SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 22

 

FOOD BOX ITEM DAY 22....Two cans of 

         carrots 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

     DAY 22.....Buy small stuff animal or two 

           to give someone 

HOLIDAY WORD of THE DAY....CAROLS

Today is the last food box item day.  Okay so  we are doing two cans of carrots.  I’m sure you have a nice box ready to donate tomorrow.  

A few years ago I had not had any idea what to do for my spreading of cheer for the following day.  I already had that particular days cheer to complete.  As I walked through a dollar store a young mother was there with her three year old.  The child picked up a small teddy bear that was wearing a Santa hat. The mother told the child she was not purchasing it and put it back in the display. It hit me then. Yes I’d buy it for her and pick up a few to give away the following day.  I was fortunate to be checking out before the mother and child.  I waited by the door for them and when they were leaving I handed the little girl the teddy bear.  The mother looked stunned so I explained I was out doing acts of holiday cheer and this was what I wanted to do for the day.  The woman seemed so surprised as she never expected a stranger to do this.  Well it did not go unnoticed as another customer left the check out line and purchased a few of the Santa hat teddy bears.  I heard her say she planned to pass them around today on her errands.  The following day that was my spreading cheer act for everyone.  This time of year they have little holiday bears, snowman and elf at dollar stores.  Pick up a few and give them to a person to cheer them up.  Both my husband and I got an elf from someone last year and I got a cute snowman from another person.  They made my day and put a smile on my face.  

Today’s holiday word is CAROLS.  

I did my acrostic on carolers out and about.

The second is part truth.  My gated community in Winter Haven had a group going throughout the neighborhood singing carols.  One year I had made up a holiday tote bag of my giveaways.  It included not only the nice gifts but the naughty gifts of snowman poop, reindeer and coal.  I also gave out another bag that included snack bags of chips, pretzels and snack mix. Not everyone can eat cookies and I decided (since I’m not a baker) they could snack down after their caroling fun.  It seemed they were surprised as people did stand in their driveway to hear them BUT, no one gave them a drink or snack.  I told them to wait as I hurried to get bottles of water for the group of ten.  The second piece is a 2020 version of IF they did carol I'm certain it’d be through masks. 

It’s Sunday the fourth Sunday of Advent.  

Until tomorrow....have a blessed Sunday and as always Stay Safe. 

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                           CAROLS

Carolers stroll from door to door in the 

        neighborhood 

As they stop at each house, they sing a 

       song

Ready am I with beverages, hot and cold 

Of course there are Christmas cookies for      

        them to eat 

“Let it Snow” the song  carolers serenade  

       outside my door 🎶  🎤 

Such a funny tune as it’s sixty-five degrees 

         this evening in Florida 

🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄

                 THE CAROLERS 

Carolers stroll the street belting out songs 

Jingling bells as the make their way through 

       the neighborhood 

Outdoor light is lit, a signal for them to stop

Patiently I await them to hear a seasonal 

     tune

All decked out in their Christmassy best 

Ugly sweaters, sweatshirts, tees

   Santa hats, elf hats, reindeer headbands 

        and funky Christmas socks 

Every year the Sunday before the holiday

  doing their yearly night of songs

      in the gated community to one and all

This year a few wear seasonal face masks

 Trying their best to cheer us during this 

       COVID pandemic 

Carolers singing melodies of joy, peace on earth and of a night so holy

Wishing everyone who opens their door 

   A Merry Christmas 

           a and Happy New Year

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 21

 

FOOD BOX ITEM DAY 21....Two cans of 

       beans 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

       DAY 21....Take a friend to breakfast or 

         lunch 

HOLIDAY WORD of THE DAY....SLEIGH 

SHORT READ!

Beans! You probably wonder the type to put in the box. It depends on you, but I think green beans would be best.  I’m not a yellow wax bean fan so I’m doing green beans. 

Today call a friend for late breakfast or lunch or even early dinner. With the hustle of the holidays the individual might want to take a lunch break.  Of course even appetizer break works just as well.  Just go take someone out for an hour or two.  It’s Saturday so why not. 

