Snow!

A few days before Christmas, I watched one of my favorite movies, "White Christmas", starring Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. The best song in the movie is "Snow", which is repeated many times throughout the show.

Yesterday, we had a snowstorm that kept many of us at home in the morning--it was a quick snowfall that dumped about five inches of snow in just a few hours, slowing traffic and disrupting this quiet week between Christmas and New Year. It brought to mind the song lyrics which had been running through my head all week.

"Snow--It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow

Snow--I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow

Snow--I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow

Snow!

Oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow

Where it's snowing

All winter through

That's where I want to be

Snowball throwing

That's what I'll do."

The Dark Days of Winter

The darker days of Winter urge us to return to our roots like the perennials in our gardens, to find time amid the holiday commotion for our creative practice and quiet pleasures of reading and contemplation. I've been enjoying reading my seed catalogs and garden books to prepare myself for the Spring gardening season.

When change or difficult times threaten to divert us from our plans, it takes discipline to keep our dreams on course. This discipline is necessary to cultivate the gardens within and around us.

As this final month of the calendar year leads us to a new annual cycle, the season of winter leads inevitably to another spring. The darkness of winter affirms the cycle of the renewal of life in all its many wonders and rewards.

Holiday Baking

Family traditions come in many forms--one of my favorite holiday activities involves baking fruitcake, cookies and candy. Since I was 8 years old, I have been cooking and baking for my family. My first forays into the kitchen took most of a Saturday to clean up, but by age 10, I was making desserts and coffee for my parent's guests for after-church social events at our home. By 12 years of age, I was making most of the dinners and learning to coordinate the timing of each dish so the meal would all come together at the scheduled time.

After Thanksgiving each year, I buy all of the fruit and nuts and other ingredients needed to make fruitcake, sugar cookies and fudge. I often get together with girlfriends for a small cookie exchange, and we share a dozen or so of what we have made. By Christmas, most of us usually have a dozen of four or five types of homemade items to share for our holiday dinner.

This year, I sent away to Vermont for two fruitcake mixes. A large box arrived a few weeks ago with boxes of cake mix, and packages of candied fruit and candied cherries. I had my Mom over, and we mixed all of the ingredients together and baked 8 fruitcakes that day. They had a wonderful maple flavor, and they were unlike any fruitcake we have had in the past.

The tray of dessert offerings after Christmas dinner went well with Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee, and we lingered over our treats late in the day as we sat in front of the Christmas tree, glad that all of the elements of our cooking and baking came together in a perfect ending.

A Country Christmas

It was a lovely Christmas Day today, one I will remember for a very long time. The weather was mild and we had some sunshine today, which illuminated everything after weeks of rain. I was up early, making breakfast for my household and guests, and the waffles tasted great--it gave me strength to prepare the turkey and ham for the hours of baking in the oven.

I had some time to get outside in the yard and survey my garden space, my head filled with visions of what my Spring garden will be like this year. I know Winter has just begun, but it's always Spring in my heart.

The guests started arriving around noon, and we had many fine hours of getting caught up with everyone. The food and fellowship made the time memorable, and there was a lot of laughter as we shared stories and played games. My granddaughter wore her Santa apron, and we even got a photo of the three generations of women in our family--the three of us spanned ages from 5 years to 82 years!

We got to meet my son's new girlfriend, and they look like they are in love--I hope for the best for both of them. It's nice to see him looking happy again.

Pumpkin pie and fruitcake and beautiful cookies adorned the tables, and wonderful Starbucks Christmas blend coffee added the final touch to the tastes on our palate today. The gifts were generous and well-received, and everyone seemed happy. That's all one can expect--you take a chance in giving gifts, but if they are given from the heart, you can't go wrong.

It was a lovely country Christmas, and I enjoyed every moment of the day.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

It was a lovely day today, with the anticipation building up to Christmas Day, and a list of many tasks to complete. I was up early (for a day off), and worked in the morning to get the house cleaned and the tables set for the big Christmas dinner. There were fresh cranberries to prepare for an accompaniment to the turkey, and also a large red and green jello salad (an old family tradition started by my aunt) to make in stages throughout the day. There were tablecloths to iron, place cards to make, and a list to check two or three times to ensure all ingredients for the sweet potato casserole and the green bean casserole were all there.

My mom is bringing the pumpkin pies, and we'll have plates of beautiful home-made cookies to munch on all afternoon. We somehow always make room for dessert even after a large turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings!

We finally finished all of the Christmasn Eve tasks, and we settled in early in the evening to watch "It's a Wonderful Life", our favorite Christmas movie. Now, as I write this, our guests are tucked into the guest room (known by my granddaughter Kaila as 'the white room'), and all is very quiet. Even the dog Juno is settled in for the night. I'm sipping my Tazo Calm tea, thinking about the fun we will have tomorrow. Christmas is almost here!

