Ho, ho, ho! Well, our snow last night changed into dizzle, then heavy rain, but this afternoon around 2:00 it changed back into snow. The ground is so warm though that we probably won't get any real accumulation.

Santa managed to deal with the precipitation and I received some terrific gifts! My stocking was filled with goodies: chocolate coins, socks, lavender soap, spice mixes, pens, a magnet, and the requisite mouse. This year's mouse is one of those little rabbit fur ones, and Suki quickly claimed it as hers. She lost it under the couch in a record 73 seconds.

Mom and Dad gave me several books: two terrific cookbooks, one on cathedrals, and a little tome entitled "I Hope You Dance." They also gave me the 2003 WIlliam Wegman calendar - I love those dogs. There is a collection of CD ROMs with the treasures of the great museums of the world, as well as a three CD collection of Music For The Festive Gourmet, Spring Cleaning and Sunday Brunch. It looks like fun!

Santa is always looking out for my kitchen so he included a set of flexible cutting boards, measuring spoons, cocktail napkins and a little jar of risotto mix. There is a lamb-shaped lavender pillow and a terrific down travel pillow that rolls up into a small sack - I think it will be great to take to PNG next year. And finally, a beautiful gravy ladle and eight teaspoons for my Reed & Barton Georgian Rose sterling silver set. The pattern has been discontinued for many years, so Santa Mom works hard to find new pieces for me.

[Whew!]

I also received a suspiciously heavy package from Laurie. Inside were some terrific horse magazines from the early 1990s, a marvelous history of Orange County, CA, and a cooking magazine from June/July 1942. Some of the recipes and suggestions don't exactly fit with today's culinary tastes:

BANANA CABBAGE SALAD
1 cup sliced ripe bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp prepared mustard

Combine bananas and lemon juice. Add cabbage, green pepper and salt. Mix together mayonnaise and mustard and add to salad ingredients. Mix lightly. Serve on crisp lettuce iwth your favorite salad dressing. Four to six servings.

[Mmm, mmm, good.]

Ya know, as our country prepares for the possibility of another Gulf War, I'm reading through this magazine and realizing that my generation and those younger have NO IDEA what it is like to make real sacrifices for "the war effort." This magazine is filled with stories and recipes that deal with rationing - common place foods such as sugar and coffee were only available in small amounts. One of the columns is called "My Bit For Victory," and has suggestions from readers on how to make the most of the situation.

"To conserve metal-fibre soap pads for scouring, cut each pad in quarters. One quarter will scour two or three pans easily. Thus the entire pad does not lose soap and become rusty."

"I have put a demi-tasse spoon, instead of the regular sugar spoon, in our sugar bowl."

"We collected discarded newspapers, magazines, and radiator pipes in our house; sold them and used the money to buy smokes for the boys in a nearby camp."

[OK, GI Joe. No sugar, no coffee, but we have some lovely cancer sticks for you.]

Despite the unintentional humor, it is very interesting to see how average citizens made do during wartime. We are very fortunate in so many ways. I am fortunate in having a wonderful family and so many good friends all over the world.

[I am blessed.]

Quote du jour:

"God bless us, everyone."

-- Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol

previous ~ home ~ next