The 12 Days of Christmas

The twelve days of Christmas make me think of several different things...

 

 A few years ago when Abby and Joe were smaller we painted an ornament for each day and talked about the real meaning behind the symbols.  For instance, the two turtledoves represents the two parts of the bible, Old and New Testament.  You can read the complete list here.

It also brings to mind a very awkward moment with Jonathan's family during the dating years.   They are a very musical family and the first Christmas I spent with them I discovered that one of their Christmas traditions is gathering around the piano to sing Christmas carols. 

How lovely is that?! 

Bring the family together through song and good cheer. 

I love it! 

But when it came time to sing the 12 Days of Christmas they started handing out days to different people.  I was given something very early on like Day 3 maybe.  They explained to me that when it came to the line for day 3 I would sing it.  By. my. self.  I sing great in the car or in the shower or in a big group of people where you really can't hear my voice. 

But on that night I was singin' solo with the Gardners, "threeee frendh hens" about seventeen times (or however many times you sing the third day). 

Of course, they all laughed at me, none louder that Jonathan.  

I think it was my initiation into their family (which I am so grateful to be a part of!) 

And I was glad that I could bring them a little extra Christmas joy that year. 

This year, Jonathan is writing a poem for each of the twelve days.

This link will take you to day five.  Just go older or newer post to see the other days.

Pee-cans

There are walnut groves a-plenty around these parts.

And they are gorgeous.  Rows and rows meticulously planted at even spaces.

And they are delicious.

But I have to say, I am still partial to the pecan.

That's Pee-can.

Pee with a long 'e' and can like a can of beans.

Jonathan's grandmother has a couple trees in her backyard.  So, while we were visiting we put the kids to work--I mean--we all went out back and gathered pecans together!  Seriously, we all were out there.  It was a beautiful day and it is a little addictive.  Finding them, eating them, trying to beat the squirrels to them.  Did you know that if you throw a football up into the tree accurately enough you can knock down more pecans?

That is some entertainment right there!
Not only do you get to watch athletic prowess in action, you get to watch everyone dodge the pecans as they come pelting down from the sky!

Despite the kids eating most of the ones they picked up

(if you look in the pictures, their cheeks are all full)

we were able to make it back home with a bag full of those sweet treats that remind us of Alabama. 

Thanks, Maw Maw.

 Here are a few recipes that I might try out with my coveted stash.

And since we are on the subject of sweet treats,

let us not forget the

pumpkin roll.

Christmas Playlist {She & Him}

Zooey Deschenel and M Ward form the group She & Him.  Their new Christmas album, A Very She & Him Christmas, is tops on my Christmas playlist this year so far.



What are you listening to this holiday season?

Tuscaloosa After the Storm

We visited Tuscaloosa while we were back in Alabama.

We have so many memories there.

I grew up on Alabama football (even though I eventually defected to LSU).  Jonathan's mother's side of the family is from Tuscaloosa so he has memories of holidays with his grandmother and aunt and cousins there.  He also spent four educational(?) years there at "the U-nuh-vuh-suh-tee" during which three of those years we were dating so I spent a fair amount of time there as well.

While we were in town to spend some good turkey-eating time with Jono's family, we also wanted to see what was still there and what wasn't from the April tornado.

Remember the April tornado?

The one a mile wide and stayed on the ground for over 100 miles?

This is a bit of what we saw.

This block had been cleaned up but it is a whole block of just driveways.

Other sections looked as if clean-up hadn't even been attempted.

This is the church in Alberta City that my mother-in-law grew up in.

Got married in.

 There are whole neighborhoods of houses that still have these markings on the windows.

After the storm they were going from house to house searching for people.
It a disturbing reminder of the storm's warpath.

I was struck by how much rebuilding there is still left to do.
The city just has holes in it.

It has been months since Tuscaloosa was struck by the tornado and you most likely won't be hearing about it on the news anymore.  But these people still need help.

Project Blessings is a local Tuscaloosa organization helping low-income and underprivileged homeowners repair their homes--those that desperately need home repair, but do not currently have the means to make them happen.  You can help them with a donation by clicking here or if you are more local find out about volunteering here.

(metal still wrapped around a tree branch)

Naughty or Nice?

SSSSSHHHH!
Don't tell a soul.
It's my letter to Santa

Up at the North Pole.

He thinks I've been good;

That's not quite the truth.

But I'm asking for lots,

Do you think that's uncouth?

I'm better than Tommy;

He sat on his brother.

Much better than Alice,

She barked at her mother.

Suzy doesn't deserve much;

She broke line at school.

Mason did much worse;

He said spitting's cool.

So compared to that tax collector

I think I've done swell.

Just don't compare me to Jesus,

Cause I'll deserve. . . .well, you know.




Find more of Jono's poetry at his blog, My Used Ink.  Look in the December 2010 archives for more Christmas poems!

Alabama the Beautiful

We just got back from our annual trip to Alabama.

We saw so many people. 

Family.

Friends.

And we laughed and laughed.

Just look at all these beautiful faces!

Cousins taught us new things.

There are so many reasons we love Alabama.

But California has captured our heart as well.

New friends have become our west coast family.

It is hard having your heart in two places,

but I am grateful that we have been blessed so abundantly!

It was great to see you, Alabama.

Thanks for welcoming us back, California.

Winter Is On the Way

This is how I know...

The birds are back.

Geese, swans, ducks, other water fowl I don't know the name for.

Thousands of them.

One day these rice fields are empty and the next day the're here.

Thousands and thousands of birds!

It happens that fast.

I don't know where they came from but they sure are beautiful.

I don't mind sharing the winter with them.