The Library

[nlhome]

December Library
Our Library Cafe is open 24/7; the Welcome Mat is always out.
Do take a coffee break and spend some time with us.

Pull up your chair and tell us,
How You Celebrate the December Holidays
Note the "Suggested Topics" - We want to hear all about it.

And please, continue to share your library news in addition to these holiday topics.
Let's make the library a bustling place to be this month.

November 26-30: - Tell us the best book YOU read this year and why?

December 1-4: - Do you put up a tree? What rooms do you decorate? Will there be a special Christmas event in your town that you will attend? Tell us about it. 
December 2: - The First Sunday in December, Advent begins - Do you hang an Advent calendar or read from a special Advent book?

December 5-8: - Do you have a special menu or recipe for Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? How about a recipe?
December 6: - Today is the Feast of St Nickolas - Will you do anything special for the day?
December 7: - Pearl Harbor Remembrance - Do you remember or does a family member remember where they were when they heard of the attack?

December 9-11: - What goes on at your home every year as you prepare for the holidays—What traditions take place come heck or high water!
December 10: The Last Day of Hanukkah - Will you plan on something special to celebrate this “festival of lights”?

December 12-15: - Are you gifting someone a book?  What is your memory of a book received when you were a child?
                    What is your favorite book with a holiday theme?
December 14: - Santa Lucia Feast day (Sankta Lucia in Swedish).  Do you serve for breakfast Lucia buns?
                    What is your favorite holiday dessert?

December 16-19: - What movies or TV programs do you never miss as Christmas approaches?  Please, tell us why it is so special for you!

December 20-23: -  What is your favorite Holiday Carol or Hymn or Song?
December 21: The First Day of Winter - The Winter Solstice - Do you do feed the birds or other wildlife?

December 24-25: - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - Will you be home or visiting friends or family this year? Will there be a special meal?

December 26-28: - Did you drive around to see the Christmas lights and decorations? What will be your best memory from this year's Holidays?
                    Did you receive a book? Have you stared to read it ?

December 29-31: - Are you making a reading list for next year? Are you planning to 'right' size your book collection this year?
                    Is there a book that has often been on your list but never read?

We are in for a great month and we want to hear from everyone!
Please share using our calendar of topics. We enjoy and are richer by reading each other's stories.

Bellamarie, that potato recipe is similar to what I make for our Christmas brunch.

This year, though, we are getting together on the 23rd with as many as can come and eating out. No one has the space or the time for the big meal or brunch this year. We do have the space, but everyone would have to travel 2-3 hours to get here, but if we go up there, we are the only ones who have a distance to travel. I miss having family here in our house, but it works better this way.

[BarbStAubrey]

nlhome what state are you located - could the drive be on snow? Sounds about the amount of time between my son over in Magnolia north of Houston and here.

So many things go with, in or on potatoes - I'm remembering when you ordered a baked potato in a restaurant they came around with this single handled server that had 4 separate cups or sections - one with sour cream, another with shredded cheese, one with crumbled bacon and one with chives that you could have any of or all of on your potato.

I notice potatoes are coming back again, for awhile there they were considered a no no - forgot why - some health thing.  Just dawns on me - years ago we used to buy potato bread rolls - they had a dusting of flour on top - do not even see them in the store but then we bought them in a bakery and maybe that is it, maybe they do not ship well or have a long enough shelf life.

We never did any special traditional meal for Christmas - Mom and then I followed thought with all the goodies we ate all day we would not eat a proper meal plus, we always went to my Aunt's Christmas day evening. It was a big party with a large buffet. My Aunt on the piano, my Uncle on the violin and his brother played the accordion and we sang for hours.

What was special from the time I was in 8th grade and later my sister joined us, with my Mom we went to midnight mass - my father was German Lutheran and service was around 6: on Christmas Eve, so he stayed home with my kid brother and sister, both preschoolers. When we got back home, we closed the kitchen door which was the only time of the year it was ever closed and Mom always made Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches on toasted white bread. Just the white bread was a treat - we only ate rye, black or pumpernickel - she always cut them in half diagonally and stuck a toothpick in each half. Back then you still fasted before Communion and so we would not have had anything since lunch on Christmas Eve. 

When my children were growing up there was no Christmas day evening party so we always had a nice meal that included either rib eye or sirloin steaks, potatoes, green beans and home made pies with whipped cream for desert.   

[BarbStAubrey]

Ok Tomereader - how cold will you get this weekend?

We will be in the 40s all day today and tomorrow but, thank goodness, because of the cold they are saying the rain will not be as heavy - flash flood notices out all over but now they have lifted the Flash Flood Watch west of Austin.  The Weather Bureau is keeping the Watch in town also with 5" to 6" or rain expected east of town they've been upgraded to a Warning all the way over to Houston. He actually said to stay home and inside tonight - venue after venue is postponing and cancelling.

Well better than last year when we got snow. And thank goodness it held off till all the doings with the funeral and burial at A&M were complete.

And Callie I see on the weather map spots of snow moving across Oklahoma - are you expecting any where you are this weekend?

It may be that cold winter will be all over - its just still a shock when it hits us - our winter's are short and mild between bouts of storms. When a winter storm is brewing life is on hold, we clean out the grocery and, it used to be the video store but now everything is online.

Has anyone seen a good movie of late that may be on Amazon Prime - notice a few new ones coming to the theaters in the next couple of weeks that I would like to see - including the one with Glen Close called Wife. Something about Dick Cheney opening Christmas Day.

