Holiday Pin It/Do It: Pin #16.5? - Quilt

This is my final pin for the Holiday Pin It/Do It Challenge, and I'm calling it Number 16.5 because it's only partially complete.  Technically, it's nearer to Number 16.17503, but close enough.  I found this picture on Pinterest ...

Unfortunately, I could not track down a link.  One pin gives credit to The Crafty Mummy, but I couldn't find it on her blog.  Other pins give no link at all, so my apologies to the quilter who created this lovely quilt. 

I loved the stained glass window effect and the relatively large size of the fabric pieces was perfect for showing off Christmas fabrics with large patterns.  I decided to use a white snowflake-patterned fabric for the bars in my "windows" to mimic frost-covered windows and continue the Christmas/winter theme. Also, I already had the fabric and was trying to purchase as little as possible for this project. In fact, the plan was to make a lap-size quilt using only the leftovers from my Christmas crafting.  However . . .

I didn't have anything in my stash suitable for the backing.  I fell in love with this whimsical flannel and, if the backing was black, black should be incorporated into the pieced side as well, right?  I mean for continuity and all.  Yeah, Dave didn't fall for that either, but fortunately he's very indulgent of my sewing/crafting addiction.  Here's what I ended up with:

And this is why I'm calling this Pin #16.5 - I only have two blocks complete, but you get the idea.  The gorgeous, newly-purchased black fabric with the red/gold print will be the bars between "window panes".  I'll post pictures of the final project as soon as it's done - hopefully early January

Thanks again to Trish of Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity for hosting another fun challenge.  I know she was toying with the idea of making Pin It/Do It a regular feature, so  I'm off to start pinning for the next one.

Holiday Pin It/Do It - Pins #13-16: Food

The gathering of family for Christmas seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out some new recipes.  I reported earlier on the Weight Watchers Taco Soup that I made ahead and froze.  We had so many options on Christmas day, that I never got around to trying the Taco Soup, then sent all the leftovers home with college kids - so you're on your own with that recipe.  All I know is that It tasted good while it was cooking, and those who ate it on Christmas came back for more - so it must have been ok.

I also tried a couple other recipes that I actually ate and can review.  First was Peanut Butter Eclair Cake.  I have been making Eclair Cake since it was served at my bridal shower over thirty years ago.  It has long been Mitch's favorite and his request for his birthday every year - but I never thought of adding peanut butter.  Genius!

Note: I wasn't able to find chocolate graham crackers, either at my local grocery store or even at the huge Wal-Mart, so I made it with regular graham crackers and it was still awesome.

From Plain Chicken

Peanut Butter Chocolate Éclair Cake

1 box chocolate graham crackers (there will be a few graham crackers left over)
2 (3 1/4-ounce) boxes vanilla instant pudding
1 cup peanut butter
3 1/2 cups milk
1 (8-ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
1 can chocolate frosting

Spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with whole graham crackers. In bowl of an electric mixer, mix pudding with milk and peanut butter; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Pour half the pudding mixture over graham crackers. Place another layer of whole graham crackers on top of pudding layer. Pour over remaining half of pudding mixture and cover with another layer of graham crackers.

Heat the container of prepared frosting, uncovered in the microwave for 1 minute. Pour over the top of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before serving.

To balance the indulgence of peanut butter and chocolate, I cut calories by making my own Ranch Dressing.  

From Caffeinated Chronicles of a SuperMom

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix (not dip mix)
1/2 cup 1% milk.
Whisk together, chill 1 hour before use.

The entire jar has only 1.75 grams of fat and 255 calories!

The pinner wrote that this version "tastes better than bottled".  I'm not sure I would go that far but, considering the fat and calorie savings, it was darn good.  The yogurt has a tang to it that you don't usually find in Ranch dressing, but still a very good alternative to bottled Ranch with 140 calories in two tablespoons.

With all those saved calories, we splurged on breakfast the next morning with this delicious and simple recipe from Too Stinkin' Cute.  

