Cards?

[serai]

.
Oy, I'm SO crap at doing things in plenty of time...

Nevertheless, I'm getting to the holiday stuff, so if anyone would like a card, please leave a screened comment with your address, or you can PM me with it. I'll get them in the mail this week.


In other news...

I went to Pumpkin's school recital today. Sad that kids in public schools don't get to do Christmas stuff, but it was a nice show and I enjoyed it. The third grade did a set of songs based on India's traditions, including a Diwali song which was lovely. (I would so love to go to a Diwali celebration some day.) Pumpkin's class was last, the kindergarten, and of course they were very cute. But WHY do they have to do these shows sooooo early? Tita likes her sleep!

We'll be doing cookies starting today, as I want to make a nice large assortment this year. Peanut butter, Chocolate chip, Rugelach, of course, but I want to get off my usual recipes and do some new stuff this year. It's too easy to just sit back on the ones I've made every holiday season - gotta keep it challenging! Last year I included a batch of Almond Cranberry Icebox cookies that everyone seriously loved, so I might make those again, too.

Still struggling with my story. Finding it a little hard to get the energy back, but it's rolling around in there. Yikes. I'm working at the shape of a chapter about Renee, Casey's wife, and possibly one about a Herrington classmate, along with the pieces about the breakup and a couple of parts about the period I wrote about in Thirty Years Gone and November. Oh yes, more happens away there in the future (although I still have no fucking clue what Zeke does that gets him that fabulous place he lives in). Also poking now and then at their time together, trying to get something (or somethings) about their spring before things took the downward turn. I just wish I had the ability to just create the energy I need to write. It's so goddamn random, I can never depend on it. *sigh*

So how are all of you?

Comments

[shirebound]

Ohhhh, your kitchen will smell so yummy!

It's a darn shame that public schools are so afraid to celebrate Christmas. I'm Jewish, and grew up happily singing Christmas carols in school, decorating trees, and enjoying all the candy canes I could get my hands on.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

I was raised a Catholic, so we had tons of Christmas stuff going on at home and at school and at church (though we weren't really church-going folk). As a longtime pagan, I still love the whole thing. I love the songs and the symbolism and the story. It's not my story anymore, but for gods' sakes, that doesn't mean I don't like to hear it or see it played out. Origin stories are, after all, the most interesting stories about demi- or immortals, as we all know, and the parallels and influences of religious stories have always fascinated me.

And yes, it will. Last night and today, it has smelled of chocolate chip. Tomorrow I think it will smell of gingerbread. I just bought some man-shaped cookie cutters and some sprinkly decorations, so we will have lots of fun exercising our sartorial talents. *sigh* The kidlets are the one truly bright thing in my life. I'm so grateful they're here.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

I can understand public schools not doing Christian songs or nativity stories, but there's so much Christmas music and themes that are secular - why is that banned? *sighs*

Omg, Almond Cranberry Icebox cookies sound soooo yummy!

[serai1.livejournal.com]

They are beyond great. I think I'll post the recipes I'm using here as I bake them. That one is especially grand. Originally, the recipe was for pistachios, but who can afford those? And almonds go nicely with the dried cranberries. YUM.

Christmas songs, yeah. There are a lot that have nothing to do with religion, but some people just have to have things to get outraged about. Have you heard the schtuss over the old standard Baby, It's Cold Outside? Holy gods. I had to crawl under my desk to find my eyes, 'cause they rolled so damn hard they popped right out. People just don't know what to get outraged over anymore. (This is a great defense of the song, as well.)