Monthly Musings: Holiday Preview 2021

Today I am linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings. I am really enjoying this link-up and look forward to it each month! So, on to the prompts!

 Share your favorite holiday traditions

Tradition is such an important part of my parenting style; I feel like I may slightly over-do it. But, I haven't had any complaints from my children, in fact,; now that they are older, they are the ones pushing to keep our traditions alive, so, I guess I've done something right. 

Anyhoodle, one of my favorite traditions is sending our holiday cards. I have always tried to create, how shall we say it...untraditional cards, and, each year they have gotten more irreverent than the year before. Last year's card probably set a new low bar, but hey! It was 2020.

Cards from years past...

Another favorite tradition is the holiday hot cocoa bar that makes its' appearance on Thanksgiving day. Since my children are now of legal drinking age; the bar features some extra flavors, if you get my drift.

Each year, we decorate gingerbread houses. This tradition started as soon as the kids were strong enough to squeeze icing from a piping bag and, each year the houses have gotten more and more fancy. We're bougie like that.

 Do you see holiday lights? Driving tour on your own? Attend a park or festival?

When the kids were little, Hugh and I would throw them in the car, pajamas and all, for a driving tour of whatever lights were available in our area. As they grew up, so did the displays in our neighboring city, until, they were so amazing that it would be a shame not to enjoy them. Last year, neither of the kids were home early enough to join us, but, Mom was in town, so we threw her in the car. For the record, we did not make her wear her pajamas.

 Favorite holiday recipe

I would have to say, my cut sugar cookies are the recipe that I get asked for the most, and, I can't blame folks for that. They are soft, sweet, but not too sweet (that's what the frosting is for!) and they are a lot of fun to cut out and decorate.

Last year's decorations: an ode to the pandemic...

Must have holiday fashion staples

Well, this is a little out of the box, I am no fashionista, so I'm going to write about staples of a different type..., recently, I have been collecting vintage blow molds. So, for me, I would say they have become a staple of my holiday decor'. Hugh even built a stable for my Holy Family.

Old fashioned popcorn balls are also a holiday staple, as well as being a tradition that I forgot to mention above. The recipe has been handed down through generations and, last year, Mom taught the kids how to make the syrup. My dad was the best popcorn ball maker in the world; his popcorn balls were always the perfect size and consistency. None of us has reached his level of mastery and it is another thing that we miss most about him; especially at Christmastime.

Any special or extra festive plans this year?

This is going to be an interesting year. My son (affectionately known as the Man-Cub) is graduating from college on the 11th of December. In Hawaii. Sooooo, we will be in the tropics for a large portion of the month (so sad, amiright?). We will be back in Colorado just in time to travel to Mayberry to spend Christmas with Mom, but will miss out on the annual Parade of Lights in Petticoat Junction, as well as some other events that we would normally attend. I'm not complaining! I am 100% invested in experiencing all that Hawaii has to offer for the season. Mele Kalikimaka, y'all!

    Best holiday planning tip

I have always been a list-maker, and I find that helps make the season go more smoothly, but, the best tip I can offer is: recognize the fact that even the best-laid plans can go sideways; embrace the chaos.

Favorite holiday movie

I am a sucker for the old school Rankin Bass holiday specials of my youth. Santa Claus is Coming to Town is my absolute favorite, followed by Rudolph.

I would have to say that my family's favorite, however, will forever be Christmas Vacation. Hugh recites practically every line while we watch it. Not annoying at all...(it is Christmas and I will not kill my husband, it is Christmas and I will not kill my husband....)

 Die Hard-Christmas movie or not?

No. No. No. A hundred times, no.

Tree/decorations before or after Thanksgiving 

Traditionally, I start decorating the tree on Thanksgiving day, once the dinner has been eaten and the dishes have been done. This year, since we will be out of town for the majority of December, I am decorating earlier and far less extravagantly.

Do you celebrate other holidays on December?

We don't. Hugh was raised by Jewish parents who didn't practice, so he and his siblings were exposed to the more commercial aspects of Christmas (think: no baby Jesus and lots of tinsel). I was raised in a huge (or, as Hugh describes it: yooooooge) Catholic family, so we chose to raise the kids as Catholics (of which, I admit, I did a piss poor job).

Well, this has been fun! I can't wait to read everyone else's posts; there's just something fun about peeking into other people's lives. In a non-stalkery way, I mean, obviously.

