It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
— at least temporarily! Welcome! and before your head explodes and you run off screaming, read on. I’m not really jumping ahead of the season. Take a comfy seat.
This week’s project has been Christmas shopping , wrapping, and stowing away. Several years ago, I spent a few years working in retail. I learned very quickly to have my shopping done by Thanksgiving. The Christmas shopping “season” was way too busy to be able to enjoy my own shopping.
After I left retail, I continued the habit. If all the shopping is done, I can concentrate on the real purpose of the season. I enjoy giving gifts, but I am well aware that it is just a little tiny part of the Christmas celebration. My real celebration of Christmas will begin with the first Sunday in Advent, which this year is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
I maintain a really strict budget for gift giving. Our family is large, and it is about expressing love, not breaking the bank. The bargains are easier to find early, regardless of what the advertisers tell you.
Another task of the week was to bag up all the hats, scarves, socks and gloves we have collected for the homeless shelter. With the help of my neighbor. we had four large bags this year. Miss Christy and I took them in this morning. I’m happy to say that they were excited to get them. Next on the list is our 12 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We can’t drop those off until mid-November. These are my two favorite places to give. It is so much fun to give others something special.
Now, back to autumn. Our days are beautiful, and the trees are turning magnificent shades of red and gold. We are so fortunate to live in a part of the world that has seasons. Each night we check the weather in several parts of the world, and almost without exception, I like ours best. I will say that in mid-winter, southern California looks pretty good to me.
Our apple harvest is huge this year, and so is everyone else’s. Trying to give them away is like trying to give away zucchini. I’m searching for all the apple recipes I can find. Here is one of our favorites:
Raw Apple Cake
4 Cups of peeled, diced apples
2 Cups sugar
2 eggs
1 Cup chopped nuts
2 Cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda
1/2 Cup oil
Blend oil, sugar, and eggs. Mix well. Add diced apples and remaining dry ingredients. Mix quickly and thoroughly. Place in oiled and floured 2X12X2 inch pan (a bundt pan works well too). Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes. This cake is moist and requires no icing, but is delicious with whipped cream.
We are still enjoying soup every sabbath rest day. So far this fall we’ve had stuffed pepper, vegetable beef, chicken noodle, and minestrone. We so enjoy these as the evenings become cooler.
I hope you are enjoying your beautiful autumn.
Until next time,
Helen
Is this not the perfect autumn day?
Just the still melancholy that I love–
That makes nature and life harmonize.
George Eliot
My Quiet Place 