Gingerbread Traditions

           As I have mentioned in a few posts already, I grew up in a house across the street from George and Peggy Bird. Both are from American Fork.  Peggy grew up learning all of the domestic skills of saintly motherhood.  She cooked, she sewed, and she baked. She loved her boys.  She was a devoted mother.

           

            My mom was raised in San Francisco.  She did not grow up understanding canning and food storage or many of the skills that Peggy had acquired.  Mom did try her hand at baking, sewing, crocheting, and even canning.  She loved us.  She was a good mom.  But I think my brother Patrick and I both believed that Peggy was better at baking.  It seemed like she was always baking.  I remember almost every time I walked into the house, she was baking.  What I remember most is the molasses cookies.  Was there ever a time I had gone across the street when molasses cookies weren’t available?  Not when I was in elementary school anyway.

 

I also remember the many Christmases we spent with the Birds. We became part of their family and enjoyed their traditions.

            There was the annual Christmas pageant.  For the longest time I was Mary.  When other families were invited to join in the production I lost my glorified role.  I remember getting demoted to an angel with no speaking parts.   Humility was not my strong suit.

            One tradition that mom had adapted into our own household was the annual ornament that each of us received and would add to the tree.  And when we were grown and out on our own or starting our own families, we would take our ornaments with us.

            One tradition that we didn’t adapt (though Patrick and I would drop hints each year) was the annual gingerbread house that Peggy made from scratch (I now fully understand why mom didn’t seem as excited about what Patrick and I thought would be great.  And perhaps she did attempt it but it just wasn’t her forte)

            I don’t know how early in the month she made it.  I would imagine it was decorated on a Monday night.  Each of the boys would help decorate (as I recall) and it would become part of the decorations.  On New Years Eve the boys would hold their annual Gingerbread Smash.  I think Patrick must have gone to them all – and I’d gone to a few (I usually got sick just before the new year) and we would each have an opportunity for hacking away at the house and then devour it.  That was something special.

 

            Nowadays commercialism offers pre-made gingerbread kits.  The taste of the gingerbread isn’t near as wonderful as the rich taste of Peggy’s made-from-love.  But Roland purchases kits each year – first for the boys and now for Jenna.  And each year Roland builds the house and instructs the kids on how to assist and then allows them to finish decorating with wherever their imaginations lead.  Less than 24 hours later the house gets broken into.  A few pieces here and there – the house goes from slum to run down eye-sore.  He doesn’t believe in display.  Too bad.

 

            Fortunately I have taken pictures every year – even last year when the house started out looking like a HUD home. Crooked, run-down.  Each year we’ve used up all the frosting.  This year was just a little bit different.  Roland purchased a pre-made house that we didn't have to glue.  We also ended up with tons of frosting left.

            Jenna decided that she wanted a green roof.  Roland helped her to spread the icing.  Other than that she decorated the entire thing by herself.  She included a flower on one side and a vegetable garden behind the house.  I thought it ironic that she’d call them vegetables as two of them in real life are vegetables that she refuses to let near her mouth.  

            Jenna created a vine and gave it tomatoes.  Next to that are two carrots.  And then a corn stalk with a few ears.  Finally eggplant which I don’t think she’s ever tasted before.  I have.  Haven’t been impressed with the taste of it.

            On the other side is a Christmas tree.  A Christmas tree and a vegetable garden.  I suppose it’s possible.  Not in my part of the world.

            Roland took some cookies out of the pantry and told us to decorate them. 

We still have frosting left.  But many parts of the gingerbread house have been eaten - including some of the roof.

A Silent Christmas

I am so grateful to see this posted on YouTube as I was not able to read it all at our Relief Society yesterday.  Truth be known, I would rather read a book than a video.  The message is awesome:

Thank you Brittney for sharing!

I HATE SHOPPING!!!

Romeros (Roland’s side of the family and All their descendants) LOVE to shop. The Cannons (my side of the family) DO NOT – and yet all four of my mom’s children married shopaholics and it doesn't even seem to matter what kind of store for some of them.

