New Year Tuesday 4

 Happy New Year and welcome once again to Tuesday 4 where we remember and honor the memory of our friend Toni Taddeo who began Tuesday4..

The Times Square ball first dropped on December 31, 1907. It is 12 feet in diameter and covered with Swarovski crystals. 

1.  Despite the weirdness of this past year, was it still a good year for you anyway or not?   In some ways yes and in other ways no. It was a terrible year for family health and house problems which won't be going away any time too soon.

2. How will you spend New Years Eve? With family enjoying food and fun.

3. What do you do on New Year's Day? Is football part of the agenda?  No football, no. Most likely it will be spent watching movies.

4. It's a Scottish tradition to kiss at midnight.  Do you keep that tradition? Does everyone get a kiss if you do?  My family kisses one another and hugs.

Happy New Year... Annie

Sunday Stealing

Time again for Sunday Stealing with Bev our hostess.

Yggdrasil or Tree of Life

Star or Angel?  Star as on the Yggdrasil tree in the north pole which I believe was really the tree of life spoken of in all ancient cultures. It  was in the north surrounded by the aurora borealis and the star Polaris was above the tree pointing northward to the throne of God!  There is much truth in ancient lore and history.

White Lights or Colored Lights? both on the same tree alternating

Blinking Lights or Still Lights? both on the same tree

When do you open your gifts? Christmas eve

Do you buy gifts for your pet? If I had pets, yes.

Be honest: What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?  I don't know.

Have you ever traveled for the holiday?  No

Did you see Santa as a child?  I saw him and continue to see him all the time actually.

Can you name all the reindeer? Of course. It's inhuman to not know even if you are not Christian you must know these names or you are doomed to eternity in a badger hole in Arizona.

Have you ever gone caroling? sure. I sing all over the place.

Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights? yes

Have you ever left Santa cookies? yes

Have you ever had a white Christmas? lots of them

Have you ever made a gingerbread house from scratch? From a kit? Kit .. we made a few , including one that fell down so we made it into a WW2 scene of a bombed out wreck of a gingerbread house.

Be honest: Do you think the season is too commercial? Nope. People have a right to make a living and sell things and you have a right to buy whatever the heck you can afford and makes you happy. 
 
Imagine you were going to create the quintessential holiday soundtrack -- which song(s) absolutely must be included?
 Silver Bells of course!
 
What are your Christmas pet peeves?  I can't think of any except the answer from the Be Honest question above .

 Tuesday 4 is up.. join in for New  Year Questions!

Woods in Winter

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When winter winds are piercing chill,
And through the hawthorn blows the gale,
With solemn feet I tread the hill,
That overbrows the lonely vale.

    O'er the bare upland, and away
Through the long reach of desert woods,
The embracing sunbeams chastely play,
And gladden these deep solitudes.

Where, twisted round the barren oak,
The summer vine in beauty clung,
And summer winds the stillness broke,
The crystal icicle is hung.

Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs
Pour out the river's gradual tide,
Shrilly the skater's iron rings,
And voices fill the woodland side.
Alas! how changed from the fair scene,
When birds sang out their mellow lay,
And winds were soft, and woods were green,
And the song ceased not with the day!

But still wild music is abroad,
Pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord,
Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.

Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear
Has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year,
I listen, and it cheers me long.

(February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882)

A Merry Little Christmas... Tuesday 4

Hi Friends ! It is time for Tuesday 4 and here is  my contribution.

Christmas is fast approaching for millions of people. It is especially big in Russia, Europe and both North and South America. It is probably the biggest holiday in the world.

1. Do you have a favorite Christmas carol and if so is there a particular version you especially like?

Yes I do like Silver Bells. It is a pretty song and I like the Bing Crosby version.When I was very little my hometown had silver bells hung above the center of the main street. Each cluster of bells was surrounded by a bed of pine boughs and red bows. It was so beautiful and as a little tiny girl I was amazed by them. This song was playing from the local variety store.  It was a lovely winter day and I was very happy as I walked along.  It made quite an impression on me and the song makes me happy to this day. Isn't it interesting how music becomes associated with memories and feelings?   When I was around 8 my sister drove me into New York City (She was old enough to be my mother) to see the stores and there were Silver Bells in the city all along the street.  Macy's had them inside hanging from the ceiling. Macy's takes up one entire square city block in Manhattan. It just reinforced my enjoyment of that song.

2.Do you have a special dinner for the holidays? What foods are included?

