It's beginning to look a lot like...

Time and money. The two things everyone wishes they had more of this time of year. The lack of time and money causes stress, which can manifest it's self as impatience, indifference, and general Scrooge-like behavior. I am not immune to this phenomenon either. I was driving with my mother yesterday verbally listing all the things which I have not yet accomplished. "I haven't sent out a single Christmas card, wrapped a single present, cleaned the guest rooms, or even finished my shopping!" Whoa is me. Then last night as I was preparing to write Christmas cards (with Christmas music playing on the stereo) I looked over at the tree and thought how beautiful it was. I realized that I needed to slow down and enjoy the moment. I love Christmas. it is my very favorite celebration. I don't want to stress out and miss the loveliness of the season. So I thought about it and put things in their proper perspective. I don't have to meticulously wrap every single present. Some things can get thrown into a gift bag with tissue paper on top. If I can't afford to give everyone all the things I would like to, there is always next year, birthdays, or anniversaries. If I don't have time to make five different kinds of cookies for the cookie jars, two or three will do just as well. Tonight I am going to relax with some hot tea, cozy up to my husband and settle in to watch It's a Wonderful Life. Because it is.

Just a note about the pictures with this post. These are pictures of our Christmas tree. I am still learning about photographing Christmas trees, so these are not some of my best shots. They are not meant for wallpaper. I just wanted to share these with you. I have also included some pictures of our fireplace mantel. Have the merriest of Christmases!

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A True Feast

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It's not just the scent of bay leaves simmering in chicken broth, the rich velvety pumpkin pie with whipped heavy cream, or the gathering of friends and family. It's the decadence of the day.  At Thanksgiving people go all out. There is no holding back. Potatoes three different ways? Yes! A turkey and a ham? Sure! Four desserts? Of course. Thanksgiving is a time to break out Great Grandmother's gravy boat, launder your linen napkins, and polish the flatware. People will journey great distances to congregate on this feast day. Plates will be filled, thanks will be given, and wine will flow. 


I also like Thanksgiving because I enjoy cooking, and no other holiday allows you to showcase your culinary prowess like this greatest of feast days. I usually start cooking about three days in advance. One year I decided that I wanted to have caramelized onions as a side dish. I peeled and sliced nine pounds of onions. Yes, this was a painful endeavor. By the time I was done I couldn't even begin cooking them. I couldn't keep my eyes open! So now, if I want to have caramelized onions, I slice a little at a time and store them in plastic bags until I have enough. Then I cook them all together. You can also make cranberry sauce, prep vegetables, and make pies a couple days in advance. I'd love to hear what tips and tricks you have to help with crunch time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Just click on comments to share. Happy cooking!

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