Holiday Cards Update and Happy Hanukkah to All

Happy Hanukkah to those friends who celebrate the feast of lights. Although I don't celebrate it, I do acknowledge it and remember lighting the menorah from days of my childhood. I remember playing with the dreidel, I remember foil-covered chocolate "gelt", and visiting my Tante Gerty and her family to share a meal. That side of the family is totally gone now - my cousin having died from a life-long illness during the Covid shut-down. It's said that as long as someone is remembered, they aren't truly dead. So today I remember my "aunt" and cousin, along with others who have passed. 

We're in the middle of celebrating the Feast of Lights now. It 
brings back fond memories of lighting the candles every 
night, of gold-colored foil covering dark chocolate "gelt", and 
of spinning the dreidel. We were more secular Jews than 
religious ones, so this holiday was right up our alley. 

I spent yesterday getting my holiday cards completed and ready to put into the mail. All of my international cards were mailed yesterday, and as soon as I triple-check my list for my domestics, my hand-made cards will be mailed. That's probably going to be today, Monday at the latest. That will leave the few commercial cards - the "make-up" cards; those cards that will fill in for the hand-made cards that I'm missing. If I stay on schedule, those will be mailed on Wednesday. It's been a true "Labor of Love" for all of you, and a lesson in how well I can roll with the punches for me - LOL. *sigh* 

I love making my holiday cards every year. This 
year's card tried to foil me at every step (rather like 
a reflection of how we're managing to close the 
store). Nonetheless, even with twists and turns 
in the road, they're either already mailed or will 
be within a few short days. 

I need to make a service appointment for my car - I'm almost two months late. But, given that it's December, I really don't have time to spare. I'll contact the service department of my dealership on Monday and try and make an appointment for early January. I also HAVE to get gas in the car. I'm quite sure I'm almost down to fumes. I wanted to get some yesterday, and it just didn't work out. It's mandatory for today, though. 

My "Tire Rotation" light on Minnion turned on yesterday 
while I was doing errands. I know I'm overdue for 
service - usually I'm there in November. but, I'll have to 
push this off until January. The warning, however, is taking 
over my screen so I watched a quick You Tube video on 
how to clear it off the screen. Of course, the video was 
British, thus the British spelling of "tire". I'll phone the 
dealer on Monday and set up an appointment for January. 

So that's all that's exciting in my life right now. DH is busy repricing our gold-filled and 24 Kt gold findings at the shop. We don't sell a lot of those, but they do need to be accurate in price. We always make an adjustment based on the daily market price of gold - it is a precious metal, after all. But the base price has to be accurate first, and that's his job. It's one of those parts of owning a shop that drives me a bit crazy. I'm really not much of a "numbers" person. On that note, I hope all of you have a lovely weekend. I'll be working tomorrow for the 2nd of our three open Sundays. Ick! LOL I'm already looking forward to my next "day off " on Wednesday. 

I'll be back on Monday. Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.

Two Days Off and Five Pounds Gained! Oy!!!

Santa was very good to me, except for my weight. I'm sitting in my new office chair and I'm not in pain! That's the first time in months that I've been comfortable sitting at my computer desk, so I'm totally on-board with my new chair. I also got a new under-chair mat to replace the one I had that was falling apart. It'll be a couple of weeks before I can pull things out from the under-desk-world and replace the old with the new, but that's OK. The new mat is here and waiting for me. 

Hubby had purchased a standing rib roast for his Christmas meal,
so I looked up my recipe and braved cooking a very expensive
piece of meat. It turned out delicious, though, and I managed
the cook to a perfect medium rare. 

The food was amazing - hubby wanted a standing rib roast (aka Prime Rib) for his Christmas dinner, so I made that and it turned out perfect! I always get a bit nervous when cooking a piece of meat that costs so much, but when done right, it basically cooks itself. 

I've been wanting a wireless remote digital meat
thermometer for my Thanksgiving turkey for
several years now. I'll research these carefully
before buying. I want something that will work
for my, not be an expensive toy that breaks
after one or two uses. 

In other gifts, I got promised a remote oven thermometer that I've been wanting for our annual turkey cook. I'll do some research and figure out which would work best. He also promised to contribute to my annual Bead & Button costs, several dinners/lunches out, and, after we have closed the shop, a weekend getaway. We haven't been able to take a vacation together since 1994, so that's special! My final gift was a promise for one more wig for me. That'll be fun, but I want my winged scarab tattoo on my skull first. 

One of my addictions, and an annual treat, is
our huge batch of Chex Mix. That becomes my
breakfast and lunch and stolen munchies while
it's still around. We're down from a huge pot
to a much smaller one now, and I'll probably
have it eaten by the end of the week. So Good! 