And yes, today is the Day that will live in Infamy - can still hear his voice after all these years - what is it now 77 years since that day... I was almost 9 and my sister and my parents were taking the usual Sunday afternoon nap. To the chagrin of my mother I was not napping for several months and quietly listened to the radio in the living room so as not to wake up my sister, we shared a bedroom, and heard that Japan had attacked and we were at war. When my parents woke up I was full of wide eyed quoted news since I heard it a couple of times on the radio and they would not believe me. I kept repeating but no - it was not till after supper when the radio was turned on again that they heard - funny they were as shocked I guess and never did say anything to me about how they did not believe me - huh just realized that thinking back. Ah so I guess being the fist to know about anything gives you no brownie points

[bellamarie]

I am so awful with history, December 7, 1941, I was not even in my mother or father's thoughts, and neither were any of my siblings since my oldest sister was born in 1944.  My hubby is the historian of facts, he is such an expert on dates, times, place etc., even though he was born in 1948.  He will tell me something about the wars and I will forget it before he is finished telling me. 

Barb, you always amaze me with your memories of your childhood.  You were so blessed with art, music, books, etc.  You don't realize how fortunate you were until you realize so many had little to none of those treasures.  So Texas is facing flood warnings and cold temps.  We here in Ohio have had some pretty low temps for the past month.  If we hit the 40's we are excited.  But I love this time of year and the more snow the better!

nlhome, I know how you feel about the two of you doing the driving.  Since my sons moved about 45 minutes away, it seems like my hubby and I are on the road all the time, between them wanting to do the get togethers, and the grandkids sports.  No one has approached me yet for a change, and so I am still doing Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and  Easter, I love that they still come home for the holidays!  I miss my daughter and son in law horribly, because they are in Florida and we don't see each other for these special family celebrations. 

Christmas morning my hubby and I wake up, have our coffee and open presents from each other.  Then my son calls to say come on over.  We all gather at his house for breakfast and opening stockings.  They cook a big breakfast of eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, cinnamon buns, and left over goodies from Christmas Eve.  I like making an egg casserole with the crescent rolls on the bottom.  Mmmm.... my mouth is watering just thinking about it.  We eat, visit, and then go home to spend the rest of the day with just the two of us, unless my other son invites us to his home for dinner.  As I am sure everyone feels by then, I am pooped out and want to be home.

[CallieOK]

Hello,

I've enjoyed reading all the Christmas traditions - just haven't had time to participate because I've been "hunting and gathering" in preparation for the MAJOR ICE/SNOW storm all the weather gurus were direly predicting for this weekend.

Barb, if Oklahoma City were a clock face, I'd live "north of noon".

The weather predictions have changed so much that "looking out the window" may be the best way to know what's going on.
By noon today,  the "possible winter storm" area had shrunk to southwestern Oklahoma and this area "might" get an inch or so of snow - but no ice (thank goodness).  Northeastern part around Tulsa isn't supposed to get that much.

My memories of Christmas are always of warm, loving, pine-scented, contented happiness.

 I'm an only child.  My paternal grandmother and aunt who never married lived in the same town we did .  The only other family member who might be there was my mother's sister, who had also never married  (She used to say,  "My parents named me Esther Mary Moore.....(pause with eyes twinkling)....but I didn't.")

We always had oyster stew at grandmother's on Christmas Eve before going to the Christmas program and worship service at our small church.
Christmas dinner was at our house but I don't remember anything particularly special about what was served.

The one tradition that might be a bit different is that my parents and I always "sent the Christmas tree back to Santa" by burning the smaller branches in the fireplace on New Year's Eve and making a resolution or wish each time we added a branch.

Pearl Harbor happened just before my sixth birthday and I suspect I was too busy with First Grade to take notice. My Dad was a WWI veteran and was not accepted for WWII.   We lived on an acreage and had cows - so always had butter. ( Typing this brought up a memory of Mother gasping in horror at the idea of oleo margarine)  We also had a sorghum mill and homemade molasses.  Mother won a prize from the OKC newspaper with her recipe for Molasses Sponge Jelly Roll that barely used any sugar.  I still make it.

 I also remember a local fellow who had joined the navy visiting our school a couple of years later.  At the time, two friends and I sometimes sang the Andrews Sisters song "Three Little Sisters" at assemblies.  After the visit, we always argued about who would be the "one (who) loved a sailor".

"Plan du Jour" was to alternate kitchen Christmas preparations that require standing and preparations at my desk for "sit downs".   Sit-down time is up.  Back to the kitchen....

[Tomereader1]

egg casserole with the crescent rolls on the bottom Bellamarie, please print recipe.

[bellamarie]

Tomereader1,  I got my recipe from my cousin, and she used broken slices of bread on the bottom, I actually have improvised her recipe so many different ways, one using the crescent rolls on bottom or on top either way works just great!  Here is the closest recipe to hers.

Overnight Breakfast egg casserole:

Ingredients
4 cups frozen potatoes O'Brien with onions and peppers (from 24-oz bag) or any brand.
1 1/2 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend (6 oz)
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt-free garlic-herb blend (or any herbs you prefer parsley, oregano, etc.)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce, (or paprika)
5 slices precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1/4 cup)  or cut up ham or sausage.
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions:
1. Spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.  (or 9 x 12)
Spread potatoes evenly in baking dish.
Add cheese; stir gently to mix.
2. In medium bowl, beat eggs thoroughly with wire whisk. Add milk, garlic-herb blend, salt and pepper sauce; beat until well blended. Pour over potato-cheese mixture.
Top with bacon.

Cover with aluminum foil, refrigerate overnight.

3. When ready to serve, heat oven to 350°F. Uncover baking dish; bake 30 minutes.
4. Remove baking dish from oven.

Separate crescent rolls, place over hot potato mixture so corners meet in center; do not seal seams. Carefully press edges to sides of baking dish.

