Christmas Gifts

Christmas gifts....we give them, ponder what to get for this one and that, wrap them all up in colored paper...and we get them too. I think when you grow up you spend more time in the giving than the getting and that's OK. This year I received a few gifts that were quite special. Mr. Scottie Dog sent to me by dogsled (or maybe it was FedEx, I don't remember) a box for Christmas. As a rule we don't really exchange big gifts. If we want or need something we usually just buy it when we can afford to, if not, we save the money up until we have enough and then we buy it. Gifts are just a token between us. So I was so surprised to see the antique-looking heart locket he gave me. Inside were tiny photos of each of us. It's because we spent this holiday apart. I felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

The I opened a box from Liz and Steve. Inside was a Double Wedding Ring Quilt. I was speechless. I've always wanted one of these. The top was pieced in the 1930's (with fabrics from 1880-1930's) and Liz quilted it for me. The scalloped edge is sweet. She left the binding to me....she knows I LOVE to bind quilts. I love this new quilt!!!!
Sydney gave me a big box too. Inside was a lovely big bowl. It is a work of art! And Sydney made it for me. She wanted it to look like a quilt and it does. Here's the inside "blocks."
The outside is painted like big blocks too. Polka dots, stripes, such color! OK, so I cried a little as I looked at it. What a wonderful treasure. I can imagine eating popcorn out of it, bringing pasta salad to a pot luck in it, serving greens from it. I'll keep it forever.

Of course the bottom is pretty special too.
Lots of other things too, I feel blessed.

We all know that Christmas isn't really about the presents, right? It's really about the Gift in Jesus that God provided His Son to save us from our sins. The real blessing of Christmas is the forgiveness and love for each of us from the Lord above. And the love of family, the caring things they do for us. May all of you feel as blessed as I am.

Christmas in a Hotel

The thought of Christmas brings up many images...snow covered fields, lighted houses, families gathering around the Christmas tree in the living room, Christmas Eve candlelight services and more. One image I never imagined was Christmas in a hotel. Mr. Scottie Dog spent Christmas with our daughter Beka's family in Minnesota this year because of business he needed to conduct. He has been loving the grandkids, holding the new baby and helping out around the house. I have it on good authority he came in quite handy erecting the new basketball freestanding hoop we gave the kids!

I, on the other hand, celebrated with Liz, Steve and Sydney. We took a quick road trip to Grants Pass, Oregon so we could see Steve's Grandma (Sydney's "Grandma the Great) and Sydney's cousins on Christmas Day. We started out early and made a pit stop at Trees of Mystery.
Shouldn't every Christmas Eve start with a visit with a gigantic Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox?

Next stop was Dairy Queen in Cave Junction, OR. This is a treat for those of us living in isolated Eureka. I showed Sydney a photo of what it had looked like 30 years ago when we used to bring her Mama there. Eventually we made it to Cave Junction and our hotel. Sydney had worried Santa wouldn't find her if she wasn't at home but last week when she saw Santa she told him she'd be in Oregon. The hotel was all decorated up for Christmas! A beautiful tree, stockings hung above the fireplace and candles and poinsettias all around. After arriving in our room Sydney hung the stockings with care.She looks pretty excited doesn't she! Mama found a great place for dinner and afterwards we let Sydney open one present....it was the doll her mom had had as a girl and Grammy had made a bunch of new doll clothes. (notice The Sound of Music playing on the TV!)
Right after the doll clothes were all tried on, we put on Home Alone, hoping Sydney would soon be asleep. Nope, she watched the whole thing. Afterwards we waited for her to fall asleep. Finally Steve and Liz went to the car with the luggage cart to bring up all the loot. Still awake. Steve went to sleep and Liz and I went to the lobby. Half hour later we went to the room. Still awake. Lights out, Grandma stroked her forehead and sang to her. Still awake. Mom and Grammy sat in the dark for another 1/2 hour. Finally, finally around 11:45 pm, Sydney fell asleep. We set up the little tree we'd brought and set out the presents.

