I’m working on the grocery list that includes the makings of our Thanksgiving feast and thinking more broadly of the next few months. Along with the holidays, there are family birthdays and anniversaries to consider. I enjoy the traditions woven with events unique to the year. This season is shaping up with a good mix.
We’ll have our traditional crock pot roast for Thanksgiving…along with potatoes (sweet for me, russet for my husband), cranberry orange relish, and pumpkin custard. For the ‘something new’ I might try parsnips au gratin and a small pecan pie (from the bakery).
Rather than shopping on Black Friday, we’ll put up our Christmas decorations: the tree, the pinecone wreath on the door, the collected Christmas cards under plastic on the breakfast table, and flags from the loft railing. We are putting the Christmas tree in a slightly different place this year; they’ll be more re-arrangement of furniture.
We have a two day photography class the first week in December which we’ll watch on the television in the room that has the Christmas tree…we’ll soak up the ambience of the season. I’m making sure we have enough logs for the fireplace. What a nice coming together of circumstance!
Then I have two days of volunteer work to support holiday events. One is a Holiday Sale for a local non-profit and I’ll buy a good portion of Christmas gifts for my family from the venders there. This is only my second year with the event but I count it in the ‘tradition’ column.
Then my husband travels to the west coast for a conference - which he has been attending for years and it is always in December. It is a tradition - one that we adjust our other holiday plans to accommodate. While he’s gone, I’ll distribute the piles of ‘stuff’ I’ve accumulated for donation and take a look at Brookside Gardens Conservatories. Usually we have a tradition of walking around the Brookside light display but it is not happening this year due to construction/renovation at the gardens.
We have never been to Longwood Gardens in December - but are adding it to our holiday plans this year - for the display in the Conservatory and the lights. It will be a day trip. We can leave after the morning rush hour traffic and delay coming back until after dinner to avoid the evening rush hour. We’ll pick the day to avoid any weather related driving hazard.
Christmas will be quiet with just two of us in the house. I almost made myself sick last year when I bought a whole red velvet cake. This year I think I look for one slice - uphold the tradition but not overindulge!
Our tradition is to take all the Christmas decorations down on New Year’s Eve but we’ve been talking about taking in a ‘First Night’ celebration. It is a toss-up whether we’ll stick with tradition or try something new.
We already have some plans for January too - a trip to Tucson. That is not a tradition but it seems like good timing - the flurry of holidays over and (maybe) a bit warmer weather for a week. It will be a great way to celebrate a 42nd wedding anniversary.
The cranberry orange relish, pumpkin custard, and gingerbread molasses scones were made yesterday.
