'Tis the Season

By now I think we all pretty much know that it's a well established fact on this blog that I suck at poetry. 

In case you haven't noticed, I've been working on that. In the past few months I've posted a humorous Halloween Poem and some more thoughtful Haikus. And in the spirit of "practice makes perfect" or at least "if at first you don't succeed . . ." I'm trying, trying again today. I really worked on the specifics of this one; the prose, the imagery, the feeling I was trying to convey and, if I do say so myself, it lacks a certain je ne c'est quoi so evident in my other poems. Actually I do know c'est quoi it's missing, a certain level of suckery. I still have far to go. Although I tried to carry the theme of colors and seasons throughout, it's supposed to be one poem but it really feels more like two. But it's still better than what I've done in the past. So, disjointed though it may be, I actually think this one's not so bad. 

Or I've built up a tolerance to my own poetry. One or the other. You decide.

'Tis the Season

 Cold winter morning

by the kitchen window
 silence.
 

Hazelnut coffee warms my hands, awakens my spirit,

as it's scent silently climbs the stairs,

to tickle the consciousness of those still asleep.

Yellows and oranges of the fire in the hearth 

mesmerizes as it gathers its strength 

breaking the silence with hisses and pops.

And outside my window

White, white snow whispers from above,

performs its balancing act on bare branches,

coats the landscape with anonymity.

The rising sun uncovering glimpses of its sparkle.

Spring buds,
emeralds and greens, 
share the glory of growth.

Summer flowers,
lilacs and roses, 
showcase the bounty of beauty.

Fall leaves, 
scarlets and ambers, 
highlight the challenge of change.

Winter snow,
white and sparkling
If you listen, with your heart, 
tenders the promise

of peace.

Mint Dessert Dip with Chocolate Cookies

Before you go, click on these links to more poetry by some of my friends:

Ode to Christmas Past by Dawn of Spatulas on Parade.
Oh, Christmas Tree by Candice of Measurements of Merriment.

 Celebrating December by Robin of Someone Else's Genius.
Through Foggy Windows by Sarah of Not That Sarah Michelle. 
Tis the Season for Poetry by Jules of The Bergham Chronicles. 

 

Mint Dessert Dip with Chocolate Cookies

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow fluff
5 oz spearmint candies, finely crushed (can substitute peppermint)

2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 2/3 cups flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa

3 oz white candy melts or vanilla bark
red decorating sugar

Directions:
*Mix together the softened cream cheese, fluff and finely crushed candies. Refrigerate.
*Beat butter. Mix in powdered sugar just until incorporated, then the flour and baking cocoa. Roll into a log, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Remove cookie dough from fridge and cut into 1/4 inch slices. Place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet and bake for 12 - 14 minutes.
*Allow to sit for one minute before removing from cookie sheet. Cool completely.
*Melt the candy melts or vanilla bark in the microwave at 10 second intervals, mixing well in between, until smooth.
*Dip one end of each cookie into the melted coating, place onto a piece of wax paper or parchment paper, sprinkle with red decorating sugar and allow to set completely.
*HINT: for faster setting, place the wax paper onto a tray, place the dipped cookies onto the wax paper and place the tray in the refrigerator.
*To serve: remove dip from the refrigerator, place in a bowl and bring to room temperature. Surround dip with the cookies.

Use Your Words: Texting the Holiday

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: holiday ~ family ~ drama ~ peace ~ presents ~ surprise

They were submitted by: Spatulas on Parade.

I, like most of the people I know, am looking in my rear view mirror at a hectic, fattening, labor intensive but oh-so-worth-it family Thanksgiving 2015. It was an unusual Thanksgiving for my family, lots of drama. A distracted driver crossed the median and hit my mom causing pain, trauma and totalling mom's car. And PurDude and I had a talk about that broken leg. The situation is so much worse than he'd let on. I was, still am, absolutely mortified trying to process what had actually happened. As traumatized as we are, there is peace in knowing, for now, that everyone is OK. 

In the end I had my immediate family home, missed my extended family, cooked too much, ate too much, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Baked Cauliflower Carrot Casserole

I, unlike most of the people I know, am not out frantically shopping for presents. In fact, tonight is the 6th night of Chanukah, the holiday I celebrate this time of year.

Chanukah is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar. It's a challenge because that means it falls on different days each year on the Gregorian calendar that we use. Some years, like this one, it comes early. It's one of those "good news, bad news" situations. I am done with my shopping and able to opt out of the fighting-for-parking blood sport. I do, however, miss some good Christmas sales. I don't have to sit in traffic jams or strap on a catheter to make it through the check-out lines. But, and this is the one that tips the scales in the "bad news" direction, my youngest is away at school. For the first time he will not be home for even one of the eight days.

