The Old Folks Home

[Highcotton]

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[Bunnylady]

We always had real trees when I was a kid. I even have memories of going out into a farmer's field (with his permission) to cut "just the right one." One of my favorite Christmas memories was when I was in 6th grade. The other 6th grade class made candles that year. I wanted to make one for my mother. Since I wasn't in that class, I couldn't do it during "art" time, but the teacher agreed to stay after school with me so I could work on it. I remember walking home after one of these after-school sessions; upperstate New York winter days end early, and it was right at dusk. There were huge, fluffy snowflakes falling, the snow already on the ground was glittering with many colors from the neighbors' Christmas lights, and the church carillon was playing Christmas carols. One of those picture-postcard moments that even at the time hardly seemed real.

 

[Arielle]

We always had real trees when I was a kid. I even have memories of going out into a farmer's field (with his permission) to cut "just the right one." One of my favorite Christmas memories was when I was in 6th grade. The other 6th grade class made candles that year. I wanted to make one for my mother. Since I wasn't in that class, I couldn't do it during "art" time, but the teacher agreed to stay after school with me so I could work on it. I remember walking home after one of these after-school sessions; upperstate New York winter days end early, and it was right at dusk. There were huge, fluffy snowflakes falling, the snow already on the ground was glittering with many colors from the neighbors' Christmas lights, and the church carillon was playing Christmas carols. One of those picture-postcard moments that even at the time hardly seemed real.

What a sweet memory . . . and what a wonderful teacher.

 

[ronott1]

I made a batch of Apricot Pineapple Jam this morning. It is very tasty and reminds me of Summer!

After Christmas, A plan on making a batch of Triple Berry Jam. I will use a combination of fresh and Frozen berries.

I am really looking forward to it!

 

[Arielle]

Ron, that sounds delicious!! I keep frozen raspberries etc in the freezer-- soo soo sooooo good. I plan to make a pumpkin cheesecake for tomorrow's dinner. All low carb of course. ANd I have the ingredients to show the kids how to make baklava. I was introduced to that when a friend was dating a fellow from Greece-- the mixture of honey , walnuts and fine flaky pastry dough is a peice of heaven.

 

[ronott1]

Ron, that sounds delicious!! I keep frozen raspberries etc in the freezer-- soo soo sooooo good. I plan to make a pumpkin cheesecake for tomorrow's dinner. All low carb of course. ANd I have the ingredients to show the kids how to make baklava. I was introduced to that when a friend was dating a fellow from Greece-- the mixture of honey , walnuts and fine flaky pastry dough is a peice of heaven.

I love frozen fruit in the winter! The Apricots were frozen last July. I put them through my Kitchenade Grinder with the coarse plate. It makes nice sized fruit pieces.

 

[cknnewbie]

I remember we had one of those aluminum trees inside for a while, then on the front patio for a few years. I wish (there I go again) that I had that tree now!

I have several vivid Christmas memories. One time, when I was about seven, I was playing Santa and handing out the presents, one for my sister, one for mom, one for my brother, another one for mom, on and on until there were several gifts at the feet of each person in the room (which was a lot of people.) Everyone was opening gifts and ooooing and ahhhing over what they got, except me. I was trying really hard to be brave and gracious and happy for everyone else. Eventually, my dad looked at me and said, "Lisa, where are your gifts?" I looked at him, kind of shrugged, and my eyes welled up. He snapped his head around and looked at my mother and practically yelled, "SUG, Where are Lisa's presents?" My mom looked confused for a second then jumped up and ran to the back of the house. She came back with several large plastic bags of toys, clothes, art supplies, and books, all unwrapped. She had hidden them and forgotten to wrap them! I was so relieved I burst out crying, For a good 45 minutes, I thought I must have been really bad.

Oh dear, that is sad!

One year we were poor enough that I wrapped used toys donated by a family for gifts for my kids. One of them was a Sesame Street clock that my little girl was just thrilled with. After opening the gifts, *I* went back to bed. Sometime later I heard this wail from the living room, "Where's Big Bird? Where's Big Bird?" It increased in volume and desperation as she kept repeating "Where's Big BIrd?" I went out to investigate. Sure enough, you could see where "something" was supposed to be attached but I wasn't smart enough to know that the clock was supposed to have a Big Bird sitting on the steps. We sifted through the papers and ribbons and went through the little piles of gifts but there was No Big Bird. I finally had to tell her, "I'm sorry, honey, it must have fallen off in Santa's sleigh," and hugged her while she cried. Boy, did I feel like a heel.

 

[cknnewbie]

I had somehow forgot about those drills, some were under your desk and some were in the hall. I agree with you on the worrier part!
Scott

I haven't forgotten those drills. We lived in Alaska and crawling under the desk during an earthquake was a regular occurrence. In fact, it was so ingrained that, as a grownup, when the ground started shaking I'd head under my office desk. The others in the office thought it was funny. It was just so ingrained, though, that it was an automatic response - no thought needed.

I don't remember what the hallway ones were for though. We did the desk thing for nuclear attacks, too, so it wasn't that....

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: Tornadoes, to get us kids away from all the windows in them old schools.

Scott

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I have only very vauge memories of thos drills. They are triggered when I see the rare bomb shlter sigh at a m uniciple building. . . of course now I realize those drill were useless. ANd makes me think of how scared our kids in school get when it goes into lock down. Such a regular occurance now between practice and not practice. I bet once a week I get notice from the school of a lockdown . . . .