Christmas comes slowly here on the Cutoff. While we have already been to a few festivities and my Christmas books have slowly started to appear, it is truly bit by bit that our holiday unfolds here.
Last night, the artificial tree came up, released from the confines of its box. We are still debating a real tree this year. Time will work that out.
Tonight, ornaments and angels and all things that glitter made it up the stairs.
Tomorrow, the slow process of unwrapping thirty nine years of Christmases, with a few bits of each of our childhood as well, will start. This is actually a bit early for us to start taking out Christmas as we leave it up until the “wise guys” come in January.
I enjoy the anticipation of these long winter nights, the carols playing, my quiet hour of Christmas books, sipping tea as the afternoon fades to dusk. I enjoy meals with the flicker of candlelight and the emerging scents of pine and cinnamon and ginger.
I also enjoy trying new recipes along with old favorites.
This weekend, I made a new appetizer; goat cheese balls, which prompted all sorts of sophomoric expression and giggles. I will leave this to your own imaginations. These were very easy to make and equally as good. I found the recipe on Dana Treat’s blog, where I often visit for inspiration and good food. Basically, just roll the cheese into a balls, refrigerate about 10 minutes, then roll in chopped pecans, chopped parsley, paprika (to get that red band around the middle), and just about anything else you might like.
How is your December unfurling? Have you tried a new recipe this season?
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
It sounds delicious, a slow savouring of Christmas, a gentle simmer as it approaches. Here, the approach to Christmas is rather more frantic as we wind up our year and prepare for summer holidays all at the same time – not a good combination!
I love the sound of the goat’s cheese balls, especially as we are dairy-free, so thank you for the link. I will try them.
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I can imagine how hectic it must get with both the Christmas holiday and your summer holiday coming at the same time, Juliet. Striving to balance your seasons while still observing the traditional dates of those of us on the other side of the Ecuador is surely frustrating at times. I always admire your gentle approach and respect.
You are welcome. They might be fun to make with a certain little fairy who visits you often.
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I too love the idea of a slowly-unfolding Christmas, Penny, and mine is unfolding very slowly indeed. 🙂 No tree for us nowadays, as we always spend Christmas and New Year elsewhere with our children, but I’m starting to hang the cards as they arrive and DH and I have a small slice of stollen with our afternoon cup of tea.
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I know yours is, Perpetua, and I admire the gentle quiet reflection you and DH observe. Isn’t it fun when the cards start to arrive? Now, that slice of stollen with your afternoon has me yearning for some. ‘
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Dear Penny, we all need a lovely season like this to remember what peace and serenity and good will and friendship and family are about. My mind is on all these things and yet I find myself also thinking of all those people for whom this season is difficult. Those without money for food and gifts. Those whose memories are of lack or of loss. Those who are frightened because of ill health. Those with no coats in this season of chilly winds and snow. And in the midst of these divergent thoughts, I hold on to Advent–a season of hope that all shall be well in our world when we crack open our hearts to the needs of others.
I’m wondering what your Christmas books are: mine are “Amahl and the NIght Visitors,” “Winter Solstice” by Rosamund Pilcher, “The Redbird Christmas” by Fannie Flagg, and “A Christmas Peace” by Anne Perry. I have a DVD and a tape of Amahl and on Christmas Eve I listen to one and then watch the other. I’ve done this for about thirty years and so know all the songs and sing along with the actors/singers. Peace.
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It is good for us all to remember those less fortunate, Dee, whether in need of the very basics of living, or those suffering loss and hurt. Advent is as much about hope as anticipation and we need to be mindful of those less fortunate. Thank you, dear Dee.
I’m actually planning on doing a post about Christmas books, hopefully soon. I have “The Redbird Christmas” and have enjoyed it. What a wonderful way to spent Christmas Eve, listening as you do the Amahl and the Night Visitors. I am thinking I will check to see if it is in our library system. Right now I’m reading a very silly “fluff” book, On Strike for Christmas, mostly because I’m taking some medication that has my own mind temporarily in a fluff and it seems to be all I can concentrate on.
Now, you’ve given me two other books by authors I enjoy to look for.
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I am taking it slowly, too, Penny. I have many things pulling at my time and attention, and I just can’t seem to enjoy Christmas if I move into high gear. My son proposed to his long-time girlfriend this weekend and she accepted, so that’s got us all enthralled. And there have been some family rifts that have mended, or let’s say they’re in the process of mending, and I am just trying not to move so quickly through each day that I don’t have time to fully appreciate what’s going on around us! I have even managed to do a little cookie baking. Now how I’m going to get it all together in time for the big day, I have no idea.
I love the goat cheese balls! I would love to make them! Thanks for something easy! 🙂
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First of all, congratulations on that delightful news. Both pieces, actually. It is always hard to mend those familial rifts, isn’t it, but all-the-better when it begins. Somehow, we manage to get it all together in time. Some years ago, I had major abdominal surgery just before Thanksgiving. With six weeks of recovery, it made for interesting holiday preparations. It remains one of the Christmases I appreciated the most. I would sit on the couch and read short, sentimental words and gaze at the tree or really listen to carols. You are ahead of me on the baking, Debra, though Tom helped me stir caramels yesterday.
I’m so pleased to hear it! I’ll bet those darling girls would love to help (though the cheese does get a little messy). Enjoy, dear Debra.
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Wonderful recipe for all the ‘finger-food’ potluck events we have here at Upriver. I might have to make up a creatively different name for them though. You know how these old people can be ;>)
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These are so simple and delicious, Sallie, I think you will like them. As to the name . . . honestly, we were behaving like 13 year olds. Enjoy, whatever you call them.
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