Friends are Calling Yoo Hoo-Wednesday Hodgepodge Vol 6

Does anyone still say yoo hoo? It feels like a word I might use here on Wednesdays~you know, 'Yoo Hoo! It's time for the Hodgepodge!" Obviously I've had that song Sleigh Ride on the brain ever since Monday when I wrote the title to this post. It's catchy! And doesn't it feel sort of like we're all neighbors here?

Its not too late to join the fun...the 'rules' for playing along are just above the button on my sidebar. And yes I know Christmas is less than two weeks away but who needs to be shopping, baking or wrapping when they can be wasting time blogging?

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'?

I think holiday spirit is that little kernel of excitement on top of that little kernel of anticipation all mixed together with a sense of contentment deep in your heart. I have to say I haven't quite captured it yet this year and I think that's due to a number of things including, but not limited to,

a. I am not hosting Christmas in my own house this year

b.my oldest is working now so naturally there are complicated logistics to be sorted and accepted

c. because we're spread out we haven't done any fun holiday things all together as a family yet and I'm not sure if/when we will because see #b.

Figuring it all out is just another step towards the new normal known as the empty nest. And here is what I do know... I do know that the real spirit of Christmas doesn't ebb and flow with our circumstances, our schedules, our pocketbooks, the weather, or any of life's big and little disappointments. The real spirit of Christmas is eternal.

2. What's tops your tree (s)? Why?

We have an angel on top of our sun room tree. We bought her when we were first married so she's been with us a long time.

sun room tree, 2010

She has always been lovingly placed atop our main tree but in this house she is on the second tree. Our main tree, which is in the family room, is taller and bigger and for some reason she doesn't sit properly on the top branch. Right now there is a ribbon and bow and some sparkly picks on top of the main tree and that works too.

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

I guess that would be while traveling a couple of weeks ago. I like my hubs to travel with me because a. he carries all the stuff and 2. he deals with any inconvenience while I sit in a chair and sip a latte. Well, there are other reasons too but those are the big ones.

On my most recent trip I had to sort out re-booking a cancelled flight once I got to Heathrow (along with thousands of other people), deal with a missing bag in Germany, and maneuver all my fragile and awkwardly shaped boxes thru three airports and into the overhead bins for the flight home. Everything, including me, arrived in one piece so yay me!

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

Probably my sense of smell...so many wonderful smells that are particular to this time of year...I'm not sure any other season can say the same.

5. What is there too much of in your kitchen?

Plastic grocery bags? I jam them into a basket in my pantry and I'm pretty sure they multiply in there. I try my best to use canvas bags at the market but about 50% of the time I leave the bags in the car and don't realize it until I'm checking out. Bother.

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

We'll have a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Eve late in the afternoon so we can attend church together as a family that evening. Christmas Day will be more casual...we'll add a baked ham to the turkey leftovers, some delicious hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, a yummy punch along with all those cookies and we'll call it a day. Our Christmas morning tradition dictates that we have coffee cake and/or home baked cranberry bread while we open stockings. Once we finish with the stockings we sit down for a nice breakfast featuring a sausage and egg casserole as the main attraction. And when breakfast is over that's when we'll open the gifts. I love breakfast on Christmas morning.

7. What is the best thing about winter?

Snow and ice on the trees...makes me think of fairy tales and peace and God's amazing attention to detail....

February, 2010

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Daughter2 took her last exam of the semester yesterday and I will be seeing her sweet face at the airport today. As soon as we collect her very large suitcase we are going to lunch and then home to start on our holiday baking. I haven't made a single cookie yet which is a shame but is also probably a good thing since no one has been home to eat them but me and the hubs. I'm looking forward to sharing many hours together as we mix and bake and taste test during these next few days. I mean, ya gotta taste test, right?