My New Year’s resolutions are simple. I resolve to be more patient, less selfish, cherish my friends, and in my small way help whoever needs help. I cannot conceivably influence the world’s destiny, but I can make my own life more worthwhile. I can give some help to some people; that is not vital to [...]
Archive for December, 2011
Resolutions
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Gladys Taber, Resolutions, Stillmeadow Sampler, Winter on Saturday, December 31, 2011 | 14 Comments »
Settling In
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged A Christmas Blizzard, A Thatched Roof, book lists, Mini Book of Recipes; Tea time, Mrs. Miniver, Settling in after Christmas, The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on Friday, December 30, 2011 | 21 Comments »
These cherubs were playing their sweet music this year, trumpeting in the season, holding heavenly notes all these long winter nights. I knew, I just KNEW, that if I put them atop a few books of Christmases past, they would herald in a few more literary pages for me to turn in the long [...]
The Grand Essentials
Posted in Uncategorized on Thursday, December 29, 2011 | 18 Comments »
The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. We’ve been busy here on the Cutoff; opening presents, tasting molasses cookies for the very first time, chasing Kezzie so she can “fine” Yia Yia and have a good belly laugh, waiting for Papa to [...]
Did the animals speak?
Posted in Uncategorized on Monday, December 26, 2011 | 22 Comments »
In some traditions, it is said that animals speak in human tongue at midnight on Christmas Eve. While I have not heard an animal speak at midnight, I did notice some peculiarities this morning. For instance, these Santas, left on the table after our Christmas feast, looked a bit spent this morning as sunlight streamed [...]
Christmas Day
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Bev Doolittle, Christmas Day, Give or Take a Week or Two on Sunday, December 25, 2011 | 20 Comments »
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to you all, wherever you are, and thank you one and all for your presence in my life here on the Cutoff. Penny (Christmas Day, Give or Take a Week or Two, Bev Doolittle)
A Good Day for Reflection
Posted in Uncategorized on Saturday, December 24, 2011 | 14 Comments »
Most of the baking is done and what is left to bake won’t take long. A good time for reflection. The molasses cookies are now frosted and stored in a big, Tupperware cake tote. The tote has never been used to tote cake, mind you. Instead, is employed once a year for molasses cookies. The [...]
Fallen Angel
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged "tidings of great joy", Luke's Gospel on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 | 26 Comments »
I was an angel of the Lord. A fallen angel, really, though I redeemed myself the night of the birth. Our Sunday school at Holy Apostles was staging the Nativity and I was selected to be an angel – THE ANGEL – who proclaims the joyful tidings of Jesus’ birth to the sheep abiding shepherds. [...]
Radio Days
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Garrison Keillor, George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life, Mary Hatch, Pheasant Run Theatre, Prairie Home Companion, radio shows, The Green Hornet, The Shadow on Sunday, December 18, 2011 | 20 Comments »
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. . . . . . and we are ON the air! A birthday gift from Tom was tickets to see “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. Last year, we saw a screening of the movie at the historic Tivoli Theater on my birthday, which was a [...]