The stockings were filled, the gifts arranged and we went to bed. Sydney woke up at 7:30 am and announced she'd seen Santa putting out the gifts. We enjoyed our stockings, our gifts and each other. What a fun time. Belgum Waffles for breakfast and Christmas Dinner with Grandma the Great, Steve's sister and her 12 year old twins. Here's Sydney with one of her gifts: a Calico Critter motorcycle & side car and critters. She also got the Critter Mansion and various other "go withs."She looks happy, doesn't she! Christmas in a hotel wasn't bad at all! Wonderful memories. We're now back home and tomorrow I'll share a few of MY presents. Here's hoping you spend your day with loved ones and made memories.

My new "vintage" stocking

About a week ago my daughter Liz announced that we were going to have new Christmas Stockings. Now, I don't know about your traditions, but at our house Christmas Stockings are a big deal. It probably started when I was a little girl and my mom & dad let us open up our stockings while they got up and got ready to open gifts (of course my brothers and I got up at Oh dark thirty!). No gifts went under the tree until we were fast asleep and so there was a huge surprise Christmas morning. Pat, Denny and I would pull out oranges, chocolate, a balsa wood airplane, paper money, Chinese finger puzzles, kazoos and the like from our stockings (oh, and a new penny...always). We'd be fingering the loot, candy canes stuck firmly inside our cheeks and pointing out our pepperminty, drooling mouths. Finally, FINALLY Mom and Dad appeared to ooh and ahh over the tree before we could dig into the tree and all it's wonders.

We followed this tradition when my own children were born and stockings were filled with treats and fun trinkets. Stockings were first, presents were second. I remember the year the girls noticed that I rarely had anything in my stocking (I was the one who filled theirs and their father's). They have made sure every year since that my sock was full. When the girls were born I bought some pre-printed quilted fabric and made the family stockings. Then made some more when the girls were teens. When the sons-in-laws joined the family they each got a stocking too.

Fast forward to last week when Liz announced we were all going to have new stockings. She wanted to make them for the entire family so that when we had a Christmas together at Grammy's house everyone had a matching stocking. They were all to be out of red and green 1930's reproduction fabrics. They will all have the names embroidered on them. And she was just starting them. Well, actually just her family this year. By next year everyone else would have them. She gave me some pieces of her 1930's fabric collection and I made one for me. I finished it tonight.


What could be more 1930's Vintage that that? Several of the fabrics have Scottie Dogs on them. I'm all set! Now if only someone fills my sock!

Christmas Celebrations

Some of the best things about the Christmas Season are the programs put on by schools and Sunday Schools. In Minnesota today, Mr. Scottie Dog had the pleasure of watching our grandson Jakob perform in the Christmas Program at Bethany Church. He had begun learning his part before I come home mid-November.

On Thursday night, granddaughter Sydney was an angel in Redwood Christian School's Christmas musical, Christmas in Reverse. Even as a 1st grader she had a solo part.

She looked the part and was quite good (at least a proud Grammy thought so!).

Then today I joined Sydney, Liz & Steve at the Eagle House in Old Town Eureka. We went because we had it on good authority that Santa (the REAL Santa) would be there. Sure enough he arrived by horse carriage (he's resting up the reindeer for an upcoming long trip). There were tables all set up, home made cookies, hot cocoa with whipped cream, marshmallows AND sprinkles (!) were in abundance. The tables were set with green clothes, holiday decorations and a coloring page which was as it turned out, a letter to Santa. There were games to play (stick the nose on Rudolph and Snowman Snowball toss) and finally it was Sydney's turn to see Santa. How do we know he was the REAL Santa? His eyes twinkled AND he wore a Christmas Crown. His "helpers" only wear red hats trimmed in Red. At least that's what Sydney told me.

Here she is...amazed that Santa had just pulled a chocolate coin from her ear. She whispered to me later...."Gamma, Santa knows magic!" Many thanks to those who put this Cocoa with Santa event together.