5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender, and crust is deep golden brown.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

[bellamarie]

Callie, It sounds as if the predictions are worse than the actual snowfall, which I suppose is a good thing.  I know the Farmer's Almanac has predicted a very harsh cold and snowy winter.  We shall see, what we see.  I loved reading your Christmas traditions with burning the tree branches, giving them back to Santa, while making a wish.  I can't imagine growing up an only child.  I have been overwhelmed with six siblings and many live in cousins, my entire childhood, and now it's my kids and grandkids overwhelming the holidays.  Sometimes I actually sit and think of renting a little long cabin, just me, my dog and hubby for a week away in a desolate place.  But then reality hits me, and here I sit Christmas shopping online all day so I don't have to fight the crowds in the malls.   

[PatH]

I was 8 when Pearl Harbor occurred, and home sick in bed with something or other, and listening to the whole thing on the radio.  Listening to the vote for declaring war, I was naive enough to think that it could go either way, and kept hoping for peace.

My husband was older, a teenager, and was ironing his pants when he heard.  He had a better notion than I of what it meant, and indeed was drafted at 18 and served in the South Pacific.

My father, born in 02, was too young for WWI and too old for WWII, though many of my cousins were drafted.

[BarbStAubrey]

Looks like Pat we are near the same age - and my father also was too young for WWI and too old for WWII - where, because of family in Germany, we were aware of what was happening in Europe the Japanese invasion came out of no where - did the man you married live nearby, did you know him when you were only 8?

Change of subject completely - been going through the folders of recipes from magazines, old recipe books and other assorted cooking/food pamphlets and found of all things a typed copy of the T.W.A. Stewardess 4 day diet. Looked it up and it is still available - and found this great article about the life of a Stewardess in the 1960s and 70s https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2002/10/stewardesses-golden-era

I would have been dieting in the early 60s after Paul my youngest was born in '59  I wonder if it still works - I remember having some results - not the promised 10 pounds of results but significant enough that I kept the copy.  I may just try it and see what the results are now - although part of the difference is foods in the '60s were not full of all sorts of chemicals - I wonder if that isn't half the problem why it is easier to put on weight today but then for me I know I am not nearly as active - still it will be fun to try - after all it is only 4 days. 

[PatH]

Frybabe, interesting that you mention Eridanus.  I always saw it as a rather dim trickle coming from Orion's knee until five years ago, when I visited Hawaii, which is far enough south to see the whole thing, and the skies are dark enough to see stars you could never see before.  There it was, the whole string easy to pick out, ending in Achernar (means the river's mouth), one of the ten brightest stars in the sky, a truly splendid sight.  Canopus, which I'd never seen before either, was off to the left, but I particularly liked seeing Achernar.

Barb, can you see it where you are? You're about far enough south.

[PatH]

Callie, if you had cows during WWII you might not have seen the unappetizing form margarine came in.  It was sold uncolored, a big white blob.  You could buy it in a sealed bag, with a little blister containing dye in its wall.  You pinched the blister, then kneaded and squeezed the bag to mix it in.  It took a lot of work to get the color even.

[CallieOK]

Pat,  oh, yes,  I saw the original oleo at my friends' houses.  Even helped them knead the dye.   
I know Mother switched to oleo after we no longer had milk cows but think the other kind was available by then.

[BarbStAubrey]

Pat with so many bright lights including the school lite up like a Christmas Tree and why oh why lights out in the middle of the sports fields all night long and then neighbors with their spot lights that are not shielded so that I am only seeing just the brightest of stars and nothing near the horizon for the reflection of the entire city's lights - its a wonder we have any birds left since they need a dark night to sleep. Yep, a pet peeve - I just think the lights should be required to have shield so they shine on your own property and not all the way up the street or into my backyard and certainly there are no criminals hopping from tree to tree so the lights do not have to shine into the tree canopy much less up into the sky - I was going to meet with our City Council Rep on Friday and clean forgot but the notice she sent out said she was doing them monthly so I will mark my calendar for the next - not a bad time either - 11: to 1: - most often they do them at what I call the crack of dawn at 6: in the morning as a coffee meetup - not my best time of day.

Ah yes Pat and Callie, I too remember that kneading of color into the oleo - my sister and I used a fork to mash it in - then tried a potato masher - lots of work till we both decided it tasted the same color or not and decided this was a waste of time since it was only going into our mouths - Mom agreed and although strange with the white blob on top of our potato all other was on bread and in cooking so it really ended up not mattering at all. I think Mom was surprised because I think we were old enough that she was not going to put her foot down over this thinking we would see the awful results and start mashing and kneading again.

Cleaning out the recipe drawer and found the strangest 1950s recipe for baked peaches topped with baked beans - I guess it would work but what a waste of two wonderful foods - from what I am seeing among my own collected recipes it looks like the 50s was the last of trying to make something special from ordinary US grown foods - in the 1960s I have all these folded pages from magazines of meals or just collected recipes from various cultures. Mine are from mostly Europe and northern Europe at that - one group from Italy but nothing from Spain or Portugal or Greece much less places like Morocco. They must have been available since the page preceding some of these collection of recipes had full page photos of shops or homes in places like Morocco, Tunisia, Sardinia, Greece - I'm sure my desire to broaden was based on extending what I knew rather than taking on a greater diversity and also I'm sure obtaining some of the ingredients and spices would have been impossible. Now many of these foods are part of our diet and restaurants featuring even a wider diversity of national foods are in even small towns. In the 70s Austin had one Italian restaurant and no Asian much less middle Eastern restaurant and no Jewish section or foods in the grocery store yet, Austin has always had a large Jewish representation with a well known synagogue and several Jewish City leaders.  But then I guess what feels like yesterday to me was 45 years ago.

