Thursday Thirteen 12/20/07

Thirteen Christmas gifts I have loved, one I still love, and another that helped foster a love that I still have.


1. I loved these when I was a kid. Even when they were my brother's present I still loved to play with them.

2. Come on, who doesn't love a slinky.

3. A doll that was almost as much work as a real baby.

4. A suitable home for any well dressed Barbie. None of my Barbies could wear shoes because our cat thought Barbie was his chew toy. BTW, Barbie was having an affair with my brother's G.I. Joe.

5. I loved LiteBrite, but it was how I first discovered that I was a bit anal retentive. I had to keep the pegs organized.

6. I think we always had an Etchasketch in the house. I think Mom may still have one for the grandkids.

7. Colorforms were so much fun. They fostered the imagination. Hummm, wonder what I might need one of those for.

8. Why did we love these. They didn't do anything and were really that cute. But we just had to have them.

9. I had Rainbow Brite blankets and toys.




10. I used to sneak and play with my older sister's. Then one year, after I had lost all the parts from the old ones, I got one of my own.

11. I put some many miles on my bike, I am surprised the wheels didn't fall off. As active as I was when I was a kid, I can not figure out why I was a cubby kid.

12. One magical Christmas morning I found this under the tree. It has been all downhill since then. What? I mean all uphill since then. This might be worst, best present I ever got.

13. My husband gave me this for Christmas the year I graduated from nursing school. He put in on layaway months earlier. He actually got it from the jewlery store that is in the movie The Rainmaker.

Thursday Thirteen December 6, 2007

Everyone knows that one of the best things about Christmas is eating. There are certain things that my family only make or buy at Christmas time. They always bring that feeling to mind if I happen to sneak them in some other time.

1. Peppermint. I used to get a huge candycane every year. My brother and I would eat peppermint until the first of Feburary. I still think of Christmas when I eat peppermint.

2. Sugar Cookies. I only make them once a year with my nephews and neice. All iced by hand some of them looking quite inedible.

3. Maple glazed Ham. Ok. We make this more than once a year, but it is still pretty special.

4. Fudge. This is truly a diabetic coma waiting to happen. It just melts in your mouth. You might swear that you are only going to have one piece, but I can never stop, can you?



5. Rum Balls. The best part is knowing the rum isn't cooked out and watching my teetotalling aunt go back for seconds or thirds.



6. Eggnog. I wouldn't drink it any other time of year, but at Christmas it just fits.



7. Fruitcake. Not that crap that has been recycled and regifted for years, but fresh fruitcake.



8. Hot Chocolate. Made with half and half, real chocolate, and marshmellows. Raises my cholesterol just thinking about it.



9. Pecan Crisps. My grandmother's recipe. These melt in your mouth too. Rich, buttery, and covered in powdered sugar.



10. Buckeyes. Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.



11. White chocolate covered pretzels. Sweet and salty. Ummm, good.



12. Ribbon candy. Really it doesn't even taste that good. But it sure is festive and I only every see it at Christmas.



13. Gingerbread. Just a little nibble off the gingerbread house. Christmas isn't complete without it.