I decided that each night of Chanukah I would text PurDude a picture of that night's menorah as soon as it's lit. At first he thought I was just reminding him of the holiday. Eventually as the days went by and the texts kept coming, each night with the menorah growing more and more lit, he grew to understand that it was my way of keeping him here connected to the family as we celebrate the holiday. I hope it was a nice surprise.

And presents? Nothing for me right now, thanks. In 9 days I'll be heading back to the airport to pick up mine. He'll be staying home for 20 days.

There will be drama.
There will be peace.
There will be family.

Links to the other Use Your Words posts:

Spatulas on Parade

Not That Sarah Michelle
Sparkly Poetic Weirdo 
 Southern Belle Charm
Rena's World 
 Dinosaur Superhero Mommy
The Bergham Chronicles 
Eileen's Perpetually Busy
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Someone Else's Genius 
Confessions of a part time working mom 
Climaxed 

Baked Caulifower Carrot Casserole

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower, cleaned and cut into florets
1/2 # baby carrots, cut in half (small) or thirds (larger)
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/2 stick butter, melted
2 TBSP orange juice
1 can (2.8 oz) French fried onions
3/4 cup shredded cheddar

Directions:
*Grease a 2 quart round of 8 X 11 casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Cook the cauliflower and carrot chunks in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until they just start to soften. Mix in the red pepper, salt, pepper and cayenne.
*Crush (you can use your hands) the French fried onions. Mix with the melted butter, orange juice and cheddar. Add half of this mixture to the cauliflower mixture and spread into the casserole dish. Top with the rest of the French fried onion mixture.
*Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot.

A Holiday Story: First Steps

Last December I had an idea for an unusual project. I wanted to present a holiday worthy story with a twist. The twist was that I would start the story, then see if any other bloggers wanted to add their voice to the plot. A sentence, a paragraph, a section, I would not limit them. We would craft a story together, each adding our own voice, building on the work of those ahead of us.

To my amazement seventeen bloggers jumped on board and the Progressive Story Project was born.

I was not in the least bit amazed when the story was extraordinary. It was magical. The authors enjoyed writing it and the response from readers was overwhelming. They were asking for more.

The decision was made that we would maintain the integrity of A Holiday Story. So this summer 18 of us, some original authors and some new to the project, wrote another story, a darker one called Storm Past. This too was a challenge and this too was a success.

Here we are back in December and, as promised, we're continuing A Holiday Story. Once again there are some original authors and some new friends added to the mix. And once again, a wonderful collaboration of styles and voices.

Before you read on, be sure you're up to date:

A Holiday Story 
A Holiday Story: Part Deux 
A Holiday Story: The Finale
A Holiday Story: Set In Motion 

Meg of Just A Little Nutty

"Girl! Get up! Can't you hear your alarm? It was so loud, I could hear it playing on the other side of the house. Get up!" Her mother was standing over her. "You have that interview in twenty five minutes and afterward I was hoping that the three of us could get some fancy hot cocoa. I've got a little story that I think it's time for you both to hear. But first you really need to get that bed head under control and get your buns to the computer. Back in my time we sat down across a table for an interview. Now you can Skype wherever you are."

Her mother bent over to pick up a pair of leggings and socks that were poking out from under the bed. She went into the adjoining bathroom and turned the sink on so the water would warm up and tossed the clothes into the white wicker hamper.

Bethryn stretched, yawned,  and cursed taking a sleep aid with so little time to actually sleep and tried to shake her head clear from the vivid dream she had just been having.

"Actually Mom, I have something I wanted talk to you two about but," Bethryn said and glanced at the clock. "Oh my gosh! I've got to get going! I'm going to be late!"

"I'll grab you some coffee," her mother called to her daughter from within her closet. "I'll just set out a couple of blouses on the bed. Just a suggestion to make the morning easier."

Beth rolled her eyes as she twisted her hair up into a pony tail and splashed her face with warm water.

She could hear her mother humming gently to the music from her alarm clock and she was grateful to have someone who loved her so much, that she was currently pawing through her jewelry box for a pair of earrings that would finish off the outfit she put together for her daughter.

"Damon and I are going to make a snowman while you are chatting, so I'll just leave your coffee next to your computer. Good luck!" her mother called from down the hall, and she could hear the soft metallic click of the front door.

"I am ready for anything!" she confidently told herself in the mirror, and then made a funny faxe at herself.

A familiar chime came from the other room.

Her computer was receiving the video call that she had been expecting.

She sat down and took a deep breath before pressing the button to accept the call.

