THE CHRISTMAS CAROLING PARTY LAST NIGHT WAS THE BEST

I was invited to the home of a couple who are instrumental in a local Christian church last night to attend a tradition of theirs - Christmas carol singing in the home.  I took my dog with me.  After we had both eaten plenty from the great variety of foods offered  - including a tasty Russian meat strudel and the home made Mexican enchiladas  a guest brought with onions not too raw - not too cooked - and a hunters stew, and had one glass of wine, we gathered in the living room.  My host played the piano.  Also there, a young man - a violinist, a guitar player,  and small percussion instruments such as bells, rattles, and tambourines were passed around. 

We must have sung fifteen songs, happy to have the lyric sheets in hand.  We got inventive.  One man made the sounds of cows, donkeys, and sheep, for the song Do You Hear What I Hear.  We sang one song that was a German carol I had never heard before, alternating between English and German phrases with violin solos between stanzas.  We finished with the Twelve Days of Christmas - those "five golden rings" brought out the operatic and dramatic.  My dog fell asleep under a table despite all the kids swirling around and the clamor. 

Oh I hated to go.

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Happy Holidays to all my readers, who I feel sure, will have their decorations up until January 6th. 

HANGSZERSIMOGATO - SUSS FEL NAP - COME OUT SUN

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS - THIS TIME THIS YEAR

The song by that title my mom loved and I remember her singing it around the house. I almost put a YouTube video up of the song being sung by one of my dad's favorite artists.  But I am opposed to forcing my readers into having to watch or listen to a commercial first.

A few of my favorite things at this time of year?

I have memories of visiting people and indulging in their cookies - so many different ethnic recipes - so many different spices.  Including anise in sugar cookies, glazed with simple powder sugar and vanilla. Never brownies, no chocolaty chip, but a lot of jellies, powdered sugars, almonds, walnuts and poppy seeds.

One of my aunts made a poppy seed roll that was so fresh smelling and tasting, it was impossible to eat just one piece.  Another made a particular date cookie with a creamy icing in pastels.

Candy - Jordan almonds and those raspberry-tac filled with a little liquid.

Our stockings were never full of toys or money.

The discovery of a quarter, a box  of Jello, an orange, some candy canes, or other small items in an actual knee sock  I wore - was enough to please and surprise - since it was left by Santa.  Who sometimes ate a cookie and drank his milk - and sometimes did not.

The local news channels ended 6 PM news with checking the radar for Santa's sleigh and it seems that was enough excuse to go to bed early.

Sometimes it snowed.  Sometimes it didn't. We never went out looking for sleigh, reindeer footprints, or elf or Santa footprints.  Knowing - not knowing - it didn't seem to matter - because it was simple faith.

For the last couple decades I have not put up an actual Christmas tree.  I used to collect ornaments and have collections.  I sold one collection a long time ago.  I put out an antique bowl full of ornaments as a centerpiece at the table. I'm fond of candles and the small lights sometimes called fairy lights. I like to have a few branches of actual pine tree so the rooms smell a little of pine.

CHRISTMAS