Got the Spirit? Let's Hear It!

The first job that I do each year that ushers in the Christmas spirit for me is to gussy up Galion Public Library with fresh-from-our-farm greens and wreaths. I am glad that we have this contract because it transitions my soul from mourning the loss of autumn to the joyous Christmas season of special programs, concerts, meals, and family traditions.

As you can see, the sky was a brilliant shade of blue today when I installed the greens.

I've not always been so lucky....today's 41 degrees felt downright balmy compared to years when I'd be out in below freezing weather, sometimes accompanied by freezing rain or snow, trying to wire pine rope, swags, and bows on the beautiful antique wrought iron fence.

Galion is lucky to have such a beautiful library building. Back in the day, forward thinking citizens of Galion matched Carnegie funds and gave our town a legacy.

But wait!

There's more!

Not only do we have this fantastic building, which is also an important part of American history, Galion has a top-notch library staff to go with it.  And I ain't just whislin' Dixie...the staff truly cares about library patrons and goes the extra mile...not only for library business, but also as a hub to connect different people and projects together. With excellent adult and children programs, the library is also a valuable center of learning and entertainment.

As I was installing the greens today, I pondered the fact that Jim and I have been making greens for the library's Christmas for about 20 years (I know! time flies faster than the speed of life!). I just about couldn't get over that fact, and was humbled by the idea of it. l feel extremely privileged to be the person the library board trusts to do the outdoor decorations for the very special season of Christmas.

Marcheta *the fortunate one

Where's Marcheta?

No, I am not donning a stripped shirt and stocking cap and hiding amongst the throng of holiday shoppers in hopes that you will find me.

Just the opposite, I'd love for you to find me!

"Where's Marcheta?" is a new page that I added to OCJ today to keep you informed of the community activities I'll be a part of. Also posted are the fresh Christmas Trees and other products that Jim and I have for sale here at the farm with the hours that we are open for business.

Today I'll have a rather sad patch. I adore autumn and hate to say goodbye to such a glorious season. But the earth is entering a new season, and so must I. Today the fall home décor items will be put away, and maybe a few winter/Christmas items will take their places. I am helped along this path with the scents of fresh pine and juniper...we've begun the process of making fresh Christmas greens. So, really, I am still in a "green" season. How great is that?

Marcheta *keepin' it fresh

We Gather Together

One of my favorite songs that I learned in grade school music class is "We Gather Together". Every year our school sang this song at Thanksgiving pageants, so naturally I've always connected it with Indians and Pilgrims as they gather together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. I mean, c'mon...the lyrics are practically shouting, "We give thanks!"

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

My childhood mind could not figure out the real meaning of "sing praises to His name, He forgets not his own." I thought it meant that God does not forget that his name is God. It wasn't until I was in high school that I realized that it means God does not forget his people.

Well, duh! What an epiphany!

When looking up the lyrics today, I learned that We Gather Together was not written especially for Thanksgiving, but was written in 1597 to celebrate a Dutch victory, who were, indeed, giving a big shout out for praise for their safety and for freedom.

This is the website that I visited this morning to learn more about the song. It has the beautiful melody playing in the background as you read about the song of praise and read the lyrics.

Just listening to it brings back many happy childhood memories.

Today, as we count our blessings, I hope that you are also remembering the happy times in your lives.

Marcheta *epiphanized

Cedar Waxeing

 

 

 

This past week my friend and fellow nature photographer buff, Steve, has been finding hoards of Cedar Waxwings at Amann/Amick Reservoirs.

 

I have not been so lucky.

 

 

Bummer :(

 

 

 

The first time that I saw Cedar Waxwings was during a home invasion of my Hawthorn tree, which is right outside the window where I work.

 

 

Below is part of what I wrote about the experience for the Galion Inquirer. Stay tuned to this blog for chapter 2 for more info on Cedar Waxwings and another friend's experience with these awesome birds :)

 

Marcheta *waxing ornithological

 

 

"Cedar Waxwings (bombycilla cedrorum) are lovely to watch. They sport black masks that I am sure are the envy of area raccoons and spiked crests that resemble those of cardinals. With wings smooth as doves’, these birds are a color mix of soft brown, gray, and lemon yellow, with bright red patches on their wing tips. Being extremely social, they are usually found in large numbers. 

