Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: First Cigar of the New Year/MLK Day

Monday, January 18, 2016

Headed over to S.O.G. for my first cigar of the New Year. Mixed up a brandy Alexander before leaving home and sneaked it in  in my flask.

Have a few resolutions for this year:

1) Smoke more cigars. Last year I actually counted and made it up to 54. I'll try for 55 this year. That qualifies as more without overdoing it too much.

2) Read 24 books. My buddy Mike's goal is to read 35. Two a month for me sounds pretty reasonable.

3) Listen to more Johnny Cash. So far I've listened to his Christmas album.

My friend Steve stopped over to see me about a half hour before I had to leave for home. Good to see him. 

Happy New Year!

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: New Tchotchke

After Noel and I did so well purchasing NOTHING during the last Joe and Noel Post Holiday Shopping Adventure,  we weren't able to restrain ourselves very well on a subsequent outing. We both found some pretty good bargains. I found the above beauty.

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: Nutcrackers

The nutcrackers were up this year as they are every year. 

Here's some information on Nutcrackers from Wikipedia: 

"Nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time."

"The carving of nutcrackers - as well as of religious figures and of cribs - developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. Wood-carving usually provided the only income for the people living there. Today the travel industry supplements their income by bringing visitors to the remote areas."

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: The Gift of the Magi

In my possession is a little book titled The Little Big Book of Christmas. Contained in this anthology is the short story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. I find myself returning to it every few years. Charmingly sweet, it involves a young couple who make  gift decisions for each other. Their choices provide quite a twist in the story.

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: Porridge

This year's attempt was something of a hodgepodge of a recipe I have for porridge and simply following the directions on the short grain rice package. All in all it turned out well and was a noble attempt to get in touch with my Swedish heritage. 

According to Trine Hahnemann, author of Scandinavian Christmas, "The "nisse" (elf) lives where we can't see him. He is naughty, and the best way to stay friends with him is to leave porridge in the attic for him, with lots of butter, sugar, and cinnamon! Then he won't eat your cookies or hide your favorite things; instead he will leave little presents in your boots." (p. 57)

Maybe some of my Swedish ancestors grew up with this. As kids, St. Nicholas always left an ornament in our shoes on December 6 (St. Nicholas Day). 

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: Who Know's Where the Time Goes?

My favorite Christmas song of the past few years isn't really much of a Christmas song at all. Or is it? Except for a few passing references to winter, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, sung by Renee Fleming, falls more in the category of standard pop than holiday music.  However, the song really captures the sentimentality of the season and a desire to hold on to things past. This Christmas season I found myself trying to hold on to memories of Christmas past for who know what reason. Maybe it's because I feel time is moving more and more quickly. Maybe it's because 2015 was a tough year on me and I was looking for the comfort of the past. Maybe it's because I haven't celebrated Christmas with my brothers in so many years. Maybe it's because Mom is getting older. Maybe it's all of these things. For whatever reason, this lovely song resonated with me. 

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Odds and Ends: Christ Child's Lullaby

Dianne Reeves sings a lovely version of Christ Child's Lullaby on her album Christmastime Is Here. It's one of my more recently discovered holiday favorites.