[BarbStAubrey]

Just have to share this - December 7, yesterday and several friends have been sharing this that yes, it is the Texas thing but more important that is worth the read is to see how there is something positive in all that defeat, death and destruction - a wonderful way to look at life.

On Christmas Day, 1941, Adm. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters every where you looked. As the tour boat returned to dock, the young helmsman of the boat asked, "Well Admiral, what do you think after seeing all this destruction?" Admiral Nimitz's reply shocked everyone within the sound of his voice. Admiral Nimitz said, "The Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could ever make or God was taking care of America. Which do you think it was?" Shocked and surprised, the young helmsman asked, "What do mean by saying the Japanese made the three biggest mistakes an attack force ever made?"
Nimitz explained.

Mistake number one: the Japanese attacked on Sunday morning. Nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were ashore on leave. If those same ships had been lured to sea and been sunk--we would have lost 38,000 men instead of 3,800.

Mistake number two: when the Japanese saw all those battleships lined in a row, they got so carried away sinking those battleships, they never once bombed our dry docks opposite those ships. If they had destroyed our dry docks, we would have had to tow everyone of those ships to America to be repaired. As it is now, the ships are in shallow water and can be raised. One tug can pull them over to the dry docks, and we can have them repaired and at sea by the time we could have towed them to America. And I already have crews ashore anxious to man those ships.

Mistake number three: every drop of fuel in the Pacific theater of war is in top of the ground storage tanks five miles away over that hill. One attack plane could have strafed those tanks and destroyed our fuel supply. That's why I say the Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could make or God was taking care of America.

I've never forgotten what I read in that little book. It is still an inspiration as I reflect upon it. In jest, I might suggest that because Admiral Nimitz was a Texan, born and raised in Fredricksburg, Texas--he was a born optimist. But anyway you look at it--Admiral Nimitz was able to see a silver lining in a situation and circumstance where everyone else saw only despair and defeatism. President Roosevelt had chosen the right man for the right job. 

[BarbStAubrey]

December 9-11: - What goes on at your home every year as you prepare for the holidays—What traditions take place come heck or high water!
December 10: The Last Day of Hanukkah - Will you plan on something special to celebrate this “festival of lights”?

[bellamarie]

Traditions...

Today we did our annual cookie bake with our grandchildren.  We were discussing how many years have we been doing this and I said, "Kenzie is twenty-three years old, so that means we have been doing it since she was one year old, so that means its' been twenty-two years."  Sadly, Kenzie was not able to be with us this year, her work schedule did not allow it.  I tried all week to figure out the perfect day and time so she could be a part of this tradition, but to no avail.  I am just happy we had four out of six of the grandkids.  It's always been on a week end night, so they would sleepover, wake up and have breakfast, then wrap up plates of cookies to take home.  This year, no sleepover, all their sports and activities did not allow it.  So, it seems our tradition is slowly changing, and I fear in the next few years it may fade away. 

Our other tradition which has carried on since I was a child, and I have brought it into my family, is celebrate Christmas Eve with the kids and grandkids at our house.  My mother couldn't wait to have her house full of family, and I hope this never changes, come hell or high water, I want it to continue!

[BarbStAubrey]

Bellamarie do you do cut out cookies, or bar cookies or drop cookies. So many different kind of cookie recipes this time of year. So glad you had some of what was and yes, they grow into another phase of life when new activities and traditions are planned and before you know it they too are looked forward to by everyone.

Looks like many are socked in with snow - my son's boys are all up in Lubbock and they got 10 inches - Cody sent a photo after 7 inches fell -  Talked with my daughter this evening - she thought there was a little over a foot although they were saying 20 inches fell where she is in the mountains of NC - all she knows is there is no school tomorrow and with freeze Monday night she doubts there will be school on Tuesday. However, for some reason the cold and snow gave her a shot in the arm and she said she has been cleaning and cooking and wrapping for two days - nearly finished and there is still all day tomorrow - the outside lights went up earlier than usual last weekend and evidently look spectacular shining in the snow.

Hate staying in bed but it sure is warm under the covers and I did not spill my coffee - the heat was on all the time, drying me out so I lowered the heat and kept warm sitting in bed - tomorrow the sun will be back with us and I'll have to do double time to catch up -

The tradition we all seem to keep is to celebrate the feast of St. Nickolas on December 6 - as far flung as we are and everyone was in touch, talking about advent calendars and scented candles and some did and others didn't write their letter the night before but they thought about it, and the Christmas books came out - and so that seems to be the constant.

[bellamarie]

Barb, Wow snow in Texas and North Carolina, and here in Toledo, Ohio none.  How strange is that?  Yes, we do cut out sugar cookies for decorating, and gingerbread men.  Then I always do oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, chocolate crinkles and last year I added something new....Peppermint bark!

Staying in bed under warm blankets sounds heavenly!  I have never yet indulged in such a wonderful thing as this, but I do spend a day on my couch every now and then, with my favorite throws, dog, books, computer, TV, and coffee or hot chocolate.  My hubby and I are on the go with sports and activities for our grandchildren, so much so, that if I wake up to a morning knowing there are NO plans, I truly love my time to myself on my couch. 

