Christmas Sampler, 2

Yesterday Lola gave me my Christmas present, one only she could give me. Well, her friend Erin was here, too. Still unique.

They sang two Christmas songs to me. I did not know the songs, but that doesn't matter. Cory and Anna were here, too, but it was still just for me. How lovely, and Lola knew that was what I would want most.

They sound good together.

You should have heard them.

* * *

Thursday I made licorice caramels. And that is how I remembered why I have not made them for many years, maybe 15.

They are a lot of work. Long time cooking and stirring constantly. Hot stove. Really hot. Tricky adding the anise and black color. Very hard to cut when cooled. Preparing many small pieces of waxed paper is a tedious chore. Wrapping each piece is a pain.

Very hard to cut. I know I already said that, but I don't think you get it. Very hard.

I used to pour the stuff directly on the small area of counter top to the left of the stove and let it cool there. This time I poured it into a 13 x 9 buttered pyrex pan. Very hard to cut and remove from that pan.

Now maybe you get it.

But.

They are really good.

* * *

I am tired, having worked all day to prepare for tonight. But it will be a good night. We're going caroling to two places.

Then home for chili and hot chocolate, with mini marshmallows and peppermint candy canes.

* * *

Tomorrow I will be released from my calling as gospel doctrine teacher. Some Christmas gift. Hmph.

Truth is I could feel they were about ready to do it. Just don't put me in the nursery.

Yep, just thinking

My neighbors are the Clicks. No, really. They live behind me, moved here from Oregon about eight years ago, I think. They have two boys, both in high school now.

I saw one of the boys run through the back yard tonight to let himself in the back door.

When the boys were younger, they had a trampoline in the back yard, and there was a lot of jumping, a lot of play. Friends over to jump and laugh and make noise. Now, no trampoline, no boys playing back there. I did see the older boy sitting on their deck with a girl one day last summer.

Of course, it made me think of our boys and our girls. Lots of play in the yards, back and front, at 722. A trampoline briefly, the homemade water slide, wiffle ball, being buried in the piles of autumn leaves, crack the whip--Andrew's broken collar bone to remember it by--and whatever else. Even a little back yard fun here, but mostly for grandchildren.

No point to make here. Just thinking.

Yes, It Happens

Today at Costco a woman stepped around a corner to where I was standing and did a quick inhale.

"Oh," she said, "I thought I just saw my mother as I walked around this corner."

"Sorry," I said.

"But, of course," she continued, "my mother has been gone for a couple of years. It's just you're about her height and your hair is like hers, maybe not so white. But it's the kind of thing that happens sometimes."

"I understand." And I do, for sure.

Yeah, Sure

How to Make a Vegan Christmas Cake

Being vegan or dairy-free doesn't mean missing out on a rich, fruity Christmas cake. Even if you don't follow a dairy-free diet, this moist and delicious cake is worth trying. You'll need 24 hours to soak the fruit, and the cake is best if made ahead at least a week or more prior to eating it.

As if

That's his boy

Richard just called.

He said their friend Jackie is taking care of Penelope and Axel from 11 to 5 Monday through Friday for the rest of this month so he can finish the renovations on their house.

When they got to Jackie's house today, he said, "Penelope took off her shoes, dropped her coat, and ran." No problems.

"Axel didn't' want to go," Richard told me, "and it hurt my heart."

That's my son, who loves his son. He's a stay-at-home dad, you know.

Another Little Memory

Just out in the garage to get some Christmas things, I looked over and saw that yellow box-like thing. Stud Sensor.

Of course I thought of Wayne. He called it a stud finder and complained about it. I can hear him.

"That darn stud finder. It beeps every time I go into the garage."

Remember? Yep. He was funny.


P.S. My garage is clean, orderly. I wonder if he would recognize it.