A FEW FINISHES

Above -- Hallie tossed Primo's blanket over Nellie and she seemed to enjoy it, so Hallie went to JoAnn's and bought Nellie her own blanket.

Right -- One of the dogs treed a squirrel. Strange to see a squirrel because there aren't many trees in this neighborhood.

 Here's a hornets nest in the maple tree. We didn't see it until the leaves had fallen. We knew we had a lot of wasps / hornets but didn't know where they were coming from.

Hallie and Nick's creations

Santa left a 3D reindeer cookie cutter in my stocking, and Hallie wanted to try it out. I mixed the dough, and she and Nick cut and decorated the cookies. They made nine reindeer -- the "original" eight and Rudolph.

Daughter Hallie and husband Nick

They were tasty gingerbread cookies, too. I find the spices are so important with gingerbread. This recipe called for a good-sized touch of cloves, which I like. KW

AFTER CHRISTMAS

Well, we had a great Christmas, and it helps to pass the winter. – Ina

           
AFTER CHRISTMAS

“The tumult and the shouting dies,”*

The families with their gifts depart;

Now comes the yearly sacrifice

Taking the Christmas tree apart.

Removing the lovely decorations –

Taking down the outside lights;

Finding places to store the new things –

How dull the scene will be tonight!

But lovely memories linger on –

The Holy Family in its Creche;

The dear old Christmas carols sung –

The hope for better years of Grace.

Then once again we’ll gather ‘round

To celebrate the Christ Child’s birth,

And say in heartfelt unison –

“To men of good will – Peace on Earth!”

                            Author Unknown

Some people put their all into the celebration of Christmas and then have difficulty recovering, a.k.a. post-Christmas depression or even colds/flu. I truly miss my mother’s over-the-top Christmas, but I simply can’t do it. I’m so grateful that Grandma Ina’s letters came to my rescue, showing me that it’s okay to do it another way. Ina’s understated Christmas is “just the thing.”

Christmas is a magical day only because we make it so. It relates to the winter solstice, and that’s good because we need a celebration of light during the dark months. But -- too soon we put it all away, and then it’s gloomy for the next two months. Christmas should help us to pass the winter rather than handing us off into darkness and despair. We should do like Ina – take our memories and enjoy the quiet winter months.

Of course, I sometimes wonder if it always went well for Ina. “I stood it all just fine,” she says more than once, which indicates perhaps she didn’t once or twice. Still, she sets forth a philosophy worth noting: Christmas helps to pass the winter. KW

*From Recessional by Rudyard Kipling

DAY 25 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

Sadie was allowed to slip down and get her sock before everyone else was up. We only stipulated that it should not be too early morning. I put a book in the top of it, so as to keep her quiet till we were up. After breakfast she was allowed to take off gifts and hand them around and was delighted. It was another “skimpy Christmas,” with everyone well-remembered. – Ina

And Ethel wrote:

We had a jolly time and much clacking of tongues was heard in the land. A large and varied menu was enjoyed, to which everyone did justice until the dessert was reached, then one and all “passed” until a later date. Ruth was the only one who felt able to have dessert but balked when she found she’d have to solo on it.

Vintage Advent Calaendar

We women gathered in the kitchen after the table was cleared, opened the oven door and gathered round in various attitudes of comfort. Then we “let our hair down” and visited. The men trickled off  to do chores, but “Aunt and the girls” stayed until later. The holidays faded away gradually . . .

And now our Christmas 2018 slips quietly into the past, joining 1934 and all the other past Christmas celebrations in the annals of time.

But – Christmas 2019 is in the offing, and we have a lot to do to get ready. Will one year be enough? Oh! I can hardly wait till Christmas! KW

DAY 24 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

Sadie went with Ernest to get the tree, and Dad set it up. Then she, Shirley and Henry trimmed it. Shirley came home Sunday evening, and from then on it seemed really like Christmas to me. Sadie was thrilled to be allowed to tie on gifts, etc. She hung up her stocking at the fireplace and Dad did too as he usually does when a grandchild is here. – Ina

Ina and her family is busy today with last-minute preparations for Christmas – bringing in the tree, decorating, and preparing their holiday meal . She knows you’re busy, too, with your finishing touches, whatever they are. 

From Ina’s house to yours, Happy Holidays!