I'm heading out to the gym in less than an hour because I gained SEVEN pounds! Ouch!! I know it's temporary and that I'll have it off in no time, but we have reservations for a very fancy brunch at a new high-end steakhouse for Sunday at 9:00 am, and I know it's beef that puts weight on me more than any other food. So, I'm going to work hard at the gym today and tomorrow, then brunch on Sunday, then the gym again on Monday and Tuesday, and then I'm off for another two days. If I don't watch myself, I'll gain WAY too much weight and I won't be happy at all. I'd better be sweating today and tomorrow - LOL. 

I hope everyone finds something on this list
to celebrate during this season of celebration. 

My holiday cards are hung across my mantle and I know I need to thank so many of you for your delightful cards. I'm planning a scan-and-reveal for many of them, as well as a listing of who sent a card, early next week to wrap up my year. But, for today, Thank You! I hope all of you had a good Solstice and a Merry Christmas, that your Hanukkah is going well, and that your Kwanzaa began with peace. I thank you for your friendship, each and every one of you. I'll be back tomorrow. 

Happy Holidays to All

It's a very busy few days ahead and I won't be back to posting until early Tuesday. It's my opportunity to wish each of you a Blessed Holiday of your choice. In terms of official holidays (those that are on one of my many calendars), I wish each of you a joyful, peaceful, and totally happy ...

Merry Christmas - Christmas arrives tomorrow (Sunday). Smaller children will look for the gifts that Santa may have left under the tree, older children (adults) will enjoy watching the small ones tear colorful wrapping paper off boxes to view the treasures beneath. The goal is happy.

Happy Hanukkah - At sundown on Sunday Jews throughout the world will begin the eight-day celebration of the Festival of Lights. I always thought this would be a great celebration - eight gifts spread over eight days, the soft light of the menorah, the dreidel, gelt, it was all good. Gather with your families and celebrate the miracle once again. It's rare for Christmas and Hanukkah coincide, but always fun when it does.

Joyous Kwanzaa - Kwanzaa begins on Monday. As a relatively new holiday, I'm not that familiar with it, but I love the seven principles: (1) Unity, (2) Self-determination, (3) Collective Work and Responsibility, (4) Cooperative Economics, (5) Purpose, (6) Creativity, and (7) Faith. Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and goes through January 1 every year.

I wish each and every one of my friends - past, present and future, real-life and cyber - the best of holiday seasons. I'll be celebrating DH's birthday on Monday and I'll be back posting on Tuesday morning.

Solstice Eve Thoughts - Four Candles

I have a stack of wonderful holiday cards on my desk that are getting taped to my fireplace mantle today. They are from all around the world and they contain colorful, sparkly, and positive thoughts from friends and relatives. I think greeting cards are one of the better parts of the season. Tomorrow is the Solstice - the end of another turn of the wheel and the beginning of the next, As we enter into that day of thought, contemplation, and renewal, I bring to you a poem my friend Iris from Germany included in her holiday card.

I asked her who had written the poem and she said Josef Werner Schmitt in 2010. However, after further research while trying to track this down as a fact, I came up with a lot of different variations, particularly in the final lines of the poem. Nonetheless, I loved it and I pass her version on to all of you on this Solstice Eve.

Candles are used in so many ways - for light, ambiance, on the menorah that
will be lit in many Jewish homes beginning on the 24th, or just to celebrate
festive occasions. I loved the poem about the four candles that my friend
included in her holiday card, and I give you her version below. 

Four candles slowly burned.
The ambiance was so soft, one could almost hear them talking...

The first candle said: "I am Peace! The world is full of anger and fighting.
Nobody can keep me lit."
Then the flame of Peace went out completely.

The second candle said: "I am Faith! I am no longer indispensable.
It doesn't make sense that I stay lit another moment."
Just then a breeze softly blew out Faith's flame.

Sadly the third candle began to speak: "I am Love!
People don't understand my importance so they simply put me aside.
They even forget to love those who are nearest to them."
And waiting no longer, Love's flame went out.

Suddenly...a child entered the room and saw the three unlit candles.
"Why aren't you burning? You're supposed to stay lit 'till the end."
Saying this, the child began to cry.

Then the fourth candle answered: "Don't be afraid, I am Hope!
While I am still burning we can re-light the other candles."
With shining eyes, the child took the candle of hope and lit the other candles.

The Greatest Of These Is Love... but the flame of Hope should never go out of your life!
With Hope, each of us can live with Peace, Faith and Love.

I'm going to ascribe this version to our old friend Anonymous, and wish all of you a wonderful Tuesday. If you are celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah on Sunday, get your last minute shopping done quickly. I hear that clock a'ticking.