Last Day of Hanukkah
You all may think this sounds insane, but I have to tell you being raised in a small rural town, Catholic, and little to no transportation to visit other friends or places, I had never heard of Hanukkah until I worked with a Jewish teacher at my Catholic elementary school.  She was married to a Catholic, and we got into some lengthy conversations about our differences of faith.  She is one of the most loving, kind, caring faith filled people I have ever met, and privileged to call a friend.  She joined in our Secret Santa gift giving, and I was lucky to get her name.  I had to learn about their Hanukkah season, so as not to offend her in any way.  So, NO, I do not do anything in recognition of Hanukkah, but I sure was blessed to work  with and get to now Patty for the years we both taught at Regina Coeli.

[BarbStAubrey]

I can say Bellamarie that sitting in bed has its advantages for keeping cozy warm but unless you can sit cross legged it gets uncomfortable with no choice except straight out for your legs as compared to curling up on a sofa where there are lots of positions with the arm of the sofa for support - but it is nice to put your head back on the pillows while you think over what you just read. Talk about shutting off the world - nothing like it where as being out in the living area even though there is no one here it still feels like I'm in the middle of an airport or train station which does put me on edge that I 'should' be doing this or that rather than reading.

I live in an area of Austin that has always had a sizeable Jewish population and our local large grocery store has a section of all Jewish foods - I found a frozen brand of soup that is wonderful - comes with two individual packages, just perfect for me - and the assortment is grand. The brand is Tabatchnick - if you see it grab some - it is fabulous soup.

Years ago, probably nearly 40 years ago both Sister Ann, a Sacred Heart nun and Father Clem from St. Ed's would come to my house and a group of us would meet to study biblical times and some bible study but more the beliefs and societies before and during the life of Christ and then the history of how the Bibles that are included in the canon we call the Bible today, were chosen. Much of this time in ancient history had Jewish traditions and so for a few years we had a potluck of Traditional Hanukkah foods - the one dish I remember best because my children loved it - of course sweet - carrots with honey.

Growing up I knew some about Hanukkah and do not know why - but we always received a mesh sack of chocolate, shaped and imprinted like gold coins and wrapped in gold colored foil - we did not know what the coins represented but one Uncle without fail always dropped them off for us a week or so before Christmas. Probably during Hanukkah but we did not know - then in school (Catholic Parochial) a group of recent immigrants from Germany came for a couple of years - this would have been before the war started for us and I was in 2nd and 3rd grade - they may have been Jewish but nothing was ever said - well, one of the boys brought to school a Dreidel and showed us how to play,

So bits and pieces but no real understanding of what this festival of Light was all about till recently when I started to read more about the history celebrated and could see the relationship to what I knew about the Christian symbol of light.

I notice here most of the Jewish families go skiing or go down to Cancun during the Christmas break and you can tell the difference without as many vehicles on the road or how empty the grocery stores and coffee shops become. But then fair we are a University town and Professors live among us so they too leave and the students who share a Condo that are located near the entry to our area, they go back home - the ones' who do not leave are the Asian students and all of a sudden they stand out. 

One thing for sure that I must mention - with all the chemicals and such in food these days, one thing I can depend upon is Kosher - their chicken's are more expensive but I have the confidence that I am not going to be loading up on all sorts of shelf keeping additives and containers of salads will be made here, not in some distant state or town - some foods it is worth the extra to eat clean. 

[Tomereader1]

Chocolate gold coins = "gelt".

[Tomereader1]

When we had pot lucks at my former workplace, this one lovely lady would almost always bring homemade Kugel.  Oh, what a treat.  I saw a recipe in a magazine for kugel, and have bought all my ingredients.  I am going to make it, but the recipe makes a "lot" and being by myself, I don't know if I could eat that much.  (from past potlucks,I probably could, LOL!)

[BarbStAubrey]

Thanks Tomereader - gilt - still do not know why this candy this time of year but it sure tastes nice. And now i must look for a recipe for Kugel - I wonder tomereader if you could freeze half of it - that way you could enjoy it now for a couple of meals and then have it a month from now. If we can buy frozen foods with noodles I do not see why but the eggs - still it is worth a try... I found some cheese blintz frozen - we shall see how they turn out.

[Tomereader1]

Barb, I scanned the recipe for Noodle Kugel, but I don't know how to retrieve it and print it here from the scan.
Can you or anyone coach me on that?

[BarbStAubrey]

Tomereader I am not the best but if you scanned it then would it be in your pictures as maybe a PDF or just downloaded. I bet Jane can help us because I think you have to upload it onto a website and then from there take that web address and use it here - you do need a web address - hmm wait - Bellamarie takes things from her camera and uploads them without going to anther web site first. OK for this part we will need the help of Jane.

Once there is a web address - something that begins with http: and ends with jpg then it is a case of treating it like any graphic or photo. 

See those rows of computer instructions above this window where we write our posts - three rows - bottom row are all the faces (there is a name for those faces but I just do not remember, I just use them) - the top row starts with a button with a capitol B - that middle row the first button - that is the one you want - when you mash it the instruction for the computer to upload a photo or graphic is that one -

In parenthesis is img and within the second set of parenthesis is /img    Between those two instructions to the computer is where you enter the link address to your graphic -

Then we have to be concerned about the size of the graphic since some folks are using their Iphone and others have various widths of window space on their computer - I believe it is Joan who has the narrower window and if a photo is too big then it really messes up because it is not like writing that will simply go to the next line - a computer or Iphone cannot split a photo or downloaded graphic.

If I remember Jane said a heading photo should not be wider than I think she said 500 - then at one time I think she may have said 400 - and so I split the difference and stay below 500 or lower - the length takes care of itself when you give the width instructions - so we need an address that starts with http: or, there is a way to directly upload from a camera and then it may be there is no address to copy - for that again, Bellamarie may be able to help sort us out.