I first noticed cedar waxwings twelve years ago while I was working in my home office. It was early March and suddenly from the corner of my eye I saw a huge flock of birds land in the Hawthorn tree that is close to a window. Since this room is on the second story, my window is at eye-level with the tree’s canopy. 

 

 The tree is so close to the house that I felt that if I opened the window, I could reach out and touch the birds. Those masked marauders were feasting on the Hawthorn berries like nothing I had ever seen. I stood in awe for the half hour that it took the birds to completely strip the tree, which is the pride and joy of my winter landscape. 

 

 I didn’t know what kind of birds those were, nor did I understand what had just happened. Lucky for me, Jim knew. He identified them as cedar waxwings and explained that the bright red berries attracted the huge congregation.

 

 Having depleted our tree, they were off to strip other trees and bushes. I was miffed that my tree was left barren, but the memory of the exhilarating experience of watching the birds is something that will stay with me for my lifetime."

 



Shoulda

Snowing today.

How I love it.

***BUT***

Although I am ready, mentally, for the slower paced days that winter brings, I am not quite caught up with the fall chores that need to be done.

I am in good company. Even the poet Robert Frost found himself in a similar circumstance, as he eloquently recorded in his poem, The Star-Splitter:

"You know Orion always comes up sideways.

Throwing a leg up over our fence of mountains,

And rising on his hands, he looks in on me

Busy outdoors by lantern-light with something

I should have done by daylight, and indeed,

After the ground is frozen, I should have done

Before it froze, and a gust flings a handful

Of waste leaves at my smoky lantern chimney

To make fun of my way of doing things..." 

And so it was with me and the birds today. 

The lone feeder was completely empty, and I had as yet to put out 

more feeders and suet cages. 

Feeling guilty, I braved the fine, misty snow that traveled on a biter

wind to hang another feeder and the suet cage, which I had filled

with new cakes. And, guess what? 

Yep.

Nearly out of bird seed. :(

In all my "stocking up" on things to prepare for winter, I haven't gotten around stocking up on bird and cat food.

All is not lost, though...there was enough seed left to get my feathered friends through the night, and Jim had put ears of corn for Blue Jays and Woodpeckers to nosh on. 

Guess what is priority on my shopping list for tomorrow?

At least, I do not have to go feed the birds by lantern light, but I am sure that our winter constellation friend Orion, along with the airborne leaves, probably makes fun of the way that I do things, too. :)

Marcheta *slowly Gettin' 'er Done

The Hunter ~ A Thanksgiving Tradition

 

Today I switched out the plates on the kitchen plate rack. It is always sad for me when I change the inside decor from fall to Christmas/Winter because I hate to say goodbye to Autumn. I mean, what's not to like about a season that has it all? Mild weather, beautiful colors, bird migration, fun outside activities, harvest festivals...on and on. 

*sigh*

However, this pattern by Myott, "The Hunter", which has several scenes of a hunter and his trusty dog, is more than appropriate to grace the kitchen because hunting season is in full swing. 

The hunting scenes depicted by a Myott artist all those many years ago bring back fond memories of when Jim was growing up,his farm family had a tradition of hunting on Thanksgiving morning. Jim, his brother, dad, uncles, cousins, and anyone else who wanted to join the hunting party bundled up like Elmer Fudd's (at least, that is how I remember them the first Thanksgiving that I spent with them) and headed out the door, happy to be out of the confines of an overloaded house.

Maybe they thought that they were getting out of work, but really it was a blessing to the womenfolk to not have the men underfoot while they prepared the feast.

These days the men lay around on Lazy Boys and sofas watching TV, and the women have become hunters (at area grocery stores for pies, relish trays, deli salads, and the like to ease their burdens of feeding a large crowd). 

One thing remains constant no matter who is the hunter (or even if there are none)....the family gathers. 

Marcheta *let the hunt begin

Sweet Ham Sliders...oh, YUM!

A great thing about reading blogs is learning new sources. Today I was visiting Noel's Apron Free Cooking blog. Her post about holiday appetizers appealed to me. Noel gives credit to Boar's Head for these sliders made with ham and apple butter.

