Hootin' Anni's Day Trippin' : traditions

Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts

§ Traditional Memories....

October came to an end...and November begins...

...It's quickly becoming "that time of year" again. I am thinking the two big holidays ahead. I must admit, I'm not much on Thanksgiving. To me it's been [for decades] nothing but over eating and football. And since I don't like the Dallas Cowboys, hours of the game is enough to make me wanna EAT all the more. But, I do look forward to the festive season; Christmas. The church was darkened, the candles glowed, a lighted star at the altar. It was quite a production and the patrons applauded us, after a startling silence, as we took our bows....reading Mrs. H's lips..."Good Job!" And the story goes- - -When I was a teenager, I was part of the church choir. I even sang solo one year...well, the first verse of the hymn anyway...O HOLY NIGHT. Then, a boy [for the life of me I cannot remember his last name] ....Robert sang the 2nd verse of the same song, and then we started the chorus [a repeat of the first verse] as the choir director directed the whole congregation to join the two of us.....it was a phenomenal evening. We were ushered out and stood with the preacher as we bid a 'good evening' to everyone as they left the church. I grew up LOVING that part of the season; Christmas Eve Homily. And then, family. Each Christmas, we had a huge gathering of family at my folks' house. Even after Bud and I were married, the tradition continued. The family was so large that gifts were NOT part. Although some years we decided to draw names for gift giving...but, most of all it was the gift of loved ones being near us. After my parents died, the Christmas tradition stopped...we all moved on to other traditions of our own. Families moved and relocated away from Colorado to California, Arizona, Texas, and back East. It'll never be the same, but my memories remain in my heart and the traditions linger in my mind.

Of course, there was another tradition with my parents. Over cooking. My mom would spend weeks preparing for the 'big day'. She'd start with all the sweets that could be put in the freezer 'til company arrived. With the likes of cookies, home made marshmallow and chocolate fudge, Penuche, four different kinds of pies. The two days before, she'd make popcorn balls of red and green, rice krispie treats [for me!], sweet potatoes with caramel sauce, cooking fresh cranberries, she'd prepare the stuffing a day ahead of when the turkey was roasted. Etc. etc. My dad was the one in charge of salads and cooking the ham on the grill since the oven was full of home made breads and roasting the bird. It was always a feast fit for kings. The rest of us....it was up to us to share and divvy up the left-overs for family - what we called our 'care packages'. And we gladly cleaned up the kitchen and tables for them.

But speaking of baking. Do you have traditional dishes? I try to find at least ONE new or different recipe. And, while perusing the free store magazine from our local grocery chain, I found what looks like a simple, easy recipe for Ginger Cookies. Bud and I like ginger. So, this will be on my to do list. Like I said it's a free magazine, boasting Texas Pride and local interests such as holidays, sports, food preparation, and ideas galore . And you can find each issue online. Recipes can be found HERE

As I finished turning the pages and closed the magazine, I noticed the back cover and thought...."Wow! This is pretty cool"!! Instead of taking a photo, I quickly went out online to hershy's dot com and found it. It's made from Hershey's chocolate bars and Kit Kat. I don't do anything chocolate any more, but thought someone may want to have this idea for family....or maybe a church function or luncheon where you're in charge of desserts?

HOW TO'S website

Church Altar source

§ ...She Gave Her Father 41 !

[1]

Seeing this is always a reminder to me that so many family pets are lost, mistreated, or neglected!! We are proud to claim two resident kitties that were adopted....

2] Tahoe and Winston. Tahoe was adopted in Tucson and she came with us to Texas. When we were settled in Texas, we adopted Winston to keep her company. They're like Yin and Yang!! But, they're buddies.

3] We have a long standing tradition of having Candy Corn and Salty Peanuts mix this time of year. I love the combination. And when the dish is on the hutch, it's a bit difficult to not stop, open the dish, and snack away. It's an October thing for us!