Holiday Thoughts - Friends, Family and the Turning of the Wheel

The holidays are almost here. Tomorrow is Solstice and even though I have to work, I'll be celebrating the turning of the wheel in my own way. Next week is Christmas and DH's birthday, and Chanukah is currently underway. It's a season of celebrations, a pulling together of traditions, friends and family. Because of our modern e-world, our friendships and contacts spread farther than ever before. I look at my card list and am humbled and amazed. My cards go all over the world from India to Peru, from the US to Croatia. I am delighted that this year's cards went everywhere from next door (I have new neighbors this year who are a really sweet family) to friends across the oceans. What a wonderful thing.

No matter how you spell it - Chanukah or Hanukkah - it is one of the
celebrations of light that happen near the end of each year. 

DH has been baking cookies, more cookies, and even more cookies. I have a Candy Cane pie reserved for pickup on Christmas Eve and I'm picking up my ham the same day. Yum! I still have to arrange for a birthday cake for DH. I have presents to wrap, and the family is having a holiday get-together next weekend, so I'll be busy, busy, busy as the year wraps up.

I love Baker's Square Candy Cane pie. They only make it in December and it's
one of my holiday treats. 

We're also getting ready for our year-end sale at the shop. We only do two serious sales a year - right after Thanksgiving and again for our year-end. This year we're doing a four-day sale. If the customers come and the money flows we'll end the year happy.

I won't set goals until closer to the new year, but it's never
a bad idea to look at your life and set life goals. 

Pretty soon I'll start thinking about what I want to achieve in 2015 - goals, etc. But really, what could be better than expanding my group of friends, continuing to work on my art and writing skills, and enjoying my life to the best of my ability. Isn't that what it's all about, after all? (Well, I probably should also work on losing weight and improving my physical condition but that's not as much fun.)

Blessed Solstice to all. 

Happy weekend and Good Solstice to all. Enjoy the turning of the wheel once more. I'll be back on Monday.

Christmatizing Life

I am a believer in allowing each holiday its own time and Thanksgiving is Thursday. Unfortunately, for those of us in retail, the HOLIDAY SEASON begins immediately afterwards. In fact, for some stores it seems that you no sooner eat the turkey than you wrap it into foil, stuff it into the refrigerator, and go stand in line to buy something you really can't afford, putting it on your credit card that you can pay for with the job you don't have, and buy too many things for the kids who, in many cases would be just as happy to have more of your time instead of a new doll or video game. OK, that's the cynic talking, but I've had many years to become one and I'm practiced. I love a lot about the holiday season, but the schedule sucks.

Just a question...why is it that the Post Office has stamps for Christmas (religious and secular), Hanukkah, an nice Islamic stamp for the holidays, even a Kwanzaa stamp, but there is nothing for those of us who celebrate Yule or the Solstice. What's up with that? Sure, I could get my own stamps made for Solstice, but they cost more and I'd rather spend that money on supplies to make this year's cards than special stamps. But you'd think they would consider those of us who walk a less than traditional path.

So today I hung garland, cleaned shelving, brought up the Christmas tree, hung mini stockings for each of the staff, washed down all of the items on the top shelves and the top of each display case, bought a new supply of cash register and charge machine tapes, and restocked my shopping bags. Now what I need are the customers to make all of the planning come together over the next five Sundays of extra hours and the next few weeks of sales and specials. Someday I'll be able to enjoy the holidays again. I really look forward to that, but that day isn't here yet.

Holiday Time

So, I have to wish a Happy Hanukkah to those of my friends who walk that Path. When I was young, we would all go over to Tante Gerty's home and light the menorah. I gather, from other blogs, that it is not called a menorah any more, but old habits of more than 40 years die hard. I don't think I'll be changing this. I have two menorahs that I brought back after Mom died, along with her mezuzzah which I have by my door. I may not light the candles any more, but I am still a spiritual person, just walking a parallel pathway.

So today I will celebrate the Festival of Lights in my heart before turning to Solstice tomorrow. I have nine Holiday Cards that will be mailed this morning and that ends this year's group. I think I ended up making and sending about 50 or so. I don't keep numeric track, I just trust that I will make the appropriate amount, and so it worked out to be.

Today is my "day off", but we've been busy at the shop so I will have my day with the possibility that I will be called in to help out at the shop if we get swamped. But we really need the business and it's a joy to see the various things that people are working on. Yesterday I had the joy of working with a woman who was given a beautiful Victorian-style locket into which she will put a lock of her deceased father's hair. She wanted to put it onto somekind of neck chain or rope so that it would be secure. It wasn't a big sale, but after she chose the chain and I assembled everything for her, she felt a lot better about a very traumatic time in her life. Good karma - I can always use some of that. Have a day where you pass good karma on to others, it bounces back in unexpected and glorious ways.