Kate Collins's Blog, page 282

Enjoying the Holidays!

By Maggie Sefton
Like most of the Cozy Chicks, I'm celebrating the holidays with family and/or friends. I'm here in the Houston, TX area with daughters Serena, Maria, & Melissa. I hope all of you are enjoying this joyous season. For those who like holiday-themed movies, here are some of our family's favorites. I'm sure you can find them online or in libraries and video rental stores: It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol (1980's with George C. Scott), Charlie Brown Christmas, Scrooged, Joyeux Noel, Holiday Inn, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Those are a few. :) Enjoy, Everyone! Peace and Joy to All!

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Happy Holidays, Cozies!

by Leann

The Yule Log

by Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett / L.L. Bartlett

Years ago, our cable company included WPIX from New York as one of our channels.  Every Christmas Eve they ran The Yule Log . . . an endless video of a crackling fireplace with cheesy holiday music playing in the background.


Because there was nothing else on TV to watch, and we almost NEVER turned off the TV once it was on for the day ... we had it on in the background.  Like millions of other people, we sucked it up like a milkshake through a straw.  (Read about the history of the yule log here.)

Well, it's been a long time since we got that channel.  I'm a grown up now ... have a home of my own (albeit without a fireplace).  And guess what?  I have a DVD of the Yule Log.  Today is Christmas Eve and we're going to go down to our pub, turn on the TV and DVD player and have the Yule Log playing in the background while we raise a glass or two, eat our roasted chestnuts (done in the oven, not on an open fire), and sit back with our three cats and read.  (I'll be reading holiday magazines or a cookbook, while Mr. L reads ... something else.)


Will this become a tradition?  I don't know.  We'll have to see how it goes.

How will you spend Christmas Eve?

The Phantom Phone

By Heather Webber / Heather Blake

I'm having an issue.

I call it "phantom phone."

I'll be sound asleep and I hear it. The phantom phone—the sound of a text message coming in on my cell phone.

I get out of bed, trundle downstairs, and check the message.

Nothing. No message.

So I started keeping the phone on my nightstand. I can just reach over and check to see if I'm losing my mind instead of stumbling around in the dark looking for my sanity.

It'll be days, sometimes a week if I'm lucky, without a phantom message. But just when I think I'm done with them, the phone will blurt its chirpy little text message sound in the dead of night.

I'm beginning to think the universe is trying to tell me something. But what? And why won't it write something? Why just make the noise? Is it just trying to keep me awake at night?

Of course I'm the only one who hears the phantom phone. So what does that mean? Is the phantom message only for me? Ugh.

Have I completely lost my mind??? I'm certainly beginning to think so. Do any of you hear strange things no one else hears?

--

PS: Wishing everyone very happy holidays. We'll be celebrating Christmas here, and I'm happy to say (despite the sleep deprivation of the phantom phone) that almost everything has been bought and wrapped. Am planning to relax and enjoy the holiday. Ahhh.

The Best & Worst Holiday Songs

I'm sure you all have a radio station similar to Richmond's Lite 98. They play soft rock, top 40's, and a few oldies. On Thanksgiving Day, they happily announce that for the next month, they'll be playing nothing but Christmas music.

This statement is immediately followed by a groan from my other half. He can't stand the barrage of joyful tunes. I clap and smile. I'm always ready and willing to sing along to a holiday tune.

Still, there are a few I can't stand. Seriously. I have to change the station or simply turn the radio off. Here they are:

1. The Chipmunk Song

(Christmas Don't Be Late) – I can't stand to listen to this song. I don't think it's cute. The voices are annoying, and Alvin's tardy lead-in to each stanza in maddening. Not only that, but for the rest of the day I'm walking around squeaking, "Me? I want a hula hoop." It's like getting the Meow Mix song stuck in your head (sorry if I just did that to you).

2. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth – Cute idea that goes on way too long.

3. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer – Okay, the first time I heard it I laughed, but that was enough.

Now that I've listed my least favorites, I've got to try and narrow down my top three favorites. Much, much harder.

1. All-time favorite Christmas Song…drumroll….O Holy Night (I like the Michael Crawford and Clay Aiken versions, but I'll get teary-eyed to almost any version)

2. The Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie and Bing Crosby

3. Do You Hear What I Hear – Whitney Houston or the Faith Hill version

(For fun, I'd add You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch song, because how many times a year do you get to sing the lyric, "Given the choice between the two of you I'd take the seasick crocodile." Or croon out, "stink, stank, stunk!")

Your turn! Share your favorites and the ones that make you cringe. I promise to listen to any I haven't heard of before on YouTube.

Jingle all the way…

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If Men Ran Christmas

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed


I just read a fun article titled Christmas: What Would Happen If Men Ran It?
Women don't have to be told that we still do most of the holiday planning, shopping, baking, cooking, wrapping, tree trimming…but what would be different if men handled everything?
According to this survey, they would:Do away with sending cards Ditch the turkey in favor of steak or carry-outHave those gifts wrapped at the storeMake the kids help out moreRefuse to visit the in-lawsOne place the sexes didn't differ? Family is top priority!
I bet homemade cookies would go the way of the dinosaur.
What else would change?