4] Okay, so after finishing THIS book, I promised I'd critique it. The letter "G" comes to mind. Gory, Gruesome, Gross, Grim, and perhaps a bit Ghoulish!! But yet....stick around. The other "G" words are Good and very Gripping! Surprise to me too people!! The two authors, Wayne Williams and Darren Allan, really put the reader sitting atop a powder keg. It took me on a ride into an historically recorded event with a flourish of imagination beyond any Biblical way of thinking, exploding in turmoil and intrigue. At least it was a twist of the wrench that kept me up tight until I HAD to put it down for an hour or two...or to try and get some sleep. Nearly impossible...my mind was gnarled [another 'g' word?] so rigid and tense sometimes I had visions of the deserts of Judea and the stealthy revelations of the characters within the chapters. I was continually wanting to turn the page and read, read, read. I might add with an eagerness that I wouldn't have believed myself if I told me so! Seriously, the pages kept flipping by, with me wanting more....wanting conclusive evidence from start to finish. By the way, after the novel ends, the authors added some Biblical proverbs that pertain to Judas. I was totally immersed in this. I was totally surprised that a figure in the Bible like Judas, a betrayer, would actually get me feeling sorry for him...what agony he had caused with those around him and for himself. It's a mystery beyond the realm of some Christianity beliefs and teachings; yet so very possible with an open mind. From beginning to the way the authors concluded the novel...it was quite "G"ratifying. Not that the history itself is gratifying...but the way they novelized the story and concluded it without leaving you hanging; there was closure....I recommend this book for those that are not the faint of heart and can take a bit of gore along with suspense. To some, it's probably not 'politically correctness' through and through, but it's an entertaining read, not to mention highly thought provoking.

I went into Barnes and Noble with Bud the other day, so he could find one of his favorite magazines of the old west [what I call his outlaw gunfire and madness fetish], and since I finished I Know What You Did Last Supper, I perused the newly released fiction section. Found another subject that's always been of interest to me...Lizzie Borden. Actually, the title, "Maplecroft" is what caught my eye. Maplecroft is the 'mansion' [considered a Victorian mansion in the late 1800s] Ms. Borden and her sickly sister purchased after Lizzie being found innocent of killing the parents in Fall River, Massachusetts. I flipped the book to the back cover and read this: "This evil cannot hide from me. No matter what guise it assumes, I will be waiting for it. With an axe.". Whoa Nelly! I was hooked....I'm ready and primed for another good-curl-your-toes kinda suspense reading. At least, I hope so. By the way, I continue to believe she got away with cold-blooded murder. IMHO

5] Just for fun...

Yes, they're muddy footprints. But from what bird? Take a guess....

If you guessed Great Blue Heron footprints, you were correct. [there are actually three blue herons in the image]

§ Family, traditions, and tin...

Tomorrow is the 4th of July...What better time to show off my baseball cap - all hand stitched with red, white and blue sequins and gold beads around the stars----It's as "American" as baseball, an old tradition in our country, but most of all, tradition in our own household:

_ _ _

Tina's Picstory challenge this week is *old * I posted these just a little over two years ago, I went back to my blogger admin and typed in family --- tho, this is not what I had in mind to begin with [I was looking for my grandmother's wedding portrait to share], I am going to settle for this "old" post all about "old" tintypes I have in my possession. They're all relatives, but I don't know who they all are, one is a great grandmother Ann ---as you know I was named after my mother's sister, Annie ---but my great grandmother's name was Ann, so I'm nearly 100% positive we both carried her namesake....

CONNECTING TO:

§ Upon the ebony sea, lights shine bright 4 U and Me....

Click either button to Join

As I stated on my Sunday's Summary post, Bud and I attended the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies this past weekend; Harbor Lights Ceremonies. Beginning in the afternoon and going past sundown and into the early night, the city holds a special event. One traditional event that has been held nearly 30 years running. Let me tell you now, that the tree lighting 'marvel' [snide remark] was done this year on a new tree. Last year, the city council decided that the one used yearly for 25 years or more was doomed. Of course it's artificial...in fact it's wired and covered with green garland that juts into the sky 75 feet into the air. I really don't like it much during the daylight hours, but let me tell you...at night, viewing it from a distance from the piers on the bayfront, with the water and reflections of the 50,000 lights...it's so very beautiful. For me personally, I think it's the reflection off the bay waters that appeals to me most. And when the boats at the marina are lighted up with Christmas Lights from the decks high into the night sky, on the masts....well, it's close to phenomenal. We got ourselves a Subway Sub sandwich and drink and went outdoors and sat near the seawall and enjoyed ourselves. It was a beautiful, beautiful evening...temperatures in the lower 70s and a gentle sea breeze. After the tree is lighted then the best part of the evening begins!! The Christmas Boat Parade on the Bay.....

and of course, not to forget the old jolly elf himself...Santa!!

§ Matushka, Babuska, Matryoshka, Matryoshka and Matrjochka...

