Christmas Traditions, past and present.

I miss my family and it's always harder around the holidays. I have not been home for the holidays in quite a few years. With a guaranteed layover on a flight from Washington to Maine, over a million passengers rushing to get somewhere and the possibility of inclement weather looming, we prefer to fly home in the Summer or Fall. That doesn't mean I don't get nostalgic every year around the holidays and wish we had made the trip home anyway.

I remember Christmas as a kid. We were always up bright and early to get the holiday underway. I remember the gifts extending fifteen feet from the base of the most beautiful tree. My Dad always picked the tree, and while he did not go all Clark Griswold, we always had a very beautiful full tree. And I know the gifts did not come out fifteen feet but that's just how I remember it. I remember the vintage bulbs, the bubble lights and plenty of tinsel. My parents still have all the ornaments from when I was little the hand painted angel I made, the ones I helped pick out and the ones I cupped in my tiny hands as a kid.

I remember my Grandparents always coming over early for Christmas. We always opened our stocking gifts at the table during breakfast. As the scent of homemade cinnamon rolls wafted through the air and Bing Crosby crooned from the record player in the living room, I would unwrap grape Lipsmackers lip gloss and Love's Baby Soft perfume from the same knitted snowman stocking Santa filled years earlier. After stockings and breakfast it was off to the living room for what seemed like a six hour event of passing and opening gifts. Then dinner, our traditional Christmas ham dinner was always delicious and our table went on forever with everyone passing yummy food to one another. It was perfect, we were together and that was our tradition.

I am sure all of that still goes on, maybe a little differently but pretty much the same way. While I miss all of that, knowing they are all there together makes me happy.

So now on Christmas I try to blend the "being away" from home with the "traditions" of home and we have ended up making our own traditions right here in Washington.

Like Gingerbread Lobsters.


I call home every year and get passed around wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" and a "I wish I could be there too." Then Clyde and I start in on our traditions here in Washington. We sleep in a little late, but still open our stocking gifts with breakfast. I still have the same stocking from when I was a kid and while it has not seen any Love's Baby Soft, it does seem to include some version of lip gloss every year. Bailey always has a few gifts to open from Santa and Clyde and I always exchange gifts. We have the same Christmas breakfast, cinnamon rolls and coffee, orange and grapefruit salad, and tomato and basil quiche. Disclaimer, this year my cinnamon rolls were awful, they did not rise or bake right and so in my lemons to limoncello way, I toasted an english muffin, slathered on some irish butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I have to admit not exactly like cinnamon rolls but a pretty good stand in just the same.

Our stockings, my vintage early 1970's handmade stocking on the right and my Aunt was so lovely to knit one for Clyde a few years ago to match, on the left.


Gifts wrapped under the tree.


Someone was excited to open his gifts.


He loves to open gifts.


After our Christmas at home we traveled to our dear friends, Diane and Bela's for Christmas dinner.

Let me just apologize right now that I did not take more photographs as Diane prepared a meal worthy of a four page spread in Bon Appetite magazine. The main course was roast pork tenderloin with, fennel pollen, and it was divine. She even showed me the tiny jar she collected the pollen in, from the fennel growing in her garden. It was all so good, dear friends, wonderful dinner, great wine and festive merriment.

The table was beautiful.


Even the wooden art dolls were in a festive mood with their own tree to decorate.


It was a wonderful Christmas blended with traditions old and new and I am thankful for all of it.

Holiday shopping with purpose.

Tonight I got home and found this on my door step....


Seriously, shouldn't this be the motto of ALL the places we spend our money?

I found this shop Blue Q through another blog and fell in love with their philosphy and products.  They are based in Pittsfield Mass. and have been the largest private employer of individuals with disabilities in Western Massachusetts for over 10 years.  They design and manufacture all the items they sell.

This cute bag is made of 95% recycled post consumer material.



And I couldn't resist this mod-vintage cigar box to hold some of my most valued recipes.  It looks like the one my Grandma had in her kitchen back in the 1960's.



It's the perfect spot for all my handed down favorite recipes, well except for the pickles, that one is under lock and key!



I bought a few more items but they'll have to remain under-wraps as they are gifts, shhhhhh don't tell.

If you are looking for that unique stocking stuffer or a gift for someone you have no idea what to get, you may just find it at Blue Q.  


Holiday soda's from Cost Plus.
I hear corn popping, have a lovely evening all.

Cookie Exchange

Today I was up bright and early in preparation for my Cookie Exchange Brunch and it was wonderful.

Guests started arriving just before 10am, my breakfast strata had just come out of the oven, Brenda Lee was belting out Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and freshly brewed coffee was swirling in the air.