The time for greatness was upon her.

 Rena of Rena's World

She sat down in the old worn chair, picked up the mouse and with a deep breath she clicked on the "answer" icon. She immediately saw herself in the small box in the corner of the screen and thought "oh, I look horrible this morning." Her eyes moved slowly up the screen whereupon she took another deep breath and started choking. Those eyes, the same amber eyes she had seen in her dream. She picked up the coffee to stop herself from choking and took a big gulp. It was probably unprofessional, but so was choking to death on her very first interview. She pulled herself together as she sat up straighter and looked him in the eyes. Eyes that were so beautiful and familiar and then spotted the twinkle in his. "He knows," she thought, "he knows of my dream".

"Hello, Ms. Myers, how are you doing this morning?" he asked smiling back on her screen, looking way more handsome than a man should this early in the morning. "I know you have a lot of questions, but I just want to say if you have an open mind and an open heart then this is the joy for you. I'm sure Kamryn told you that you would have to move, is that an option?"

"Yes, it is an option, but first what kind of business do you run?" she asked, trying to stay on some sort of professional playing field. 

"Im in baked goods. I need an overseer. A manager of sorts so I have more time for my baking. You would have to move quite a ways from where you live now, but we would provide free housing and transportation for as long as you worked for us. How about we set up a live interview and I'll fly you here to look around. You may bring your son and mother with you if it would make you more comfortable."

"Yes, yes Sir that would be perfect," she said not believe that it was really happening.

"Great, can you leave tomorrow?"

"Sure," she answered.

"I'll have a car pick you up at noon tomorrow and bring you to the airport. You'll have to stay over but I'll make all of the arrangements and email you an itinerary."

"Thank you, thank you very much. I'll see you tomorrow then," she said as she signed off of the video call. She sat in her chair staring at the blackened screen and knew without a doubt that her life was going to change forever . . .

 Sarah of Not That Sarah Michelle

"Then he asked me if I'd like to have a live interview with him and he offered to fly both you and Damon out as well. He just didn't tell me where we were actually going . . ." Beth said, trailing off into the thoughts that have plagued her since the interview. Since the dream.

"That is a little off, don't you think?" her mother asked, voicing the thoughts Beth had in her head. Just then the email chimed on Beth's phone, alerting her to a new message. Opening her email app, she saw that it was from Leon Atnas. The email said that the car would arrive to pick her family up at noon tomorrow to take them to the airport. There, they would board a chartered jet that would fly them to their destination, where Mr. Atnas would meet them.

Still, no clue as to where they were going. The mystery of this both intrigued and worried her, causing an anxiety she wasn't used to. The only hint was that they needed to bring warm clothing with them. It wasn't much of a hint because it was winter, but at least she knew it wasn't somewhere tropical.

As she lay in bed later that evening she tossed and turned, thoughts about this trip keeping her awake. The uncertainty of where they were going was bothering her. Normally she is up for an adventure, but her heart has been weighing so heavily recently, she didn't think she could handle this. Try as she might, she just couldn't shake this feeling . . . it wasn't a BAD feeling, it was just  . . . a feeling.

Finally drifting off to sleep, Beth found herself, once again, in the sleigh with Mr. Atnas. The familiarity in his eyes brought her peace and sadness. She missed her husband so much and, with Mr.Atnas' strong resemblance, it made that ache for him that much stronger. Tears soaked her pillow as, in her dream, she told Mr. Atnas about the love of her life and the loss in her heart.

 Dawn of Spatulas on Parade

In the dream he was attentive, his eyes never left hers, it was comforting and upsetting at the same time. She poured out her soul to him, her fears, her dreams, her shattered life. He understood, really understood.

Those eyes, she could not tear her gaze from them.

Wait, what? What was he saying?

"Wake up Mom! MOM! WAKE UP" Damon was standing over her shouting. She rubbed her eyes, struggled to sit up and looked around. Where was she? Oh yes, the luxury hotel that Mr. Atnas had provided.

"You were dreaming and calling out for Dad, are you okay?" Damon asked while her mother stood in the doorway looking like she would cry.

Dressed, ready and waiting downstairs in the lobby for Mr. Atnas' driver. It was beautiful, like a storybook. Snow, glittering lights, evergreen trees with twinkling lights, and everyone was so happy. Just then the driver pulled up in a bright red Escalade trimmed in gold. She could have sworn she heard bells, must be the atmosphere. The back door opened as she stepped up to the curb. She looked inside . . . wait . . . what? . . . it couldn't be . . .

~~~ Keep reading. The next chapter of this story written by another group of bloggers: A Holiday Story: Impossible Possibilities ~~~