the first day of christmas

Christmas Day or First Night

merry christmas . .

lillejulaften

for lillejulaften we visited little italy today. we had pastries and hot chocolate and a cafe mocha at ferrara's. little italy at christmastime is so fun and pretty. we popped into di paolo's but the line and the prices sent us off to east village cheese! but it was fun to poke our heads in anyway.
my brother-in-law is norwegian and ever since i was five his mom and dad would have my family over at christmastime for krumkake and tea and coffee. i miss those days . . his parents passed away a number of years ago . . the memories of sitting around their little dining room table and eating dessert are very strong. his mom played the piano beautifully and she would always play some carols for us. my sister always thought it was funny that both his mom and our mom were named doris and had a brick red rug lining the floor of their living room.
there's still some wrapping to be done tonight, and several items still to be baked. it remains to see if i can accomplish the tasks . . or fall asleep! i usually give my mom and g's mom a calendar with photographs as a christmas gift. but i haven't even begun to upload the photos i would like to use. i'm always too tired at night . . and that's really the only time i have to do the task. i also need to send my cousin in california a gift. we have hers for us under the tree. and i never sent out cards this year . . i love the thought of sending cards but finding time during the day is difficult to make happen . . ! happy lillejulaften!

i'm dreaming . .

yes, i'm dreaming of a white christmas. i'm a bit astonished that there is still snow on the ground. i was sure the rain yesterday would wash it away. but yesterday was a wonderful solstice, and today it's still icy, snowy, and cold out. what was especially nice is that there were no classes to rush off to this afternoon, so we could stay cozy in the apartment and traipse outside only to play or do laundry. i even tried wrapping gifts this morning in the living room with jack. not an easy task. he likes to be the center of attention and will actually try to sit in the box you are wrapping. it's much easier wrapping with the cats in the bedroom. they really couldn't care.

a 4th U hanukkah

we had our church holiday pageant this morning:

soldiers first ransack the temple

zeus and followers wait for their cue

onstage

the flame that burns for eight days

maestro, music please!

light one candle for the maccabee children

out on a snow day

we headed out this morning before the storm was a storm, or at least it didn't feel like a storm and i didn't think it would be a storm. severe denial. we had 60 degree weather just a week ago!!! c walked out in her open shoes. no boots. well! what weather! we were in brooklyn for a dance rehearsal and everyone wanted to play in the snow. of course. since c's socks and feet were sopping wet from trying to play in her shoes, my dear friend offered up her rain boots . . so there was this little munchkin traipsing about in front of the brooklyn museum in big leopard print rain boots. after snowball fights and pictures we got on the train to come to ballet class in the city (and to drop m off at her modern class) . . except a block from the ballet school i get a phone call that class is cancelled! thaaanks! c's shoes and socks were so wet (again! after a friend gave up her own extra socks so c could have dry feet on the train) that her feet were ice cold so we took refuge in the corner diner while waiting for our blue taxi cab. tea and apple turnover and holiday decorations and a friendly waiter from bay ridge made for a cozy hour.