I'm sitting here listening to Christmas Carols and thinking of my many blessings. May you also be blessed this Christmas season.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is nearly over here at the Scott House. It's been a day of fun and laughter, of remembering and gratefulness.

This morning I got a phone call, "Gamma...when are you going to pick me up?" "On my way Sydney!" Picked up this delightful 5 year old and off we went to the grocery store. I've been there every day this week; you would have thought I had enough. But still needed a few things. As we passed the olives I asked Sydney if she thought we needed some for Christmas Eve dinner. "Nope." she said. I then asked if she thought we needed them to put on our fingers and she quickly said we definitely needed them.

We picked up Mama's gift and came back home. Liz called to add another family to our Christmas Eve Crab Feast...of course there is always room for the Caldwell family at our table! Larissa & Lewis and their 3 munchkins are considered part of our family. Mr. Scottie Dog cooked and picked crab for everyone, I made salad and Liz made a shrimp & Parmesan pasta. Add some sourdough bread, crab Louie sauce and we have a feast!

Sydney helped me decorate, set the table and make some cookies for dessert. She and Mr. Scottie Dog got his vintage Lionel trains running around the Christmas Tree. These vintage trains are from the very early 1920's and were given to his dad for Christmas. There are crates and crates of track, buildings & cars. The only place I've ever seen them before is at the California State Railroad Museum. He's got quite a collection.

After dinner Sydney got to open a gift under the tree...there were only 3. One for our cats and one for her cats (we bought kitty treats at the store today) and one I had placed there. "Merry Christmas Curious George." So we made Sydney a bed beside the tree, read the book, said her prayers and she went to sleep with the twinkling tree lights and visions of Christmas Morning dancing in her head.

Liz and Steve headed home...they'll be back at the crack of o'dawn thirty and we'll open our gifts and have brunch. I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas. The most important thought I can leave you with is that the Baby Jesus grew up to give his life that you might come to know God the Father. Bless you all.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! Here it is nearly 8 o'clock on Christmas Eve. I have a half hour before we go to church for Christmas Eve Service. It is one of my favorites, always a bit different, but always full of Christmas Carols, songs thanking God for sending a way for an imperfect mankind to live with Him forever. None of us is perfect, and the Babe we see at Christmas grew to take our sins away....if we only ask Him to.

We didn't do much shopping this year. Just a few things for the Grandchildren and kids. As usual, Mr. Scottie Dog and I will exchange a small token. Our real joy comes from seeing the joy in the Grandkid's eyes. Today Beka Skyped me from Ottawa, Canada where they are spending Christmas with Jason's family. At one point Jakob (nearly 4 now) ran up shouting over and over again, "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas," as if tomorrow morning would come faster if he said it a certain number of times. He did throw me a kiss and his eyes lit up when he saw my face on the computer screen.

Today I did a tiny bit of grocery shopping, went to the Scottie Dog Store and helped Liz out for just a bit. She's cooking most of tomorrow's feast...breakfast included. I came home and made a Banana Cream Pie.....a pretty awesome one too. My secret....use half & half instead of my usual skim milk! Tomorrow's a Feast Day...splurge a bit! Funny how for years I've used skim milk for everything and they always turned out OK. Not fabulous, just OK. Now they turn out fabulous. But only for Feast Days.

I cheated and bought an apple pie and a Christmas Stollen. Stollen is a family tradition in Bill's family. I've made it many times and it always turns out great. But the recipe starts out with 12 cups of flour. Do you have any idea how much stollen 12 cups of flour makes? I have tried to half the recipe twice with poor results. Joan, one of our quilting budies owns Cherry Blossom Bakery in Henderson Center, Eureka and she told me last month they were making Stollen this Christmas. AHA! This year we'll have our Stollen sliced thin and toasted with coffee or tea while we open the gifts tomorrow morning. Liz is making berry cobbler so we'll have a feast. Sydney most likely won't eat, she'll just open gifts.

