Christmas 2008 is just a few days away. I
cannot wrap my mind around that fact. I see the Christmas tree, I see the
checkbook, I see the lights at my neighbors’ houses, and yet, it seems unreal.
However, Christmas seems to be getting closer.
I had a happy moment today at lunch. We were
eating at La Frontera, and a mariachi band came over and serenaded our table.
At first I thought it was annoying. I was trying to eat a Crazy Taco, and that
takes some concentration, because I like to break off pieces of the bowl and eat
it. They left. Then the mariachi guys came around again, and I thought what the
heck, and I asked them to play Jingle Bells. They did a funny medley of that
plus Feliz Navidad. I looked at my mother singing along and bopping happily in
her seat next to me, and Iooked at my kids, and suddenly, I got some Christmas
spirit. A big dose. A warm wash of Christmas happy.
We had been to church, where I had gotten a
little dose. There was a beautiful handcrafted crèche on a small table in the
back of the sanctuary, and it featured happy, joyous angels, and animals. I
pointed out to Michael that the baby and Mary and Joseph were missing, but the
setting was there. I’m sure the family will appear Christmas eve. I felt a
little Christmas happy then. I try to remind my kids of what Christmas is all
about, as often as possible.
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We got back from lunch today and I planted some tulip bulbs which
have been in the fridge for months. I hope out of the 10 or so bulbs that at
least a few will come up. While I was doing that, Michael dragged the pumpkin
to the side of the house and hacked it up with the hatchet. He loved doing that
and I put the remains in my compost bed over there. Why is it boys like to
destroy things?!
Alesia has been in a mood all afternoon. She spent several hours
sitting in the dining room cutting things out of magazines and pasting them in
a scrapbook – like ads for shoes, clothes, etc. It seems kind of an odd thing
to do, I know, but cutting things out comforts her.
Michael and I went to work making goodies. We made an Apricot
Brandy Pound Cake. I didn’t have apricot brandy so I used peach brandy and it
turned out fine. The recipe is below. We also made two batches of brownies –
homemade, not from a mix. The homemade recipe my mother uses is very easy. We
sent some goodies to the neighbors and kept some for ourselves. I’m also taking
some to work tomorrow.
Alesia was in sort of a hyper mood later tonight. I don’t know
what to attribute it to, but I’ve noticed lately Sundays are when she is not
happy, and I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that I have to
go to work tomorrow.
We watched an old movie tonight, Arsenic and Old Lace. Cary Grant
was such a hottie. I hate that word, but he was the original hottie. If you
want to show the kids a great, classic movie, rent Arsenic and Old Lace.
Apricot Brandy Pound Cake
- 3 cups sifted all-purpose
flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon rum flavored
extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup apricot brandy
- 1 cup butter
- 3 cups white sugar
- 6 eggs
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
(165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Mix together the
flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Combine the sour cream, rum flavoring,
orange extract, almond extract, lemon extract, vanilla extract and apricot
brandy. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar
until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour
mixture alternately with the sour cream and flavorings mixture, stirring
just until incorporated.
- Pour batter into prepared
pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick
inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
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