Christmas Morning
Let There Be Peace
What I love about having a small family is that our Christmas isn't a giant frenzy of crazy parties, tense family gatherings, or frenetic activity. Here at the Williamson Ranch we have been up for two and a half hours enjoying each other's company pretty quietly. Max can be exceptionally grateful when opening presents and surprisingly ready to be pleased with everything. (Surprising because he is so particular about everything he wants...much like the rest of his family). He has been spontaneously snugly and has given me way more kisses than are standard. He is being such a joy!
I love that one of the only family Christmas traditions my family has ever had (and has let fall to the wayside, sadly) has been to go to the movies on Christmas day. What's wonderful about it is that the theaters keep on showing movies even though they are only showing them for our family and whatever other Jewish family is in town. Although I am not Jewish, our dad is and before our family split in two, we often celebrated Hanukkah instead of Christmas, or we would celebrate a calmer version of both. But Christmas day held no big parties or feasts for us. So we'd go off to the movies and have the theaters to ourselves. We could be as loud as we wanted.
Which we never were, of course, because we are a quiet introverted kind of people.
I love that one of the only family Christmas traditions my family has ever had (and has let fall to the wayside, sadly) has been to go to the movies on Christmas day. What's wonderful about it is that the theaters keep on showing movies even though they are only showing them for our family and whatever other Jewish family is in town. Although I am not Jewish, our dad is and before our family split in two, we often celebrated Hanukkah instead of Christmas, or we would celebrate a calmer version of both. But Christmas day held no big parties or feasts for us. So we'd go off to the movies and have the theaters to ourselves. We could be as loud as we wanted.
Which we never were, of course, because we are a quiet introverted kind of people.
I would like us to go see a movie today. Max really wants to see "Fred Claus". Obviously this wouldn't be my favorite choice since I think Vince Vaughn is completely unfunny and also a sleaze ball. (There's also the fact that I loathe Christmas movies.) However, I'd be willing to see it. (A true indication of the love I feel for my child.) The only problem is that my mom is coming with her little dog Claire who likes to pee all over our things and I am wary of leaving her here while we go see a movie.
We had a meal planned for tonight which involved a hippie style lentil loaf with a mushroom gravy and Brussels sprout cauliflower gratin. However, I am much more in the mood for spaghetti. I have been craving spaghetti sauce for over a week now. I have been cautious about using my canned tomatoes since they must last me until at least July. I think Christmas is a good occasion to break out the tomato sauce I canned. I know it isn't a very traditional Christmas meal, but then, we don't eat ham or geese or ducks or chickens or turkeys or cows, so when you take all that away- there's plum pudding left for traditional fare, right?
Which we aren't going to make because we've been eating (locally made) candy all morning and I think if we made a dessert we might actually burst into flames from eating so much sugar.
Philip got me a book about preserving foods without freezing or canning them. It's all about the traditional methods of preserving food in crocks with salt, or with oil, lactic fermentation, or sugar. I'm interested to try some old methods- but I'm wishing I could score a few really big ceramic pickling crocks. (They are really expensive both used and new).
Well, it's time to go take a shower and, I don't know, dream about food projects? This month I plan to learn to make feta cheese and possibly cream cheese as well. I might spend some time looking through my food reference books which is one of my favorite activities.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful quiet day with the people you love! If you're here in town, why not stop by our house and have some libations?
The other thing I am thinking about right now is Peace. People are always saying "Peace On Earth" at Christmas time. Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone really meant it this year? Wouldn't it be incredible if this year brings an end to killing? So that's what I will meditate on between beers.
Update: I don't know if we'll get our wish for peace on earth, but one Christmas wish has just come true: IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!
We had a meal planned for tonight which involved a hippie style lentil loaf with a mushroom gravy and Brussels sprout cauliflower gratin. However, I am much more in the mood for spaghetti. I have been craving spaghetti sauce for over a week now. I have been cautious about using my canned tomatoes since they must last me until at least July. I think Christmas is a good occasion to break out the tomato sauce I canned. I know it isn't a very traditional Christmas meal, but then, we don't eat ham or geese or ducks or chickens or turkeys or cows, so when you take all that away- there's plum pudding left for traditional fare, right?
Which we aren't going to make because we've been eating (locally made) candy all morning and I think if we made a dessert we might actually burst into flames from eating so much sugar.
Philip got me a book about preserving foods without freezing or canning them. It's all about the traditional methods of preserving food in crocks with salt, or with oil, lactic fermentation, or sugar. I'm interested to try some old methods- but I'm wishing I could score a few really big ceramic pickling crocks. (They are really expensive both used and new).
Well, it's time to go take a shower and, I don't know, dream about food projects? This month I plan to learn to make feta cheese and possibly cream cheese as well. I might spend some time looking through my food reference books which is one of my favorite activities.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful quiet day with the people you love! If you're here in town, why not stop by our house and have some libations?
The other thing I am thinking about right now is Peace. People are always saying "Peace On Earth" at Christmas time. Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone really meant it this year? Wouldn't it be incredible if this year brings an end to killing? So that's what I will meditate on between beers.
Peace on earth and good will towards mankind.
Literally, this year.
Literally, this year.
Update: I don't know if we'll get our wish for peace on earth, but one Christmas wish has just come true: IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!