A lovely goose  or Cornish hens would be nice with wild rice and  sautéed vegetables.  A chocolate jelly roll filled with whipped cream and made to look like a log (Bûche de Noël) for dessert!

3.Holiday movies ... which do you like to watch?

Well Christmas or not my favorite story is A Christmas Carol. It is a story that addresses much of the evil in the world.So, always that.  The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart is also a nice story as well as Meet Me in  St. Louis with Judy Garland.. Another would be The Bishop's Wife with Loretta Young,David Niven, Cary Grant and the wonderful Gladys Cooper!. Loretta was the great granddaughter of Brigham Young.

4. What traditions do you continue to keep year after year for the holidays? Being with family on holidays is to me the most important tradition and must never be stopped for any reason. 

for those who asked my egg roll recipe is in the post below.

I wish you and yours a very joyous and happy holiday season. 

Homemade Egg Rolls

Homemade Egg Rolls:

 Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken  (turkey if you like)
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp minced garlic
2 1/2 cups of shredded cabbage and carrot (you can use coleslaw mix in a bag)
3 scallions sliced up small
2 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
1 large beaten egg
1 T sesame oil  (but you really don't need it if you don't have it)
quart of oil for frying
Egg roll wrappers. Sauces for dipping... any you like.

Instructions:
Cook the chicken & drain all fat off, mix with all other ingredients including the sesame oil (except the egg which is used to seal the egg rolls and not added in)      Get veggies softened a bit.
Wrap in egg roll from corner to corner turning in the sides  and use beaten egg to seal the edges closed.
Fry in oil 375F or in a heavy bottom pot with 2 inches of oil until golden and crispy looking.  Drain well on paper towels and serve with your favorite sauces or mustards.

Folks if you only have cabbage and carrot and a bit of onion and some soy sauce, they will work out fine. Just fill in the egg rolls and fry. The sauce gives a bit more flavor but they are delicious no matter what.

 Italian Egg Rolls.. brown ground beef with celery and onion, add some spaghetti sauce (not too runny) and mozzarella and fill the egg rolls.. Deep fry.. Eat!

German Egg  Rolls: ground up pastrami mixed with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese... wrap up and fry. Serve with mustard or Russian dressing.

Sunday Stealing

Hi. Time for Sunday Stealing

1What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?

Being with people.

2Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send?
I send out Chanukah and Christmas cards to my friends.

3Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em? I have never gotten one but I think I would love them!!

4 Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em? Again, I would love them.
 

5How soon do you start shopping? Well, I shop when I can get someone to take me. So far.. no luck but, not much interested right now either.

6Real or fake tree? I think a fake would be best as a real one would dry out right?

7When do you put up your tree? Right now I have a ton of fallen down trees in the yard .. hehehehe but December is when trees go up, though many do it on Thanksgiving.

8When do you take down your tree? When I get the energy.

9Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type) 7 feet tall with lots of red and candles. That sounds nice to me.

10What do you top your tree with? Umm, I would choose a star.

11Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?  I began a few years ago to do this when Christmas came under attack because I said I would do just that if it was attacked. I kept my word.  If Chanukah gets attacked, which will be next I suppose, I will put a giant chanukiah on the roof instead of in my front window!!  Leave religions alone!!

12Is there a wreath hanging on your door? Usually yes.

13Do you hang up stockings? Yes to dry in the bathroom ;)

14 Your favorite Christmas Movie(s) Well, I have a lot of these. I love A Christmas Carol and its my favorite book actually. Its about loving your fellow man and makes some very important points

15Be honest: A Christmas movie you hate. I don't know that many to have any to hate!

16Favorite Christmas Song(s) I do like the song from Meet Me in St. Louis.. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Judy sings it so well.

17Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up.  Oh that awful Maria Carey All I want for Christmas.   

18Give or Receive? Both are fine.

19Eggnog or Mulled Cider? Egg Nog is rich and creamy so  it gets my vote.

20Ham or Turkey?  Well come on now.. it for sure ain't EVAH gonna be ham in da house.. so Turkey! However.. I like home made Chinese Egg rolls ... can't wait.

Happy Holiday Meme.. Sat 9

The week closed with a grave diagnosis for a close relative.  

The Famous Anonymous also finally goes for a test on Monday which could also have serious outcome but I am optimistic on that one.    Still, we keep our chins up and move along.This is all  part of life outside Eden.