The word today is sleigh.  I think of two things; Santa’s sleigh and riding in a sleigh through the woods.  I wrote ‘SLEIGH’ about Santa’s sleigh.  I keep thinking about it running on the power of reindeer.  I remember trying to stay awake when I was younger to hear Santa land on the roof.  Then I got to thinking when I composed this that snow might help it have a safe and soft landing.  The other piece came from images I picture in a few songs about winter.  There are a few that can be just winter songs as there is no mention of Christmas.  I heard them the past few days and pictured the images of a couple on a sleigh ride; stopping to play in the snow; building a snowman then sitting by a fire. It’s another love piece.  Now as I type this the song 

‘SLEIGH RIDE’ just was playing in the background of a movie I’m watching.  

This past summer I’ve written a lot of rain day poems, I think winter is bringing on thoughts of couples in front of the fireplace or snuggling on a cold winter night. 

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday. 

Until tomorrow....enjoy your lunch or dinner with a friend; and as always Stay Safe. 

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                           SLEIGH

Santa’s sleigh runs on reindeer power

Lighted by the nose of Rudolph 

Every child hopes to hear their hoofs 

     upon the roof 

Inasmuch they try to stay awake to hear 

       them 

Glistening snow covers the roof for a safe 

        sleigh landing 

However no one ever hears Santa’s sleigh 

        landing 

                     SLEIGH RIDE

                    (A Love Verse)

The bells are ringing on a one horse open 

    sleigh

That glides through the snow on a wintery 

      day 

In the meadow we will stop for a bit of fun 

Building a snowman that will eventually melt 

     in the sun

Later snuggling cozily by the fireplace

Discussing plans for the future we did 

      make

Hoping that our aspirations come true soon

The ones we made on the sleigh ride that 

        afternoon 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 20

 

FOOD BOX ITEM DAY 20....Two cans of 

             tuna 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

          DAY 20....Take cookies to a neighbor

HOLIDAY WORD of THE DAY....COOKIES 

Only a few days left to fill the food box.  Monday it’ll be taken to the local food pantry/bank. Of course that doesn’t mean holiday cheer will end.  The spreading of cheer today is to take some cookies to a neighbor.  Now you may not be a baker and that’s just fine.  The local bakery or even grocery store bakeries have delicious holiday treats. You can pick up cookies or another treat they might enjoy.  

Today is National Bake Cookies Day but as I said if you aren’t a baker no problem.  I’m not a baker or even fan of cookies.  If I have a cookie it would be a frosted sugar cookie. Growing up my step-granny Kate made all types of cookies and holiday sweets.  My two favorite treats were the cutout cookies and her walnut nut roll.  I can forgo the cookies but walnut roll is not something one finds in Florida bakeries or grocery store bakeries. I actually have to have it sent to me from up north.  Yes I did get my nut roll this year.  As my husband is not a fan I’ll have enough for few weeks as long as I keep it refrigerated.  Granny Kate also made poppyseed roll but it did interest me.  Her holiday homemade food was out of this world.  I loved the homemade pierogi she’d make.  Of course she did not just make potato and cheese but prune and apricots.  Naturally the potato and cheese were my favorite.  After the second Christmas with my step-family I began to appreciate the food traditions if nothing else.  I guess I’m rambling today but when it came to being bake cookies day, all these other thoughts popped into my head.  

Sometimes you might take one of the spreading cheer items and do it another day. As I’m sure I mentioned in the beginning no problem. These acts of cheer can be tweaked at any time.  I’ve done a few tweaks so it doesn’t matter.  

What can I say about cookies?  All I know we leave them out for Santa.  I did my acrostic on leaving out cookies Christmas Eve.  Of course I used chocolate chip as his favorite because it seemed as Santa would enjoy chocolate chips over any other.  My thoughts jumped to how did the tradition start.  Google answered with information I used in the second piece.  I think I’ve done four history pieces this year.  It was fun to actually research Christmas related items and traditions.  This was a learning December for me.  I’ve learned a lot I never knew before.  

Today is Friday and we wear RED today....I’m sporting a Santa sweater that’s red; until tomorrow have a great day and as always Stay Safe. 

🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪

                  SANTA’S COOKIES 

Cookies we leave by the tree for Santa

Of course there’s a tall glass of milk too

Often carrot sticks and dried fruit for the 

       reindeer 

Kris Kringle’s cookies vary from house to 

        house 

It seems he gets a variety throughout the 

       night 

Early the next morning kids find cookie 

     crumbs and an empty glass 

Santa’s favorite are chocolate chips 

             BETTER LEAVE COOKIES 

            (HOLIDAY HISTORY LESSON IV)

Leaving Santa cookies and milk

     where did it all begin? 

