost far more than what I could afford!

And then "pantsuits" were introduced! A radical idea indeed.

Which is all to say that when I see healthcare workers wearing wrinkled scrubs with cows on them and dirty tennis shoes, it always gives me pause. I'm not proud of that, but I confess it is true.

We married following my graduation in July when I was actually making money to the tune of $3.25 an hour.  So when, during my time selling photography, people frequently asked if I had always been a photographer,  I replied, "yes, I just used bigger equipment."

One of the things I most love about being in nature is watching the world change before my eyes, like the sudden appearance of the Hooded Merganser that showed up this past week. 

The rising of another full moon at dusk, especially with the what I'm calling a halo effect.

We don't get much of an Autumn this far south aside from the Cypress trees becoming rust colored before the needles drop.

While walking at Lake Davis we observed one of the swans over in the other park wondering why it was so. Walking over that way, we overhead a man talking about how strange it was. Sadly, as it turns out, the mate was hit by a car the previous week. Whereas when there was the big swan fight I showed you in late Spring, there is but one swan remaining. I should have called that post,  A Tale of Two Swans! Hindsight my friends.

Leaving the park behind, I went to Florida Mall last week and some things haven't changed, like children still visiting Santa, albeit in a much fancier set up than in years past.

Visiting this shop, I was dumbfounded at the abundance of ornaments.

How do they get them to stay? Another day Bruce and I went to Millenia Mall, strolling along looking at the windows, we came across Anthropologie. It is a well known fact that I am a serious lover of the color orange, but for me, it just does not go with Christmas, although their designers tend to disagree. Or so it seems.

So while I'm not so keen on orange as part of Christmas decorations, it should not surprise me in the least. 

Am I correct in assuming that each reader has their own story to tell and the main theme 

would be change? Correct me if I'm wrong.

your friend,

Gail

One Thing After Another

I've been trying to get to my blog, really I have, but one thing after another has happened and my little space has gone empty. The truth is, I'm just not as fast as I once was, tasks seem to take longer, or I make silly mistakes that cost me time. For instance, earlier today I headed to the post office to mail a few packages, one domestic, and two international. I'd addressed them yesterday while waiting on our lunch guests and thought I'd gotten them right. Somehow, while filling out the customs forms, I thought I'd left off the postal code on the one heading to London. Duh! Texting Matt, I awaited his reply, although I knew it might be delayed as he was probably at work. Leaving the post office to visit Maureen, I vowed to return once he got back with me. He did, and I did. To make this long story short, it was on the envelope all of the time!!! Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself!

Speaking of Maureen, and I so wanted to write about this immediately, when I visited last week there was such a pleasant surprise, something I don't type lightly as that sort of thing has been few and far between. Anyway, an entertainer arrived with his electric guitar, amp, and prerecorded music. What he lacked in musical talent, he more than made up for with his ability to connect with the residents, some of whom I've never before seen awake.

See the bright green shirted fellow at the end of the table? He sang along with every song! As did Maureen, who is pictured below in the plaid blouse.

He worked the crowd, going right up to them while singing his heart out. And then there were the nurses and aides who were dancing away.

In my year of visiting I've never seen everyone so engaged, which really made my heart soar. His rendition of "Red, Red, Wine" got everyone who could, tapping their toes, and "Oh Susannah" was a sing along favorite. They loved "Jailhouse Rock" too. Oh friends, the power of music is really something, isn't it?

As promised, the new car which Bruce just loves for all sorts of reasons.

The church is decorated,

as is the complex.

One afternoon I was one of several volunteers putting out 100 poinsettias around the grounds.

That is Susan, our association president who is a tireless worker, and in fact, had so much to do, she asked if I would take over the Resident Relations committee to which I could not find a way to say no. More on that in a minute.

Must have been this same afternoon that Bruce asked if I wanted to get our tree. Hopping in the car, we went down the street to our usual place, only to discover the trees, unlike last years beauty, were small and spotty because all the good ones had already been purchased! December 3, mind you. By that I mean more open spaces in the tree than is ideal. We went to another lot where the prices were out of our range. Think $150 for a seven foot tree that will be trashed in weeks. Not happening for this frugal couple. Returning to where we began, I chose a tree that I thought I might have to call my Charlie Brown tree.