Breakfast Sticky Bun Ring

2 small tubes refrigerator buttermilk biscuits OR 1 tube Pillsbury Grands buttermilk biscuits

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

1/2 C. maple syrup

1/3 C. packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 C. chopped pecans, optional

1/4 C. chopped almonds, optional

Spray a fluted pan with non-stick spray. Combine the melted butter and syrup in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (if desired).  Place about half of the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan. Then sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top. Lay the biscuits on the bottom of the pan, overlapping edges (closely together) to form a ring.  Top with remaining syrup and sugar mixtures.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 1 minute in the pan, then invert onto a serving platter and enjoy!

Never one to leave well enough alone when it comes to recipes, I substituted Karo syrup for the maple syrup (I'm not a maple fan) and I used 1 1/2 cans of the larger canned biscuits because it seemed a little skimpy in the pan with only one.  This recipe definitely gets a permanent spot in my recipe file and will get made at every excuse.

My final food-related pin wasn't a recipe, but a serving idea. Jen @ Yummy Fun shared a recipe for guacamole and showed it served in a candle holder.  I didn't try the recipe, but I did borrow the serving idea for my buffet.  I filled two (faux)-wrought iron and glass votive holders with sauce for the cocktail shrimp.  They looked pretty and added some height variety to the buffet.  I love finding alternative uses for common items.

The Holiday Pin It/Do It Challenge is nearly complete.  I'll be back tomorrow with one final pin - or at least 1/2 of a pin.  

Holiday Pin It/Do It: Pins No, 11 & 12

Another round of the Pin It/Do It Challenge, hosted by Trish @ Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity, is coming to a close.  The Holiday version kept me motivated to try some new ideas for Christmas decorations, gifts and food.  

#11: I wanted a centerpiece for the table.  Since we don't have a dining room, we would be eating in the kitchen so I thought it called for something not-too-formal, kind of rustic.  I loved this idea of using Mason jars...

from Ribbons and Bows, Oh My

 ... but preferred this idea of completely filling the jar with cranberries . . .

From Midwest Living

...but it needed more - like apples . . .

From Style Estate

  ... then I saw this idea, and wanted oranges and pine cones.

From Better Homes & Gardens

As too often happens, the ideas worked better in my head than in reality, but here's what we finally ended up with:  A plank of barn board for the base, artificial greenery, mason jars filled with cranberries and topped with tea lights, red fabric bows (yeah for quilting scrap piles), apples, oranges, pine cones and -- because I was getting frustrated that the fruit was too heavy to stay wired in place where I wanted it and nearing a Christmas melt-down that involved throwing the entire thing out the back door -- an adorable cardinal-wearing-a-stocking-cap wired on top of an orange and stuck in the center.  (Thank you to my sister, Teri, for the gift of the cute cardinal.)  Not as gorgeous as what I had imagined, but festive and fun and colorful - just what the table needed.

#12:  Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  This was my favorite pin of all!  There are many versions of this idea out there, but I got mine from KatherineMaries.com.  The basic idea is to do something nice for a random stranger every day during December leading up to Christmas.  I read several lists of ideas and culled the ones I liked and thought I could accomplish.  

There were several challenges that made this more difficult than I had anticipated.  First was cost.  Most of the ideas involved spending or giving money and over 25 days, that adds up.  I would have loved to have paid heat bills for needy families, or paid for the entire grocery cart of the young mother in line at the grocery store, but those large ideas didn't fit my budget.  The second challenge was keeping things "random".  It was tempting to reward the people who treated me well or did something for me, but the idea is to give randomly, not necessarily to those who deserve it.

Here's what I came up with:

 

1. Small bottles of lotion, tied with ribbon and a card reading "You've been RACKed.  A Random Act of Christmas Kindness to brighten your day."  I carried them in my purse and handed them out to a couple store clerks and a post office worker.  Their reactions were awesome.
2. Bags of quarters tied with a RACK card and taped to various pop machines.
3. Similar bags taped to machines at the laundromat.
4. $10 Wal-Mart card - Purchased in advance and sealed with a "You've been RACKed" sticker.  Here again, we had trouble with being "random".  We were going to give it to the checker to apply to the person in line behind us.  But that customer looked prosperous enough and had a cart full of cookies and chips - obviously having a party.  So we scoped out a family with three small children.  Dave handed the envelope to the small child in Mom's arms and said "Give this to your mommy."  And we walked away - grinning!
5. My largest RACK was $20.  Our nephew is a Marine, stationed in New Jersey, so we mailed his Christmas gift to him.  I included the small red envelope in the picture with a $20 bill inside, sealed with a RACK sticker, and a note instructing our nephew to give it to the next Marine he saw with our thanks and best wishes.  I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet to find out how that went.