On the feast of St. Nick, December 6th

  children left food and drink for him 

An exchange indeed for gifts he would leave 

Another theory could be linked to the 

    depression years 

Parents wanted to inspire children to 

     share with others 

Perhaps the best is naughty children started 

     the tradition 

As a bribe to the Jolly Man in the red suit to 

     leave presents 

Or maybe someone just came up the idea to 

       leave Mr. Claus a snack 

After traveling the world all night Santa 

         would be hungry

Does it matter how it began? 

We do it every year after hanging up 

     stocking before going to bed 

Just don’t forget to do so 

or consequences you’ll might find 

  like coal, reindeer and snowman poop in 

        your stocking 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 19

FOOD BOX ITEM DAY 19.....Dessert Mix

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

    DAY 19....Purchase holiday socks for 

               someone 

HOLIDAY WORD of THE DAY....LIGHTS 

The next few days are short reads.  

I love funky socks.  I have many pair of Christmas ones.  Yesterday they had a reindeer on them; I had on a reindeer sweater, necklace and my face mask had reindeer on it.  I almost wore my antler headband, but did not want to freak out the person hubby and I had taken to lunch. Of course she’d appreciate it I’m sure. 

Today go out buy a funky pair of holiday socks for someone.  You just might make them laugh.  

I was in a quandary of what to write.  I decided on a first Christmas card of a couple.  I let my imagination flow to a setting of lighted tree and roaring fire.  I can picture one of them giving the other a card with these words.  A simple card speaking of love and a future together.   If I were to picture the cards front; a big tree with colorful lights, a fireplace with garland around it and a picture window showing a snowfall.  I’ve always enjoyed the fronts of Christmas cards.  I have a few favorites.  I love getting ones with the Nativity scene and I heard that if you receive one with the three kings you put it over your door after the holidays for good luck.  I don’t receive many religious looking cards these days; I’m sure they’re out there but I wonder if people are too afraid to send them or just don’t anymore.  Recently I seen on Facebook a series of antiquated Christmas cards.  I thought them interesting indeed.  As for verses inside the card, I like the well thought out wishes for a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.  Over the years I’ve composed my own inside card verse and made my own cards.  But after awhile I just stopped doing so for some reason.  

It’s one week until Christmas Eve.  

Have yourself a wonderful day. 

Until tomorrow....when buying socks for one person buy a pair for yourself; and as always Stay Safe. 

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                OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS 

                    (A card verse)

Lights on the tree are twinkling bright

All is quiet on a snowy winters night

The fireplace ablaze with a cracking fire

Decked out for the evening in comfy attire

Listening to holiday music just us two

The song is about a Christmas that will be 

     blue

Sipping wine by the light of the evergreen  

         tree

Together enjoying each other’s company

It’s our first Christmas together  

     May we share many more

 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 18

 

FOOD BOX ITEM DAY 18....Two cans of 

      tomato soup 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

   DAY 18....Buy Christmas stocking for family member/co-worker/friend put a surprise inside

Holiday Word of The Day....WREATH 

This a short read today.  

Today buy a stocking for a family member, friend, co-worker or neighbor.  Put a surprise inside and give it to them today.  

You can pick up stockings at any dollar type store even the grocery store.  It can be a miniature stocking that holds a few chocolates.  You need not go overboard. 

One year I picked up small stockings and filled with Hershey kisses.  

The wreath pieces sort of go together.  The acrostic focus on a wreath on a door and that each year a new one made.  The other is a memory piece that the narrator tells about a tradition of wreath making every year as a family event.  The piece came to find from watching and reading Christmas movies.  It seemed like a nice idea and thought about it as really happening; but this year the togetherness is done via video. 

Enjoy your Wednesday. 

Until tomorrow....enjoy stocking buying and as always Stay Safe. 