Then you go to the first button pictured on the middle row above this box where we write our posts. I am going to put a space where normally there would be no space so you can see rather than give instructions to the computer

[ img][ /img] between these goes the web address http:  - then to control the width

In the first instruction that looks like [ img] after the img put a space then write, width=400 and no space just the second half of the parenthesis - again with a space before the img so it will not activate the instructions it will look like  [ img width=400][ /img]

For our heading photos Jane gives it a special Senior Learn address that has the desired width built in - let me see if I can find an address from an earlier post to give the entire look - again the instructions will have a space before the img so it does not activate.

[ img width=250]https://66.media.tumblr.com/ae3a28fc8bc1122127cee0b7ef4c5911/tumblr_pi9kvzwwmI1rt6ghko1_1280.jpg[ /img]

Here is what was used as an example without the space before the img 



OK we will get Jane on this tomorrow and see what we can do - this will be great to have the recipe - how much fun - who knew we were even going to have a class on uploading a picture or a graphic - love it... 

[Frybabe]

Tomereader, I don't know if this will help or not, but when I scan something it goes into a folder which my scanner program named My Scans. This folder is within the Pictures folder. Some scanner programs give you the option of telling it where you want the scan to go right before it scans, others set up a folder (either by default or where you tell it you want it) when the program is installed. After that, you have to remember where the darn folder is.

I have that problem with the computer downstairs, which I don't often use. It is an older Linux OS and I forget where the download folder and such reside in the file system.  I really should look into finding a more user friendly file manager like the software download manager I have.

[bellamarie]

I will do my best to help..... 
First and foremost you must be in "Preview" when posting a pic here. 
Click the camera icon above the text box in Preview mode, it is just below the bold B icon.

As we were taught, you MUST have a http: address between the [img] brackets, in order to post a pic.  I have a Facebook account, so I just upload my photo to my FB to give me a http: address.  I then am able to just click that pic, highlight copy image address, and then place that http: address between the [img] brackets on this post. 

If you scan a picture it always goes into a file on your computer, as Frybabe stated. 

Tomereader, you will have to find which folder your scanned pics are going into. 
Once you find that picture then you MUST upload it to a photo type site to give it an http: address. 
Jane may have suggested a photo site such as photobucket.  I prefer my own Facebook site.

Once you have a http: address attached to the pic, then it is simple to copy and paste that address into the brackets on your post here. 

As for sizing, I tried Barb's suggestion and it did not work for me.  Not sure why not.
Usually you can resize the pic in your own photo app before posting it to the site for the http: address, and that will take care of the size.  Or, sometimes it is easy to see within the picture's address the size, and change it inside there.

I always had a problem finding my scanned pictures as well, until I realized I could choose which folder to place it into before I hit scan.  I labeled a folder, Scanned pics, and made sure I always chose that folder for my scanned pics to go into.

Good Luck!!!  (I took me forever to figure out posting pics, still can't resize all the time.)

I would love to see the Noodle Kugel recipe.  Worst case scenario, you can always Google for the recipe and see if it is there and post it.

[Tomereader1]

This is all such lovely information, but WAAAAY over my old silver-haired head!  I will just type it in here, when I get a couple minutes.  I was going to do that earlier,but my keyboard had locked up after I downloaded some Windows Updates.  Finally got that fixed. Be patient, I will type the recipe in a few minutes.

[Tomereader1]

NOODLE KUGEL

1 Pound wide egg noodles
1/2 Cup unsalted butter
8 ounces softened cream cheese
3 Eggs
1/2 Cup Sour cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 Teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 350.  Boil the noodles in salted water for about 7 minutes or until al dente.
Drain the noodles and add butter.  Mix until butter is melted and noodles are coated.
Mix together the cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Fold the noodles into the cream cheese mixture until fully covered.
Pour the nooddles into a 9 x 9 inch baking dish.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the top of the noodles start to get crispy and the custard is set.
Allow the kugel to cool, slice into squares and enjoy.
Makes 12 servings.
Per serving: 278 calories, 11 g. fat (6 g. saturated fat), 123 mg cholesterol, 205 mg sodium, 36 g. carbs, 11 g. sugar, 9 g. protein)

[BarbStAubrey]

fabulous Tomereader on all counts - you figured out how to make it the easiest and now we have this wonderful new recipe - I wonder, even though French, the Germans use a lot of Neufchâtel which is similar with a bit more flavor than our cream cheese - I wonder if that was the original - I may get both because that is all I'm lacking since I had picked up some sour cream over last weekend to put into my beef stew that is loaded with Hungarian paprika - but for sure I need to try this - thanks for taking the time to type it out for us...

My son and daughter-in-law will be here on Saturday - I've tons to do - it will be their Christmas visit which actually works out since they will be going up to Lubbock for Christmas and this way I can give them my gifts for the boys to bring with them.

Haha I'm tickled to no end - decided to order groceries from amazon - they deliver free in two hour time slots - yes, there is a tip but it saves me getting dressed and driving since they use Whole Foods for their groceries - and often they have sales that are not advertised - so between sales and no driving it about adds up to the tip - anyhow all that to say they have a live, planted in a pot 24" Christmas tree with tiny lights for only $13.24 - can you believe - I could not even get a 24" cut tree for less than $40. - I wish they had wreathes but just this tree will be such a treat -

With family coming on Saturday there is much to do... still have to wrap gifts and vacuum and I need to get a few cards in the mail that really need to be mailed by this weekend since they are not local. Well I've two days - should be able to get it all done... 