Beautiful Christmas Fabrics

I have a favorite home store called "Cranberry Cottage" in Country Village in Bothell that I visit often. They have built small rooms within their retail space, and every room has a theme--one room is white and pink, and features all kinds of baby clothes, blankets and furniture. Other rooms have a French Country ambience, with lovely linens and pictures of Francais chickens in barnyards. Other rooms feature crystal and chandeliers and lace tablecloths, modern upholstered furniture, and beautiful things of every color and texture.

About a month ago, Alex and I found a small square tablecloth that I imagined would look good on my French Country dining room table. I bought it, brought it home, and it was my first Christmas decoration of the season. It's beautiful, and sets off my white china from France.

This lovely tablecloth will be beautiful Christmas day as we enjoy our holiday feast around the table with our family.

A Starbucks Birdhouse

Last weekend, I shared in a Christmas celebration with my uncle in Silverdale. His gift to me this year was very unique!

He and my aunt loved to watch birds, and over the years, they've provided me with some wonderful birdhouses. They hang from my apple tree near the backyard deck, and it's fun to sit in the dining room and watch the birds partake in their daily meals.

This year, the birdhouse had a twist to it--it had the Starbucks logo on the front of the little house in two places! I imagine it will be not only a place for the birds to congregate and eat, but perhaps it will be a place for some type of bird beverage (after all, it IS a Starbucks!). Perhaps an apple nectar tea, or a fuschia Vivanno? Or maybe a clover espresso or a green mint tea?

I'll watch and learn about the birds' habits, and see if they enjoy their elegant new bird coffeehouse. Perhaps I can turn up the stereo a bit in the summertime to send a little soft jazz their way to complete their 'total' Starbucks experience!

Birthday Dinner at the Preservation Kitchen

I always get to go out to dinner at the restaurant of my choice on my birthday, and being born so close to Christmas has its benefits. Everyone is in a festive mood, and dinners are often celebratory occasions around the holidays--so I join the crowds searching for fun, frivolity, and memorable meals with friends and families.

Last night, I started with the cheese tray, featuring three cheeses from local cheesemakers--a brie-like creamy goat cheese, a white cheddar, and a smooth cow's milk cheese similar in texture to Havarti. Served with English water biscuits, this was a great way to start the meal. The tray was garnished with hazelnuts drizzled with local honey.

Salad was roasted leek and butternut squash with a butter sauce and garnished with a white creamy cheese string.

Dinner (finally!) was roasted chicken on a bed of spinach and local mushroom slices, with a sauce of Cabernet reduction. It was garnished with fresh herbs from the chef's greenhouse.

Wine was a Lenore Syrah 2007 from Columbia Winery, and it had a lovely burgundy color, blueberry and plum elements, a spicy bouquet, and a smooth to medium finish.

Birthdays are always memorable occasions, but a memorable meal makes it perfection.

The Chicken Brigade

One of the students I met on my Oregon State University Master Gardener course is a high-school teacher who teaches gardening, composting and a host of other life skills. His students are planning their garden for the Spring, and it's exciting to hear about the progess they are making.

This educator's newest foray into farming involves an internship at a local farm near San Diego, CA. His first assignment involves work in "The Chicken Brigade", and I can't wait to hear about this newest adventure. Who ever knew the directions that Master Gardening could lead us?

Not to be left out of the 'chicken' adventure, I recently spent an hour or so at a local nursery in my town called Flower World. There are 15 acres of plants, water features, and chickens and goats. If I can't have a chicken of my own right now, I'll live my life vicariously through others! There were about a dozen chickens at Flower World a couple of weeks ago, and they seemed very happy, walking around the lovely acreage, scratching for food and greeting visitors as they explored the grounds.

Maybe sometime in the future I'll have a 'chicken' adventure, too!

Juno the Christmas Dog

Juno got a new jester's collar this year for Christmas--it's red and green with tiny bells hung from each pointed piece of fabric. She didn't like the noise of the bells at first, but now she wears it proudly, knowing that there are presents for her under the tree that are edible (she loves 'pupcakes' from her favorite doggie deli, "Knicknack Paddywack"). We have plenty of treats for her this Christmas, a reward for the 15 pounds she lost this year on her low-fat diet!

Merry Christmas, Juno!

Sunday Trip to Silverdale, WA

This year, my uncle was not able to attend Christmas at our house, so I decided to take Christmas to him! He lives in a wonderful facility in Silverdale that overlooks the inlet from Puget Sound--there is a view of the water from every window in his apartment. Christmas has been difficult for him the last two years since my aunt passed away, so this year, I tried to think of a way to celebrate that would make him happy.

The ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston was so much fun, and the weather last Sunday was sunny and clear blue skies, an unusual forecast for this time of year. I picked my uncle up and took him to the restaurant of his choice, and we got caught up on all of his news and mine. We went back to his place and exchanged gifts, which helped me to get into the Christmas spirit a little early!

On the trip home, the sun was slowly setting into evening, and the full moon dominated the late afternoon sky. The ferry ride back was just as much fun as the one earlier in the day, and I returned home refreshed and glad that I had made the trip. Only four more days until Christmas!

Christmas Shopping with Alex

Yesterday, I picked up Alex at noon, and after a quick stop at Starbucks, we headed to the mall. Our one and only goal was to finish all of her Christmas shopping for her family. She had done a great job of saving her money and buying almost half of the gifts on 'the list', so our work didn't look too daunting as we started out.

We stopped at Ruby's Diner to have lunch and gather our strength before we tackled the holiday crush at the mall. Alex had a wonderful milkshake with her fish and chips, and now fortified, we headed to the stores.

Several hours later, we were finished! We celebrated with ice cream at Baskins Robbins, and after I dropped her off at home, I took her gifts with me to wrap and deliver to her family next Saturday morning. Times with Alex are so much fun!

Morning Mocha

I was on vacation all last week, and I started out my week with a mocha at the Maltby Cafe. Presentation is everything--this was almost too beautiful to drink, but I took a deep breath and dove in. Ahhhhhh! Life is good.

Christmas Baking--Stollen

This weekend, we made the German bread called stollen. It's been a part of my family tradition for years, and I start to buy the fruit mix and the pecans right after Halloween so we can be ready for our 'trial' batch of the tasty sweet bread. After the initial loaves are baked, we taste-test them to ensure high quality, good taste, and light texture. Having a new oven has certainly helped this year, and the first two loaves turned out beautifully.

My favorite part is making the white icing after the bread has cooled. I decorated the top of the bread with cherries and made tiny holly leaves and berries out of the candied fruit. The first batch has passed inspection!

Master Gardener Certification in Home Horticulture

After four months of lectures, study and homework, I took my six-hour final exam last Saturday and passed my Master Gardener test! This course of study was a goal of mine for many years, and last summer, I finally found a course that was relevant to the area in which I live, and which was manageable with my busy schedule.

The course to earn certification as a Master Gardener in Home Horticulture was offered by Oregon State University, and taught by Dr. Gail Langelotto, who heads up the entire Master Gardener program for the State of Oregon. Her Ph. D. is in Entomology, and the course was well-taught and well organized, with lectures by Dr. Langelotto and three of her associates from OSU.

We covered many subjects in the four months, including sustainable landscaping, pest control, composting, and vegetable gardening. We analyzed our soil's pH and % of organic matter (OM), and learned how to select the appropriate native plants for the areas in which we live. The most important part of the course for me was learning how to diagnose plant pests and diseases, and to know the appropriate ways to control them, using chemical means as only a last resort.

I've aleady planned my spring garden, and can't wait to order my seeds and plants for the yard and garden. I learned so much in the course, and it will take me many years to implement all of them, but I know I'll enjoy the adventure of making my property and garden appropriately landscaped and maintained.

Dinner with Kaila

Tonight I had the privilege of having dinner with my granddaughter Kaila at Boston's restaurant in Mill Creek. I hadn't seen her for a few weeks, and she was full of stories about kindergarten and her dog, Nala, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's hard to remember when our lives consisted of such a wide and varied group of subjects!

She always orders spaghetti, and as you can see from the picture, she wanted to see how long the pasta strands were once you held them up. After dinner, we discussed our cake and cookie baking appointment next week, and shared our Christmas lists. It will be fun being together on Christmas Day, where she helps me with the meal and shares her joy about everything with the family. She's the granddaughter I always dreamed of.

Lunch at Preservation Kitchen

Early in the week, I finally had the chance to have lunch with my neighbor Kelly. We live across the gravel road from each other, and have been neighbors for about five years now. Our families know each other well, and often throughout the year, we come over to each others' house for dinner or conversation on the porch or iced tea in the gazebo. We visit over the picket fence and share anecdotes about our families and dogs. They're wonderful neighbors.

Kelly and I decided last month that we would actually go to a restaurant, sit down over our meal, and have a real conversation (no kids, dogs, distractions). So, off we went early in the week to my favorite restaurant, Preservation Kitchen. Kelly had never been there before, so I was happy to share the experience with her.