She Understood the Assignment

 Longtime readers of this blog will recall that I have expressed a desire to own enough vintage blow molds to create my very own blow mold choir. My dream is to have them staged on risers on the front porch, facing out toward the yard, with Christmas carols piped in over the surround-sound system on the porch. It's a lofty goal, considering the lack of availability of said blow molds in our area and the exorbitant prices for shipping on blow molds purchased via eBay.

 I have managed to find a couple of singers on Mercari, as well as the original three that Hugh secured by knocking on the door of an elderly neighbor when we spied her display a couple of years ago (she initially refused our offer to purchase the singers, citing a desire to keep them in her family-totally understandable-before calling us a year later to let us know that none of her children or grandchildren were the least bit interested in the molds and expressing a desire to see them go to a loving home).

I've been vocal about my dream with my family members, as well, and, yesterday my sister Barbie sent me a photo from a vintage market that she was attending just outside of Denver. 

She then negotiated on my behalf, and, y'all; my sister can negotiate. The choir singers were originally $100 each and Barbie scored me two for $100! She also negotiated for the swapping of the heads that I wanted (least damaged) for the matching bodies that I wanted et voila!

These bad boys went home with Barbie, where they will chill in her garage until I figure out a way to get them back here. It may not happen until Christmas, which means they won't get to sing with my current five, but I am more than content to store them until they make their debut next year (that's what happened to the two that I purchased online last Christmas).

I love them. I love my sister. And I love that I am that much closer to making this dream a reality.

Don't worry, Hugh; I don't plan to go this big...I don't think...

Friday Favorites on Saturday Because I Am Just That Far Behind

 Life, y'all. It's kicking my ass. But, I don't want to talk about that right now, instead, I want to focus on the things that have brought me joy this past few days, starting with the photo shoot that I did for one of my staffers. She is a young mom, struggling with the things that we all struggled with as young parents and she's doing a remarkable job even though she doesn't always see it, herself (it's a Mom Thing).

The side-eye in this picture sums up motherhood perfectly...

Another favorite this week; pomegranates are back in the stores! Are they slightly smaller than I would like? Yes. Are they hella expensive? Also yes. Will that stop me from buying and consuming them for as long as they last? Absolutely not. Will I think of my dad every time I hold one in my hand? Forever, and ever, amen.

I recently found this vintage blow mold star on Mercari and the price was too good to pass up. After I clean it up a little, Hugh will attach it to the stable that he built for my blow mold nativity set last year. It's the final touch and completes the set so perfectly; I am practically giddy (also, I said I wasn't going to do a lot of Christmas decorating this year since we will be out of town for a large portion of December, to which Hugh responded "Not even the baby Jesus?" aaaaannnd, now we will be pulling out alllll the blow molds).

And, speaking of vintage things, as I was pulling together the place settings that I am planning to use for Thanksgiving; I was reminded of how much I love my pre-World War II Noritake china. I purchased it on eBay years and years ago; it was a full set with nary a chip, which means it probably didn't get a lot of use. Truth be told, it hasn't gotten that much use in my home, either, but I am determined to change that; I've arrived at the conclusion that we can't protect the things we love to the exclusion of enjoying them. They were meant to be used, and used they shall be.

And that wraps up this very late Friday Favorites post.

Balancing the Universe

There's been a right solid streak of crappy in these here parts, so I think I should right the course by reminding myself of the good things in our lives, because, I truly do believe that there is a symmetry to the world; that right balances wrong, good triumphs over bad, and, that for every negative, there exists a positive.

So.

Emily ended up in the hospital (bad), where she was treated with fluids and antibiotics, to which she responded well and immediately (good). While the hospital staff was running tests, they discovered that she was, in fact, having a minor heart attack (bad, very, very bad). That discovery led to further tests (I mean, obviously), which led to the discovery of a heart issue that will require a pacemaker. Had she not ended up in the hospital with the dreaded C-word, the heart issue would have most likely gone undetected and untreated, leading to a major heart attack at some point in the very near future (so, hospitalization = good).

Yesterday, I met with my Board Treasurer to discuss the proposed budget for 2022. I was operating on less than 3 hours of sleep, worry, grief, and a good deal of caffeine, which is to say; I was not at my best. It did not help that he was...just barely this side of pleasant, which, is something I have come to expect from him and something that I am more than capable of dealing with on a good day (yesterday? Not a good day). I survived the encounter, and, reminded myself how lucky I am to have a well-paying job with benefits and  stability (good; all very good).

