Friday Five

My traditional Advent Open House was tonight. (Two years makes a tradition.) The congregants have left. A couple stayed and cleaned up. I never know what to do when someone takes over and starts cleaning up. My kitchen isn't big enough for two (and it's an open plan you have to go through to get to the den, so everyone sees it.).

So, I'm winding down, glad it's over for another year.

Friday Five

1. What was one of your favorite childhood gifts that you gave:

I was not a very imaginative child. Mom got Evening in Paris until I got older and she decided she loved Shalimar. I can't remember what I gave my Dad: socks? a tie? My sisters and brother? I just don't remember. I'm sure I did give them something, but hey! that was 50 years ago.

1. What is one of your favorite Christmas recipes? Bonus points if you share the recipe with us.

Let's see, my traditional Christmas party food: cheese ball (my mother's recipe: cheddar, cream cheese, blue cheese in about equal portions, cayenne pepper, worchestershire sauce),
crab spread (8 oz cream cheese, 6 oz can crab, I clove garlic crushed, onion (about 2Tbls minced), 1Tbls prepared mustard, 1 Tbls powered sugar, 2 Tbls sherry. Combine everything but the sherry in a pot, heat. Add sherry when ready to serve. Works nicely warm or cold.) Serve with little cocktail rye bread slices.
killer brownies (Duncan Hines brownie mix prepared according to box; 12 oz Nestles semi sweet morsels) fantastic warm
punch: 2 l club soda, 1 can frozen cranberry concentrate.

1. What is a tradition that your family can't do without? (And by family, I mean family of origin, family of adulthood, or that bunch of cool people that just feel like family.)

I live by myself. Right now, I just don't have any traditions. When I was part of a family, going to the movies on Christmas Eve. I always want to open the presents early, so it's a great way for me to be patient.

1. Pastors and other church folk often have very strange traditions dictated by the "work" of the holidays. What happens at your place?

This year, I get to plan a retreat Christmas Day. At least we are doing a Cantata on Sunday and Lessons and Carols on Monday and I'm recycling the following Sunday. Usually, it's the luxury of just not having to do very much at all. The church office is closed between Christmas and New Years; no one expects me to show up. I work on a sermon, try to look ahead until Lent, just chill.

1. If you could just ditch all the traditions and do something unexpected... what would it be?

I want to go to England and go to Christmas Eve services at Kings Chapel (in Oxford or Cambridge or wherever it is). Or somewhere similar. I want to go to Rome and go to Christmas Eve mass at St. Peters.