Those five items used up my budget of $50, so the remainder of my RACKs were good deeds - such as returning an elderly ladies shopping cart to the cart rack to save her the long walk in the cold - that cost me nothing but some time and effort.

It's amazing how many ways you can find to be kind if you look around - and how good it feels.  I plan to make this  a daily part of life rather than an event to save for one month per year.

Christmas Break

Our Christmas celebration has begun.  We are traveling to my mom's for a couple days.  When we return, our kids will be here for a few days, and we'll be adding Dave's extemded family on Christmas Day. I will return to blogging after the festivities.  In the mean time, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given . . .

And He will he called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

The Things We Take For Granted . . .

Pop Quiz:  This home has

a.  a major gopher problem

b.  an archaeological dig for a very narrow primitive village

c.  an underground railroad

d.  water

Hallelujah!  The answer is d.  We have water!  Well, technically we've almost always had water - but only "almost".  The well that supplies our house is a shallow well (approx. 18-20 ft.).  With average annual rainfall of nearly 40 inches, the water table at that depth is usually sufficient for two people.  However, in a drought year with only 25 inches of rain, the water supply suffers.  

We have been rationing water for months - limiting shower time and number of loads of laundry per day, etc., but we finally hit bottom - literally.  By last week the water table had dropped so low that a single load of laundry would empty the well and we had to wait several hours for it to replenish before we had water again.  We cried "uncle"!  

Fortunately, there is a deeper well in the pasture behind our house that supplies water to the cattle and garden.  The landlord dug this lovely trench through our yard and ran a new water line, so we are now connected to both wells and can switch between. The yard is a disaster, but that can be fixed.  For now we'll use the deep well, but when the rain returns - as we know it will - we will switch back to the shallow well and use the deep well for the garden.

Water is something I've always taken for granted, but when it's in short supply, it changes your perspective.  I'm not sure I'll ever be as glib as I once was about the resources we use so freely.  If this were Twitter, we would file this under #farmgirlproblems!

Holiday Home Tour

I DON'T live here!

'Tis the season for touring homes to view the elaborate Christmas decorations and "ooooh" and "aaaah" over the homes we wish we had.  The first tour I ever took was of historic homes in Ft. Scott, Kansas, with my mother-in-law.  The 100+-year-old homes were gorgeous and, of course, elaborately decorated.  

When I moved west, stately Victorians were tough to find.  The west end of Kansas lacked trees for lumber, and the wealthy businessmen who could afford to ship it in.  Home tours in our area tended to be less about the history of the homes and more about bragging on who could afford the newest home or elaborate remodel - or just plain nosiness.  I skipped them.  

A couple days ago, I was visiting with a fellow blogger and Twitter pal about the craft/decorating projects we found on Pinterest and tried in our own homes. She didn't want to post pictures of her creations because people would see her home and it didn't look like the pictures on Pinterest.  That struck me as kind of sad.  No one should be embarrassed by their home - few of us actually live in the grand houses we see online.  So, I decided to start my own Holiday Home Blog Tour.  It's fun to get to know the people behind the blog, so I'm hoping some of you will join me in posting pictures of your home decked for Christmas - regardless of size, age or legos in the carpet.

Our house is a 1950's ranch-style - living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, one bath, unfinished basement, and an enclosed breezeway between house and garage.  Plenty of space for the two of us.  We gladly sacrifice space indoors for the space outdoors.  Being a rental home, we don't put money into updating (and neither does the landlord, obviously) so we have outdated carpet, wood paneling in the breakfast nook, and ancient linoleum in the kitchen and bath.  But did I mention that OUTDOORS we have 2 acres, a huge garden plot and cattle for neighbors?  Welcome to Green Acres!