And, on the topic of this job; we are on track for another record-setting year for the number of child abuse victims receiving our services (fucking bad). The stark reality of the number of children who experience abuse is sobering, depressing, and can leave one feeling completely defeated (bad, bad, bad). On Monday, we had a rare down day (no appointments with clients) and we received an unexpected visitor; a young man who stopped by to thank us for existing because, in his words, "If it hadn't been for this place, I wouldn't be alive right now". He received services when he was 14 and his story was BAD. He is now 18 and a freshman in college. He's doing GREAT, and, he wanted us to know that our organization made that difference for him (although, I argued that it was more to do with his strength, his resiliency, and his determination, all of which is true and good). Needless to say; his visit made our week. Maybe our year, truth be told.

Today, the office is closed for Veterans Day (good), Emily may be discharged from the hospital (good),  I have a family photo shoot scheduled (awesome), and I have some down time to work on the table settings that I am planning to use for Thanksgiving dinner, because, even though it will just be me, Hugh, Oscar, and Emily this year (God willing and the creek don't rise); I intend to do it up right.

And, I am going to end this post on that positive note because that, my friends, is how I roll.

(Take That, Universe!)

Can We Go Back In Time? Please?

Weary doesn't even begin to describe how I am feeling in regard to this never-ending Pandemic of Suck. Last night, Hugh and I assisted Oscar in getting Emily to the hospital by ambulance. She hadn't been feeling well for the past week and he was finally concerned enough to reach out for help. She was admitted and is receiving care; we are hopeful that she will rally, but, her age will certainly be a factor in how well she does. Thankfully, prior to contracting the virus, she was vibrantly healthy and that will definitely be in her favor.

In other sucky news, my Aunt Pat passed away earlier this week. She did not have the virus, but instead died from complications caused by blood clots. She did not have a history of blood clots, nor did she have an underlying medical condition that would cause blood clots. She did recently receive a booster shot. Are the two related? Your opinion is as useful as mine, which, is to say; not at all.

The outcome is the same; my mom and her remaining siblings are mourning the loss of an amazing woman, as are her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

When I say she was an amazing woman, I do not lie. She was a tremendously talented artist and a truly creative woman in addition to being a great parent, grandparent, sister, and aunt. We will all miss her, tremendously. 

When I was a child, I always looked forward to visiting Aunt Pat at her house in Mount Pilot; her yard was one of my favorite places for playing Hide-and-Seek with my cousins, and, I always loved holiday dinners around the big table in the dinning room. Aunt Pat set a beautiful table.

As we sit down for Thanksgiving dinner this year; memories of those tables will be forefront in my mind.

What a sad time we are living in right now.

Well, It's Been a Hot Minute

I was fully prepared to write a post about our Halloween weekend, including the visit that The Newlyweds and I made to the local Punkin Chuckin', but, then this happened...

Queen B flew in to surprise me on Halloween! It was a great surprise! I thought I was going to a play at the local community theater with The Newlyweds while Hugh worked on projects at home, when, in reality, he was sneaking off to the airport to pick up our daughter while I enjoyed a pre-theater brunch at a restaurant in Hooterville. You could have knocked me over with a feather when Queen B came up to my side.

She got to stay with us until yesterday, which gave us a few days to hang out. I took some well-deserved time off from Not So New Job and we hit a few local antique stores, did some shopping, enjoyed Halloween night on the porch with a few of her friends from Pixler (who were just as surprised to see her as I was!), and generally just enjoyed one another's company.

It was a balm for my soul and I feel 100% revived by her visit.

I am also completely impressed with my husband's ability to keep a secret. And, The Newlyweds should also be credited with the performance that they put on.

Speaking of The Newlyweds, as I mentioned earlier, we did manage to spend Saturday at the pumpkin patch, watching pumpkins being flung through the air. Kristi had never been to a Punkin Chuckin' before, so she was in awe of the mechanics. Erin grew up in Kansas, so she was less impressed (side note! We actually ran into Erin's ex husband and his new wife, and, when I say the man has a type, the man has  a type. His new wife is Erin 2.0, pre weight-loss surgery, contacts, and, you know, marriage to a woman. It was freaky).

In addition to watching the Flight of the Pumpkins, we also took a quick ride on the hay wagon and sauntered through the corn maze, wrapping up the day with overpriced food from the food vendors.

All in all, I would say I had an excellent weekend and a very good week.

Now, to spend this weekend tearing down Halloween and putting up Christmas! Don't judge me! We leave for Hawaii on December 9th and won't be home until the weekend of the 18th, after which we load up the car and head for Mayberry to spend Christmas with Mom. If I don't get Christmas up early, it won't go up at all.

Can't have that.