Pushing on a Rope
Christmas
Blame it on the pie
Hindsight being 20/20, it’s all clear to me now: I should have known better. It should have been obvious that no amount of early shopping forays, wrapping on Thanksgiving or freezing a bunch of cookie dough would stave off my annual December meltdown. I hung in there pretty well for a long time. But I got … Continue reading
This Christmas gift sucks
In flagrant violation of my friend, Jacquie’s “no plug” rule, I have an early Christmas gift — a Shark vacuum whose suction mechanism seems designed to pull up dirt from Middle Earth. I wasn’t planning to buy a vacuum, certainly not at this time of year when so many other charges are being rung up … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — Decking the Halls
Flashback to December 1971 and helping out with the tree-trimming. I got thinking about this yesterday, while sneaking peeks over my laptop, of Basil setting up the holiday display outside. Hunter, the toddler next door, was beside himself with delight over the process. He raced around the yard, touching and looking and “talking” to the … Continue reading
Garbage in, garbage out
Try, as you read this, not to hate me. I know many of you got sparkly, shiny gifts these past few weeks — presents maybe in tiny blue boxes — but I’m betting none of you came home from work tonight to find this: Yup. It’s a new kitchen garbage can. I’ll wait while you … Continue reading
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you peace, joy and love — today and all year through. From our house to yours, Merry Christmas!
Yes, Catherine, there is a Santa Claus
Reposted from December 20, 2011, because, well, we all need to believe. One of the great things about being a parent is a chance to reconnect with your own childhood –something Basil and I do with gusto at this time of year. Playing Santa is perhaps a parent’s biggest pleasure — even when the kid would rather … Continue reading
My own elf — not on the shelf
Had my own Christmas miracle today: Catherine jumped in to help with our last-minute preparations. She rolled out of bed before noon, helped make the gravy for Tuesday’s stuffed shells, emptied the garbage, made up a couple of plates of cookies, and found time between text messages to put away some of the stuff that … Continue reading
Remembering Christmases past
There she is, in all her glory: This year’s Christmas tree is dressed at last. As crazy as it is to get everything done this time of year, decorating the tree is great fun and a welcome walk down memory lane. I don’t do the tinsel and garland my mother used to arrange so … Continue reading
Save the last batch for me
It is time to declare the Great Christmas Cookie Bakeoff of 2012 complete. Sadly, I have fallen far short of my quota. My eyes and heart were bigger than the allotment of time on the calendar. But we will celebrate with Basil’s family in less than a week and the tree is only half-decorated, there … Continue reading
Seasons eatings from my kitchen to yours
The Great Cookie Bakeoff began today. I managed to get four batches baked. As I wrote last year, the cookies are tightly tied to the season for me. It just isn’t Christmas without them, so even though I’m feeling more than a little behind the holiday eight ball this year, there will be cookies — … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 