Christmas time means a lot of things for me, but most recently, as in the last 7-10 years or so, it means a TON of cooking. Wife and I got nice and broke for a while and we pulled out her Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cookie Book and decided to make cookies and distribute them as presents for everyone. It was an instant hit and therefore became a regular tradition. We had standard cookies that we would make, but then there'd be some others we'd mix in and see what the family liked. My Grandfather for instance, loved the Ginger Short Bread cookies and suggested putting more ginger into them, so I would usually make him one large round cookie each year. Wife's family loved the Lemon Bars (as did we!) and her Grandfather began to get one large batch of chocolate chip cookies all to himself.
The last few years since we moved to Florida has been hard for me because the cookies are not quite as appreciated with this side of the family so we've been trying to do the "gift buying" thing, which gets expensive and is harder each year. The first year we did cookies, taking over my father's kitchen for days to do so. This year though we have our own kitchen and for the first time in four years I feel like Christmas is really here, and everything feels just about right. I got my niece and nephew involved in the cookies this first day, which was SO VERY long! Wife and I napped after the first batch of cookies stuff and then woke up to do the crayons. Today marks day two of the cookie making, so there's lots of pictures!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Christmas
I can't believe it's only going to be one week until Christmas. Where did December go? Where did November for that matter? I find as I get older I tend to get completely lost in the bustle of life and forget about the simple things, like the holiday. I notice that people are commenting about it on FaceBook, I see that people notice the holiday is approaching, but I feel like there's so many things I have to do before the holiday, and I am often left thinking, "What? What do you mean Christmas is in one week? You *MUST* be joking."
I suspect that part of this is the, "I am getting older so time passes quicker for me than it did when I was a child." thing. Each day has less of an impact on my life because they are worth less than they were worth when I was young. Since this is true, and I still have the thought pattern that there is always tomorrow to finish up what I can't complete today, the time goes by so quickly that I hardly get a chance to stop and pause, notice things like the lights on houses, or the crisp scent of winter in the air.
It's probably also somewhat related to the fact that I live in Florida, and although they definitely have a winter, it is not the same as seeing snow on the ground, heralding in the season and the reminder that soon there will be this great big holiday where everyone gets together and gives each other presents. Although I am a self proclaimed snow hater, it does a fantastic job of pointing out the season I'm in and telling me to get cracking on the gift decisions. I don't want to go back to the land of snow, ice and sludge, but once I'm there, I'll know what season it is because of the clothes I have to wear, not because of the date on the calendar. I'm still in shorts and t-shirts with fans and ac running. Up north I'm sure people don't leave the house without coats, and possibly two or three layers of clothes, and most likely mittens and scarves. It might not be snowing, but there is cold, and although it's cold down here, it's simply not that cold. So far this season I haven't had to put on long sleeves. Go tropical weather. I love it, but I have noticed a much harder time knowing what season it is simply by walking outside. Never had that problem in Ohio.
Please don't get me wrong and think that I want to go back to the snow, because I don't, I'm just pointing out the difference and realizing that may be part of the reason why the holidays creep up on me. Yule is in 4 days and I've just pulled out my yuletide music. Come December 1st I used to listen to that album again and again until the date (and sometimes afterwards) but now it's like I hardly get the chance to listen to the music before the holiday is up. It's sad, because I love it. Oh, and if anyone knows of any pagan/yule albums other than MotherTongue's This Winter's Night, let me know, because I am totally interested in good, pleasant music for the season.
I'm excited to be doing the cooking of cookies this year, because I think that there will be some actual interest in them. I bake several different kinds and use them as presents. There are sugar cookies, lemon bars, ginger shortbread, thumbprints, sometimes chocolate chip, and then something else that we decide to make. Years ago we baked a whole batch of chocolate chip for Grandpa (Wife's side) and I'd make a ginger shortbread batch completely for my Grp, and then we'd mix the rest. We always made a batch of Anise cookies for Carol (Wife's mother), and we had just begun to make tea cookies (thank you Mom for the recipe!) on a regular basis. My sister loves those. I love doing that, making the cookies, decorating them, cutting them out and having a house that smells so much like cookies and cookie dough that you can't walk in without thinking about it. This year I have my own kitchen, and I'm going to be so involved in cooking I'm going to be busy.
And you know what? I'm starting to get excited, really excited, about this. Cookies, holiday, wrapping paper, decorations... I want to put everything up, I want to have garland all over, and I want to remember how fantastic the holiday is. Hey, it's about family, and caring, and enjoying each others company. That's good, right? I can get into that.
I suspect that part of this is the, "I am getting older so time passes quicker for me than it did when I was a child." thing. Each day has less of an impact on my life because they are worth less than they were worth when I was young. Since this is true, and I still have the thought pattern that there is always tomorrow to finish up what I can't complete today, the time goes by so quickly that I hardly get a chance to stop and pause, notice things like the lights on houses, or the crisp scent of winter in the air.