Come on in.  We have 3 trees this year . . .

The traditional...

the miniature . . .

and the retro aluminum.

The stocking are hung . . .
 by the coat closet with care?

My Santa collection mixed with my favorite Christmas books.

My newest addition: The Polar Express.
Still searching for house and figurines in proper proportion, but it's a start.

In the kitchen, there are some pretty dishes, knick-knacks, an Amaryllis . . .

. . . and some ornaments and book page trees in the window.

That concludes our home tour.  Thank you for visiting.  If you want to add your lovely home to the tour, just post a few pictures and leave a link in the comments.  I hope that more bloggers will give us a peek into their holiday decorated homes.  It's not about the cost of the decorations or the size of the house - it's about home, family and Christmas traditions.

The Sounds of Christmas: Part I

Tonight was the first of two Christmas concerts on my calendar.  The Brownville Concert Series Christmas Gala was amazing!  We attended the Gala last December and were so blown away that we bought season tickets for this year.  For those of you outside southeast Nebraska, or who haven't heard me carry on about it before, you can read about it here.  It is amazing talent for a rural Nebraska location - or for New York, for that matter.  The talent this evening was beyond amazing.  A young man named Scott Decker sang Oh Holy Night . . . and I just don't have words to tell you.  But honestly, experiencing music is a very personal thing, and hearing second-hand about a concert never gives you the same physical and emotional rush as being there, so I'll just move on.  

One of the performers was Marieann Meringolo, who looks - and sounds - eerily like Barbra Streisand.  She performed a song that has been recorded by many artists, but I happen to have on Streisand's Christmas Memories album.  I hadn't thought much about the song - it's not usually one of my favorites, but after the school tragedy in Connecticut this week, it became more poignant.  I bought Ms. Meringolo's Christmas album, and I searched youtube for a video to share with you, but no luck.  So, here is the original - My Grownup Christmas List by Barbra Streisand.  May we each make it our prayer this Christmas.



As children we believedThe grandest sight to seeWas something lovelyWrapped beneath our tree.
Well heaven surely knowsThat packages and bowsCan never healA hurting human soul
No more lives torn apartThat wars would never startThat time would heal all heartsEveryone would have a friendAnd right would always winAnd love would never end.This is my grown-up Christmas list

Holiday Pin It/Do It: Pin #10 - Taco Soup

Soup is a tradition for Christmas at our house.  My mother always serves soup when our extended family gets together, and soup is our usual Christmas Eve supper before we open gifts with our kids.  This year, I'm hosting Dave's family on Christmas day.  Since our little house has no dining room and the kitchen table will only seat six, we have no place to have a formal, sit-down-and-pass-the-food-around meal.  I briefly considered borrowing another table and setting it up in the living room, but that would be crowded - not to mention block the TV - and you can't easily pass dishes between two tables.  Instead, I chose to have a less formal Christmas dinner of soup and and "finger foods", served buffet-style from the kitchen counter.  Folks will have to eat wherever they can find a spot - kitchen table, couch, piano bench...  I even purchased TV trays for those people who don't get the spots by the coffee table.  

Chili is mandatory.  Dave and Mitch love chili and the want it hot!  My favorite is potato soup, so of course we'll be having that.  But I thought we needed a third choice for those who don't care for potato soup and don't care to have their digestive tract set on fire.  I found this recipe among the pins on my Recipe Board and it seemed like the perfect compromise.

Weight Watchers Taco Soup

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef or ground turkey breast
1 (15 ounce) can stewed tomatoes (any flavor)
1 (15 ounce) can stewed tomatoes (Mexican flavor)
1 large onion (chopped)
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package hidden valley ranch dressing mix
 (15 ounce) can hot chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn

Preparation
1. Brown the the meat and onions and drain.
2. Mix the taco seasoning mix and ranch dressing mix into the meat.
3. Add all the other ingredients, without draining.
4. Simmer for about 1 hour.
5. Serve hot, topped with sour cream, cheese, avocado, raw onions, or nacho chips (optional).