[BarbStAubrey]

December 12-15: - Are you gifting someone a book?  What is your memory of a book received when you were a child?
                    What is your favorite book with a holiday theme?
December 14: - Santa Lucia Feast day (Sankta Lucia in Swedish).  Do you serve for breakfast Lucia buns?
                    What is your favorite holiday dessert?

[BarbStAubrey]

Yes, I'm gifting books - I need to get my list and write it out -

My favorite all time Christmas story is still The Christmas Mouse by Miss Read. Just love that little story

And growing up there was always a book. My most favorite, that at the time I loved the stories but since, the preciousness of the two books having been my mother's when she was a child makes them really special - Two Bobbsey Twins books - The Bobbsey Twins at Home and The Bobbsey on a Houseboat. And one more favorite that I still have from probably the Christmas when I was in 3rd grade, The Good Master by Kate Seredy  For my Birthday that is a month later I received The Singing Tree that continues the story.

[nlhome]

We always give books. This year I am giving my sisters the Fred Rogers biography. They'll take turns reading it, then I'll get it. Our kids all grew up with Mr. Rogers, so I thought we'd all enjoy it. Also have books for all the grandchildren.

We always received books when we were young. Some years it was about all our folks could afford. Yes, the Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, Little Women, Eight Cousins, then Nancy Drew books. When we got into high school, the books stopped, probably because we had no real book stores close by and Mom did not have time to spend searching for something we might like. Then, we started buying books for our folks, because they had more time to read.

[Frybabe]

Barb, I take it you used Prime Pantry? I'd like to try that sometime. I wonder what grocery they use here since we don't have a Whole Foods in the area. I use the Subscribe and Save feature to order cat food and a few other items. Since I have three now, it is so much easier to just have them ship each month than me going out to the pet store or grocery store and hauling heavy cans and bags. I did try cat litter, but on the whole that is still less expensive at the grocery store.

I'll be over at my sister's again for Christmas dinner. It looks like George will be upstate again, and Sue's friend, who occasionally joins us, will be traveling to SC this time. So, it will just be the three of us. We've decided not to exchange gifts this year. None of us can afford it this year because of several big upcoming expenses.

Meanwhile, I am not reading any winter or Christmas themed books right now. My newest borrowed audio book is Red Rising, the first of a Martian series.  Still listening to Augustus, and reading another scifi books as well as another Roman history. Actually, not doing too much of any reading/listening at the moment what with all the other things going on right now.

On the 9th, my sister and I went to see a play at the local playhouse after having lunch at Hoss's. The play was a series of short programs from old radio plays. The last and most poignant was A Miracle at Christmas from the old radio show Grand Central Station. All in all, it was a very enjoyable outing. 

 

[PatH]

Books were always an important part of the presents we gave and got, and it's still the case.  I don't know what I'm getting anybody yet, but books are sure to be a factor.

[BarbStAubrey]

nlhome the Fred Rogers biography sounds like just the balm we could use - love the idea that the book will be passed among other family members. Just the cozy niceness of knowing someone had a mother who knitted sweater after sweater for her son - nice.

Pat please let us know a few of the books that you do find for gifts - do you have a favorite book you read each year during this time of year? There are so many now and the same with TV - I only saw a list and was shocked at how many really good Christmas movies there are, some made only for TV - I could be wrong but I do not think there is a children's gang-buster Christmas movie this year. 

Frybabe Amazon has several programs - I have used Prime Pantry - great way to have bulky items like large packages of paper products or several gallons of juice sent to the house - last I used it the program was, you filled up a box by weight or maybe by size - no longer sure - but then many of the items I would use Prime Pantry to deliver I could have them the next day as a single item if I order $35 or more of any product that they had in the nearest warehouse - so extending my grocery budget to fill a box was not the best for me.

What I use, and I understand every city does not have this service - is Amazon Prime NOW - where you can sort through pages and pages of groceries, make a list and if you order I think it is $35 but my orders are usually $50 or more then they have a window of time you can check - example if I finish making out my order and it is 1:30 in the afternoon I can pay extra and they will deliver between 2: and 3: or free delivery I can wait till 4: or 6: or 8: or even 10: at night and within the two hours the groceries are left at your door or in my case I ask then to put them in the garage and that the door will be partially open with the light on. There is also an online map that shows a green dot moving as the delivery vehicle is going from place to place so I can see when they will be to my home next - then after the groceries are left it shows the exact time - there is a tip involved - the first few orders Amazon gave a $10 refund as a come-on that paid for the tip and some of my groceries.

with NOW I can order groceries just from Amazon or just from Whole Foods - Amazon carries Whole Foods products but not a complete list nor a big selection of fresh fruits and veggies - I can order from Whole Foods using this same program with my credit card on file at Amazon with the same time slots and the same tipping schedule with the same free delivery after I spend $35 - the advantage is Whole food has a large selection of  fresh veggies and fruits and fresh butcher prepared meat or fish and they have the Ezekiel bread that Amazon does not - I have ordered hamburger from Amazon and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh but I do not know the butcher they use or if the meat is free range or or or so - if I am getting meat, regardless shopping on line or in person I only get it from Whole Foods.

Also, ordering this way from Whole Foods I can even order prepared Salads and Fresh soup, from their bakery and from their alternative meds and herbal department - it is a boon for young busy families and for folks like myself who do well staying off the road except during mid-day.

Trying to compete, our local Texas food chain, HEB also has a service that you can place an order and they will shop and you can pick it up - problem they do not have 2 hour time slots so if you order at 10: in the morning it may not be ready till 7: in the evening - no fee but a tip is included - and now they also are delivering - not sure the expense - when I had my tooth out I did have them do the shopping - very nice - in fact there was a question on the cheese and she went back in the store and brought out 3 brands for me to choose from while I waited in my vehicle. However, except for the steep hill HEB is within walking distance of my home and so I do not see myself using their service except in an emergency when I do not mind paying a tip but even then, Amazon will deliver free in the next 2 hour time slot available.

