Traditions

I wrote yesterday about my annual tradition of cleaning the hutch to make way for the nativity set. I've decided to post links to some other posts regarding our family holiday season traditions, just in case some of my newer blogging friends are interested in getting to know how we celebrate the holidays.

Here is a post about studying a new country each year during the holidays; lots of links to earlier posts are included. Here is one about the way we decorate our tree. Here is a description of a typical Christmas eve in the Quiet Country House. Here is a recommendation for some pretty Christmas music. At at the end of all that linking around, if you aren't tired of my holidays in these northern hills, here is a stroll through our little village, all dressed up for the season, from last December.

photo by Aisling in November of 2008

To Resolve or not to resolve...

I'm never sure whether to make a New Year's Resolution or not. Pondering the concept of a resolution to guide my life through the next twelve months, I penned the following stream-of-consciousness acrostic poem.


Resolutions Illuminated

Resolutions are
Easy to make, but also
So easy to break. Only a life
Lived simply, with
Understanding and
Tender regard for the
Innnocent and vulnerable
Only a life where
Notice is given to
Small things, makes sense to me now.

Instead of resolutions, I now
Live moment by moment,
Letting nature's grace
Untangle years of good intentions.
Moving slowly, and
Intentionally, I go forward,
Noticing as much
As I can of this beautiful world;
Travelling upon the Earth as an
Eager guest, respectful and interested, and
Delighted to be here.

Most of the times I've written about "resolution" on this blog, I've been writing about the clarity of a photograph. If you're interested, you may look here for some of my previous thoughts on resolution, both intentions and clarity.

photo by my daughter Haiku, January 1, 2009

Night of Song

"Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever."

~ Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954), American author, 'Song of Years'.

The Quiet Country House is nearly ready for a quiet evening gathering. The children usually frost sugar cookies on Christmas Eve to fill some of the waiting hours. We open a few gifts on Christmas eve. Often, there is a package of fresh new pjs for each family member... some years new slippers. We eat a "feast of snacks" on Christmas Eve, in place of a regular meal. I'll play some carols on the old piano that I took lessons on almost 40 years ago. Most likely a wiggly five year old will sit on the bench with me, adding a tinkling descant on the keys that sit too temptingly before him. Maybe we'll play this one and sing the beautiful lyrics written by Wihla Hutson and Alfred Burt over half a century ago...

Some Children See Him

"Some children see Him lily white,

the baby Jesus born this night.

Some children see Him lily white,

with tresses soft and fair.

Some children see Him bronzed and brown,

The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.

Some children see Him bronzed and brown,

with dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,

this Savior whom we kneel beside.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,

with skin of yellow hue.

Some children see Him dark as they,

sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.

Some children see him dark as they,

and, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place

will see the baby Jesus' facelike theirs,

but bright with heavenly grace,

and filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing

and with thy heart as offering,

come worship now the infant King.

'Tis love that's born tonight!"

May blessings wrap around you on this "night of song" and all through the year. Wherever you are, however you celebrate, I wish you love and warm memories of this season.

photos by Haiku, December 22, 2008

Interview Day...

Tiggy is sleeping in her favorite spot as I write this (the warm spot on top of the computer monitor!) She opted out of participating in one of our family traditions (Interview Day) in favor of a nap!

Each year I survey each family member and then print their responses. After they have completed a small drawing at the bottom of the page, I place it in a ring binder with the responses from earlier years. Thus, we can see whether someone's favorite color has changed or remained constant over the years. We can see that when he was 2, Sijo wanted to be a race car driver as a grown-up but now, he wants to be a librarian. We can see how much trouble some members of the family have picking a favorite song or book, giving a list instead of a single answer, and how others have the same concise response year after year. Our "rules" for this activity are only that one can't look at the previous years' responses until they have answered for this year, nor can they read anyone elses' responses until they have completed their own.

Our current list of questions follows, but we add another question every year or two as things occur to use that we would like to be keeping track of. The answers included in this list are my own.

Favorite Color: Periwinkle Blue

Favorite Food: Avocado and Hummus Sandwich

Favorite Beverage: Pomengranet Izze and Blackberry Izze

Favorite Treat: Dark Chocolate

Favorite Kind of Animal: Cats and Wolves

Favorite Playtime Activity: Hanging out with my family and playing in my garden

Favorite Toy: my new cell phone

Favorite All-time Song: "One" by U2 (maybe, there are so many!!!)

Favorite Current Song: Lithium by Evanescence, Fully Alive by FlyLeaf, Famous Last Words, My Chemical Romance

Favorite Movie: Princess Bride and Serenity

Favorite TV Show: ER

Favorite Book: Too many to narrow down to one

I collect: plants for my gardens

When I grow up I want to be: a published author

My pet peeve: trying to pick a favorite song or book!

This year I want to learn: (actually relearn) Yoga

I can't wait to: hug Senryu.

For those of you who don't know, Senryu is my oldest daughter. She is an exchange student this year. Her responses were sent via email from Asia. That will be interesting to think about in years to come: "Here are the answers that came from the other side of the planet." If we carry this tradition on when the children are all grown, I wonder from where else the answers will be sent!

photo by Aisling, March 2007

Pepparkakor Cookies...

I wish I could give credit where credit is due, with this recipe. I found it among some children's books about holidays in other countries and copied the recipe to try, but failed to note the source on my copy. There are lots of variations on this recipe on line, but this is a nice simple version with which to start.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sifted flour (I replace 1 cup with whole wheat flour)


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground ginger, ground cloves and cinnamon


• 1 cup butter or (non-transfat) margarine


• 1 cup dark brown sugar


• 2 egg whites

Directions:

1. Sift together flour, spices and soda.
   
2. Cream butter and sugar until very fluffy then beat in egg whites. Slowly work in dry ingredients.
   
3. Wrap and chill for 12 hours.
   
4. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
5. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on lightly floured board. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters.
   
6. Bake on ungreased baking sheet for 10-12 minutes until light brown on edges. Cool on wire racks.
   
7. Serve plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or frosted and decorated. Or, pierce with needle after baking before cookie hardens to thread with ribbon and hang on tree.
   

Photo by Aisling, Cookie Cutters, November 2006