It's probably also somewhat related to the fact that I live in Florida, and although they definitely have a winter, it is not the same as seeing snow on the ground, heralding in the season and the reminder that soon there will be this great big holiday where everyone gets together and gives each other presents. Although I am a self proclaimed snow hater, it does a fantastic job of pointing out the season I'm in and telling me to get cracking on the gift decisions. I don't want to go back to the land of snow, ice and sludge, but once I'm there, I'll know what season it is because of the clothes I have to wear, not because of the date on the calendar. I'm still in shorts and t-shirts with fans and ac running. Up north I'm sure people don't leave the house without coats, and possibly two or three layers of clothes, and most likely mittens and scarves. It might not be snowing, but there is cold, and although it's cold down here, it's simply not that cold. So far this season I haven't had to put on long sleeves. Go tropical weather. I love it, but I have noticed a much harder time knowing what season it is simply by walking outside. Never had that problem in Ohio.
Please don't get me wrong and think that I want to go back to the snow, because I don't, I'm just pointing out the difference and realizing that may be part of the reason why the holidays creep up on me. Yule is in 4 days and I've just pulled out my yuletide music. Come December 1st I used to listen to that album again and again until the date (and sometimes afterwards) but now it's like I hardly get the chance to listen to the music before the holiday is up. It's sad, because I love it. Oh, and if anyone knows of any pagan/yule albums other than MotherTongue's This Winter's Night, let me know, because I am totally interested in good, pleasant music for the season.
I'm excited to be doing the cooking of cookies this year, because I think that there will be some actual interest in them. I bake several different kinds and use them as presents. There are sugar cookies, lemon bars, ginger shortbread, thumbprints, sometimes chocolate chip, and then something else that we decide to make. Years ago we baked a whole batch of chocolate chip for Grandpa (Wife's side) and I'd make a ginger shortbread batch completely for my Grp, and then we'd mix the rest. We always made a batch of Anise cookies for Carol (Wife's mother), and we had just begun to make tea cookies (thank you Mom for the recipe!) on a regular basis. My sister loves those. I love doing that, making the cookies, decorating them, cutting them out and having a house that smells so much like cookies and cookie dough that you can't walk in without thinking about it. This year I have my own kitchen, and I'm going to be so involved in cooking I'm going to be busy.
And you know what? I'm starting to get excited, really excited, about this. Cookies, holiday, wrapping paper, decorations... I want to put everything up, I want to have garland all over, and I want to remember how fantastic the holiday is. Hey, it's about family, and caring, and enjoying each others company. That's good, right? I can get into that.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Transcribing
So years ago when the world was still green and flowers smelled like something, the wife and I decided we would start recording the games we did so we could write them out later. This is basically like recording a play happening, with tapes that aren't film so you don't get the motions, you just have to guess what exactly is happening. And it probably sounds cornier than it really is.
Anyway, it's been years since we did this. Over ten in fact, and eventually we stopped taping, but now we have containers and containers of tapes that are recordings of stories never written with characters neither one of us really remember. Which is probably a good thing because now I can laugh at myself.
Anyway, it's been years since we did this. Over ten in fact, and eventually we stopped taping, but now we have containers and containers of tapes that are recordings of stories never written with characters neither one of us really remember. Which is probably a good thing because now I can laugh at myself.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Returning to the Blog!
I'm back!
Just thought I'd mention. I know NaNo pretty much ate up November, but it's December and if I procrastinate and say the holidays are here, then I'm likely to keep doing it and so I won't. So here I am, mid-month and returning to my blog. Did you miss me?
I spent half of November writing on my original story with the Wife. We whipped out almost our whole NaNo word count on one book. Which is amazing because we really hadn't planned for that. However once it's edited and worked on it's bound to be over 100k words. Then we started a second novel but only got partway through it before we were sick (and I wanted soup to eat) and we ended up going to a restaurant where we sat down with a notebook. She couldn't think of anything to write, so I stole it and started a Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Harry Potter crossover that we continued to write on through the end of November. She didn't know I was making the story a crossover until I used the name Spike, and then she was irritated with me because she hadn't planned for a crossover, only then she was too interested in what was going on for her to stop.
For the record, the Wife has never seen the BtVS show, except she is officially watching it now. However she hadn't when we began writing, which was kind of actually good since she was writing Harry. So he gets to ask all those questions people who have seen BtVS don't ask because they already know. It was kind of neat to realize how twisted and soap opera like the show is, as I tried to explain things to Harry. It's very true that things are crazy and twisted as the story continues.
Anyway, that was the end of the month. Oh, and between all of this there was Skyrim, my dad sawed his fingers, and he went on a three week cruise with my grandmother. I missed Thanksgiving with my family because I was sick and the Wife was working very early. However I got foods so it's all good. I called and wished happy Thanksgiving the night before. <3
Now we are in December and I'm thinking of all the things I want/need to do before I make the long trip back up North at the beginning of next year. Oh, yes, the Wife and I made the decision to move back up to Ohio. Which sucks because they have snow. But is okay, because they have family. Well, actually, the main reason is because of money and Grandpa. Her grandfather, who has been a grandfather to me as well, has been getting sick, and has Alzheimer's I believe, and really needs a caregiver. I will be doing that for him, and getting out to work for her mother at least once a week.
