Friday, December 25, 2020

A Move to Christmas Eve

 Merry Christmas everyone.  I didn't do much in the way of cards, but did provide a commemorative ornament for those who live close.  It carries a message I surely wish for everyone. 



My heartfelt wish for you this season 

Is the only Covid you'll be seeing,

Is trapped inside this tiny ball,

And won't be bothering you at all. 

We started Christmas Eve with brunch on the porch.

Creme Brûlée French Toast

Sausage Egg Casserole

Ham 

Brown Sugar Bacon

Biscuits

Apple Salad and a fruit salad

Coffee, hot chocolate and hot cider 

and Rae's speciality.

Next was a journey of the Jesse Tree.

Gwen took us all the way back to creation of this wondrous world. 

Tim reminded us of forbidden fruit.

Rae shared of the promise of Abraham with a toss of stars to count. 

Michael and Isaac's ram, a way of escape. 

Buttercup with Jacob's ladder

BlueEyes with Joseph's  multi-colored coat

Giddy-Up with Ruth's wheat, the grandmother of Jesse.

Buttons with David's sheep and crown.

Mr. Smiley with Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Our littlest sprite with Tim and a sign of peace, referencing the Elizabeth and the Holy Spirit

And lastly, Joseph, Mary's helpmate. I took this opportunity to share with the gramerlings that yes, I had lots of creative ideas, but they would never happen without someone doing some heavy lifting and Pap was my Joseph.

So over the river and through the woods to Bethlehem, where we found the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes.  We sang our favorite carols.

 We then gathered more wood for the fire and made our way back. 

Time to open presents.










First I replenished drinks and brought out the caramel and fudge tray.

Later I brought out the a charcuterie tray.

Lastly- marshmallows.

I never, in a million years, imagined we'd make it all day outside when it was less than 28 degrees, but the kids played and Pap with help from the kids sometimes, carried half the woods to fire. I brought out more drinks and blankets and we just visited and talked about everything under the sun.

The boys enjoyed axe lessons from Uncle Tim.






As the sun started to disappear, the cold finally sent  us separate ways.
It was such a cold, fun, big  day.  
Two things- though I enjoyed the usual Sunday before with a third of my kids and grands, I missed them today.  And then Jimi, hospitalized again, unresponsive and not making good progress.  Oh my. I will head back down in the morning to check on him.
Aunt Tish will host us for Christmas lunch, while she's caring for brother Tim, post surgery. In addition, I'll deliver another package for two of bread, candy and ornaments. 
The amount of folks this week who will be missing that special someone, lost to Covid, is hard to wrap my mind around.  Ceece, figuring out the holidays with a central figure gone- heartbreak and joy all around.  The great Lord of peace, who we celebrate, please scatter that peace in good measure.
Merry Christmas. 

Thursday, December 24, 2020

So this is Covid Christmas

 So crazy this Covid stuff, and so scary as cases continue to rise and are hitting close to home. 

We were to celebrate outside last Sunday, but Drummer Boy was exposed, so I thought to change it to today, Christmas Eve.  The Major though was taking the kids to a tourist destination, so I wasn't feeling too good about that.  So I decided to divide and conquer. Not too happy about it, but desperate times you know. 

Continuing with our squatly theme, we wrapped up a corner of the porch with attractive plastic and with a patio heater for outside comfort. Sunday was relatively warm, so it was a nice afternoon. 

Welcome to the Tumbledown Porch Cafe-








Next up was blackbean omelet night with Old Mother Hubbard's Cupboard. We had it at our house this year, to make use of the porch and because I wanted to teach the kids to make the caramels and fudge they so love. 

They really seemed to enjoy their carefully chosen books.  I love books and I love when other folks love them just as much. 


I watch the weather now more closely than I have in years. Yesterday we were to have a weird raise in temps to almost sixty, so I invited a friend to join us on the porch.
Sadly, that temp came with strong wind that stranded her on the wrong side of downed line, and later led to the electric out for us till the middle of the night. 

Well, it was all set and ready to go so Handy Man and I ate out, then he went about delivering her meal and some other goodies.










So, I must flee and put on some warmer clothes after my check-up appt. this morning. On Christmas Eve, really?  Oh well.  And get to the food and activities for the day!


Saturday, December 12, 2020

One Pooped Out Gramerly

 I tried my hand at the toaster pastry gingerbread house I saw online.  I love the size, but they aren't really any easier to make and would be quite pricey for the amount I have to make. 




I mentioned I was feeling more interested in Christmas at home this year. I got this when the kids were tiny. As the kids grew and we accrued more and more stuff, it stayed in then attic room for many years.  I dug it out and Handy Man did some repairs. I rolled up some bee's wax candles.  Mr. Smiley was old enough this year to light the candles himself. So. Big. 


We also created some crazy reindeer pops. 