If my sibs and I absolutely have to shop, we go with something specific in mind – get in, purchase desired item, get out.  We ALWAYS stick to the list – nothing more.  Roland ALWAYS gets three times more than what I send him for – IF I send him.  (Over the years I learned it’s actually a very dangerous thing)

Roland has a good heart.  He really does.  He is ALWAYS thinking of others.  RARELY does he ever buy for himself.  He likes to browse.  His sibs like to browse.  His children like to browse.  And then he spends money as though he actually has it.

 Uh-oh . . .  he opened an account with a Wal-Mart credit card.  DISASTER!!!!  His original thought was for an emergency.  I don’t think going over budget on Christmas gifts qualifies as an emergency.  Once again: Big Heart.

I’ve been in need of some boots that don’t hurt my feet.  I know approximately what kind of boots I’m looking for – of course he is clueless and tries giving me helpful suggestions.  He thinks he is being helpful.  He doesn’t realize that his “helpful” suggestions are only irritating me.  And with each suggestion he is adding fuel to the fire.  I’m not settling for something that I KNOW is not going to work. LET’S JUST LEAVE THE MALL ALREADY.  THERE IS ONLY ONE STORE THAT WILL HAVE THE BOOTS I WANT – YOU SHOULDN’T BE SPENDING MONEY AT THE MALL ANYWAY.

I had looked for winter boots with heals online.  I have a weird right foot and would much rather try boots on at the store as opposed to ordering them and finding they don’t fit.  So I came up with SEARS – it was ALL that I came up with. I figured if we went to the one in Jordan Landing we could sneak a peek at Kohl’s but as Roland had an errand near my old neighborhood, we tried the Sears at Fashion Place Mall.

Corey had written this post about the evolution of Fashion Place Mall built in 1972.   I remember it well.  My friends and I could walk there on foot.  It was a good walk, but we felt so grown up being there.  Fashion Place had three anchor stores: Sears, Weinstocks and Auerbach’s. And ZCMI fell somewhere in the middle.

It didn’t seem that Auerbach’s was part of the mall for very long.  By 1981 Auerbach’s had closed and we were introduced to a new anchor store called Nordstrom’s – which evidently started out specializing in shoes but branched out from there.  I personally don’t care for their products.  The few purchases I had made during my life were not that well made – especially for what they cost.  And overall, I thought the shoes that were offered were very ugly.

All throughout its existence, the mall had seen stores come and go. Eventually Weinstocks was replaced by Dillard’s and ZCMI was replaced by Macys’. The mall I remember had received a huge makeover.  It wasn’t the same.  It's no longer my mall. 

Shops were set up to surround the mall – so there are now stores inside and out.  For me it’s a sea of confusion.  I no longer like Fashion Place Mall (or most malls for that matter.)  It is just so congested I can’t even breathe. 

Our trip had been in vain. Though the “Sears” part of the mall could still be seen from the street, the signs were gone.  The building was empty.  Dillard’s and Nordstrom remain.  Sears has not yet been replaced. Roland wanted to look at every footwear place.  He would hold up pathetic boot wannabes and let me know of its existence and I would cringe and say “I should have showed you a picture so that you would know what I want” though I think he would have still continued with his NON helpful suggestions.

.  The mall seems to cater to the thin, small and rich.  And I am none of those.  I was finally able to convince him to leave when I mentioned a package we hadn’t mailed. I ended up with a pair from Payless (far away from the mall).  They fit.  They’re actually cute.  But they’re Payless – so it’s highly probable that they won’t outlast this winter season.

Biff has slept the last few days at home instead of Jeanie’s family.  Only because one of his tires had blown and he has been driving around on a doughnut – which Roland says does not provide great traction – which he learned first hand yesterday and told Biff to drive to a Wal-Mart to get a tire and pay us back on Thursday.