I do miss the family though. Ohio doesn't just have the close nit family of blood but it also has the family of friends and past roommates that I miss so much as I struggle to come to terms with the family I have down here in FL. I love all of my family, but this side is so different from how I was raised, and it makes communication and understanding hard. I miss the ease at which I used to have with my people. Honestly if it wasn't for Rachel and her family, I might have lost my mind a long time ago.
That's assuming I still have a mind to lose, I suppose.
*waves at Ra and her family* Thank you for the sanity and support, I don't know that I could have lived here without you. I don't want to leave, and I'll come back. We'll have Chestnut Stuffing again, promise!
I suspect the novelty of being around my people will wear as the snow settles in and I get stuck driving in sludge and I hate the way my car looks because of the salt and I have to snow blow the huge driveway, and maybe have to mow the lawn in the spring and summer. Of course, if I say we need to get together to rake leaves or clean out the garage or something that is really too big of a deal for one person, then I know that Carol and Karl will help us with that. It's one of those things where there's so many good points, and so many bad ones and it's a toss up how I'll feel after a few years (or months!).
Anyhow, so I'm back, and I'll be trying to update regularly again, and maybe will return to my Sims even! *gasp* We'll see, since I have to pack, organize, clean and label like crazy. We have to go through not only our stuff, but our big furniture and decide what we're keeping and what we're not because there is limited space to get our things up north. I suspect there will be sadness, and things won't fit when I feel they ought to, but what can I do? Just keep looking forward, just keep moving, just keep doing the best I can.
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
Just thought I'd mention. I know NaNo pretty much ate up November, but it's December and if I procrastinate and say the holidays are here, then I'm likely to keep doing it and so I won't. So here I am, mid-month and returning to my blog. Did you miss me?
I spent half of November writing on my original story with the Wife. We whipped out almost our whole NaNo word count on one book. Which is amazing because we really hadn't planned for that. However once it's edited and worked on it's bound to be over 100k words. Then we started a second novel but only got partway through it before we were sick (and I wanted soup to eat) and we ended up going to a restaurant where we sat down with a notebook. She couldn't think of anything to write, so I stole it and started a Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Harry Potter crossover that we continued to write on through the end of November. She didn't know I was making the story a crossover until I used the name Spike, and then she was irritated with me because she hadn't planned for a crossover, only then she was too interested in what was going on for her to stop.
For the record, the Wife has never seen the BtVS show, except she is officially watching it now. However she hadn't when we began writing, which was kind of actually good since she was writing Harry. So he gets to ask all those questions people who have seen BtVS don't ask because they already know. It was kind of neat to realize how twisted and soap opera like the show is, as I tried to explain things to Harry. It's very true that things are crazy and twisted as the story continues.
Anyway, that was the end of the month. Oh, and between all of this there was Skyrim, my dad sawed his fingers, and he went on a three week cruise with my grandmother. I missed Thanksgiving with my family because I was sick and the Wife was working very early. However I got foods so it's all good. I called and wished happy Thanksgiving the night before. <3
Now we are in December and I'm thinking of all the things I want/need to do before I make the long trip back up North at the beginning of next year. Oh, yes, the Wife and I made the decision to move back up to Ohio. Which sucks because they have snow. But is okay, because they have family. Well, actually, the main reason is because of money and Grandpa. Her grandfather, who has been a grandfather to me as well, has been getting sick, and has Alzheimer's I believe, and really needs a caregiver. I will be doing that for him, and getting out to work for her mother at least once a week.
I do miss the family though. Ohio doesn't just have the close nit family of blood but it also has the family of friends and past roommates that I miss so much as I struggle to come to terms with the family I have down here in FL. I love all of my family, but this side is so different from how I was raised, and it makes communication and understanding hard. I miss the ease at which I used to have with my people. Honestly if it wasn't for Rachel and her family, I might have lost my mind a long time ago.
That's assuming I still have a mind to lose, I suppose.
*waves at Ra and her family* Thank you for the sanity and support, I don't know that I could have lived here without you. I don't want to leave, and I'll come back. We'll have Chestnut Stuffing again, promise!
I suspect the novelty of being around my people will wear as the snow settles in and I get stuck driving in sludge and I hate the way my car looks because of the salt and I have to snow blow the huge driveway, and maybe have to mow the lawn in the spring and summer. Of course, if I say we need to get together to rake leaves or clean out the garage or something that is really too big of a deal for one person, then I know that Carol and Karl will help us with that. It's one of those things where there's so many good points, and so many bad ones and it's a toss up how I'll feel after a few years (or months!).
Anyhow, so I'm back, and I'll be trying to update regularly again, and maybe will return to my Sims even! *gasp* We'll see, since I have to pack, organize, clean and label like crazy. We have to go through not only our stuff, but our big furniture and decide what we're keeping and what we're not because there is limited space to get our things up north. I suspect there will be sadness, and things won't fit when I feel they ought to, but what can I do? Just keep looking forward, just keep moving, just keep doing the best I can.
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
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