I wanted to do the cookie exchange at school this year.  I looked up brand new recipes.  One was Banger Toffee Cookie.  You had to freeze the dough on the trays for twenty minutes before baking them, cook, bang, cook, bang cool. Wow, kind of a pain, but they are delicious.

Well with all these new recipes, and candy making to be done, I asked Bugg to come and help.  Good thing, my Christmas Spirit is a tad bigger than my energy level.  I've been wanting to start teaching them how to make the fudge and caramels they love so much, so with that done and the Bangers in the freezer, we indulged in a few whimsies. 


If you click on the pictures you can see them bigger and laugh at the snowman buttons. They are terrifying and look much more like chickens.  The mice would have been better, but the eyes didn't all stay put. 


Bugg took home a big box of goodies. I fed her her favorite beef stroganoff.  It was lovely to spend the day with her.  Now off for a big soak.  I am beat!

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Some Christmas in Spite of the Pandemic

 I'm often asked how e-learning is going.  Mostly I say, "It's going, I guess."  I finally figured out that it is just awkward.  Do you go on when a storm blows through and the electric is out?  Of course you do.  But every last thing you do likely has to be rethought because your old habits don't work without electricity.  So, because we have families with 3-5 kids, who don't have individual electronics or  enough internet power, the grades take turns doing live lessons.  3rd grade does two and I do an additional recorded video. I currently have more video footage of my old, fat face than ever I dreamed or imagined. Then, because I thought we would be back next week, I started recording the book Kringle because my kids wanted me to do that book, for our December read aloud. It is three hundred pages. No way could I cut out a week.  Well, now they aren't coming back so I get to do thirty videos ( only my voice, so it doesn't matter what my face looks like at least).  

When I started at this school, seventeen years ago, I was thrilled to get to do Christmas from the perspective of my faith, as well as the usual Santa, elves, etc.  So really I did Christmas big.  Due to that, I've just done what I had to do at home because I ended up being exhausted.  So the days at school are still exhausting for a different reason.  Worrying about kids not getting what they need. Trying to get ahead with videos so they are up and on Google Classroom and ready, then trying to figure out what day it is today and what I am supposed to now.  Also, this is the first time I've taught 3rd grade, so figuring out what am doing, as I don't have resources at the ready.  But, nearly no Christmas to be done year. So I've been surprised to get home and want to do some Christmas things.  I haven't wrapped pretty presents in years, since the wrapping usually happens a few hours before it is ripped off.  I happened to buy a lot of books for gifts this year and just had a big time wrapping them.

When I was a little girl, I loved those gaudy, sparkling corsages ladies wore on their long wool coats.  I think I was recreating that memory with these all aglitter packages.  Then when the tree lights reflect on them, it is just right.  Sift the joy friends. 









So, the question we face at every turn- What to do about these long held traditions, when  childhood is already so short? We did Thanksgiving outside and the temp was very bearable. A week ago the outlook for today was not so great, rain/snow, cold. First, I moved the time to later in the day.  I prayed all week for some sunshine and thank the Good Lord, it was a beautiful today. I think we've had so many freezing nights and cold days  now that we're all a bit more used to it. 

We had one of those patio heaters and a fire, but the kids were perfectly fine.  Lots of hot chocolate with whipped cream, peppermint sugar, cinnamon sugar and marshmallows for the top. Hot coffee and cider too. 

Yes, it was a bit different.  Gloved adults fixed candy plates, names on the plates with little houses, marked mugs and no sharing. Everything touched in the trash of course.  

I didn't anticipate a visit by Jimi, after his weekend in the hospital last week and dialysis today, but  he made it. We parked him right by the heater and reminded the kids to keep their distance. Never in my life have a I known a person who repeatedly goes so low, then bounces back again.  

Since all the great upgrades, my pictures never load in order anymore, and I don't have the energy to fix them. So this isn't just like it happened in real time.  

This green thing sends a pocket of air forward, for no reason except it is funny.


My Mom's little dog Angel that Jordan has lovingly cared for when she was no longer able to. 





Ceece and the teens cracked me up playing beauty shop with the voluminous hair of some our fellers. 






I used to tell my many nephews that they had to come to the Gingerbread House Party until they had a child of their own to bring.  Jakester wins the prize for compliance to Aunt Kimberly's dictates.  This time he brought a sweet friend. 
My teens were the photographers for some of the pictures.  I throughly enjoyed them enjoying themselves today!

















I had my parents bring back my student's work yesterday and pick up the work for the next two weeks.  I went through the two week's work with each child. So I was at work, mostly standing on concrete for eleven hours yesterday. By nine o'clock last night, when I finished the houses, I was sure doubting why I still do this as somehow, I don't quite have the energy I had when I started this thirty plus years ago.  But today, today was perfect to me. Everyone seemed to have such a good time.  Much gravy, biscuits, hash brown, cinnamon rolls and candy were enjoyed. 

It was sweet in a multitude of ways!