It could be this entire Amazon NOW is only available in those areas with a Whole Foods nearby - about 2 years ago Amazon purchased Whole Foods - I notice some change but most of what I shop for is still available - I think if I remember Whole Foods had some 180 grocery stores - I do know this service in not available where my daughter lives in NC - never asked Sally if she has it available where she is but then I knew she does not shop Whole Foods - I think they have Brookshire Brothers - however they are inundated with corner, open 7 days a week, Farmer's Markets and even some of the nearby ranchers sell beef directly to the public.

One positive thing my shopping for groceries online does is keeps me from picking up things not on my list just because they look good - then of course all the extra things means that my using the usual foods are delayed and spaced out with the result some of it goes bad before I get to eat it - this way with no emotional purchase I eat what I have delivered and no waste. I usually do my own shopping about once a month - then I am out of things I like to choose myself and their lists are large but they do not include everything in the store - so once a month does it...

[bellamarie]

Barb, you online grocery shopping sounds perfect!!  My hubby does our grocery shopping, if I went in the store our bill would be double because I too, can not resist the urge to put things in my cart that catches my eye.  He also loves getting out seeing people since he was a mailman for forty years, talking to all his customers was his highlight of the job.  He loves being around the hustle bustle of a grocery store. 

Tomereader, thank you for the recipe!  I am sorry if we overwhelmed you with the instructions on posting pics.  The recipe sounds yummy, and I will give it a try.

  Are you gifting someone a book?  What is your memory of a book received when you were a child?
                    What is your favorite book with a holiday theme?

Yes, I am giving my seven year old granddaughter Zoey a book for Christmas called "Boo The Life of the World's Cutest Dog."    I also ordered my sister the Mitford Series volumes 1-6 in a box set.  My only problem is, I can't find another box set for myself, so my hubby is adamant he wants to give this one to me because he knows how much I want it.  So, we shall see.  I'm not giving up looking to find another set.  Worst comes to worst, she and I can share the set, like nlhome does with her family.

Growing up I nor anyone in my family ever received or gave books at Christmas.  Oh how I would have loved it if we had.  As I have mentioned before, my house had no books for reading.  I became fascinated with books once I was able to go to our library on my lunch hour in high school.  I would walk uptown and grab a hot dog, heath candy bar and a pop, eat it in a hurry and then walk over to the library and browse.

I can't say I have a favorite book with a holiday theme as yet.  I have read many Christmas books through out the years and liked them all.  I just finished a book called, Holly and Ivy by Fern Michaels.  A few years ago I loved the book The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren, and last year I loved Max Lucado's book Because of Bethlehem: Love Is Born, Hope Is Here  Today I am beginning Shepherd's Abiding by Jan Koran.

Frybabe,  Your lunch and time seeing old radio plays with your sister sounds ideal!  Deciding to not buy gifts is difficult for me, although I would like to really cut back on buying so much for my grandchildren and my three adult kids, and their spouses.  It can be a bit overwhelming not only financially, but the wrapping and running around, not to mention hours on the internet purchasing, drains me.  My hubby and I decided to cut back on each other this year, because realistically, we get what we want or need throughout the year.  My one sister has made it perfectly clear NO gift giving, let's just get together and have lunch.  My other two sisters have made it clear they have bought for me and my hubby, so I then had to buy for them.  The other siblings I won't be seeing at Christmas.  I would like to stop buying for my siblings, but how do I stop them?  I don't want to hurt their feelings.  I hope to figure it out in the next few years.

[Frybabe]

Barb, I saw PrimeNOW listed as a benefit, but I haven't looked into it. Several of our bigger grocery stores offer delivery now, or you can  sent your grocery list online for pickup. For a small fee, they will pull the items and bag/box them for you to pick up. I see the PeaPod truck go by every once in a while, so I know they are in the area now too.  For most groceries, I still like to shop at the store myself. I do check the usual grocery prices against what is offered online. So far, I can do better pricewise for most items at the local grocery. I am  haven't wanted to try ordering perishables online for delivery yet, but I won't be adverse to it should I not be able shop at the store for any length of time.

Bellamarie, this year my youngest sister is saving up for the trip to Singapore for my niece's traditional Hindu wedding ceremony in April. It is something his parents wanted very much even though they married here several months ago. With the immigrant situation what it is now, her husband wanted to make sure his paperwork was all in order, etc. before going. That took a while because although he was brought up in Singapore, he was not a citizen. He was born in India. My sister, across the river is getting a mini-split air conditioning/heat pump system, complete with duct work, installed. It is quite pricey. I am trying to save up for three window and three door replacements. In fact, two windows and one door were supposed to have been done already. I tried contacting the contractor at the beginning of November to get a status report, but he never called back. It's a good thing I haven't paid any money for them yet.

[craigpoff]

Travels With Charley----John Steinbeck's humorous trip across America with his poodle, 1960. 

[Tomereader1]

Frybabe, my daughter who just recently bought a house, equipped with heat pump system, heat & air;  she hates it.  It is so noisy, you can barely sleep as it shuts on and off.  They told her be bills would be much cheaper, don't know about that yet.  Guess we'll see as winter progresses.

I have a loaf of banana bread in the oven baking, good aroma wafting thru the house.  Can't wait till it's done, my mouth is watering just thinking about a slice!  Better go drink my cuppa tea while it's hot. Good evening all!