So yesterday he calls me from Wal-Mart because he’s interested in purchasing a tree in addition to the tire for Biff’s car.  He gave me some brief descriptions along with some prices.  I would like to see the tree with my own eyes before he spends the money, and so he came home to get me.

I actually had to drive just as Biff had done previously.  Roland had an outpatient procedure that left him loopy and he was told not to drive for 24 hours. He suggested on getting presents for various family members.  There were a few things in the cart that we actually needed but for the most part the cart was filled with desires and not needs.  He thought he would charge it. That was a fiasco.

 

We all have Wal-Mart stories. And it always makes us embarrassed that we had ever admitted to going to Wal-Mart in the first place.  Corey wrote thishilarious post – which is actually quite lengthy (six pages long) – a description that is quite typical of a Wal-Mart adventure. And Roland dressed like this one year to represent his version of a Wal-Mart consumer stereotype.

Our experience yesterday was more dramatic and frustrating – though no fault to our checker who was actually quite helpful – well as helpful as she was allowed in her given position.  Evidently Roland had gone over his spending limit in the last two weeks, and so when he swiped his card, the machine did not accept it.  Thus the register was suspended and we were waiting for the manager, waiting for authorization.  Waiting.

The cashier gave Richard a card to call-in and extend his limit.  Another machine.  We’ve relied too much on modern technology and seemed to have escaped true customer service.  One cannot reason with a machine.  It hung up on Roland at least three times. Truth be known, I don’t want to see our credit extended.  Does he not remember that the credit card is partly what had contributed to our financial problems in the first place? I need to remove Roland’s card from his wallet. 

Hair Traitor

   

        I have a facebook friend whose daughter is a hairdresser.  She works at a rather prestige salon with two locations.  Employees are tested on current hairstyles and are to provide their own models.  Thus my friend will send out posts containing pictures of a particular hairstyle, date and time for those who would like to volunteer.  The services are free – financially anyway.  Very time consuming to one who has A LOT of hair and a hairdresser who is obviously NOT familiar with the huge amount 

         As I mentioned at the end of this post my hair experience at this particular salon was very time consuming.  She really did do a great job on my hair, and even fixed my face (though my allergies did kick in before my husband could see the full effect) I had compliments.  Roland said my hair looked longer – which it did.  I’ve never heard of a hairdresser gifted enough to lengthen the natural hair already attached to one’s scalp.

         For years I’ve been going to a hairdresser who has her own private practice set up in her basement.  Driving to her residence was usually not that big of a deal – when I’m driving, that is.  Going by bus would give me a leisure walk in nice weather – but not in this harsh bitter cold air. 

         Sometimes UTA stops are done away with due to construction as I mentioned in this post.  Evidently they never put it back.  I don’t see why not – the bus passes by it anyway.

         I happened to drive this morning.  Biff took Roland in for a medical procedure and left me with the car – which initially I wasn’t planning on driving.  But my gosh, it is SOOOOOO COOOOOOLD.  I said a prayer before leaving the house.

 

         My hairdresser can create a hair miracle in just a half hour.  She knows my hair.  I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to fulfill my appointment with her this morning.

Animal Expressions

            Corey used to have a cat, which he named Starbuck.  Corey and Starbuck lived in the basement.  Starbuck would use the stairs on occasion.  I have fond memories of his racing up the stairs one December. 

            Each time the door was open, Starbuck would race up the stairs.  Each time he got faster.  His goal: to climb the Christmas tree.  One family member or another always caught him before he made it to the tree.  But on New Years Day there was no stopping him.  He actually stopped himself.

            We had always taken the tree down on New Years Day.  I don’t know how long it had been down.  We were still cleaning up as I recall.  Starbuck was unstoppable.  He tore up those stairs and rounded the corner ready to pounce. The tree was gone.

 It would have been great to have a camera.  I’ve never seen a cat (or any animal) make that expression before.  It was hilarious.

I don’t think it was near as funny as Tony and I witnessing our dog Daisy make a mad dash for the TV when Garfield appeared on the screen.  The fact that Daisy was running towards the TV was amusing, but even more so because the computerized cat doesn’t even look like a real cat does.