In the hustle and bustle of hosting, I simply forgot to snap photos of the parade of Christmas cookies that marched throughout my home in their holiday splendor.  There were so many wonderful cookies no two the same just like the lovely ladies who prepared them. 

We had snowflake sugar cookies, jam filled cookies, brandied chocolate lace cookies, ginger molasses cookies, fig cookies, traditional decorated sugar cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, chocolate sable cookies, crispy salted oatmeal white chocolate cookies and many, many more. 


A plate of "exchanged" cookies all ready to go home.  The cookie exchange is great because you only bake once and you end up with so many different cookies.


After brunch and exchanging cookies we continued the merriment and enjoyed Brandied Eggnog Snowman; complete with donut hole heads, aren't they just the cutest? 


Party favors: Circle Creek Home hand poured soap, and holiday fridge note pads.

I enjoy hosting this cookie exchange and I am so happy everyone had a wonderful time. 



Thanks you ladies, enjoy your cookies.

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas.

Ahhhhh, the Holidays are in full swing!  Our tree is up, complete with Maine Starfish Santa. 


This year our tree is loaded with memories as opposed to my usual "theme" tree. A few years ago I opted for a tree full of green, amber, gold, and a touch of leopard.   It has ornate flowers and feathers and it looks like it was on display at a fancy store.  It is a beautiful tree but this year I wanted an old school, traditional tree, the kind I grew up with. I loved decorating this year unwrapping ornaments I had not seen in a few years and remembering.

I found the first ornament my Sweetie ever gave me, ornaments from past travels and those given by family and friends. There are ornaments I bought with my Sister in Maine and ornaments I bought when Clyde and I surprised my Mom with an unexpected trip to San Francisco.

This tree is the kind that takes me back to being a kid and believing in the magic of Christmas, and it makes me happy.



Behold, the Christmas Village.



Complete with GIANT reindeer and adorable Basenji.


Oh yeah, in my Christmas fairytale village there is a Basenji awaiting a crackling fire or a warm lap.

So here it is the first weekend in December and that means it is my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange brunch.  Tomorrow at 10am my friends will arrive, full of holiday spirit, with four dozen cookies in tow to share.  We'll sip coffee, eat yummy food, chat about the year behind us, the holidays and the year ahead.  They will tease me about my Cookie Exchange rules and I'll take it in stride knowing all to well that everyone loves a challenge.  At noon everyone will pack up their assortment of four dozen cookies and return to the hustle and bustle of their day. 

Let the baking begin.


Who knew they made edible glitter?  That just makes my heart skip a beat.

Tonight I am baking, Crisp Salted Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate, recipe found here.



Oh my gosh, the aroma of these baking is heavenly, butter, brown sugar, oats and white chocolate.



Chocolate Sables are next........

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Maine ~ part 2. Memory Lane and a Lobster or two.

Oh how good it was to be home.

Memories... 

The town I grew up in has changed and while some areas look completely different, many are exactly the same.  Like the Rollodrome, it was the pre-teen hang out.

I remember waiting in the long line that gathered out front on Friday and Saturday nights.  We would wait, sometimes in the bitter cold, with skates slung over our shoulder.  We waited like Target shoppers on Black Friday, less the riots of course. 

Then the doors would open and we would skate for hours, under the disco ball, to the tunes of the 80's.  We would circle around and around on that gleaming wood floor, while the DJ spun, Come on Eileen, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Safety Dance and the rest of the Casey Kasem's Billboard Top 40 hits.  Then the vibe would slow down for Journey's Faithfully or We've Got Tonight by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton, oh the 80's were good, weren't they?  Next trip home I am so going skating at the Rollodrome.

Then we drove to Poland and visited the Summer Camp I worked at for three incredible summers.
 

I had an amazing experience at Tripp Lake Camp.  I never realized at the time how attached I had become to this magical place.  I still feel very connected to the property, the meticulous grounds, the dark green buildings, the people I knew there and the lesson I learned. 


Now it is owned by Joan Lunden and her husband, Jeffery Konigsberg, yet many of the directors I knew are still there.  I believe the key to TLC's success is the fact that the owner's have been incredibly detailed about continuing the same mission and traditions held there since the camp was established, in 1911. 


TLC pride's themselves on nurturing strong, confident girls with a deep sense of self worth.  This camp is amazing and the family they create is bonded forever. 
  

It looked exactly the same and while we only stayed for a minute or two, it was so good to be there.

Fall in New England...
As everyone knows, Maine has four very distinct seasons and everywhere we looked, Autumn was smiling back at us.  The air was cool and crisp with the earthy smell of fallen leaves wafting through the air.  


The sky in it's brilliant blue was a perfect backdrop for the vivid display of  Fall colors.  And may I just say, the Maple and Oak trees in Maine deserve a standing ovation.  Their final show of color is both breathtaking and graceful, and the fact that it is fleeting just adds to the beauty bestowed upon those who witness it.