...and a HoTei [to read more about the 'real' person use the link provided]. When I was a young married wife, pregnant with Irene, Bud and I celebrated our first Christmas together. I remember driving into Northglenn, Colorado to go shopping for him with my sister and mother. They doted on me with my pregnancy...took care that I wouldn't be stranded alone or having to worry about their 'little girl/little sister'. So we made a day of it. Let me tell you, about along December of that year [1968] I was finally getting over the continual bouts of 'morning sickness' tho, it wasn't just in the morning. Before the holidays, just about anything I ate, even if I didn't eat, I was in the john talking to "Ralph"...you know...upchucking. Finally I had some long awaited relief. In fact to the point I was beginning to enjoy being pregnant. My father, he too doted on me. Continually watching over me. After all, I WAS his 'baby girl'....I always was and still am. But, suffice the little trivial facts, the three of us women went shopping. I knew Bud was really into 'Oriental' things. Most times in the Navy that was his ship's station...in the Orient. In Northglenn, at the time, there was a really cool shop of Imports. I found exactly what I was going to get him. What I decided to buy him was extremely heavy. Made of teak wood. And large. And as dumb as we all were [all three of us were blond!], we bought then and there, and toted it around all the time we were in the mall. Why we didn't put it in the car, I will never know. But, we didn't. After a day of more shopping in other malls around Denver, we made it back to my home and we unpacked the stuff from the trunk that was my purchases. My sister stayed with me -- she helped me wrap the package and we decided to drive to mom's and hide it there. While I lingered at home, they thought it would be a good idea for Bud and me to have dinner at their place. [My sister was single] We made a huge batch of spaghetti, I remember that. And for a few more weeks my little surprise for Bud was kept secret. In fact up until Christmas Eve. Bud and I celebrated our first Christmas together, quietly, on Christmas Eve. Plans were to spend a couple of hours at his folks house in the morning, then spend the rest of the day with the huge Anni Family. It was traditional!!! The whole day and into the evening at my folks. It kept up as that tradition until a few years before they passed away. I so often think of that wonderful time of year with everyone from mom/dad, sister and brothers, their spouses and children...and friends. Sometimes relatives would show up from Nebraska and spend a week with my folks!

It was a glorious time and a wonderful, joy filled memory. But let me get back to my first gift that I gave to him...it was a very large, heavy, imported teak HoTei. If you rub his belly, it would bring anyone good luck. He was surprised, happy, and very grateful. And...after 41 years, Bud still has HoTei. He's in a special place now. [Through the years, and two rowdy kids, and many many dogs and cats, somehow one of his bare feet got broken...and it's still glued from the one time repair job]. This photo to the right is where he stands today. And this big guy was the beginning of many many Christmases together, and many gifts yet to come-------

- - -

Speaking of gifts. I do believe that was the first year that my family's Santa fetish turned into a huge collection for me. It all started when I decorated our first tree as husband and wife, and I put up the Santa ornament, telling Bud that this was mine as a child. I told him how my father was when I was just a child, helping me hang my own personal ornaments, including this particular Santa, which I posted about on my Home 4 the Holiday post through the meme links button on my sidebar..."Ho Ho Ho...hes here" link once you visit the meme links---it's the very last picture in the slideshow. Another of my childhood memorable ornaments I will write about tomorrow for Ruby Tuesday. [stay tuned] Jealousy kicked in...he felt he was in competition with my Dad. He didn't show it, but I felt it. For from that time on, he always bought me a Santa or two every Christmas. I still don't let it on that it all began with the male competition, but it did!! Once he started giving me Santas, then, the whole family did...by the way, we were never 'big' on gift giving...we always drew names after the Thanksgiving meal...so we adults would only be having to buy ONE gift. Well, whoever drew my name had it easy...buy Anni a Santa...and it grew into a collection of nearly 200 today....Anyway, being that he was young and 'macho' the tradtional Santa giving still continues...

...by the Americanized name, "Nesting Dolls", I have a couple. And they're both Santa Claus. Go figure, huh? Actually, the Russian names are origins of being 'matron' or matronly. I don't think the 'big fat guy in red' would appreciate this, but what I have is on the same principal as the Russian dolls/German-Russian translations....

This Nesting Set I've had since about 1997. Bought 'em in Tucson...actually a day we went down to Nogales, Old Mexico to shop for unique Christmas gifts to send to our daughter. Most nesting dolls should either have 4 or 5 all together of larger going to the smallest, whole doll. And, mostly of the female persuasion...older women.

...and this set is the newest I bought just the other day. We went to walk about in the larger indoor mall. We sat near the "Polar Express" exhibit and watched the little ones sit on Santa's lap for pictures and secret wishes while eating a small bag of popcorn. When that was done, I ventured into Macy's and found this nesting set. I liked this one particularly 'cause it has a pom-pommed hat. Bud also bought me another for my collection, and I'll post about that another time. Soon.

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.
~W.T. Ellis

POSTED: Monday, December 7th, 2009
12:50 A.M.
Today is Pearl Harbor Day!