Highness’s expressions are usually ones of guilt

Poor Highness

            I wish that I could take Highness on the bus with me.  I know there’d be complaints.  He’s a good dog.  He really is.  But  he does tend to get loud when he gets excited.  And sometimes his excitement can be conveyed as threatening.  And there is no way I’m going to try to lift him anyway. 

      He has really been missing Biff – who is actually home right now.  He did let Highness into his room initially.  Biff wants to sleep.  Highness wants to be walked and stroked.  He hasn’t been getting the attention that he seeks right now – especially by way of walking.

      I have taken him on occasional walks between my two bus commutes, but not very often.  The walk between bus stops and destinations can take a lot out of a me – especially now that the weather has turned. 

      Yesterdays commute was not so bad going.  Each time I was riding in the direction toward her school  the bus was about the usual speed (twenty minutes) but coming home was another story.  It was cold.  It was wet.  It was bumper to bumper.  No one was going more than four miles an hour.  What is normally a ten minute commute (by car) was over an hour heading home.

      Buses were behind schedule – ten minute, twenty minutes . . .  our first bus driver appeared to be on time.  But the second one said he was an hour behind schedule.  Can you imagine?

      The sun is out today, but the roads are icy.  I tried taking Highness for a walk – but I’m afraid of slipping.  Perhaps Jenna’s teacher would be willing to bring us home tonight?  

      I tried taking Highness at least around the block.  I only made it to the second corner before turning back.  I think he could actually do it by himself, but I’m not willing to send him out unsupervised.  So for the time being he is tied to the flagpole out in front.  Weird dog would rather be tied up in front than have the freedom to wander in the back.  I’m not wanting to ignore him, but I do have other things to tend to.  

      I’m glad Biff is home.  Even though our visit was brief and he is trying to sleep now.  He said he’d give Highness a bath.  I think that Highness is in strong need of it.

First Snow

         The first two days of December were rather bleak and cold – and I seemed to possess a personality to match the bitterness.  For that I am sorry.  I haven’t been feeling well this morning.  In addition I think the weather has been making me feel somewhat arthritic – although the size of my person has not been a tremendous help
 

  

      It had started snowing sometime between 1:30 and 3:00 this morning and hasn’t stopped.  I gave Jenna the option of taking an earlier bus in case they were running late.  She opted for the earlier route which was running behind – as the well as the one behind that we normally take.  I know because it passed me as I was waiting for my return.

         Going southbound was not an issue this morning.  Unfortunately northbound seems to be getting slower – thus when they get to the end of the line and make their return, all of the southbound busses will be behind also. 

So while we were able to get Jenna to school on time (actually long before it started) the return home didn’t save much in the way of time before.  I got home only five or ten minutes sooner than usual.  I’m wondering how early I should be leaving the house today so that she doesn’t freak out if I’m not there due to busses running behind. Don’t imagine we will be getting home until after dark.  Oh, joy!  At least the snow does provide some shine to it.

I just heard the weather forecast for falling snow between 3:00 and 5:00 tonight.  Does this reporter not have a window to see it is already taking place?  I wonder if he meant heavier snow.  I really don’t see the purpose for snow in the valley.  I hope the tremendous outpour he was talking about will take place in the mountains and not on the floor.  Snow’s pretty when it’s fresh, but the city can make it ugly rather quickly. Snow’s not welcome! (on our roads and sidewalks I mean)

Change for November

Tomorrow is December 1st.  I am truly amazed at what an awesome November we've had.  Awesome in Salt Lake City, Utah, that is.  I understand they've had their fair share of snow in the southern part of the state - or windy or stormy weather.  But in my little corner of the world it's been a great November as far as the weather goes.

Oh, there have been a couple of days that have chilled to the bone.  Just a couple is odd for November.  Usually seems filled with darkened skies and dry moisture - I realize that is an oxymoron on my part.  But the winters in Utah are harsh with a dry air quality - much drier than in the summer - and yet November is usually always filled with rain or snow or sleet or hail.  I don't understand why when the elements are wet the air is dry - but it is.  My skin and my mouth are always thirsty.