And though my answers will be very boring, I am joining in for Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Happy Holidays! (from the archives)

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?
I have never made wish lists. I just don't do that.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?   I hope I am on the nice list  👼
3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?
No but I did send cards. Last year the farthest from Sarajevo.   This year the farthest was California.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?   No but I do need a new dryer, vacuum cleaner and parts for my mother's 1964 blender!  I will wait and save up though. I pay cash or I don't buy.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?  I like A Christmas Carol as it is a year round story about being kind and loving your fellow man.

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?
No I have not. I rarely go out on holidays.
 

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?    I was never at a company party of any kind. I guess I always worked for boring people . 😁 

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather? 

 I would like an ice cold drink!In winter I used to crave ice cold coca cola.

 9. Share a memory from last Christmas. Egg rolls. Delicious, big fat, deep fried home made egg rolls!  I'll be making them again this year.

I have put up the Tuesday 4 meme since things on my mind took all thought of it from my head last week. If it goes up now I won't forget it.

I'll be doing Sunday Stealing this weekend as well.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. Keep warm and happy.

What? No Tuesday 4?

Apologies for lack of this week's Tuesday 4.  Life just got away from me this week but Tuesday 4& will be back Sunday Evening.

 

Sat 9.. Santa Baby

Saturday 9: Santa Baby (1987)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.      I have linked to Kylie Minogues version which is far superior and cuter.

1) In this song, Madonna refers to Santa as "baby," "honey" and "cutie." What's the most recent endearment someone called you?
Well, I don't really hear endearments from anyone so.. its been years and years probably.

2) At the top of her list are a fur coat, a new convertible and a yacht. If you could receive any of those luxury items, which would you choose?     I suppose the yacht!

3) She would like to decorate her tree with ornaments from Tiffany's. Do you have a favorite holiday ornament or decoration?     The ones made by children or given to me by children.

4) "Santa Baby" was written in 1953, before electronic payments. While her wish list includes blank checks, a 2017 survey revealed that 51% of consumers felt check writing was "a pain." Who received the last check your wrote? Who most recently gave you a check?  No one's given me a check but I did pay a small bill with one. Seems people are exceptionally lazy today when writing out a simple check is a "pain".

5) Madonna has been a successful singer for decades, and 1985's "Into the Groove" is her top-seller. What's your favorite Madonna song?     I don't have one. I am just not a Madonna fan at all.    

6) Madonna was born in Bay City, MI, and traveled to New York City to find fame and
fortune. When she first arrived, she supported herself by working at Dunkin' Donuts. What's your standard DD order? 

   I don't go to Dunk Donuts(or any fast food or coffee shops). I do buy their flavored coffees at the grocery store though.  I like Cinnamon Bun, Pumpkin Spice and their Hazelnut.

7) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her dentist. Have you received many cards this year?        No I have not received any Christmas cards at all.

8) Will you wrap many presents? Or do you prefer to use gift bags?      I will wrap what gifts I give, but there won't be many.

9) Madonna recorded "Santa Baby" to benefit The Special Olympics. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you.         St Jude hospital for Children.  Most charities are bogus, even huge ones that are very famous. St Jude's is not.

Friday Photos

Not a photo today but a drone video of home. When things are troubling, as they are for most and my family as well right now as we await brain mri results on the famous anonymous and biopsies for another family member. It is a difficult time .. but the ocean is a constant remind that life is good , God is great and the song, Three Little Birds is amazing and comforting.

Some of you have seen this.. others not so I show it again:    Come see my home...

If you haven't seen my Chanukah post from yesterday, take a look. 

Don't forget to look for the Aurora Borealis (I saw it last night).

Chanukah 2020

Chanukah Sameach!   It has been a terrible year for so many reasons and for so many people.But in the midst of trouble there is always light at the end of the tunnel.This is a photo of my menorah from a few years ago on the 8th night of Chanukah when all the candles are finally lit and shining in the window. There is nothing as beautiful or as steady as the light from olive oil burning in a menorah.   God has restored the light to the world in his holy temple, may you find that light and follow it with all your heart.  God bless you each and every one.

Gift of the Magi... Tuesday 4

Hi friends! 

Did you know that all of Noah's friends on Facebook and Twitter un-followed him because he kept posting troubling posts about the world's condition and they were sick of hearing about it?   Well, they did and then the rain came and it didn't matter anymore.
 

Gift of the Magi

 Welcome to Tuesday 4 kept up in honor and memory of Toni Taddeo.

Let's talk about gifts this week.