Jen - this pics for you.

LL Bean and a Lobster lunch.
A trip to Maine is not complete without our usual trip to Freeport for a quick stop at L.L. Bean.

......and just in case you did not know, Lobster in Maine is everywhere:

Lobster door handles,



Lobster pillows,



.......and least you forget the Lobster Theatre,

 
"To eat or not to eat, that is the question".......

We ate, at our favorite lunch spot.



Behold the perfect Lobster Roll.


 and a Lobster Dinner.


and yes, it was delicious, right down to the last bite!!!


Final Maine post to come, Family, Pumpkin Carving, and more Lobster.

Maine ~ part 1.

It was 11 hours, from departure in Seattle to arrival in Portland Maine.  I am not the best traveler.  Vacations always begin with me working much longer than I anticipate and therefore running way behind schedule.  I always seem to underestimate the time involved in packing, dropping off the dog and preparing to head out of town.  This trip was no exception.  I arrived home an hour and fifteen minutes before the shuttle was scheduled to pick us up.  Clyde was dropping off Bailey and we both still needed to pack.  By the time the car service arrived at the door our bedroom appeared ransacked, my checked bag was four pounds over the limit and Clyde was asking me, "why I need 7 pairs of shoes for a 10 day vacation".  Ugh!!!!  

After re-packing a few items, grabbing my purse, and a few bottles of glitter nail polish, we locked the door and were off.  We arrived at Sea-Tac with an hour and a half to spare, the check in lines were short and we breezed through security.  After a few deep sighs, the stress of going out of town quickly adjusted to the excitement of going home and seeing family.  We took off at 10:55 pm, the weather was clear and although I was exhausted I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. 

I can't sleep on planes I think it the combination of many things, the dry air re-circulating through the cabin, the seats, and my nerves on overdrive.

After a comfortable layover and quick breakfast in Atlanta, we arrived in Maine about 20 minutes early. 

Luckily for me, my parent's are always ahead of schedule, obviously a trait that I did not inherit, and there was Mom standing at the bottom of the escalator.  She was cute, surprised to see us so early, and welcomed us with big hugs.   My Dad was right behind her with open arms and it felt so good to be right there at that very moment.

Thus began our trip home and let me tell you, Maine in the Fall is beautiful.

.....more to come soon.

Returning Home.

Tuesday Oct 17th Clyde and I took the red eye home to Maine.  This trip was long over due as we had not been home in 2 years.   The day was hectic and as each minute passed I was more excited to be spending the next 10 days with my family.  We arrived at Sea-Tac hurried and exhausted.  As I boarded the plane the anticipation of hugs, smiles, laughter and family reminded me that I really need to do this more often.

It was early morning when we arrived in Atlanta, for a quick layover, and I remember thinking just a few more hours.  I closed my eyes and pictured my Mom and Dad meeting us at the airport with open arms, happy to whisk us off to a long overdue family dinner that evening.

The flight was uneventful, the landing was smooth and I was anxious to grab a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee before we boarded the next flight to Portland.  As the plane approached the runway we double checked the pockets in the seats in front of us, gathered up our ipod, magazines and a now crumpled, half eaten bag of Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers.

As we taxied towards the gate a flight attendant came over the loudspeaker, “Welcome to Atlanta. Ladies and Gentleman we'd like to take a moment to thank our armed services who are flying with us today and we'd like to send out a very special thank you to Sgt. "..." who is accompanying one of our fallen soldiers home.  We have a special request to ask of you.  Please allow Sgt. “...” and our other soldiers to deplane first so they can continue to escort our fallen soldier.  We appreciate you remaining in your seats and as soon as the Captain turns off the seat belt sign, you may begin to deplane.”

As the plane came to a complete stop, there was no movement as the entire plane sat in silence.  Tears welling in my tired eyes I could not help but think of what it means for all of us  "returning home".  We all watched with honor and respect as a highly decorated Sgt. quietly arose from his seat, retrieved his bag from the overhead compartment and started walking off the plane.  Once he had deplaned,  about 10 other soldiers stood up, grabbed their backpacks and followed him off the plane.  The sight of this was overwhelming, and my heart just ached at the thought of a very different family reunion.  Heavy tears now running down my cheeks we gathered our own bags and walked, in silence, off the plane that had instantly become sacred ground. 

I have though a lot about that Soldier during the past few weeks and the soldier's whose job it is to ensure that every fallen soldier returns home.   

It is with great honor and deep appreciation that I say, Thank you, to all of our armed services, your dedication to this country is a gift.  May you all safely return home to the loving open arms of your families.