Jesus, Mary and Joseph

We have a lot of snow

Scorched

the first batch of rice pudding.
Trying again...

Why

am I doing this? It's 2 days until Christmas.

Just finishing up

my Christmas letter.

 It involves this pile of mulch.

And these people

So what does a truckload of mulch have to do with Christmas? Not much. But I'm going to make it work.

All is calm

Even though my island looks like this

I have managed to empty and sort 3 different containers of stashed clutter.

Sam and I were thrilled to be able to finally put out this vintage nativity that belonged to his Grandma and was given to us a couple years ago by Sam's mom

Amber inquired as to why the baby Jesus was tied into the manger. I explained that the decree from Caesar Augustus included a child restraint clause for any and all donkey transporation.

Lately the Holy Family has taken on a new look. Name that movie

I should go shovel them out--but for one thing it keeps snowing and for another, I like the way it looks. 

The bird feeder is a busy place. Here is one of our regular guests.

Maybe,

I'm not blogger material. I want to blog.  I blog in my head all the time. I even have scraps of paper covered with notes about stuff I should blog about. But then the stuff I want to blog about keeps me so busy that I don't have time to blog about it.
It's hard to write about cooking, when there's a meal to be made.
Or to write about Mom when she's asking  "Is there anything new on the computer?"
Or to write about grandchildren when they're here to play with and hold.
Or to write about writing when there's writing to be done.

angst [æŋst (German) aŋst]

n

1. an acute but nonspecific sense of anxiety or remorse

2. (Philosophy) (in Existentialist philosophy) the dread caused by man's awareness that his future is not determined but must be freely chosen

[German]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Yup, that pretty much sums it up.

Here are a few photos from a fun morning with Phoebe and MaryJean. As you can see, we had a very special guest.

It's snowing again.
I may or may not go Christmas shopping this year.
I haven't written the last "Treble" post.
I ate potato chips in the middle of the night last night.
I cried when I saw Harrison smile for the first time.
Sitting here in my kitchen, listening to Christmas carols, having one last  cup of coffee

I may or may not keep blogging.

Claudine's Dip

In the process of shuffling papers around on my desk and diligently emptying my in-basket, I've come across a recipe from Claudine at the Huntley Cafe. It's for a dip/spread she served at a wine-tasting party. With the holidays coming up, it seems like a good time to share it.

Chicken/Crab Dip
2 scallions thinly sliced
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz can crab or chicken
1/2 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c finely chopped red pepper
1 tsp dijon mustard
Scallions for garnish
Chill a few hours before using