The Gifts We Give

Based on Something From My Archives, 2008

One of my favourite ways of expressing love to the people in my circle is to give gifts to them. I love finding treasures big and little that I fondly hope will bring them pleasure as well as convey my esteem and affection.

I love shopping for presents at Christmas time, but I have to admit my most favourite times of the year to give gifts are those times in between the special events ... when no one is expecting them.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the social obligation of gift giving at this time of year. Instead of feeling a sense of joy and wonder, we can feel the pressure of giving because it's expected. I don't know about you, but I don't want to receive anything from anyone if she only feels a sense of duty to give it to me.

I don't want to give in that spirit either!

And, for those times when our hearts long to give something special, but our pocketbooks preclude that, let's not worry about that either. Don't stress it ... be honest if that's the case, why should that embarrass us or make us feel we cannot participate in this season of good will even if we cannot give in the usual fashion.

Perhaps it's the year to share something without monetary involvement. After reading Gary Chapman's book many years ago on the 5 love languages, I realized that gift giving is one of my main love languages.  But gift aren't the only way -- other expressions include words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, and acts of service.

For me, I want my gifts to be an expression from my heart. Whether or not it is delivered wrapped in shiny paper or if they are presented as gentle words, timely acts of service, time spent with someone over coffee -- it doesn't matter if we're two or ninety-two, we are all looking for that little something that says...

As we prepare ourselves for this special holiday season, may the gifts we choose be ones that come from hearts filled with affection.

Happy Preparations...
Brenda
xox

A Few Christmas Favourites

Source

  ...In No Particular Order...

1. Old fashioned striped peppermint candy canes
2. Twilight at three in the afternoon
3.  Frosty patterns on window panes
4. Snow crunching under car tires
5.  Waiting for that 'spirit' of Christmas to arrive

6. Choirs singing old carols
7. Children singing Away in a Manger
8. Snow...snow...snow
9.Packages in the mail
10. Small chocolate surprises

11. Winter days when the sky is bright and sunny
and snowdrifts look blue
12. The smell of coffee brewing

13.  Writing Christmas cards and letters

14. Listening to Handel's Messiah

15. Warm scones and strawberry jam

16. Packages tied up with string

17. Wrapping presents

18. The sound of sleigh bells

19. Red velvet ribbon

20. Glittery balls

21. Red holly berries

22. Hot cider and spiced rum

23. The surprise in presents

24. The holy hush that descends on Christmas Eve

25. Poinsettias

26.  twinkly lights in windows

27. A red bow on the front door

28.  the fresh smell of cedar, spruce and pine

29. Christmas stickers

30.  Fruitcake with lots of cherries and nuts

31.  Ginger spice cookies and shortbread

32.  Be-ribboned packages

33. Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

34. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
35. Putting together seasonal jigsaw puzzles

36.  Sitting by the fireplace
37. Watching the tree lights twinkle in the dark
38. Turkey dinner and all the trimmings
39. Opening Presents with Loved Ones

40.  The Christmas Story as told by Linus in Charlie Brown's Christmas

What would you add to your list?

Hugs,
Brenda
xox

 

The Comfort of Old

Source

Do you find comfort in certain old things?I don't mean tattered old rags or stuff that's been around so long they've lost their shelf life.

I mean, those things that have worn well and now are so comfortable you look forward to their consolation and pleasure ... cozy old sweaters that hug you, easy chairs that embrace you, or old slippers perfectly shaped to your weary feet, not to mention old books that fall open to comforting passages, cheering you like old friends.

What about old familiar carols?

I love Christmas carols and look forward to hearing them again and again. Many of them I never set out to memorize, but because I've heard all my life---I was about three or four or five when I first learned Away in a Manger---they just became a part of me, easily and with little effort on my part.

I never know when snippets and snatches will bubble up to the surface...it doesn't have to be just in December.  These sweet or haunting or cheering melodies with their age old lines that tell the Story of a night so long long ago, when angels visited earth and something miraculous happened in the back of someone's barn... they are a key part in what makes Christmas special for me. I never grow tired of them.

Do you have favourites?