Holiday Goodies

by Maggie Sefton

Today, Tuesday, 12/20, I'm flying from Colorado to Houston, Texas to spend the Christmas holidays with three of my four daughters. Melissa is flying in from NYC and Maria is flying in from Washington, DC, and we'll all be joining daughter Serena at her home in between Houston and Galveston. I've already wrapped and shipped all my holiday goodie packages and gifts to arrive at Serena's this week. Plus, I've wrapped and shipped all the goodies & gifts for daughter Christine (NoVa suburbs of WashDC) and family. They'll be traveling to celebrate Christmas with my son-in-law's family in Crown Point, IN. I'm really looking forward to celebrating the holidays in a warm climate for a change. And you know. . .I don't think I'll miss the snow and ice one little bit. :) Nope. Not a bit. What about you folks? Are you staying home? Traveling? Relatives coming? Tell us. Meanwhile. . .here's the recipe I promised so you can enjoy it during your holiday celebrations. Enjoy, Everyone!


MAGGIE'S CHOCOLATE MINT FUDGE

One medium-to-large jar of marshmallow crème
1 can evaporated milk
1 stick of butter (use regular salted butter and NOT a butter substitute)
3 cups granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 12-oz packages of semi-sweet chocolate chips/morsels
1 Tablespoon of peppermint flavoring

Makes 2 8x8" pans of fudge (also needed---aluminum foil to line pans)

A large thick-bottomed pot is recommended in order to keep the fudge from overcooking.


Before starting: Line 2 8x8" pans with foil. Grease lightly with butter, not oil or margarine.

Place marshmallow crème in pot over medium heat, then stir in evaporated milk, stirring s lowly. Cut stick of butter into 8 pieces and drop into simmering mixture. Stir in salt. Adjust heat to medium-high and add sugar, one-half cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. Continue stirring as sugar mixture starts to bubble. Cook for five minutes, no more, STIRRING CONSTANTLY. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Remove from heat and immediately stir in the packages of semi-sweet chocolate chips/morsels, one package at a time, stirring vigorously. Add peppermint flavoring, stirring well until blended. Pour fudge into the two pans. Let cool on counter for several minutes, then place pans in fridge to set up and cool completely.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

by Kate Collins

For many years, the tradition in my family on Christmas Evehas been to come together  for a lightmeal, open presents, attend the candlelight service at our church, and head backhome to eat cookies before going our separate ways. After my husband passedaway, these traditions helped me get through what could have been a terriblypainful, lonely time, but simply knowing that my family would be there tocelebrate in a way I've known all my life has not only comforted me, butenabled to move forward.  I think of themas gifts under the tree that my parents left for me, my sister and my brotherto share with our loved ones. They are things I want my kids to remember andpass along to their loved ones, too. 
This year, my daughters Natasha and Julie and my niece Linciare going to help me make a Greek meal that we know my late husband would haveloved.  When the Cozy Chicks cookbookcomes out after the first of the year, I will be sharing it with you, so, ifyou'd like to find out what we made in my late husband's memory, be watchingfor it. I'll tell you the name of the recipe in another blog. (I love temptingmy friends.)
So now I'd like to know something about you. What are thetraditions that matter to you and your family? What customs would you like yourchildren to remember and hopefully pass along to the important people in theirlives? It doesn't matter if you're Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim or have noreligion at all, I would really appreciate your sharing customs that matter toyou.

Movies and Christmas. What to See?

by Leann

First of all, an update: My carpet WILL be installed by Christmas, or so I am told. Thursday and Friday. Yay for that!

I have turned my attention to the movie releases because we will have family here and that's sort of a tradition. Go to the movies the day after Christmas. But I am concerned because we will also have two young ones visiting. I don't think The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is something my son and daughter-in-law will want their girls seeing! (But it is on my list!) Sherlock Holmes might be okay, but I doubt it will hold the baby's attention and the oldest will probably get bored, too. I know I would at her age.

This topic reminds me of all the movies I saw when I was a kid--because we had a movie theater within walking distance of our house. It was always a double feature and you could stay all day if you wanted for the price of one ticket. The Blob scared me to death, as did a few others. I was little then--between 5 and 7 years old. I always went with my older brother--but he wasn't that much older. He, however, LOVED The Blob. One movie really had my complete attention though, maybe because I was scared, but in a way I'd never been scared before. The movie? The Bad Seed. Little did I know psychological suspense would become one of my favorite genres. But, though sitting through The Blob all day seemed fine with my mother, to my complete surprise, she and the usher came with a flashlight, found me and she dragged me home. My brother got to stay. I think this was the first time I felt true embarrassment. I mean, everyone was watching because I was being a tad stubborn about leaving.

So, no scary movies. My question for all of you is, what movies are out now that the whole family might enjoy? Because I don't know. Or should we make popcorn, stay at home and watch something On Demand? Which sounds like a nice option. I will make my husband go with me to see Dragon Tattoo one day, though. One of my favorite books ever cannot be missed--and yes, I know not everyone liked it. Guess it's the "bad seed" in me that wants to see a woman kick butt mostly using her brain!