Oxford in December

 We spent a week in Oxford to visit with the other grands last week and had a great time getting to know 4 month old Ethan, 18 month old Robby, 3 year old Savannah and 5 year old Walker all over again.  They grow so fast!

So I am the "shoe grandma," buying shoes for all the kids if they're needed.  This time it was Tennies, Red leather Mary Janes and Cowboy Boots.  

So delighted to see kids excited about new shoes:)  We really enjoy seeing them regularly and it's incredible how quickly they grow.  Ethan is a full on human now instead of an infant and has his own personality.

A really terrific Christmas celebration was had at Uncle Lee's new digs and the kiddos all got to sing into microphones and play the drums on his "stage."  A good time was had by all, as was the Memphis BBQ.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Past

 I'm reminiscing more and more as the years go by.  I remember cold, Chicago or Wisconsin winters at the grandparents, trips to the lovely downtown Chicago store windows with my Aunt Cheryl, and Frango Mint chocolates from Marshall Fields.  One year Grandma took us all to the toy section and bought us each a marionette!  They were beautiful and my eldest son has mine now.  

The Czech great grandma celebrated St. Nicholas day Dec 5, but my mother did not continue that tradition. Instead she made Norwegian Krumkaka, which I continued to make well into my own adulthood.  My daughter has the iron now, but we have not yet made it together.  Maybe this is the year:). It was my first taste of Cardamom and I loved it.  The equivalent would be an Italian Pizelle.  

Grandma made Lefse, but my mom did not continue that tradition, instead choosing to buy it when she could.  I've never made it, but I have a recipe and my daughter has Grandma's old electric Lefse maker.  It's essentially a flour tortilla made with potato water. Best filled with jam and butter, or cinnamon sugar and butter.  I find I want a trip to Ikea to get some Lingonberry jelly now:)

Dad or mom used to make homemade eggnog and I remember the big punch bowl with glasses of the stuff from a young age.  Delicious!  I have made my own and it is so much of an improvement over store bought.  Must have freshly grated nutmeg.

Mom made "Frosted Filberts," which are now called Hazelnuts and I loved the spiced cinnamon meringue coating around those.  I've made them exactly once as they are a pain in the patooty to make:). 

My own Christmases were filled with "Baking Weekend" with Frances for many years.  Pounds and pounds of flour, sugar and butter.  Pumpkin Coconut Nut bread, Lemon Bread, Blondies, 7 layer bars, Fantasy Fudge, Peanut Brittle and my famous English Toffee.  In recent years, I resurrected this with far flung friends around the country, and simplifying the baking to just shipping out Toffee nationwide to a few friends.  I still make about 9 batches a year and it's that time again:). This is our 11th year of Bakefest. Last year I added some keto friendly Pecan Crescents as I'm off sugar these days.

We got and still give every family member a new ornament at Thanksgiving time as well.  It's my mom's tradition, as are socks at Christmas.  Sometimes it was underwear:). We watch several movies every Christmas season, with the must watches being "It's a Wonderful Life", "Christmas Vacation," and "White Christmas."  I hope you and yours have a delightful holiday season.  We're spending time with the Oxford grandkids next week, but Christmas will be at home.

What are your Christmas traditions?

And Then There were Four

 My step daughter just had baby number four in a bit over five years.  We got to go down and assist with what is a delightful group of kiddos.  Walker is now five, Savannah is now 3, Robby Bobby (yes you say both names) is 19 months, and little Ethan is now 11 days old.

Oxford, MS is a blue dot in a blood red state.  It was so refreshing to see so many homes flying the new Magnolia state flag, rid, finally, of the Confederate cross flag insert.  And it is a college town, with great food and culture.  The Pandemic has closed some businesses, but opened others, and the newest addition is a lovely little organic store near my step daughter's home, The Chicory Market.  It reminded me of Marczyk's in Denver, but even smaller.

Their lot is double sized, 3/4 of an acre with a wooded area and creek at the back.  I found some ringless honey mushrooms and turkey tail, but a third tick of the season found me.  :)  Treating it with prophylactic doxycycline today.

Finally went to Kiawah Island

 My sister in law is a very talented interior designer with impeccable taste.  For years, she has been inviting us to her dear friend's home on Kiawah Island.  This time, we said yes and did a sponto four day drive of seven hours to visit with some family.  

I cannot tell you how delightful it was!  The surroundings were incredible, from the lush, landscaped greenery, to the perfect temperature beach.  We had one problem, the husband's knee gave out partway through and we ended up putting him on a cane and knee brace.  I was so very sorry he only got one walk to the water and the single swim in a fabulous ocean.  I do not remember Cocoa FL ever being quite as warm as this beach was.  There's a shallow beach, quite a ways in, a small trough, and then shallows again.  Mild surf and a small tidal pull to the north.

We had a great meal at a local restaurant called the Tattooed Moose, and stopped on the way to view one of the country's oldest living trees, a live oak that is 300 to 400 years old.

One of the highlights was spent playing "caption this" with The Atlantic cartoons, which I enjoyed immensely, and made a scrumptious dinner with what we had on hand.  This pasta sauce rocks, by the way.

Kiawah Pasta

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 Tablespoons butter

10 grape tomatoes cut in half (two handfuls)

half and half

a package of Asiago and Sopressata diced.

Salt/Pepper

Maple syrup if desired

Cooked Pasta

We sauteed the garlic in butter, added the cheese and half and half to a good consistency, then tossed in the tomatoes and salted, peppered to taste.  Delicious!

A lovely second floor screened in porch was the favorite hangout space.  A lovely time with lovely people.