Spending a night in water, first thing in the morning it looked like the above. An example of things taking way longer, the tree was finally ready to be plugged in, and not so bad after all.

A gazillion lights works wonders! Bruce got us all fancy outdoors.

Perhaps you notice the branches on our little tree on the left? My word has that thing grown like mad. My theory is that with the floodlight hitting it all night long it is as if it is on light steroids! From upstairs you can see how it has almost filled the space in eight short months!

On our way home from church one day we came across this cool mural, meeting the artist who was still working on a wall around it.

Another thing I've been wanting to share is a sighting of a lone duck in Lake Davis, one that I first saw in Vancouver. What do you suppose it is called?

If you guessed Goldeneye, you would be correct! I saw droves of them in Vancouver, but as far as I can remember, this sighting is a first for me here. Let's see, the photo below is not so much about the tree as it is about my exciting, at least to me, little vase collection with the morning sun streaming through.

What can I say except that I'm a simple girl who delights in the ordinary.

Friday evening I learned that our friend Sue was in town, just down the street at Johnny's Filling Station, and wanted us to come up and see her. You may recall that I was sad that she was moving to Lakeside, Montana, near Glacier National Park. Sad for me, glad for her. Anyway, in a rare nighttime outing, we popped over and I hit the dance floor with Kathy and Sue, pictured on the right.

Let me tell you, that place was hopping, with old folks like us who rarely get to dance anymore! The band was pretty good too.

During the week I was also busy with party preparations, one morning taken up by buying table lanterns, checking into the office to see how our RSVPs were going, and stressing over the quantity of food and beverages to purchase. Plus we were having a toy drive for a worthy cause, Nathanial's Hope; in lieu of charging admission, we wanted gifts for the needy. Some were dropped off at the office,

while others were brought to the party. As well, we wanted folks to bring an appetizer to share. Saturday Bruce asked how he could help, other than pick up the ice and chicken, which was huge already. I sent him into our kitchen to make some salami rolls, an old family favorite.

Rarely does Bruce make food, but when he does, you just know it will be perfect. The big bucket of pretzels were used as a method to see if there was enough horseradish in the mix. In Bruce's mind, there can never be enough!

Five o'clock rolled around and the tables were set, the coolers filled with beer and water, the DJ was in place and Michelle had all new decorations. People began arriving in absolute perfect weather.

There were 76 folks who said they were coming, and I think we got around that number, although I never counted. I have a great group of ladies who all pitched in, Patti, Michelle, Ellen and Jennifer. You know the saying, "many hands make light work" and that definitely held true on this night.

There was even a beautiful sunset.

How can this be? Two nights in a row of dancing? Loved it! Even more than I loved dancing myself, watching Matt and Violet take to the dance floor--now that was a blast. He asked me if I wanted to see his dance moves and naturally I emphatically replied yes!

All in all, it seemed to have gone smoothly. 

And then it was time to get ready for some Canadian friends who were coming for lunch on Monday while they were here for the day. I made a very old sugar cookie recipe which, much to my delight, suffered not from any of my silly mistakes. Taco salad was good too. Following lunch we walked around the grounds, ending up in our little back yard (if you will), where they agreed to a photograph with their favorite American project manager! That would be Zarita on the left, and Beth on the right, two ladies who were so good to me during our stay in their beautiful city.

With the Christmas cards nearly (finally!) done, it is time for me to gather some of the stored party items and return them to the office. Can't wait to learn what our final toy count was.

I'll let you know.

your friend,

Gail

p.s. I wanted to give a shout out regarding a new author to me...Nickolas Butler whose book, Little Faith was gentle and good. Thought provoking as well. If you enjoyed Marilynne Robinson's, Gilead, I think you will like him as well. He's not as remarkable an author as she is, but he's good in my eyes.