Thanksgiving snapshot

On Wednesday night my dad and his mother were working together to get a mincemeat pie in the oven for Thanksgiving. He had already carefully placed the top crust on it when he realized they had forgotten to put a little butter between the filling and crust.

"No problem," he said, cutting a large semicircle in the top crust. With his mom carefully pulling up the flap of crust, they inserted pats of butter under the edges of the dough.

"I feel like I'm watching a pie autopsy," my brother observed. "It's like 'CS: Pie.'"

TRL: Christmas cookies

When I was growing up, in addition to Christmas songs and oyster stew at my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve, there was one other thing you could count on: many homemade traditional desserts. It wasn't surprising to follow up our rich dinner with fudge, divinity, and the piece de resistance: Christmas cookies.

As my grandmother and her grandchildren have all grown older, the task of making of these Christmas treats has fallen more and more to the younger generations. Instead of waiting for her to make them just prior to Christmas, while we're all together during Thanksgiving weekend my siblings and I share the task of stirring the fudge and we pull out the cookie cutters my dad remembers from his childhood.

A couple of Thanksgivings ago, I woke up late the morning after Thanksgiving, and headed toward the kitchen. When I got there, I discovered nearly 10 people crowded around the island in the kitchen. My dad and his brother stood on one side, rolling out sugar cookie dough while people on the other side wielded knifes and sprinkles, frosting the finished products. As my aunt and grandmother made more dough and frosting, the army of family who were frosting cookies called out suggestions to my dad and uncle about which cookie shapes they should cut out next. When my mom requested a cookie that they didn't have a cutter for, my dad custom-sculpted that cookie shape for her.

If anyone had turned to me at that moment and asked what I wanted, I would've answered that I didn't want anything more than what I had in that moment.

Holiday traditions (Blogcess 6)

1) Do you have one tradition that means the most to you when it comes to celebrating Christmas?

Every Christmas Eve my family goes to my grandmother's to have oyster stew. The thing I love most about our Christmas Eve celebrations is that it is all about family and love--we don't open any presents and all our stresses are pushed aside for the night. Enjoying my family in the light of a big Christmas tree with some quiet carols in the background is my favorite time of the year.

2) Since I’m on a movie kick today – - do you have a favorite holiday movie?

Holiday Inn. I love the romance in the movie, the songs, the whole thing. I've tortured my friends with that movie many times over the years. But seriously, if you enjoy black and white musicals or great dancing--check this one out.

Other favorites include: The Bishop's Wife (my mom's favorite), the original Miracle on 34th Street and A Muppet Christmas Carol (I love "When Love is Gone").

3) What’s your favorite holiday song?

Wow, this is tough. On the Carpenters' Christmas Collection, I love "Little Altar Boy", "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", "I Heard the Bells", and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to name a few. I also love "O Holy Night" because my brother recorded a version as a member of his high school choir. I love "Happy Holidays" from Holiday Inn, but my absolute favorite is "White Christmas" (also from that movie).

4) In sticking with traditions – - do you have a favorite holiday sweet? Meaning candy, cookie, cake, pie or whatever.

Friday morning after Thanksgiving--mincemeat pie with whipped cream and a little eggnog. Oh yeah.

Time in a bottle

Tonight the fog was lying low over the city, making me feel like I was living in a fairy tale—a fitting end to a pretty perfect day.

• Brunch in a cozy spot in the midst of an icy wonderland with a high school friend.
• An afternoon nap while the Broncos won.
• Meeting with two chapter members and knowing that the chapter will be recognized nationally for their excellence again.
• Having the issue of too many potential chapter leaders for the election tomorrow.
• Spending a couple hours with a senior member of the chapter discussing issues for the election.
• Buying ingredients for my aunt’s cherry-wine jello—a nod to the years of Thanksgiving spent in Illinois and my contribution to my Colorado family’s tradition.