Wishing you tidings of comfort and joy,
Brenda
xox

Tissue Paper and Velvet

 Me and my little sister, circa 1963

The whir of a sewing machine was a familiar sound growing up in our little farmhouse. Mom often had a sewing project underway. But with the arrival of December, all ordinary thoughts of sewing were set aside for the all important Christmas dresses that my sister and I would wear to the Christmas Eve concert at church.

As Little Sister and I would dream our way through the Eaton's Christmas Catalog, where page after page brimmed with beguiling pictures of wondrous toys and treats, Mom would begin her own kind of dreaming as she pored over the section which highlighted little girls' dresses.  She was looking for inspiration for this year's project. Then would come the trek to the fabric store to pore over pattern books, ponder and touch colourful bolts of fabric. I loved the smell that greeted us when we walked into a fabric store -- with its mile-long aisles of cloth in every colour imaginable, not to mention the millions of buttons to examine and all manner of other interesting notions like ric rac and lace.

The sewing machine sat ready on the end of the kitchen table amidst scissors, tape measure, and stick pins. Sheets of ecru tissue rustled as each pattern piece was carefully laid and pinned to the fabric.  Anticipation filled the air. It was always an exciting moment -- a little nerve-racking for Mom --  when we’d hear the snip of scissors pinking their way through layers of tissue and fabric. Soon threads littered the floor and we’d hear a whoosh as the hot iron pressed the wet cloth laid over a newly sewn seam. We didn't have a steam iron in those days.

We'd sigh impatiently as Mom pinned and twirled us around atop a kitchen chair; we were always a little nervous about all the pins holding the pieces together. Stand still, she'd say, as we'd fidget! And then the day would arrive when the last twirl came as Mom checked hems and seams one last time. We'd swirl our skirts out and it was such a proud moment to stand in our newest finery on Christmas Eve, when, with the rest of our Sunday school class, we'd recite mostly memorized poems and warble through partly familiar carols.

So many Christmases since those childhood days ... but no matter how many come and go, recollections of those lovingly handmade dresses and annual concerts in the old country church are as carefully wrapped in whispery memories as any treasured ornament.

As a young girl I didn’t fully recognize the love my mother had for me. I didn’t understand then the love (and sacrifice) that went into these beautiful dresses. The wonder of it is that these gifts of love were wrapped up in the celebration of the One who came to earth express the love of a heavenly Father to our love-hungry world. Who would have thought that the whisper of tissue paper on velvet would echo that love to this little girl?

First written for my dear Mom in 2006

Snow And Apple Almond Cake

Today it's been snowing---and it's been snowing with a determined dedication to swirl us into a wonderland of winter in every corner of the province. In my opinion, right on time to start the December countdown to a most favourite time of year.

For, where I come from in northerly Alberta, it only takes a few wisps of snow to get me in the mood for cozy fireside reads, mugs of cider sparkling with a wee bit of spiced rum (my newest favourite winter drink), stacks of cheery Christmas cards ready to write to friends far and wide, and a bevy of seasoned books that go a long way to setting the scene. 

In spite of the snow, friends were invited in this morning to celebrate a birthday (no, not mine) with a still-warm-from-the-oven German Apple and Almond Cake. The recipe stated it was so good with a cup of coffee and friends to share it with.  And, it was!  (Especially when served with a wee scoop of vanilla yogurt ice cream.)

German Almond Apple Cake

Bake in 350 F oven for 45-50 minutes

Crumb Topping:

1 cup sugar (I used less)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds

Mix ingredients until crumbly.  Set aside.

Cake:

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup sugar (I used less)

1/2 cup milk (up to 2/3 cup)
2 teaspoons almond flavouring

2 cups flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 tsp salt (I used less)

Apples (2-3), sliced thinly

Beat egg, add sugar, butter, flavouring and milk. Mix well.

Sir in flour, baking powder and salt.  The batter will be very thick.

Spread in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan or a 10 inch springform pan.
(I used a springform pan and liked how I could cut it into wedges rather than squares)

Top with sliced apples.  Sprinkle crumb topping over apples.

 

Wishing you a sweet day no matter the weather!
Brenda
xox