The season progresses

Dec 20, 2011 23:50

Tonight we decorated our Christmas tree. I put it up and strung it with lights on Sunday, but Lydia's studying schedule didn't allow her to participate until tonight. With chemistry and math tests behind her, we put up ornaments that wouldn't break if knocked off or be ruined if chewed on. This was wise, seeing as Tora has climbed to the top of the tree already and there is significant feline partying under and around the tree. Lydia contributed a Tardis and a stuffed sun from, I'm told, Souleater. We're ecumenical when it comes to our tree!

Lydia and I also made a cake tonight. One of the International Baccalaureate students is leaving, and she and Lydia have been close since their first year. Morgan stayed with us at an anime convention or two and is a really nice kid. The cake was vanilla-flavored yellow, with purple vanilla icing. Lydia decorated it with various sprinkles and sugar letters. It will have to serve 30 in art class tomorrow.

I've done a bunch of baking, but not as much as I used to in my 20s. I've made leckerli, cherry-coconut bars, peppermint bon-bon cookies, and white fruitcake. Two little tins are packed to take with me to Alaska. I still want to make rum balls and hope to get Lydia's help rolling the myriad balls; she requested them, after all! One of these days I'll make a gingerbread house again.

We have new lights on the house this year. We purged the old incandescents a couple of Christmases back. I bought several strings of LED lights that alternate white and blue and light up little snowflakes, so they're sort of a nod to Hanukka, too, being six-pointed stars. Karl put them up and rigged them to a switchbox that sits in the front flower bed; I just have to press the switch to put the lights on or off.

Almost everything is wrapped, except a present that's on the way for Karl's mom and a 12-pack of Tab that Karl is giving his father (it's their mutual addiction, and 12-packs are only available in the Boston area, where Karl was last week). One evening before Christmas Eve, Karl and Lydia will wrap my gifts. There's also talk of a father-daughter shopping trip to buy me more stuff; I can get behind that!

Christmas Eve will be at our place. Karl's parents will come, along with his aunt and great-aunt who are visiting from California. We're keeping the menu simple, made up largely of party platters ordered from a local grocery store and some potato salad and fresh fruit salad to be acquired when I pick up the platters. I may make eggnog. Dessert will be cookies and fruitcake.

On Christmas Day we'll open our stockings (our family must-do tradition) and open a few gifts before heading off to Karl's parents to meet up with the Christmas Eve participants plus Karl's sister, husband, and their four boys. More presents, some snacks, and then Karl will take me to the airport for my flight to Alaska. And, after 14 hours, Christmas night in Alaska.

How's your Christmas season going?

baking, yule, family, school

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