Christmas Past......

Hope you are all having a

wonderful New Year!

During Christmas

I did a lot of baking this year.

I honestly had given up all the

cookie making, etc. for a few years.

This year I had been thinking about gifts more.

I was trying to remember what my favorite

memories of Christmas were

I could name a lot of the traditions we had 

and 

I could name the favorite foods

we looked forward to.

Foods that we pretty much only had at Christmas

which made them even more special.

I also started to think about the things

that my grandmother and great grandmother

used to cook that we miss dearly.

 

I had come across a recipe

that belonged to my late grandmother.

 Pistachio Pound Cake

It sounded familiar

but 

I wasn't sure if I had ever tasted it .

I then made it my mission to make

this cake for my father and husband.

My dad because it was his mothers recipe

and my husband because he loves pistachios .

O.K.

I debated 

but

 I cannot leave this part out.

I get pretty emotional on occasion.

 when it comes to my 

Granny .

I spent almost every weekend with her when

I was a child.

We camped,

went to the beach,

watched Hee-Haw,

and went to church on Sunday.

Most of all she shared her

talent for cooking,

good 

simple

 food with me.

I was too young to learn the processes,

but I do remember the product.

She was taken from us too early

due to cancer.

I was in High School and my grandparents

had moved out of state.

I really did not get to visit her until

she was in a horrible state that year.

I think my parents were trying to protect us 

somewhat

 from what was going on.

My point being

there are times when I get weepy

about her.

I didn't expect it to be while I was baking.

Something came over me though,

and as I was reading the card ,

I drifted to thoughts of her.

The wonderful times I spent watching her in the kitchen.

No one was home with me this day.

I began to tear up

and as I began to cry

I suddenly felt a strange 

but 

comforting feeling,

like there were a set of arms around me.

A warm energizing feeling.

I stopped and stood there for what seemed like a few 

minutes.

I don't know what you believe in,

but

 I have often felt like there were times

in my life where I could say

my grandmother was with me.

This day I felt it more than ever.

 

 

Here are the finished product.

The taste instantly brought back familiarity

 and I knew

 I had tasted this before.

They were delicious!

I'd like to say

that 

I know so many of us spend months 

running around

after the perfect gift 

in and out

of store after store.

Truly in the end....

what do you remember most about

any

holiday?

Was it a specific gift?

A meal?

Time with family?

I can honestly say there are a handful

of material gifts I remember.

The most standout memories though

are what I have described above.

Traditions and family.

I have decided to give up the 

RUSH

during the holidays

 and 

focus on the

FAMILY and FUN.

I know this was a bit long-winded...

but 

I just had to share the story of my grandmother,

it just felt right. 

This year more than ever I plan to work

on time spent being meaningful 

and myself being present in the moment.

Not worried about how "Martha" everything looked.

If I finish a creative process in getting ready for

a holiday-great!

If I don't -

no big deal.

My 5 year old is not going to remember that.

 Those memories are what matter the most.

Happy Friday to you all!