1. Whether it's Christmas, Chanukah or a birthday party nice gifts can be hard to pick out.  Is there a safe go to gift you think will fit anyone?  

I think flowers,foods(basket of teas, coffees with cup, etc.) candy or wine are good things to try.

2. Is wrapping a gift a necessary part of the excitement of giving and receiving?

I think so, yes. A beautifully packaged present is lovely and says you cared to make it special.

3. What gifts given to you did you love the most?

My favorite gifts are from my children... a key rack my son made, a sign pounded out with nail holes with a heart from my daughter(Her brother helped her), a carved Ivory soap in form of an eagle from the famous Anonymous and a lovely I love you to the moon and back from the Little.

There are others they have made me and I really love these gifts far above any others.

4. In the O. Henry book The Gift of the Magi, a man sells his pocket watch to buy some beautiful hair  combs  for his wife's long hair  but she has sold her hair to buy him a platinum pocket watch chain.

Have you ever saved long and hard to buy someone a special gift? Would you be okay with a holiday that  didn't include gifts? Would friends and family understand?

Yes. I have to save up for most gifts I give or spend a lot of time crocheting, etc.

I have had many holidays without gifts. I was extremely poor while my kids were little.

If you've not read the works of O. Henry, get cracking. They are marvelous!

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 1966

  Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.


1) The bridge that inspired this song is The Queensboro Bridge in New York City. Are you near a bridge right now as you answer these 9 questions?
 I am surrounded by bridges as I live by the seashore. There are big draw bridges, little bridges.. all shapes and sizes. 

One bridge is mentioned in the song "My Eyes Adored You" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.. "walking home evey day, over Barnegat Bridge and Bay". 

Here are some photos of it: (click to enlarge photos)

Driving home over the bridge

 I took this photo at night ...You can just see the bridge lights.

 

Taken from the car on the way home

Mainland in foreground.. then bridge and bay.. then barrier island and Atlantic Ocean. I live here.

2) Paul Simon says he "loathes" this song and only performs it because fans want to hear it. What's your favorite Paul Simon song? I suppose the 59th Street Bridge Song and Bridge over Troubled Water. 
 
3) "Groovy" is such a 1960s word. What common word/phrase from 2020 do you predict will sound just as silly and quaint some day?
 "Like"
4) Paul is a lifelong Yankees fan and was thrilled to meet his all-time idol, Joe DiMaggio. Mr. DiMaggio was, at first, less than thrilled to meet Paul because he thought the song "Mrs. Robinson" made fun of him. Once Simon convinced him it was an homage, the men got along fine. Do you have a celebrity encounter to tell us about?
Nothing spectacular or worth mentioning, no.
5) Art Garfunkle was the other half of Simon and Garfunkle. Art and Paul met in sixth grade, when were both in a school production of Alice in Wonderland. Tell us about one of your school theatrical appearances.
 I was in some 9th grade play.. I have no clue wha it was about or called.
6) "Artie" used to love needling Paul about his height -- or lack thereof. He maintained he was trying to be funny, but Paul thought is was mean and says the constant digs hurt. Is there anyone in your life who similarly enjoys teasing?
 . Digs about actual physical things is a nasty cheap aggression by jealous people.
7) Paul told NPR that his impulse to write new music has always come "in bursts." He'll go years without composing, and then he'll write every day for months. Do you often feel creative?
 Yes, so I paint and make things.
8) In 1966, when this song was popular, First Daughter Luci Johnson married Patrick Nugent. Their reception was held at the East Room of the White House. The couple had an 8 ft. tall wedding cake and when the bride threw her bouquet, it was caught by her sister, Lynda. Sure enough, Lynda married a year later. Tell us about a wedding you attended (or your own).
 Umm.. I don't recall all that much about the weddings I went to or participated in.
9) Random question: Which do you regret more -- the times you were cautious or the times your were reckless?
 I don't know how to answer. I guess one time when I was a bit reckless.

Photos for Friday

The last of autumn is sad but sweet as winter draws nearer. Time goes faster these days and it was a very short time ago when autumn began and we were grateful for the bold colors and crisper temperatures. Now we await winter on the 21st and the first alignment of Jupiter and Saturn  which last occurred 800 years ago. It will create the look of a giant super star in the heavens!  It's last occurrence was March 4, 1226

 First up.. a neighbors house, complete with music. And the house across the street has a light show with a radio station. It is also amazing!  The neighborhood has gone all out lately with every holiday.

Then some nature in the neighborhood as well.
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