Ani is back with here Advent Calendar. Please read here.
Ani’s Advent: Pondering…
Category: Advent calendar
Throwback Thursday. Holiday Meals.
Lauren is our hostess this Thanksgiving week and she chose a great topic – whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not. The idea of a holiday meal includes any holiday occasion your family celebrates. That covers a lot of ground.
To participate, head over to Lauren’s post, read the rules and join in. Lauren gives a little guidance to get the creative juices flowing:
This week’s prompt is: Holiday Meals.
I really don’t know how my mum used to produce such wonderful Christmas dinners, for so many people because money was so tight but she really always came up trump’s.
It all started Christmas Eve when we all went shopping with mum…. We all regardless of age had stuff to carry home. Everything was got then it was home and busy in the kitchen…mince pies were made, veg prepped, turkey stuffed, gravey prepared. The Christmas pudding and cake were made weeks before yet always tasted as fresh as if they had been made the day before. As fast as my mum made mince pies my brothers pinched them!
We had a tiny kitchen and how we all got in there to help here was a miracle.
Mum’s old gas cooker was very temperamental and often blew up.. nothing worse than singed eyebrows thank goodness.
There were eight of us plus numerous waifs and strays! No one was ever turned away from our door.
I have always followed my mum’s tradions, her menus and her panicks.
Breakfast : scrambled eggs and salmon with buckfizz.
Dinner:
Turkey and Ham or Pork or occasionally Beef. Stuffing, sausage meat, roast parsnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes, basted with honey.
Coliflower and Broccoli cheese, Brussel sprouts, peas and gravy, Yorkshire pudding, bread sauce and Cranberry sauce, apple sauce and horseradish sauce!
Christmas Pudding, Cheesecake as mice pies.
I have had Christmases with no heating, Mother in law most years even though she was not keen on me and everyone knew it. She made it clear she would rather be at her other son’s. Christmas when Hubby was ill, some when he was away. Christmas Dinner in Pubs and with relatives!
We had one Christmas in Spain but that was very odd . The two older boys were with us but we did miss the rest of the family. It’s absolutely wonderful now we have grandchildren they make Christmas so special.
I remember one year when I was about fourteen years old. Dad was washing up at our Belfast sink ( before they were fashionable) he put the plates on the draining board, we dried them and put them on the dresser behind him. What we didn’t realize was that he was lifting the clean dishes and washing them again 🤣🤣
One-Liner Wednesday. Christmas.
Love and kindness is for every day , not just for Christmas.
© willowdot21.
Part of LindaGHill’s One-Liner Wednesday.
The A Mused Poetry Contest 11/14 – 12/11/2020
The Christmas Email 🎄
T’was the night before Christmas, I’m peeling the sprouts,
I’ll regret it tomorrow of that I’ve no doubts.
I’ve spent hours wrapping pressies for under the tree.
Everyones socially distancing so it’s up to me.
This year’s been a bummer so I thought let’s spread the joy
(cough) Here’s our news which is bound to annoy.
Lets start with grandpa well he’s loosing the plot
he’s been stalking the estate quite a lot.
Since they said he can drive no more,
he’s been acting like a bear with a head that’s sore!
Hubby has been busy washing hands and making masks
when people get too close he takes them to task.
Jerome, Cathy and Hermione are fine,
in and out of school all the time.
Fighting over computer, laptop and tablet …all of them mine!
We’ve all had to isolate at different times ,
we’ve done as we’re told to avoid fines!
We’re all sick of watching the neighbours breaking the rules.
How will we ever be rid of this Covid surrounded by fools.
The chickens stopped laying last week,
the hamsters are missing we’ve not heard a squeak.
We’ve had our fair share of hospitals and Ambulances too.
But to be fair in lockdown there’s not much to do!
My goodness is that the time,
I must get this sent then open the wine.
Merry Christmas to you and your bubble,
let’s hope 2021 is less trouble.
The Vaccine is coming we’ll all grow two heads..I don’t really care, in 100years we’ll all be dead!
A Job Description For The Writer’s Pet #amwriting
Calling all ambitious animals a note from Lucy Mitchell.
*****
Sometimes, the best part about writing is that my dog is always snoring nearby, offering sleepy moral support as I sit at my desk, agonizing over my latest fictional romance.
Mary and Jo the end of the beginning.
Today is the 5th January the Epithany, the day the three kings (magi.com ) visit the the new baby the saviour. The end of my Christmas Story but the beginning of another.
Okay Driver, we can walk from here, we have plenty of time. Looking really smart in their rich and kingly robes they stepped out of their limmo the last of the journey their greeting to express.
The gifts they bare are unusual, not ones seen every day. They had researched them well to help this new king on his way.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh are the gifts they proffer. These unlikely gifts are special and each have something to offer.
They left the dunes and followed the star’s light towards the hotel lit up in the night. When they arrived everyone in reception turned to look at them, the young lady on the desk asked if she could help, yes they said “is this the Hotel Delph.”
We have come to see the baby, we have come baring gifts. A familiar young man ( Gabe) smiled and beckoned them towards the lifts. “He is waiting for you back here in David’s room,” he said as he led them through the doors marked staff and into the gloom.
