The family, as much as there is of it these days, got together at my house today.
First, the menu:
Ham, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, pea salad, potatoes au gratin, Texas Waldorf salad, green bean casserole, raw vegetables with ranch dip, seven-layer dip with tortilla rounds, deviled eggs, two kinds of cheesecake, happy cake, pumpkin pie, rolls, coffee, tea. The only thing not home made was the pumpkin pie because Costco makes a great pumpkin pie, and we have only one oven.
Cranberry relish is made of cranberries, which are lightly cooked with a bit of sugar, and then mixed with chopped pecans and refrigerated. Pea salad is made of frozen English peas (just barely cooked), boiled egg, cheese, pickle, onion, celery seed, mayo & mustard. Texas Waldorf salad is the same as regular, but with pecans instead of walnuts.
And yes, we will have leftovers for days, but we will also have company for days, so there.
It’s a good reason to take out the china that looks like Currier & Ives engravings, the good silver, and the cranberry glass dessert sets. Most of the year we eat off Corelle dishes with stainless utensils and drink out of cups from Cafe Press. I don’t need a scrapbook, because my mug rack is a record of my fleeting passions.
Presents. Each of the older girls got an iPod. As soon as she saw those come out of the wrappings, the youngest girl went deliriously happy because she knew she’d be getting her sister’s Nano that had come free with a computer a couple of years ago. The youngest got a Leapster, which is a toy, and a ballet leotard, a pair of warm pajamas, a pair of argyle tights, and a new dress. The other two girls got iPods, so that was about all they got. We got our daughter a small digital camera so she can take photos of our grandchildren. I got DH a pair of pajamas and a I got a couple of audio books for my mom.
My presents. Well, remember junior high school, when it seemed like everybody gave you soap or cologne? Did you wonder what the underlying message might be?
For Christmas this year I got a protective cover for my computer and two stainless steel spill-proof sippy cups. To be fair, this is what I asked Santa to bring me.
Socrates said, “Know thyself.”
I don’t want Socrates anywhere near my sippy cups, TYVM.
Merry Christmas, y’all.