Traditions

Everyone has been talking about Christmas traditions--I feel a little lost. I don't have any anymore...except, maybe taking care of other people's pets on Christmas.

I'm a child of divorce. Not only that, I live at least 800 miles away from any family members. When I was a kid, though, I was always allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve. That was great. We also had a little "candy count-down" that we hung next to the front door. There were 24 slots in it where a piece of candy went. Every night before I went to bed, I got to eat one, thus counting down the nights until Christmas Eve. Believe me--it was the only time of year I got candy anywhere near bedtime! Christmas was usually spent with my Dad's family after the divorce--Thanksgiving went to my Mom's. I don't know how it ended up that way, but these holidays just seemed to fit these families. Grandma Shaffer always made Ambrosia and Coconut Cake for Christmas dinner. Her Coconut Cake was to die for!!!!! Of course, it was not a recipe that she ever wrote down, even when I asked for it when I was 19 ("I don't know how I make it, I just do," she said). No one has been able to duplicate, although many in my family have tried. Sigh.....

Well, now, I do absolutely have to watch It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve and A Christmas Story on Christmas day.

New Years Day is kind of my tradition now, I guess. I watch I-don't-know-how-many-hours of football, I make a pot of Black-Eyed Peas (Texas tradition), and I put Spare Ribs and Sauerkraut in the crock pot for later (German--and Irish, if you count the cabbage). The Sauerkraut has to go over mashed potatoes. It's a very bland-colored meal, but it's good!

My Black-Eyed peas were excellent this year! I put some kind of chili pepper in it; I don't know what kind because the grocery store doesn't really keep there pepper signs straight, but it looks like an anaheim. I threw in some onions, salt, pepper, thyme and a bay leaf, and cooked it in chicken broth slowly for about 6 hours. Add some corn bread and there's lunch!

Good thing I don't eat like that every day of the year!

OH...if someone could please tell me what the last comment on my previous post says, I'm curious to know.