Twas the Wednesday Before Christmas

and all across the net, not a blogger was stirring not even a computer mouse. Blog posts written and scheduled with care in hope to greet bloggy friends who happen there… “Enough already,” you shout.

Blogville is kinda like ghost town as the holiday season is coming to an end.  Things are slowing down for me, so I can afford a little leisure to blog hop. However, next week will be a different story. I have big plans to spend the entire week with my DH. Yes, he’s using those last vacation days at the year-end or else lose them to be with little ole me! Oh yeah, and our DS. I’ll be officially MIA until the January 2nd.

Come join Joyce in…Wednesday hodgepodge

1. Are you cooking Christmas dinner? How many will be round your table this year? What are we having? I prepared a special Christmas dinner just for us this past weekend and we snuggled in the living room to watch Christmas movies while we ate. It’s not traditional to most, but for us this is a low-key way to enjoy our festive meals. However, we will be sitting around the table on Christmas Eve at my in-laws. If everyone shows up, then there will be 10 people for dinner. For Thanksgiving, I made the feast. My in-laws stored the left-overs in the freezer declaring they have enough for Christmas, so we’ll be having a repeat of ham, turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, green beans, & mixed veggies. I’m going to make an Apple Stack Cake for dessert this time, though.

2. What is one must-have Christmas cookie in your house? Traditionally, it has been sugar cookies. Ever since our daughters moved out in 2009, I may or may not make them. This year, we made Gingerbread cookies. Why not take a look at yesterday’s post Tuesday Before Christmas Random to see just how adorable our cookies turned out. 
3. Santa likes a glass of milk with his cookies-do you? What kind of milk is on tap at your house-skim, almond, soy, full fat (Gasp!) Santa gets skim milk. We’ve  stocked our refrigerator for the last several years with nothing but skim. I love milk, but am lactose intolerant. Bah-hum-bug!!!

4. Time magazine recently named its Person of the Year for 2011. This is the person the editors believe has had the greatest impact, for better or worse, in the past year. This year they chose ‘The Protester’. Your thoughts? Who would you name person of the year for 2011? A protester can be peaceful or violent. To give the title of Person of the Year to a group is ridiculous. I would not want violent protesters to receive glory for the things they’ve done. This honor Time has bestowed upon the group of “The Protester” does just that. Of course, it brings light to those who are fighting a private/personal war peacefully. Unfortunately, the media is all about ratings. They go where the story is no matter how grime or beautiful it may be. In fact, I believe the media loves to feed explosive situations to the public fueling more hatred elsewhere.  This announcement doesn’t come as any surprise.  However, wouldn’t it be wonderful, if the title “Person of the Year” could come from a pool of essays submitted by the general population? Folks could nominate their candidates listing their favorable characteristics perhaps on a city-wide basis, then moving to a state-wide level before moving to a national or world-wide entry into the contest. This information (the essays of the nominee) could then be posted on a website for people to cast his/her vote and wha-lah the people have spoken and a “Person of the Year” chosen in a democratic fashion. 

5. December 21st is National Flashlight Day…when was the last time you needed a flashlight? Did you know right where to find one? We had a power outage back in the summer due to a horrific thunderstorm. Over the years, we’ve learned to keep flashlights in designated spots around the house. We even have a couple of wind-up lanterns, which work fabulously and we never have to worry with replacing batteries in them.
6. candy canes…yum or yuck? Mm, I love candy canes! We put a large candy cane in our stockings every year and we decorate our tree with them.  I like buying the mini candy canes so I can hang on inside my cup of cocoa with the crook draped over the side. It’s not only pretty, but tasty.

7. What Christmas carol lyric means the most to you? 

Away in the Manger has a tender spot in my heart. As a child, it brought me comfort knowing Jesus came to this earth as baby. He was like me or any other child. This verse in the song meant the most to me and still does…

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever,
and love me, I pray!
Bless all the dear children
in Thy tender care
And take us to heaven,
to Live with Thee there.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Did you know in The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodyamics of Turkey, Norwegian scientists have hypothesized that Rudolph’s red nose is probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system?

According to the Encyclopedia of Christmas, all the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.

Speaking of the Twelve Days of Christmas, do you know the gifts mentioned have religious significance? Check out The Twelve Days of Christmas to learn about these.

In Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas by Ace Collins, Christmas is a contraction of  “Christ’s Mass” derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse (first recorded in 1038). The letter “X” in Greek is the first letter of Christ, and “Xmas” has been used as an abbreviation for Christmas since the mid 1500s.

The Encyclopedia of Christmas claims, the first person to decorate a Christmas tree was reportedly the Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). According to legend, he was so moved by the beauty of the stars shining between the branches of a fir-tree, he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.

For more Christmas facts, visit: Random History

If you like to join more randomness, be sure to check out  yesterday’s post, Tuesday Before Christmas Random, and join Stacy next week!

Sit awhile with Patrice to chit-chat…

Christmas wishes to you!