Never one to leave well enough alone when it comes to recipes, I made a few "tweeks".  I used chopped white-meat chicken in place of the ground turkey, and cannellini beans in place of pintos.  I have this prepared and in the freezer so the only review I can give you is from the sample I tasted while cooking - and it was delicious.  One recipe serves 10 (the web site does not specify a serving size) at 239 calories per serving, so this will be a great option for me if I haven't gotten rid of those last, stubborn five pounds by Christmas day.

Holiday Pin It/Do It: Pin #9 - Cleaning With Vinegar

Pinterest is overflowing with tips on housekeeping and natural cleaners.  One of my resolutions for 2013 is to be more consistent in my housekeeping (see upcoming post) and to use natural products when possible.  The three household items that seem to be getting the most attention as cleansers are baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and distilled white vinegar. I decided to start with the vinegar and found dozens of websites listing possible uses, from cleaning floors and counter tops to keeping fleas/tics of pets to deodorizing the fridge.  Here are a couple of my favorites, if you want to see for yourself:  Vinegar Tips or The Vinegar Institute .

But the main reason I chose to experiment with vinegar was this pin:

366 Days of Pinterest

Save the peels from oranges - or lemons/limes - and steep them in white vinegar for homemade orange cleaner.  You can store the fruit peels in a zip-lock bag in the freezer until you've collected enough.  Put peels in a mason jar, fill with white vinegar, cap and let sit for a week or two.  The vinegar leaches the essential oil from the orange rind, which helps mask the vinegar's aroma and, some say, ups the grease-cutting ability. 

When time is up, strain the liquid into a spray bottle, dilute half-and-half with water, and you're ready to clean house.  I haven't tried nearly all of the potential uses for this elixer, but I can vouch that it takes the grease off the stove vent hood and cleans stains from ancient linoleum.  The end of the hallway where the dogs' food and water bowls sit had become discolored.  I've scrubbed it repeatedly with various commercial cleansers - including bleach - and the stain may have faded, but it was still visible.  I poured undiluted vinegar onto the stains, let stand a couple minutes, then mopped the spots away.  Seriously amazed!  Of course, the vinegar odor is still present, but much less abrasive. I have a second jar of orange vinegar steeping on the counter (I eat a lot of oranges!) and am excited to see what else it can do - well, as excited as I can be about cleaning.

The Big XII: Books in a League of Their Own

It's traditional this time of year for bloggers to compile lists of their top book picks for the  past twelve months.  And usually there's a core group of books that show up in varying combinations on nearly every list.  But 2012 was an unusual literary year for me.  Few of the big-name bestsellers really struck a chord with me.  So my list includes only a couple of the "usual suspects" and more of the lesser-known and unusual, but all are books with something special to offer.  Here are my Top 12 for '12 - in no particular order (other than #1) - with snippets from my reviews:

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey  - Easily my favorite book of the year.

 I want so badly to tell every one of you why this book is one of "those" - the books that you don't want to end; the books that change how you think; the books that ring a bell somewhere in your memory; the books that are now part of those memories.  I want to shout, "I love this book and you should, too."  First and foremost, it's about a woman who couldn't have a child.  (If you aren't aware of our battle with infertility, you can read about it here.)  Of course Mabel touches my heart, I know her pain.  Secondly, it has a magical element to it, without going over the top.  And third, it's set in Alaska (it's on my bucket list). 

The Black Box by Michael Connelly - This entry is a bit deceiving because I haven't actually read it.  However, I did read seven other Michael Connelly books during the year.  I started with The Reversal from the Micky Haller series and moved on to the Harry Bosch series, a couple where they overlap and even a stand-alone.  Every one of them was wonderful - good plot, good characters, good reading! 

I do have a copy of Mr. Connelly's newest, thanks to a Twitter giveaway on Thanksgiving day, so it may yet get read this year.  Thank you, Little Brown.