After making tomorrow's pie I fixed a special little dinner for Mr. Scottie Dog and I to eat in front of the Christmas Tree. I got a crab, picked the meat and made Crab Melts on Sourdough Bread and home made clam chowder. Umm, Ummm, Good!

Off to Church in just a few minutes so let me wish all of you a very Blessed Christmas. May the Christ child find you this season! God Bless you all.


Love,

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.....

October is here....Sydney said she was cold today and I told her it wasn't Summer any more. "Why not, Gwandma?" So I tried to explain it was Fall. "Who falled down, Gwandma?" Then I tried to tell her that the leaves turn colors and "fall down" from the trees (sounds good, doesn't it?). But the tree in front of us had fully green leaves (they probably won't turn for a couple of months). I smartly changed the subject.

Tonight my son-in-law posted his FaceBook Status as:

Jason Hache is listening to Christmas Music.....I'm sorry, I tried to fight it as long as I could, but "baby it's cold outside."

Now, I like Christmas music as much as most people....actually I like it more than most people and would be glad to be listening to it along side of him but it does bring up the panicked question: How many days until Christmas?

Let's see...today is Oct. 1. 30 days has September, April, June....OK, 31 Days in Oct. plus 30 days in November and then add 25 days for December.....YIKES! it's 85 days till Christmas. I'd better get working on those gifts, decorating and .......well, what about Christmas Cookies.

This morning I woke up to this:

My Christmas Cactus is in full bloom.....on October 1. Jason, I can hear it now......It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.......

Santa visited me!

Last night, or rather very early Christmas morning, Mr. Scottie Dog and I arrived home after a long, very long travel day from Minnesota. Sounds simple, doesn't it. Get on a plane in Minneapolis, fly to Denver. 1 hour later get on a plane, fly to San Francisco. 1 hour later get on a plane, fly to Eureka. Simple, straightforward.
We had a lovely visit with daughter Beka & Jason and the grandbabies. We celebrated Christmas on the 23rd. Christmas Eve morning we went to a neat place in Edina, MN, The Original Pancake House. We'd been there several years ago. Beka thought we'd like to go since they originated in Portland, OR where my brother Pat lives. The OPH has the best breakfasts. Bill, Beka & I had Apple Pecan Crepes, Jason had Eggs Benedict and Jakob and Mercedes shared a stack of Buckwheat Pancakes. Not a drop or bit was left. We went from there to the airport. Our first case of hurry up and wait. Our plane left 1 1/2 hours late. And in Denver we boarded our plane 1 1/2 hours after schedule....and sat in the plane for an additional hour before it took off. We waited in SF to see if we could get on the last plane out to Eureka. We were listed standby way down the list. We waited 3 1/2 hours....Bill even checked rental cars. Not a one available even if we wanted to drive the 6 1/2 hours home. They listed us on a 6:30 pm flight Christmas Evening. Well, we made it finally on the last plane out. Hurray! We did get home. I know that lots of people did NOT get to their destinations on Christmas Eve. Including at least 40 on our Denver plane who were bound for Hawaii. I hope they got there today.
When we got home early Christmas morning there was a box on the doorstep. We must have missed Santa's sleigh by a moment or two. "Merry Christmas" it said on the outside. Inside were 4 holiday DVD's---White Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life. A note from Santa read, "Enjoy & Relax Love, Santa"
Santa has been making these deliveries on Christmas Eve for about 6 years now. I've been given some cute flannel PJ's, a holiday purse, a set of Christmas Dishes, floral arrangements and now some of my favorite movies. I've had fun trying to guess who Santa is...but not a clue.
Thanks Santa....you've made me feel special and loved. And you've inspired me to do some anonymous giving of my own.
There was a message on the answer machine inviting to friends for Christmas Dinner. Thanks to the Paseman/Harvey family. Good friends, good times.
Merry Christmas Everyone!