We arrived around noon, and were seated in the beautiful old bungalow in front of a great fire in the hearth. We had a lunch of Cream of Smoked Chicken Soup and chicken sandwiches on artisan bread with basil, cheese and tomatoes. We had time to get caught up on family news and learn a little more about each other. I learned more about the church that Kelly and her husband John are starting next month in our community, and all of the challenges involved with an effort of this magnitude. We left the restaurant that day feeling like we knew each other a little better, and Kelly was already talking about coming back with her family and church members for dinner at the Preservation Kitchen. After all, you've got to share a great place like this restaurant with everyone!

Christmas Mice

Years ago, I began collecting small Christmas mice that I found at holiday bazaars and in gift shops. This year, Starbucks featured a small stuffed mouse with the lofty name of Huxley. He was so engaging that I bought two of him, and he/they have settled on the ledge of the third floor of the house. He joins six other mice who have lived here with me for some time, so I'm sure they are all getting to know each other as they congregate around a couple of old antique doll chairs that have been in the family for three generations.

They are my symbols of the holiday season, with their smiling faces and festive costumes. I smile every time I pass by, and I often imagine one of them smiles back at me. It sounds like something a Christmas mouse would do!

A Rainbow After the Storm

Yesterday, we had a violent rainstorm with thunder and lightning, and a short power outage in my area. It was cold and damp, and after I lit every candle I had in the house, I started a fire in the woodstove. Pretty soon, Juno the dog and I were warm and toasty in the living room, enjoying the heat and the light from the fire. What a great time to just sit back and relax and experience the simple life for a few hours!

Flower World in Winter

Today, during my week of vacation, I went to Flower World in Maltby to dream of my Spring garden. Even for a rather cool and wet day, Flower World looked beckoning as I pulled into one of the many small parking areas. I walked through the long gravel walkways lined with red-caned shrubs, which always create such a band of color in the dull hues of early winter. The ducks and geese covered the grassy areas, and a dozen or so chickens ran to greet me. What an array of chickens there were--I counted at least 8 different varieties, with a male and female peacock thrown in for good measure!

The pond looked serene, and I could hear the water falling from the water wheel up on the incline toward the main road into the area. No one was around except me, and it was a very soothing few moments as I walked the gravel path back to my car. It was a perfect break for me today, and I came over to this place to find a small time of quiet before I started on the next errands that would fill up the rest of my day.

Only three months until Spring!

The History of the Christmas Wreath

The wreath has an important place in the history of Christmas. According to historians, wreaths originated in the pre-Christian era. It is said that in Eastern Europe, people used to illuminate wreaths made of evergreen leaves in winter, with the belief that it would bring spring and sunshine. Since its origin, the Christmas wreath has gone through a multitude of changes, but has retained its significance in symbolizing the festive spirit of the Christmas and Advent season.

Each year, I head over to Flower World to get a handmade wreath. This year, they had a large and lovely selection of boughs and holly and berries. They even have a class you can attend if you wish to make a custom wreath for your home! (maybe next year...)

I found two small wreaths for my picket fence entry to my gravel driveway, and one large wreath for my front door. It looks lovely, and invites everyone who walks up the front stairs into a world of Christmas here in Maltby, where the Slow Life is alive and well, and ready to celebrate the season.

Christmas Concert at Benaroya Hall

Last Monday evening, I attended Seattle Pacific University's "Sounds of the Seasons" concert, an annual event for the last 11 years. As a former music major at SPU, I have to admit that I have never attended this event. I thought that this has to be the year I treat myself to this wonderful concert.

We got dressed up, and drove downtown to the concert hall with the best acoustics in Seattle. The concert was a great mix of choral and orchestral pieces, along with readings and thoughts about the Christmas season. Having performed in these annual events during my four years at SPU, this concert really took me back to those years of academic study and great discipline that all music majors had to have--practicing four hours a day, taking a full course load, and studying all the time.

Back in the 60's and 70's, we performed Handel's Messiah at the Seattle Opera House every year. It was a huge production, with our choirs and orchestras, and soloists flying in from all over the country to sing the four parts of the vocal portions of this great work.

It was a magical evening, just being able to sit back and enjoy the music and take in the beautiful hall. I'm ready for Christmas already!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

This week, I finally got my Christmas tree up, with strings of white lights, and my collection of vintage Shiny Brite decorations. Over the last few years, I've collected over 200 of them, and they dress up the tree beautifully. Each ornament has a story, and it recalls my childhood years, when my whole family would set aside one whole day to get a tree, decorate it in front of a roaring fire, and listen to Christmas music. We were always eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate, too. Memories like these never fade.

My tree looks ready to be the focal point of the upcoming season, which also includes a cookie-baking marathon, a Christmas tea for the women in my neighborhood, and caroling from house to house on Christmas Eve. The fun is just beginning!