Christmas Day

 

I have shared this poem with you before and do so again. It's by Madeleine L'Engle.

In such a time a this, Merry Christmas, dear friends. 

God did not wait till the world was ready,

till . . . nations were at peace.

God came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

God did not wait for the perfect time

God came when the need was deep and great.

God dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine.

God did not wait till hearts were pure.

In joy God came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame God came,

and God's Light would not go out.

God came to a world which did not mesh 

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain, 

God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

The Journey of a Fruitcake

 I really like fruitcake. This year we haven't found any in the stores up here, Costco is in another state and we're under travel restrictions, and on line they are very large and expensive. So I sighed and let go my desire for fruitcake this year. And then Dean said, "Given all that's going on, I haven't gotten out to find you anything so I am going to make you a fruitcake for Christmas." Wow! And so for three days now, he has been involved in researching recipes, buying ingredients, and making fruitcake. Enjoy the journey. 

Chopping the fruit

Fruit soaking over night in apple juice, butter and spiced rum.

The following day, the fruit goes into the batter

and the batter goes into the pans.

Decorating the tops.

Ready for the oven.

Having cooled over night, it is now brushed with a mixture of 

molasses, vanilla, and rum to give it a bit of a tasty glaze.

So when can I eat it? Right now or three months from now ~ 

or both!

Well, of course we start with now - never mind that it is before breakfast.

My present so I get the first bite.

And it is declared a triumph! 

Two rich and rummy loaves will last the two of us a long time.

Thank you, Dean. It was the perfect pandemic gift!

                                              

The Fourth Sunday in Advent

 

On the church calendar, today's theme is Love. 

This is Day 18 of my winter of gifts. A Tahoe pine, designed and stitched by Meredith. I am told creating your own cross stitch design in difficult and of course takes some time to create. 

Dean and I talked about how creative Michelle and Meredith have been, how long they must have worked on all the gifts before wrapping and packing and mailing. 

With every gift, I am reminded that this is done out of love and I am overwhelmed by this outpouring of love from my family. I am loved.

And so we need to say when we look at the 4th Advent candle. God loves me. I am loved. God's gifts are poured out daily blessing us with grace, compassion, support, caring, and, yes, Love. 

Day 17 ~ A David Doodle

This, my friend, is a David Doodle! 

Son-in-law David not only flies helicopters, he also doodles. ergo ~ 

David Doodles. 

And just for fun, his doodles are all doodle bugs. If you are from the South, you will understand the reference. And as of today, I have my very own David Doodle to smile at and enjoy. 

Creating Beauty

 

This was day 12. The picture in no way does it justice. The butterflies are gold and beige and lavender and the flowers are also butterflies and tulips. And to the side are my family's signatures. The signing started in Philadelphia, crossed the country to Talent Oregon and finally landed on my table in Tahoe City for me to love and admire. A beautiful creation from some unknown artist that will grace my shelf and my life for a long time.

This is day 14, started on almost upon opening, still unfinished but eagerly awaiting today's application. I had already been thinking it was time to get out my pens and coloring books again. Dean had even thought about getting me another one. Suddenly it all came together. Dean and Taylor created a lovely window of shelves in the solarium on which I can put things I want to have at hand - like my book of mandalas and my pens - and then there was the mandala, not too early in the process nor too late. Just right for listening to carols and coloring.

Whether we create it ourselves or recognize the beauty created by others, beauty helps sustain and grace us wherever we find it. Blessings, dear friends. 

The Third Sunday in Advent

 

Joy! Quite a reminder during travel restrictions and Shelter in Place (SIP) orders. On the other hand, the first rounds of vaccines are being delivered and applied today. 

Interesting that the gift from my family to be opened today was broken. Another reminder that even in the midst of holiday celebrations, there are those who feel broken, depressed, lonely, and frightened. And yet there he is, that tiny baby, harbinger of hope. Joyful anticipation. 

May we hold Joy close to our hearts and be tolerant and caring and gentle with each other these days. 