The Racketeer by John Grisham 

A Grisham legal thriller is never a bad thing - but this one rates with Mr. Grisham's early works.  The plot twists and turns till the end.  Even though we could see parts of the solution coming, there were still surprises that made us slap palm to forehead.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn  - If you haven't at least heard of this book, you've been under a rock for the past six months.  It's the thriller that has everyone talking and saying "Huh?"

Another reviewer commented on how hard it is to review this book without including spoilers, and I agree.  It's a complicated, twisting plot - even after you've finished reading.  I recommend it for all fans of psychological thrillers - especially those, like myself, with no stomach for blood and guts. 

Stardust by Carla Stewart 

 I was fascinated with the setting and the era.  My family took a vacation each summer, usually to the mountains, and sometimes stayed in small, cabin-style motels similar to the Stardust.  Though that would have been a decade later than the 1950's setting of the book, the giant chain hotels were yet to take over.  Reading Stardust brought back some fond memories.  It also introduced me to the polio epidemic.

The Birdhouse by Kelly Simmons  

There are actually two stories within this book - the present, when Ann is trying to connect with her granddaughter and battling signs of dementia; and the past, with it's secrets.  As the reader is enjoying the present story, bits of the past surface. Through the two stories and time frames, we see Ann - and she sees herself - as almost two separate people.  That sense of disconnection, combined with the memory questions, makes an absorbing story.  

Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst  

This book gave me some much-needed insight into why I eat what I eat, and the reality of "will-power".  A person who views food in a healthy manner can not understand the cravings and irrational behavior of an emotional eater, just as I can not understand a smoker's need for a cigarette.  But Lysa gets it.  And she backs up her insights with scripture.  This is not a book for the casual dieter or the latest fad to take off pounds for swim-suit season, but I recommend it to every woman who struggles with her weight, her attitude toward food and her self-esteem. 

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Jenny suffers from an anxiety disorder which alternately (a.) forces her to hide in the bathroom or (b.) shuts off her self-filter and leaves her spewing a non-stop stream of consciousness (usually about inappropriate subjects) to total strangers.  She also has a bizarre fixation on taxidermied animals and the ability to spin every situation as her husband, Victor's, fault.  All of which she retells with a caustic sense of humor. But underneath all that is a vulernable woman with a heart as big and open as West Texas.  I feel obliged to mention that Jenny is well-versed in profanity and uses it frequently - but if you can look past it, then her "mostly true memoir" is touching, encouraging and just freakin' funny!

Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

Izzy Spellman is a mix of the best parts of Stephanie Plum and Harriet the Spy.  Her entire life is mysteries and cover-ups - at least from her point of view.  What most families would solve with a few direct questions, the Spellmans solve with stake-outs, bribery and recording devices. The entire series is tangled, clever and a hoot!  

Hens and Chickens by Jennifer Wixson - 

A lovely story of two women who leave the city and their corporate jobs to start a business together in rural Maine. There's both romance and mystery, but it's really all about the people.  I'm in love with the charming village of Sovereign, Maine, and it's inhabitants and can't wait to go back.

This is a unique pick because it's not a big-name author, or even a big-name publisher.  Jennifer is a "cyber-friend" whom I met on Twitter - she's not only the author, she's the publicist, the marketing department . . . and an all-around fun lady to get to know.  With apologies to Jennifer, I must admit I usually avoid this type of book because I have seen too many that are published through small publishers or self-published because, frankly, they're not publish-quality.  But knowing a little about Jennifer in advance, I knew this would be different.  And it is.  There are plans for a least two more books in the series, plus a cookbook.  Look for them on future "best of" lists.

One re-read and one "oldie but goodie" made my list this year . . . 'cause it's my list and I can do that if I want.

Where Are The Children by Mary Higgins Clark (1975)

This is old-school thriller writing.  Mary Higgins Clark set the bar for page-turners.  The story is fast-paced, with enough hints to keep you guessing without revealing too much and ruining the twisting ending.

A Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies (1947)

The basis of the beloved Christmas movie - and just as good.