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                       WREATH 

Wreath of evergreen hangs on the door 

Red bow and pine cones tie it together 

Every year a new wreath upon my door 

After the holidays it’s taken apart 

The evergreens discarded; the adornments 

    kept for use again 

How I love creating my own wreath year 

      after my year 

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                     TRADITION 

The beautiful wreath hangs on the door

Handcrafted with care on a snowy afternoon 

Red berries, pine cones, ribbon and 

     snowmen adorn the wreath this year 

  a sign hangs off it....MERRY CHRISTMAS 

White lights intertwined throughout the 

       circlet 

A welcoming sight to behold as you enter 

    inside

Every year a new wreath created for the     

       season

A tradition started by my 

   great-grandmother 

It’s a day of togetherness and fun

  before the hustle and bustle of the season 

        begins

Wreath day listening to Christmas music

  sipping eggnog

    munching of holiday snack mix

It’s 2020 our tradition done by video chat

  

   

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 17

 

FOOD BOX ITEM DAY 17....Cans (2) of 

         cranberry sauce 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

      DAY 17....Take snacks to veterans club

Holiday Word of the Day....HOLLY 

It’s day 17 of the food box items. There are not many more days to go.  Today is cranberry sauce day.  You can donate a can of the whole cranberry and jellied cranberry it you want to donate one of each. 

As for spreading cheer, your local veterans club can be a good place to donate today.  But some snack size bags of chips, pretzels,  cheese curls or peanuts and donate them to the club.  Of course many sell snacks, as it is, so why not donate cash to the club to give out snacks to the patrons.  I’ve done the later myself. I gave cash to the bartender to buy a snacks to anyone who wanted one.  I’ve also taken in a package of snack size bags to have passed out.  

There are many of these men and yes women, who may be alone for the holidays.  A gesture such as this may cheer them up. 

Yesterday I stopped and gave two bottles of water to a bell ringer and a package of crackers and cookies.  I think they were quite shocked but seemed happy someone thought of them.  It’s the little acts of spreading cheer that makes the season special.  Afterwards I had dropped off a surprise to a bartender at one of the veterans clubs.  

This has been a strange year trying to spread cheer and if you need to tweak one of the daily suggestions, it’s quite understandable.  

I created yet another greeting card for everyone with the daily word of HOLLY.  This card will be posted sometime this week.  

Today I’m posting another whimsical one about this year. 

Until tomorrow....happy Tuesday and as always Stay Safe. 

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                         HOLLY 

Holidays are upon us; time for cheer 

         and joy 

Oh it’s the most wonderful time of the year

Let the jingle bells ring and carolers sing

Light up the tree and deck the halls 

Yet we tend to forget the reason for this 

       season 

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                     CARD VERSE 

Holly wreaths and mistletoe 

Trees lights shining bright

Carols sung by a church choir 

It’s such a silent night

Children hang their stockings 

In preparation for Santa to fill

With toys and lots of goodies

Christmas Eve night all is still

Snowflakes fall from the heavens

Such a beautiful sight to see

Going to be a white Christmas 

Have a holiday that is merrily 

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER....Day 16

 FOOD BOX ITEM Day 16....Box of rice

        

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER 

 DAY 16....Give bell ringer a beverage

Holiday Word of the Day....CHESTNUTS 

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Chestnuts what can anyone say about them. 

I was never a fan.  Now my step-dad enjoyed them during the Christmas and New Years holidays. I tasted them once all I can say is yuck; I did try again in my teen years, double yuck.  No doubt they are an acquired taste.  Give me cashews, walnuts or almonds and peanuts and I’m happy.  

Why do we only hear about them at Christmas?  Sure they’re available all year. As an adult maybe and this is a big maybe I should try to give them another chance.  

I wrote my piece today about my thoughts on them. 

Have you been out and about where there is a bell ringer?  If you see one buy them a beverage today. In the states where it’s cold how about a cup of coffee or hot chocolate; in states where it’s warmer, a cold beverage would be a nice gesture.  Over the years I’ve done this.  Came out of the store with a cold bottle of water or two. Those who were recipients were grateful. 

Today I’m adding some Christmas gift and such memories.  As I wrote them up somehow a commercial I see every year at this time triggered a funny memory.  I’ll be telling the story as I recall it, as it happened when I was in the first grade but for some reason I remembered years ago and again yesterday. It involves Hershey kisses.  

Until tomorrow....enjoy the day. I have few cards to deliver by hand today; and as always Stay Safe. 

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           GIFTS and SUCH at CHRISTMAS 

This is a collection of small Christmas activities and giving of items over the years. 

