In a nod to today’s world, I bought our Christmas tree online using Groupon. It was less expensive and a lot less stressful than the usual haggling on street corners and the tree is as advertised–well shaped and fresh, having just arrived from North Carolina. (I’d expected it would have come from more northern climes but hey…)
Trees for sale on the street
So far, we’ve sung carols at various sites and I’ve watched the George C. Scott version of Scrooge. Since our living room was recently redone, I’ve held back on my formerly up-to-the top decorating so as not to mar the pristine new paint with sap dripping from pine roping but the stocking are, indeed, ready to roll.
hung by the chimney with care
Several years ago, our family agreed to forgo the swag and give to charity instead (excluding children.) Now we draw names from a hat to each fill a stocking as a “secret Santa” with a thirty-dollar limit and that’s it. It’s so liberating not to be out there amassing stuff that no one needs. We make up for not giving presents by eating and drinking a lot–Prosecco, gravlax, pate, some crudities to satisfy the virtuous, edamame and more.
My mother, who adored Christmas and always felt gypped because her birthday came so close that she often got one present for both occasions, was a fool for hard sauce. What’s not to love? I make it most years as I make gravlax to honor my husband’s Norwegian heritage and serve it, (the hard sauce, not the gravlax), with plum or bread pudding or any kind of cake. If you can stir, you can make hard sauce.
Hard Sauce atop a brownie
Hard Sauce
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon brandy
1 dash almond extract (or not)
In a bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Then beat in the brandy and, if using, the almond extract. Put it in an attractive bowl with a spoon and stand back. Whatever your holiday, may you enjoy it.
Happy Holidays!!
And to you! We want to get to CT in the New Year to drink a health to Ben’s new venture!
As country dwellers, our life is so simple.
We grow Christmas trees for ourselves and to sell – in modest numbers.
We feed, trim and pamper them.
Those planted 8 years ago are mostly gone, except for the ‘Sentinel Tree’ now 10 feet tall.
I’m send in a pic of the trees to Mari -It is a joyous time of year.
Halleluia.
Look forward to seeing the tree and celebrating with you. Natalie is coming with a CD she burned with lots of fun ( as far as she sees it) holiday tunes. Get your ear plugs ready!
HO HO & XO
HO HO we look forward to it. Can boogie with the best of them still, tree awaits.
Oh how I miss our Christmas mornings at the 15A club. I recently came across
a picture of Liz and Joel watching intently at I know not what. There is the Chistmas
tree in the background, the paperwhites on the table, along with many glasses of
Bloody Marys scattered around . Thanks again, peace, love and good health to all.
With love,
Elayne
Wish you were here. Maybe we’ll get there. Somehow we moved from Bloodys to Prosecco but nothing wrong in the former. Everything good to you and yours for now and 2012, Love, Mari
Hi Mari,
I don’t know… a Christmas tree from Groupon … well hassle free is what counts!
Have a great holiday… wishes to you and your family.
Ellen
And to you. How are you doing? Would love to get together again–next time in the B’town burbs will let you know.
Happy 2012. Mari
Superb article, cool blog template, continue the great work
Will certainly try, thanks.