Day 8 ~ Another Special Gift

 

This was my gift yesterday and it is not just a book picked off the shelf that they thought mom might like. Meredith proofread this book. Did you know Meredith was a professional proofreader? She sort of slips that one in among her other jobs. That fact makes this book all the more special.

I told them it may be a while before I read it as right now I am reading all sorts of Christmas stories. Meredith reminded me that these gifts were mean to get me through winter so there was no rush. And then after our conversation, I picked up the book and started to read. Of course I did! After a few pages, which told me I was going to like the book, I put it down, reminded myself of what Meredith said and went back to my Christmas stories. 

Memories came flooding back of so many Christmas afternoons and evenings when I snuggled down on the couch and started to read one of the several new books I had been given for Christmas. For a number of years in my late 20s and early 30s, they were Agatha Christie's until I had collected almost all of hers. 

I love my Kindle and buying books for myself and there is something really wonderful about opening the gift of a book given by folks who know and love me and starting to read a new adventure. 

Blessings, my friends. 

A Galaxy in my Pocket

 

Day 7 of my winter of gifts was contributed by granddaughter Trinity. She painted this tiny little canvas and put every star in by hand. She trims down an individual hair from a paint brush. Evidently you can buy this little easel and canvas at Walmart. The reality is about the size of the picture. I have put it on my table where I can see it most of the time. When Christmas decorations are down, there is a special place on  the mantle for it to reside and I will be able to see it at a glance up from my computer. 

I'm in awe ~ both of her talent and of the magnificence of the star lit sky. Advent is a nice time to have a feeling of awe ~ to be aware of our smallness but also of our magnificence within the scope of creation. 

Blessings today, my friends.

Days Five and Six of Winter

 

Day 5 is a beautiful winter themed mask. Out here I can probably wear it through March as there is no specific reference to a season. This may be the most comfortable mask I have and Meredith is going to send me the link to buy another as it looks like we will be masked for quite a while.

A FB question posted by a friend asked, "Will you wear a mask for the 100 days President Elect Biden is suggesting?" My answer: for as long as is necessary. I've been wearing a mask for months now. I think I can continue for more months. Much better a mask than a ventilator.

Day Six was a beautiful handmade snowflake, crocheted by Michelle. I have a number of smaller ones she made years ago that have hung on my tree for years. This one is larger and I call it my snowflake star. The top picture shows it up close, the bottom how it fits into the nativity that sits on our table. The tree is outside in our neighbor's yard. It fits right in, doesn't it? 

Once again the conversation is so important. It only takes as long as we want it to and is meaningful and deep even when we giggle and laugh and are silly.

Maybe I should tell you that this nativity was bought in the early 60's when the Civil Rights movement was just underway. It was carved in an artists collective by blacks in the South who finally said, we refuse to work for 25 cents a day. They set up this collective and made honest money from their artistic labors. I no longer remember in what state or how we knew to buy it. I only know we bought it as a way of supporting a cause we believed in. It has graced Christmas all these years.

Blessings during our Advent and Winter journey together. 

The Second Sunday in Advent

 

Finding the Quiet. Even during isolation and quarantine, there seems to be a lot going on, especially in our heads. Lots of thinking, wondering, worrying and just caring deeply about what is happening and if there is anything we can do about it. How in the midst of all this do we find quiet, peace, a time just to be?

I do meditate and sometimes that is just not possible. I know there are people for whom this is difficult. I also find that just a moment or two of quiet is very helpful. For instance, I'll be sitting on my bed, tying a shoe and I will just stop. Just stop. Sit very still and look out the window and breathe. I don't stay like that long. The other shoe needs to be tied and I need to get up and move ~ and for a moment there has been a quiet stillness in my soul. 

I tie the other shoe, or get up to start my day, just a little more centered, a little more grounded, a little more aware of the Divine.

We must find our quiet when and where we can and sometimes it is only a moment while tying a shoe. 

