Big buy this weekend, snow tires for Jim’s “new” car that arrived last week. We’re supposed to get another snow dump tonight and tomorrow and the tire store was not crowded with holiday shoppers at all! It took me 20 minutes to drive two miles home, however, because cars were lined up for a mile to get to the outlet mall nearby. Jim wants a boot for snow, but we’re not going near Columbia or Bass or Track & Trail until AFTER the day after Christmas.
With the frig and freezer full to bursting I’ve taken to keeping mineral water and some juices in the garage. Imagine a one-car garage filled with eight all-season tires and other sundry items and adding refrigerator items? It’s time to shop the refrigerator! There are no traffic jams between my desk (the dining room table) and the frig.
On Saturday I made a comforting cauliflower-cheese soup. We had a cup of it with dinner Saturday night and it was the mainstay of last night’s dinner. There’s a new bakery down the street and I bought a sliced loaf of gorgeous Pumpernickel bread. My Friday delivery included a package of Dietz & Watson smoked Black Forest ham. And I had some extra-sharp Vermont cheddar on hand. I sliced the cheese thinly, put a very thin layer of butter inside the bread with some grainy mustard, and placed the cheese on both sides of the bread with two slices of ham in between, buttered the outside and grilled it until it was all toasty and melted. It was great!
I told Jim I’m going to come up with some new soups and we’ll do an interesting soup and sandwich combo for dinner one night a week, at least during the winter months. The mountains look gorgeous up here, and ski season is nearly in full swing. We’re thinking of trying cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. There’s a six-foot wide trail right at our back door and it’s not plowed during the winter, it’s groomed, so XC skiers glide by during the day and it’s a sight to see. We wouldn’t glide at first, we’d probably be on the ground or trying to prevent ourselves from falling down! I’m thinking snowshoes might not be a bad thing to have around when it comes to walking Zoe in new snow.
Jim has two days off this week (yea!) for a four-day weekend. We’re spending Christmas Eve with friends and Christmas Day together. I’ve ordered a rack of lamb and will make a simple meal. With my family, I was always too busy to go to a blockbuster movie during the day, but my brother and sister always found the time… This year we make our own traditions and decisions. Jim got a car and snow tires for his birthday (the 23rd) and Christmas. I still have a “cranberry tree” and some hors d’oeuvres to make. That said, I can’t wait for the new movie “Crazy Heart” to come out nationally, as it’s now in NYC and LA. It may inspire me to get back to the guitar. Jeff Bridges already has a Golden Globe nomination for portraying a down and out country singer. Can’t wait!
In the meantime I have taken out the guitar not to practice but to figure out a few Christmas tunes and find easier chords for Edelweiss for the nieces as that song has been requested by my brother-in-law. I’ve also been toying with the keyboard. We gave the girls my first guitar, which they’ve already opened, and they have yet to see the Yamaha keyboard (same as mine) that we mistakenly sent to their grandparents house so they’ll get that in a few days, finally a surprise!
Music and cooking, holiday spirit, and lots of snow. We miss our families and old friends this time of year, in this new place. Wishing you well, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
Note to PDX, we went to the Swaner EcoCenter on Saturday and bought two ornaments, a recycled glass star and a hand-knitted mini-mitten (it’s too dark out to take a photo) for our front door wreath. The mitten is Zoe’s ornament this year. Dee
Dee, Edelweiss in G is a fabulously easy play on the guitar. You really want a copy of “Rise Up Singing,” it has lyrics and chords for a bazillion songs. It’s a great reference.
My wreath has tiny Christmas stockings on it!
I could only find free sheet music in F and know that will frustrate the girls so I transposed it to G, all I have to do now is notate it on the lyrics. Thanks! And for Rise Up Singing, I’ll check it out. Dee
Maybe you want a copy for the girls as a gift, too!
Jim bought me Rise Up Singing for Christmas. After all, he got a car. I’ll wait to see if the girls actually take up guitar and keyboard before buying books.
I gave them a few pieces of music all in A and D, and demonstrated the chords and fingering. Plus gave them a beginner guitar book that will teach them the parts of the guitar and strings. Sent along a Korg tuner, picks, etc. so they should be set. And the Yamaha keyboard is all “self-taught” of course I bought the cheap floor model with no music rest or manual but they’ll need the lessons, I don’t want them.
Best to you and your family this year! Dee
Well here’s a vote for “Avatar”: Z & I went to see it Mon night; it’s basically a western-in-space but visually quite awe-inspiring! I think you’ll like it (& esp Jim will too)…
Virtual hugs for the holidays!