Most all of the trees have lost their leaves by now.  There are still leaves crunching on the ground.  Only a few trees have color left on them.  The scenery doesn't seem as naked as when the skies are grey.  For the most part the skies have had a brilliant shine that isn't normal for this time of the year.  Jenna and I have shed both coat and jacket as we exit the bus to walk to school and on the return home.

We've been bussing it for two months now.  And we have been blessed with overall great walking weather.  We had a few flurries of snow on the 21st.  But that's all they were.  Flurries.  Nothing stuck.



I believed that the mountains had received more snow - but they're looking pretty naked also.  Not a good thing for skiers or those who built their business to rally around those connected with skiing or other winter sports.  We depend on the snow to be sent into the valley as it melts and makes its way down rivers and streams.  And when it doesn't snow, we don't get the water supply we need for our own growth.  But I honestly don't miss not having snow in the valley.

I loathe shopping.  I know I've mentioned it before.  All of my mom's children hate shopping - and yet we've all married avid shopaholics - or at least three of us have.  I hate crowds.  I hate traffic.  I don't even want to leave the house between Thanksgiving and Christmas because of the traffic.  Especially Saturdays.  And Black Friday.  Dark Friday.  Bleak Friday.  A taste-of-hell Friday.  There is absolutely no way I'd be camping a night or two in order to get the "good deals" No deal is worth that!



But I have gone out with Roland these past couple of days - I think mostly due to the awesome weather.  I would love for it just to stay that way - though I would prefer at least two more hours of daylight vision.  That sun seems to drop out of the sky very early and it gets dark quickly.  And stays dark.  Not like Alaska though.  It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I'd like to live somewhere where the temperature is pretty much like it is for me right now.  And keep it at this temperature all year round.  Perhaps a little more color and not so many empty trees.  We have truly been blessed temperature wise.  At least I think we have been.

A Hodge-Podge of Family

Our future daughter-in-law has two brothers who are still living.  One lives in Texas where his wife is from.  The other lives in a posh neighborhood at the south and east end of the valley.

Yesterday we went to the posh neighborhood to meet Jeanie’s family and to have Thanksgiving dinner.  Biff had asked us to bring rice pudding – which to be honest with you - I have never had as part of a Thanksgiving dinner before.  Roland tried a new recipe (which was really very good by the way) and I found a container to put it in.

I must admit that I felt out of place offering this pathetic container as we entered their fancy kitchen and saw dozens of dishes that seemed to make the rice pudding even smaller – shrinking with each passing minute until I felt like what we had contributed to the meal had only a cup of runny rice.

 

Jenna played with boys (Jeanie's nephews) while Roland and I visited with various family members.  Not only was there family from Jeanie’s side of the family, but her sister-in-laws as well.  Half siblings, stepsiblings, in-laws, and in-laws of in-laws; we became known as Biff’s parents and sister.

I think Biff, Jeanie and her parents were the last to arrive at the house.  I really hit it off with Jeanie’s mom.  Sweet lady.  She reminded me a lot of Rochelle’s mom (Rochelle being my first daughter-in-law) and Roland said the same thing. Jeanie’s mother does seem to be in better health than both of my daughters-in-law's mothers.  She also seems to be in better health than Jeanie.  I don’t know why, but Jeanie always seems to have aged with each time I see her.

As usual I didn't have room for dessert.  And there were several to choose from. Fortunately Jeanie had made up an extra plate of pumpkin rolls for us to take home.  Her sister-in-law and I visited in front of the tree that never goes up before Thanksgiving, but it's new and was insentive to get her three children to clean the house.

Everybody was scattered.  I counted fourteen adults and four children.  Jenna was playing with Jeanie's niece just before we left.  I don't know that she was ready to go. We had both wanted to play games, but Roland didn't want us to overstay our welcome. 