Days Three and Four of Winter

 On the third day of Winter, my family gave me . . . fudge. Oh yum!! 

 

Meredith's recipe. Michelle's cooking. Dark chocolate pecan fudge. Dean and I both went a little crazy. I cut us a small piece for dessert and he came back later looking like Oliver with his bowl of gruel: please, I need more. Heheheheh. It really is good. And so simple that I will make it soon. 

And on the 4th day of Winter, my family gave me . . . cookies: ginger and lemon with icing.

. 

I haven't tried the ginger yet. The lemon is wonderful. And best of all on any day is the conversation that goes with the unwrapping. Today, Meredith and David arrived home during our visit and David showed me around their Christmas decorations. These chats don't last long and they are precious and so special as we take just a moment each day to see each other and catch up briefly. The cookies and fudge will be eaten. Other gifts will be enjoyed for perhaps a longer time. And best of all will be the memories of moments together. Sometimes technology is a gift too. 

The Second Day of Winter

Today son-in-law Marc was a major part of the gift giving. He is a professional baker and so I received two gorgeously delicious heavily chocolate M&M cookies. Yum!!! They needed milk of course. I don't know if I am going to share or not. For now, they are rich enough that one a day will suffice. Oh my. So good. Such a treat ~ especially with the delightful family conversation that went along with the unwrapping and eating. 

Here on the corner of the table are gifts for Day 3 ~ 11. They arrived together snuggly packed in a small box. I look forward to opening each one ~ taking care to spend enough time enjoying each one for at least the 24 hours before the next one is unwrapped. And so nice to be able to say to the family, See you tomorrow! 

 

 

The First Day of Winter

On the first day of Winter, my daughters gave to me . . . a pear. 

Thus begins a three month journey through the minds and imaginations of my wonderful daughters. 

Emotionally I have had a rough time since the end of August - having nothing to do with COVID or my own health. Three people that I love dearly almost died. Three people I love dearly did die. Two dear friends of Dean whom I knew died. It seemed I shed a lot of tears of sadness and my daughters saw and recognized that. They decided to do something about it. 

Starting today (see #1) I have a present a day to open for three months - 90 days of winter to keep me entertained and happy in the midst of a cold quarantine. 

Part of the gift is that I call them each time I open the present of the day. We have a WhatsApp account for the three of us so a quick video chat works well. I already have a box that contains 10 more little gifts, wrapped with the number of the day included. Another will soon be on its way. 

When they told me the plan, I cried but this time they were tears of Joy and happiness. 

You may not have to see every little gift, but count on my sharing along the way. We are all very excited about this journey together and as I said to them after eating my pear today ~ see you tomorrow! 

 

The First Sunday in Advent

 

This year's decorations are minimal and as Meredith pointed out, it is my choice. If later I decide I want more decorations, I just get them out and add them. 

One thing that stays the same, however, is the Advent wreath. Simple, plain, and very meaningful.

Another standard is that I get out all my Christmas books so they are within easy reach to read once again. As I was looking at them this morning, I realized I know most of them by heart. There are short stories, full fledged novels, poetry and fun. I usually start with Sandra Boynton's Christmastime, and move on to Anne Perry's Christmas novels. The Grinch gets saved for Christmas Eve with my family. The point being, I suggest that you read something this season that you almost know by heart. It doesn't have to be a Christmas story. Just one that you have read often, that brings you pleasure, and will bring you comfort as you live into this beautiful, frustrating, odd, delightful, painful, hopeful season of the year. 

Blessings, my friends. 

Today I Wore Pearls

 

Today I wore pearls in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In honor of RBG ~ and Democracy

 ~ and Lady Liberty, the words on your base are not forgotten

~ and Abigail Adams, who said, "Don't forget the ladies, John"

~ and all the Native American mothers who walked the trail of tears

~ and all the black mothers who hold their breaths until their sons return home safely

~ and all the women who marched, were jailed and force fed so that we could vote today

~ and Rosa Parks

~ and all the women who wear the title "the first woman to . . ."

