jingle bells

 Well, I've officially started my Christmas shopping.  Sitting here, in my pajamas, in my recliner, with my cup of tea handy.  There are some definite advantages to on-line shopping.  In years past, when my grandchildren were younger (and so was I) I treated them each individually to a day long shopping spree and lunch after Christmas.  Our destinations ranged from Chuckie Cheese's to a small town antique mall to Home Depot to Build a Bear, Victoria's Secret Pink section, Barnes & Nobel and so much more.  I let them take all the time they wanted and it was fun.  But last year during the pandemic we had to change traditions and they each sent me a suggested gift list of things I could order for them on line.  This year we are following the same process, not for health concerns, but because they are all grown up (almost) and busy with work and college and one last year of high school.  They will all be coming to my place for Christmas dinner so I will be seeing them, but a little piece of me still misses Build a Bear.

candy counters

 Today is National Chocolates Day.  Yummm. It's high time that chocolate was appreciated for the fine food it is.  I have always considered it one of the basic food groups, and it's a scientific fact that chocolate makes you feel good.  Of course you must use it wisely.  A friend of mine told me yesterday that, according to her chocolate filled Advent calendar, there are only three days 'til Christmas.  

it's in the mail

 Based on the mail stuffed into my mailbox yesterday, I'm thinking of writing a revised Christmas carol.  On the fifth day of Christmas my mailman brought to me one personal letter, two grocery fliers, three life insurance offers, four Medicare supplement offers, five pleas for money.  But no partridge, with or without a pear tree.  A pretty typical assortment of mail, especially at this time of year.  It's probably my imagination but I think I smelled a whiff pear tree wood in all that paper.  

Pass the pie.

 Today is National Bavarian Cream Pie Day.  I'm not sure how different that is from Sugar Cream Pie, one of my very favorites, but one recipe I checked seemed to want ice cream blended into the custard for Bavarian Cream Pie, which would seem to add one more level of decadence.  I doubt that I will ever bake a BCP but I will try to remember to order a piece if I ever see it available on a restaurant menu.  About my love of Sugar Cream Pie, I think I appreciate it most because of it's amazing flavor, but second, because it makes no pretense of being even a little bit good for you.  There are no cherries, apples, blueberries or peaches in there to dilute the sugar flavor.  I know, I know, there might be some eggs and cream in there, but they are totally overwhelmed by the sugar.  Every one knows that the eggs are only in there to hold everything together.  Just like in cake.  I rest my case.

Sinkie?

 My west coast brother's most recent text included the fact that today is 'Sinkie Day.'  I assumed that this was a misprint and he really meant 'Slinky Day.'  You remember Slinkys, don't you?  Those amazing springy toys that could tumble down steps and make you look like you could juggle.  Great fun, until they got tangled up, which they inevitably did.  So I asked my brother if sinkie was a misprint, but he informed me that sinkie is a real thing.  Any guesses?  Sinkie is the act of eating leftovers over the sink so you don't dirty more dishes.  I personally don't eat over the sink, much, but I suspect there was a lot of sinkie (sinkieing?) going on as people cleaned up after Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, or even as they prepared the dinner.  It is a very thoughtful act, actually.   Saving more dishes.  Today is also 'Buy Nothing Day' and I am happy to report that I celebrated by avoiding any urge to do Black Friday shopping in person or on line.  I spent the day assembling my old reliable Christmas tree instead.  It's a little like greeting an old friend.

holiday feasting

 I am still blissfully full from Thanksgiving dinner.  We feasted on turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, fruit salad, pumpkin pie and brownies.  So good.  Then we played a trivia game - some right answers and lots of laughs.  A very good Thanksgiving and I hope yours was too.  But it has left me very sleepy so I will close with a simple little riddle.  How are chickens and turkeys different?  Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving.  You're welcome.

read the warning

 Today is Thanksgiving Eve and I hope everyone is looking forward to family feast time tomorrow.  In the meantime, today is also 'National Use Even if the Seal is Broken Day.'  My first reaction to that news was "absolutely not" but then I got to thinking about it.  Are there some things I would use even if the seal was broken?  I think I've found a loop-hole.  Notice it says 'use' not 'eat.'  If I saw a small tear in a package of paper towels I wouldn't throw them away but if I found a tear in a bread bag I might hesitate.  Of course some bread comes double wrapped (which really irritates me).  When it comes to food, I really appreciate foods that come naturally sealed like oranges and bananas and eggs.  But lots of things aren't sealed at all and I still eat them, like celery, broccoli and asparagus.  I don't think the bands around bananas or the rubber band around celery bunches count as seals.  Can you tell my mind is on food.  My family famous sweet potato casserole is assembled and waiting in the refrigerator to be baked tomorrow.  My daughter-in-law, who is an excellent cook, is hosting this year so all I need to do is bring the sweet potatoes.  What a deal.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.