We drove around some neighborhoods surrounding Jenna's schools to check out what houses were up for sale.  We didn't see a lot for Jenna was getting car sick.  Poor kid always seems to take ill during the Thanksgiving holiday.  After we returned home, Roland insisted that she go and lay down.  We finished the night with watching holiday movies. I finally had dessert.  It is so good.

Prioritizing expense

I'm grateful to have second hand stores or gift cards or sales in which I can make a purchase for a book bag or back pack.

 

I ragged on my daughter's lack of responsibility in yesterday's post.  Her backpack had been in the car on Saturday but she doesn't remember seeing it on Sunday.  Someone had been in the car looking for something.  We concluded that the back pack had been stolen by whoever it was.  We made a police report, but I don't expect that anything will come of it.  Wish they would have at least emptied the contents before stealing the backpack though.

Every once in a while I will see something quite profound on facebook.  I really like this thought posted by one of my friends:

"I was shopping when I saw a purse for over $1,000.00 Really! for a purse! I could buy groceries for 2 months for the price of that purse. Wow, even if I had that kind of money to spare I could never spend that kind of money on something so frivolous as a purse. Think of all the people I could help with that much money. It was probably a very nice purse, BUT IT'S A PURSE. My little purse I use is almost 2 years old and it costs me $20.00, It's looking a little worn but it still works just fine, thank you very much. Then it occurred that somewhere in the world there is probably someone saying “$20.00 for a purse! I could have fed my family for a month for $20.00” Yep, compared to the rest of the world I am wealthy indeed, and for that I am grateful. To show my gratitude I will be more generous with the money I have been blessed with."

Weekend memory lapse and lack of responsibility

 Jenna’s room was not the neatest we lived in our first house but at least she did know where things were for the most part.  Over in West Valley I think she’s become less responsible with every passing year.  Puberty has certainly not made things easier.  She flies off the handle at every little suggestion.

 I’ve been working on getting her to accept responsibility. Pick up after herself.  Get ready on time. I’ve used rewards.  I’ve taken away privileges.  I’ve been nice.  I’ve been ornery.  Nothing has seemed to work.

Roland worked only half a day on Friday and thus just happened to pick us up after Jenna got out of school. Afterwards we ran errands and went shopping and did not return to the house until after 6:00.

Before Jenna exited the car I told her to be sure and grab her backpack.  I specifically remember telling her to get it now so that it wasn’t left in the car when dad went to work on Monday.  Of course almost every child thinks he or she knows better than the parent and Jenna is no exception.  She said she would get it later.

On Saturday before Roland went to work, I told Jenna that she should grab her backpack.  I told her that she could use it to tote the origami Santas she wanted to pass out.  Of course she didn’t.

Yesterday I told her to bring me one of her papers so that I could mark it off.  She didn’t.  If she had she would have eventually looked in the car for her backpack – which by then I had also forgotten about. 

This morning it felt wrong to say, “I told you so” when she was already crying as she scrambled to find her backpack and reminded herself of where it was.  I did my best to comfort her.  I tried to do my best.  Perhaps it wasn’t my best.  I was thinking that she should have listened to me.  I was thinking, “I hope this will help her to learn”

I have my own issues though.  After closing the door I realized that I’d forgotten my cell phone.  We didn’t have time for me to get it – especially since I had also forgotten my keys.  How could I have forgotten my keys?  Hadn’t I trained myself to return it to my backpack the minute I came home from church?  Apparently not.

We do get to the bus stop at approximately the same time each day.  Sometimes the bus is early we have missed our regular bus at least three times now.  We have been fortunate enough to catch the other route – which will run on the south side only after December 8^th.

After the 8^th the route we like to take will run every 15 minutes – which is a lot better than every 30. I don’t know if that will make a difference on how soon she gets ready.  I’m hoping she will make a better effort to be ready on time.

I hope that both of us will be prepared with all things necessary.  The biggest one would be prayer – which I suspect we’ll have to start just a little earlier.