Projo Holidays Blog

November 30, 2007 Archives

This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent for Protestants, Catholics and Anglicans.

It marks the beginning of the church year and, together with the other days of Advent, is seen as a time of preparing for the arrival of the Messiah in the birth of Jesus at Christmas, marked on Dec. 25.

At sundown Tuesday, Jews will begin their celebration of Hanukkah, or Festival of Lights.

It celebrates the time 2,172 years ago when the Jews freed the Temple from their Syrian conquerors, bringing about a restoration of their political and religious freedom. Customs of the eight-day festival include the lighting of the Menorah, whose eight branches symbolize the Maccabees lamps continued to burn for eight nights despite having oil for only one. One additional candle on the Menorah is lit each day of the festival.

-- Journal report

Years ago, my sister strated a tradition in our family of baking cookies and making trays and giving them to family, friends and co-workers. As time when on, and her family grew, I tried to pitch in and do my share of baking. Little did I know how much I'd enjoy it! Yeah, I'm nuts. I know. I actually plan vacation time so I'll have the time to bake.

Don't ask me how, but my sister Debbie only needs one weekend to bake anywhere from 5 to 9 different types of cookies. Note, I said types, not dozens. I love the cookies she makes. They're the traditional ones that my Mom would bake. Cookies I dare not tackle like prune filled, cherry bars and an old family favorite, Cherry Winks (my brothers fight over those).

Amanda, my niece, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, usually pitches in and makes three to four kinds of cookies herself. She always manages to come up with something very different. In the past. she's made rugallah, cardamom cookies and penuche fudge!

I take at least three days to bake anywhere in the vicinity of 10 to 15 kinds of cookies. On the last baking day, Amanda and/or my nephews Dan and Devin come over to help create the trays. If we're done early enough, I deliver most of the trays that night.

So far, I've only written a partial list of the cookies I'm planing to bake starting the week of Dec. 16. The the must-haves: butterballs (a recipe from my great-Aunt Josie), peanut butter blossoms, lime-filled shortbread, 7-layer bars, decorated sugar cookies, chocolate logs, spritz cookies and chocolate raspberry bars.

Last year, Amanda's job at Dessert Works in Masschusetts kept her busy so she wasn't able to join in all the fun. But I just HAD to show you the cookie spread Debbie and I baked!

A few years back, I took my dog Mac, to visit with Santa. At the time, a pet chain store would allow you to bring your pet in and sit with Santa while Santa's elf snapped their photo. The store would even put it in an ornament frame or a decorated cardboard frame. Proceeds would go to animal charities.

I took Mac to see Santa the first two years I had him. The following two years, something always came up to keep us from making our yearly visit. It wasn't easy having an 85-pound drooler hanging his head over my shoulder and whining the whole 20-minute ride up and 20-minute ride back. He was truly excited about the whole adventure. He loved sitting next to someone who would pay the least amount of attention to him. Santa and his elves sure did that. They always remarked on how handsome he looked. I would put some sort of Christmas collar finery on him. He was SO handsome despite the drool of excitement.

Last year, I swore nothing was going to come between Mac and me and Santa. But my boy got sick late in the summer and he never made it. I still miss him.

This year, Holly, my female Boxer, and I will definitely find a way to Santa's "lap". After all, it is her first Christmas with me.

This year, Petco is offering Santa photos for one day, Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They'll even give you a commemorative photo for $6.95, of which $5 from every photo will benefit homeless pets. How can you go wrong?

Find your local Petco.

When I read Donna McGarry's earlier post about her favorite Christmas as a child, it reminded me of one of my favorite dolls: the circa-1970 "Baby Go Bye-Bye."

The little blond, pig-tailed doll (which I named Cindy, after the littlest Brady Bunch sister), drove a battery-operated "Bumpety Buggy" that I thought was really cool, because it went around and as it turned, the doll's head moved along.

I guess that was foreshadowing for my own adult tastes, as I now drive yellow-gold 2002 Mazda Miata convertible -- and just like Cindy, my little head often bobs along as I drive, too.

Turns out there are a few of these dolls on eBay these days -- which is where the above photo comes from. I'd love to hear about your favorites from childhood. Check out our survey: What was your best Christmas present ever?

I just walked into work a few minutes ago. Two of my co-workers were talking about watching a couple of their relatives being dancing elves on the Web. Though it was noon, it's still morning in my head. None of this made sense to me. They both assured me I'd get it once I went through my e-mail. I have to say, it made my morning. Now I'll pass the dancing elf link along to you.

So here's MY personal link to check out. Mind you, this isn't me. It's my little "dogter", Holly.

Enjoy!