Giving Thanks: In Which I Lament the Scarcity of Gratitude and the State of the Union

In 1789, President George Washington declared "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God."    Two hundred, twenty-three years later, President Obama again proclaimed a day to be "grateful for the God-given bounty that enriches our lives."  But somewhere through the years, the focus shifted from gratitude FOR the bounty, to acquiring MORE bounty.

The term "Black Friday" has been around since the 1960's (at least, according to the sites I could find in my 3 minutes of internet research), but it's only in the last 10-15 years that it has become a holiday on it's own.  Families plan their Thanksgiving outings to be near the largest shopping meccas.  Shoppers are actually injuring each other to get new stuff to replace the stuff they were being thankful for just hours earlier.  Then Friday expanded to Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.  What's next? - the "Skip Church to Shop Super Sale - Goliath Savings for the Non-Believer and the Backslider!"

The "gimme" frenzy has now invaded Thanksgiving itself.  Many stores run specials on Thursday evening to lure shoppers out even earlier.  "Put down that drumstick, Pa. We gotta get to the Wal-Mart!"

Before you get irate at my attitude, let me assure you that I'm not averse to bargain shopping.  And I even joined in the Black Friday shop-a-thon for the first time this year - sort of.  We were at Mitch's because he was on call - Mitch's girlfriend went home for the weekend and Amanda was in KC with her boyfriend's family - so it was just the three of us.  We got curious about how many people would actually line up for the early sales in Hays, KS - so we ventured out to people-watch.  Honestly, we were probably all secretly hoping for schadenfreude.  We went to Wal-Mart and Home Depot.  By the time we drove by the mall, we were tired and the crowd - if there had been one - had thinned, so we didn't stop.  We didn't witness any long lines or appalling behavior.  We did see Wal-Mart employees scurrying like underpaid Christmas elves to get multi-plex size TV's stocked for the 5:00 a.m. crowd.  We bought a few things, but nothing that wouldn't have been the same price the next Tuesday.  

It's just sad.  Sad that we have become so possession obsessed that we can't devote an entire day to being grateful for what we have.  Sad that merchants feed on that obsession to entice us to behave this way.  Why can't the specials be offered throughout December?  And why have we become so greedy that we will have fist-fights to get a $12 hand mixer for $7.95?

If you've read many of my ramblings, you may know my mantra:  Live Simply, Live Graciously, Finish Well.  My desire for "stuff" has diminished the past few years.  Oh yes, it still rears it's head on occasion - especially near a fabric store or Hobby Lobby - but my idea of living simply is to, as much as possible, cut out those things - possessions, commitments, relationships - that cause unnecessary work or stress with no return.  Fabric and craft supplies pay many returns in relaxation, creativity and beauty. But I'm adding a new goal for the new year - and the years beyond . . . to live gratefully.  Not just on Thanksgiving, but daily.  I will be keeping a gratitude journal to remind me of how blessed I am and The One who has blessed me - and to say "Thank you".

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
                                                                  - Denis Waitley (author and motivational speaker)
 

Christmas quote quiz - The Answers.

1.  Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. - Miracle on 34th Street

2.  Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? - A Charlie Brown Christmas

3.  In putting on the suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all right to any previous identity, real or implied, and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus, in perpetuity, to which time the wearer becomes unable to do so, by either accident or design.  - The Santa Clause

4.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

5.  This is Christmas. The season of perpetual hope. And I don't care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son. - Home Alone

6.  What's Christmas to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in them through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? - A Christmas Carol

7.  Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.  - A Christmas Story

8.  Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see. - The Polar Express

9.  But I think what I've got is something slightly resembling - gumption.  - The Holiday

10.  You're skipping Christmas?  Isn't that illegal? - Christmas With the Kranks

11.  My father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!  - It's A Wonderful Life

12.  You're a disgrace to the outfit. You're soft! You're sloppy! You're unruly! You're undisciplined!  And I never saw anything look so wonderful in my whole life! - White Christmas

13. We get one day a year to prove we're not screw-ups and what do we do? We screw it up. - Jingle All the Way

14.This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f***ing Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat, white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse. - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Bonus - 

   All the stockings are filled... all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we are celebrating. Don't ever let us forget that. - The Bishop's Wife