They followed him up a passage feeling somewhat overdressed, all the staff they passed bowed and seemed very much impressed. As they reached David’s door Gabriel disappeared, “Why does he keep doing that ” asked Balthazar “Am I the only one who think it is weird?”
As they entered the room all of their worries flew away before them was the most amazing sight they had ever seen in all of their living days.
Angels, shepherds, sheep and all. Children,hotel staff animals large and small. They could hardly believe it true, all wondrous things here, heaven sent, and in every hue.
The babe was such a glorious sight, he was holy, holy and he was surrounded by light and love and joy he was such a beautiful boy. This was the boy, the son of God he was going to save the world and by kindness, no use of the rod.
They drew forth their special gifts , gold for a King , Frankincense a perfume bitter but royal and Myrrh to use a soothing balm for the body royal.
The Hotel staff where so happy and jubilant Irena and Annya so proud they had helped. They loved this couple who’s short stay had touched their lives .
The gents from Magi.com were blown away with this place and so happy they had come all this way. To share a part of this birth to witness the miracle of the blessed babe and see his worth.
Now if everything you have read here is true, is a choice that I will leave up to you. But Angels and shepherds and the neighbours, pets and live stock too with wise men and gifts and happy staff and children in a 5star hotel with everyone happy as if all under a magic spell.
Well lets leave the parents and baby to sleep the staff, shepherds and wise men a watch over them to keep. They have to be up early tomorrow it is true. They need to make ready for a long journey out of this land. They have to escape Herod and his evil band, of killers of infants under a year. Yes that is why the Angels and the wise men had bid them flee from here. But for now we will let the three of them sleep for with fate and pain they have many an appointment to keep.
Mary and Jo Part 28
This is part twenty eight of my reworking of the Nativity. From an idea I first wrote in December 2011.
And what of our three wise men who follow the star, to find the babe of Bethlehem. They checked and double checked the charts they knew the 5th was the date imprinted on their hearts
They had stayed up discussing Herod and the proposition he had made for information about the whereabouts of the babe. The stranger Gabriel made a lot sense when he told them of Herod’s plan to find and destroy the babe if he can.
They decided that they would give him the swerve they had not liked his manner he had had them all un-nerved. They decided they would give the parents the tip to leave Egypt asap and give the man the slip.
So not long now till they set off into the night to pay homage to the holy mite . He is the new, the the shining light. With their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh gifts which will in the future share.
Mares and Jo take their rest, something is telling them to stay, Gabe mentioned three wise men from far away. He also told Jo to be clear, after their visit they could not stay here. They must immediately up and leave Egypt without delay.
Sleep sweet couple while you can there will be grief when your boy becomes a man.
He has come to save us all, it is true but to reach that goal,Mary and Jo there is much grief for you.
Mary and Jo. Part27.
This is part twenty seven of my reworking of the Nativity. From an idea I first wrote in December 2011.
Where are those three wise men, I hear you say where are magi.com are they not coming to pray? They have been busy checking their star charts to see what they say.
They must arrive in January, on the fifth day. Now as it happens that is a good thing you see, for they have hiding from Herod. They need to keep their movements hidden from him, to save the baby.
Now don’t you forget them because you will see they will arrive safe on the day pre decreed! They will bring their presents fit for a new king. The the new order of life can begin.
Ani’s Advent 2019! Christmas Eve…
So sorry this late but it’s the most lovely letter from Ani to Santa 💜. Read at source
Mary and Jo part 26
This is part twenty six of my reworking of the Nativity. From an idea I first wrote in December 2011.
Coora, coora said the dove I bring light and I bring love. Such was the light that fell around it lit each pebble and grain of sand on the ground.
It was strange the Hotel Delph usually a place of wealth, had shepherds and sheep and ordinary folk streaming towards it an appointment to keep.
Mares and Jo bathed in gentle light resting in the gazebo after a busy night. Swaddled tightly in his arms Jo held his baby for now safe from harm.
Here within this baby’s heart is the blessed grace to give us a brand new start. All the people strangers to one another, had all heard the call to come and greet the new Child here with his father and mother. The Dove descends and comes to rest near where these new parents have made their nest.
Gentle angels from heaven above look down upon this scene of tender love. Stragglers come from far and wide, the Ox, a dog a cat and many others beside. They all have gifts to give to this child who as a man will die so we can live. A small group hover outside embarrassed by their pride, they have nothing to bring to give to the baby king. A beautiful angel approaches them and asks why they wait , they explain they have no gift . The Angel bids them to up lift their love for him is an ample gift.
Annya and Irene cannot believe their eyes they delivered this babe and heard it’s birth cries is this really where they work with all this light and people here. How transformed this mean courtyard appears.
Still some way off along the road our three wise men near with their precious load, of gold, frankincense and myrrh to worship a the baby’s feet and gentle Jo and Mares to meet.
Just for now we watch this strange, strange scene the farm animals, and the insects all clearly seen, mixing and mingling with family pets and lots of humans lets not forget. This must truly be the Messiah for in every soul here tonight burns with a fire of love and truth and sacrifice …the cats are just ignoring the mice, no pushing no shoving all is calm like the baby’s breathing in Jo capable arms.
willowdot21 