~ and all the LBGTQ folks struggling to have the same rights as everyone else

~ and all the wives and mothers who bear the burden of having sons and daughters at war

~ and all those whose anger is fought against instead of being listened to as legitimate protest

~ and all those who have the courage to flee domestic violence

~ and all those who fight for justice whether in the streets, the courts, the home, or the government

~ and all our daughters whose strength and wisdom is just now rising to the fore.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg,

May her legacy be a blessing and a beacon to us all. 

Mama Susan's Sous Chefs

 

I had good helpers baking sour cream pound cake yesterday. 

After hand washing and assurances that they would follow instructions and take turns,

they started by just watching the butter cream.

Taking turns, the eggs were added one at a time and cups of flour

alternated with the sour cream. 

One of the joys of baking is licking the beater so we all shared

a finger full of the delicious batter. 

The bowl is heavy of course and  I was taller so I poured the batter

into the pans by myself. 

My sous chefs were very happy with the outcome,

and when asked what they did today, the first answer was 

always, "we baked a cake." 

And so I leave you with a question: how do you define "rich" in connection with a cake?

Question: what does the sour cream do?

Answer: it makes the cake richer than ordinary cakes.

Question: what is "richer"?

Answer: hmmmmmm - well, uh, . . .

And there you have it. She is 7. I am 77. I know and understand, I just had a hard 

time defining. I'm open to suggestions. 

First Votes

 Two grandsons turned 18 this year and yesterday voted for the first time ~ in what I believe may be the most important election of their life times. Another grandson and a granddaughter just missed the last Presidential election so although older, this was their first election too. So proud of our families teaching the next generation how important involvement in the political process is. Good for all of you!!

Lettie & Levi On Line

For the first time in months and months we have family visiting. It is so good to see them even though we are staying some distance from each other. The kids are so active that we don't have a chance to be too close to them because they are so busy running around the deck and the house and being on line.

Sister and Brother playing games.

Like Grandfather like grandson. 

Dean on his side of the window seat.

Levi on his side of the window seat. 

Lettie on line ~ virtual school can be attended from anywhere. 

 

The Saga of a Cake

As I was growing up, we would visit my mother's family in North Carolina and part of the summer ritual was Aunt Lalah's Sour Cream Pound Cake. One day when I was living in Denver, Aunt Lalah came to visit and I asked her to make me a sour cream pound cake. She did ~ and at that altitude, it fell. This amazing North Carolinian cook was Devastated. And I never tried it again but I always kept the recipe close at hand. Then I moved to Tahoe and was once again living at altitude so when visiting daughter Michelle in Oregon, I asked her to make me a sour cream pound cake. This is how it turned out ~ and it tasted just as good as it looked and as good as I remembered. 

In Tahoe I have a neighbor who is a culinary schooled pastry chef, so I asked him what I might do to make this cake at altitude. I tried his suggestion and the cake tasted really good and . . . it crumbled coming ut of the pan. 

Oops. But it tasted good ~ what to do? 

I had lots of fresh fruit so I made a fruit bread pudding ~

with rum sauce (another story). 

Delicious, moist and truly wonderful. But I still hadn't accomplished making

the sour cream pound cake at altitude.

"Give it another try", suggested my bakery chef friend, "only this time make

no adjustments to your original recipe. And bake in loaf pans instead of the bundt 

pan the recipe calls for."

Ta-dah!! Perfect!! No falling, no crumbling. Just wonderful,

delicious, as I remember it pound cake. Slices tasted so good under

strawberries, ice cream and whipped cream on the deck with

grandsons. 

It was with joy and sadness that we celebrated Kyle's leaving us after five years in Tahoe that started with his living 9 months in our guest room ~ and the fun of welcoming his brother Carter who has been in Tahoe all summer and is staying around. Although not living with us, we look forward to seeing him occasionally for more dinners on the deck and some skiing with Grandpa over the winter. We love you guys and I am so glad the sour cream pound cake was a success just in time for the start of new journeys for you both!