I think about it being 2020 and items we are buying to survive.  This year we had a toilet paper shortage, some places still having it. We are buying hand sanitizer more than ever and now face masks. 

I remember one Christmas Jimmy decided to give gag gifts to family members.  He purchased twelve packs of toilet paper and six packs of paper towels.  He wrapped them for each of the adult kids.  They received these before the real gifts purchased.  Neither said a word they just gave him a nasty look after opening. Now I’m sure they no doubt would appreciate such a gift today.  The younger daughter, still in her teens, lived at home received another type of gag gift.  She received a hand crafted dust mop we found at a craft event, cleaning supplies in a stocking for her to use in her bedroom. She got quite upset to say the least.  Now that she’s the parent of three, with her oldest being twelve, sure she understands where her father was coming from with that gift.   

He didn’t do gag gifts again for years, until we purchased Christmas themed boxer shorts and Christmas tee shirts for everyone one year.  We actually got these on sale right after Christmas one year; put them away till the following December.  Everyone did enjoy these items. 

As for my give away gag gifts, one year I found something that would be welcomed today. I purchased several three packs of small bottles of hand sanitizer.  I wrapped each in gift wrap, put a small tag on each that read:

     You’ve been naughty all year

        This is true, so Santa is going

           To wash his hands of you

          Clean up your act for next year

To say a few people were miffed, yes they were. No doubt they’d be happy this year for the hand sanitizer.   

My favorite was giving lumps of coal.  We gave a veteran friend who use to deejay karaoke a lump one year.  Every year he’d get a little stocking with a piece of imitation coal.  It actually started out as a joke.  I left it on the table when he wasn’t looking. He ended up tying it to one of the microphone stands.  The following year I did the same.  He actually ended up with about eight lumps of coal over the years. He mentioned this the other day he always enjoyed getting the coal. 

One year I recall an individual wanted to pay me for bags of the snowman and reindeer poop as they wanted them for family members.  I could not see taking money for something I was doing in fun; but I did not turn down the drinks they bought me.  

I once had to take a $10 gift to a holiday party. Jimmy decided not to attend but I went. What I did was make up a tiny bucket of miniature bottles (10 to be exact) of different whiskey I had purchased; and got a $10 gift card from the liquor store.  I know the gift was more than the required amount but the miniature bottles were ones I had gotten a few weeks prior just to have.  What happened was you get a number; when you’re number was drawn you take a gift and open it. If you don’t like your gift you can take someone else’s and they get yours.  It was fun.  The odd thing was someone got my gift I brought.  They said this is cheesy not realizing that the gift card was there.  It went around to about ten others until the game over.  I heard remarks about just getting little bottles of whiskey was cheap but the person who ended up with it realized the gift card and made a statement that it was not cheesy or cheap.  There were the little bottles plus a few miniature Hershey chocolates, a shot glass and the gift card.  I would have been happy to get it back. Some of the items people brought were an iron, tool box, beer mug and six pack, a set of holiday dish towels and pot holders, small crockpot as well as few bottles of alcohol.  I ended up with bottle of vodka.  It was a fun game and one must realize just because a gift is small, it possible has value.  After all my item was thought out, where perhaps someone was regifting an iron or crock pot.  

A few years ago we went to another of these events.  I put the gift bags together for both of us.  Jimmy and I did not stay at the party and told the coordinator of the event to give our gifts we’d receive to anyone who would enjoy them. That reason we were in our way to another event at another club.  

Last year and year prior I ran the ugly Christmas sweater/shirt/tee shirt/sweatshirt contest at one of my veterans clubs. Some people do go all out for the funkiest/ugliest that is for sure.  Too bad we won’t be holding the event this year; I’d include ugliest Christmas face mask. 

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          CHESTNUTS MY THOUGHTS

Nat King Cole sang about them roasting on      

       an open fire

Longfellow wrote about the tree where 

   underneath stands the village blacksmith 

I’ve seen them eaten in many a holiday 

       movie 

My step-dad liked them boiled

     I hate them....YUCK

Perhaps as an adult I need to give them a 

     second chance

There is nutritional benefits to the chestnut

No doubt they are an acquired taste

Never hear of anyone enjoying them except 

    at Christmastime 

Probably why today we celebrate today and 

      not in July