Book Hippo

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Turkey Dinner

Well, we had a great Christmas. I got some good presents, in fact, I will not have to take anything back, not that I ever have. I checked on some family on Facebook but did not phone.

This year, I bought a small turkey. A very small turkey. It cooked in four hours, about one hour less than we thought. I was asleep when David woke me up to tell me the turkey was done.

He made gravy and we had a good supper. The dressing was good, too. Now that it's over, I guess I have all the sales to look forward to now. As I got some money I will have some to spend.

Christmas meals for me have changed a lot since I was a child. Mom used to do all sorts of baking beforehand and we had tarts and shortbread and all sorts of things I just can't remember. She made a big turkey for seven people as my grandmother and grandfather would be with us, too.

It's not such a big deal now, with just me and David but still enjoyable, even if I can't bake very well. How do you make just enough tarts for two? Not impossible but a big bit of trouble.

Pumpkin pie was on our menu,, too, and even though I thought of making my own, I bought one instead. So now we are just going to relax for the rest of the evening and take up where we left off on Friday.

For my American and other readers, we wait for December 27th because the 26th is Boxing Day here.

Hope you had a safe and merry Christmas.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Christmas Shopping

So I did my shopping early and had it all done, forgot to send out my cards, though, so I'm mailing them tomorrow. Back to shopping. I said I HAD it all done. I've undone it because I went to the Dollar Store and bought a lot of little chocolate and gingerbread snacks that were all wrapped up Christmassy-like.

Well, don't buy treaties early. I couldn't sleep one night and opened them all up and ate them. And I'm trying to lose weight. As an aside, I've just lost 1.5 pounds since last weight-in.

Now I have to buy all those treaties again and not eat them until December 25th. Still, I'm doing better than some people. My brother doesn't shop until December 24th. He spends a lot of fore-time deciding what to get and then just races around getting it all. I have  no idea who wraps at his house.

My last Christmas shopping idea is that I've stopped sending things through the mail. My brother doesn't bother with snail mail, the same for my sister's grandson and family. I've even begun wondering whether I should stop sending cards.

All the younger people send e-mails and digital cards and so many of my older friends are dying. My step-mom just died on October 4th and earlier years have seen other cousins and aunts passing. I have a smaller list and often the news included is someone has cancer. It's so sad. But I do like to keep in touch so I guess I'll exchange cards with the few that's left.

Good shopping and Merry Christmas.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Thoughts On December

So it's December, the magical month. Unfortunately, some people feel sad at this time. Maybe they've not got any family to speak of or maybe someone in their family died around Christmas time.

I know someone like that and have decided to stop trying to get him to enjoy the Christmas spirit. Of course, I didn't know until this year that both his parent died at Christmas time. He'll only have to deal with one present from me this year.

One of the good things about living downtown is that, if you are alone, there are restaurants open on Christmas day to serve you turkey. These establishments are run by Muslims, who, of course, don't celebrate Christmas. They've found a good niche for themselves on that day as a lot of disenfranchised and lonely people come to their restaurants and stores to eat.

It's nice to go out on Christmas day and see large numbers of people enjoying themselves with other people. So if you want to hear a dis against Muslim, you won't get it here. I find they fit in well and are mostly peaceful.

By the way, while I'm on the subject, it's the Fundamentalists who are violent and crazy and that includes Christian fundamentalists who shoot abortionists and others who would be best dealt with through legal means. I mean, the way to deal with someone you curse as a murderer is to murder him? Nuts.

And we have lots of snow so I'm having fun walking around and I have some extra money this year so I'm buying things for myself. Not what I need, but what I want. Like cool shoes and a pendant. So far December has been good. I only hope the next 29 days are just as good.