Yes. That's right.

Apple butter!

I know, right? I was thinking the same thing..."now THAT looks interesting and is different from the usual mustard that goes on ham".

I cannot wait to try these...or even to just forego mustard the next time that I make ham sandwiches and get out the apple butter instead.

So...here it is. One idea sparks another. And all because of blogging.

Neat, huh?

Oh, and naturally I had to go to the Boar's Head website to find out more about them. This proved to be a good move as they have a wonderful recipe section. Check it out here.

Marcheta *sparked

Here's what Noel says:


Get your party started right with a delicious assortment of appetizers and just relax. As long as the drinks and delicious foods are flowing, the good times will as well.

Sweet Slice® Ham Sliders

 

 

Ingredients

• 8 appetizer size rolls
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 4 slices Sweet Slice Boneless Smoked Ham, sliced thick
• 4 slices Whole Milk Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese, sliced thick

Preparation

1. Slice rolls and spread with apple butter. Cut ham and cheese slices in half to fit on roll. Add one slice each of ham and cheese to roll. Arrange on dish and serve.

Serves
Serves 8
Cook Time:
10 minutes
SOURCE: Boar’s Head

Favorite Thing: Plate Rack

This plate rack was made for me by friends Gladys and Ray Clark for my 50th birthday (just a year or so ago...*wink*). 

I love it not only because it was such a thoughtful gift (and handmade) but also because the plate rack gives me a great place in our kitchen to display vintage dishes.

 I switch these dishes out for each season. Here it is all dressed up for autumn. It has a mix of dishes; plates and bowls that I've gathered during thrift shop haunts that I think go nicely together and give a big shout out to my favorite season.

Tomorrow or Sunday I plan to take these dishes down, which will feel sad  for me because I am not ready to let go of fall just yet. The new "art show" will not be a hodge-podge; I'll bring out a matching set of transfer-ware called "The Hunter" by Myott which is also a favorite of mine. This set (bought at the community theatre rummage sale one year) is appropriate as we enter hunting season and also because the colors go well with Christmas decorations.

Marcheta *hunter/gatherer

The Major Award

Jim saw this lovely Dresden Plate quilt on display when we were at Zoar Harvest Festival last August. The Canton Quilt Guild were raffling it as a fund raiser, so Jim bought six tickets for $5.00 and we each signed three tickets.

Well, dang the money! We got a call a few weeks ago that one of our tickets was the lucky winner :)

The guild offered to mail the quilt to us, but Jim decided that we'd take a "day off" and drive to Canton to pick it up. 

Yesterday we drove through several climate zones (all while traveling due east on U.S. 30) on our way to Canton. Mostly it was the perfect snowy day for a day trip, but we did hit some freezing rain and a white-out or two just to remind us that we live in Ohio.

We met guild member Sherry Reed at a Bob Evan's restaurant to get the quilt and then have lunch. Sherry is a delightful person and I was happy to meet her.

Jim is so excited about winning, he reminds me of Ralphie's Old Man in A Christmas Story when he won the leg lamp. He called it is major award. So that is what I am calling this quilt...our major award.

How much does Jim love his major award? Enough to build a special shelf that has a quilt bar so that we can display the quilt in one of our living rooms.

*Sweet*

I feel as if I've won THREE major awards:

Quilt

New hand-crafted shelf

Happy husband.

What a great way to begin the Thanksgiving/Christmas season that is knocking (rather loudly) on the doors these days.

Marcheta *answering   

Lucy Goosey

Now what? :)

My friend Lucy, who I see almost every day at the reservoir, seems to be thinking, "I don't know! I need  a time out  so I can get everything thunk out and sorted!"

 

And that is what I am doing today...taking time to re-group and re-organize to prepare for my last wave of busyness for this year: Christmas tree and wreath sales. 

We won't be making the greens for at least a week, we like our customers to get them nice and fresh. What I am doing now is preparing what I am able to ahead of time, such as get the price-list updated, make a few posters to put around town, get the ad ready for the newspaper, and other what-not. 

Today's chores don't include any of that, though. I spent all morning getting banking accounts updated, bills paid and out of my way. Now I'm off to the stores to stock up on household staples so that I won't have to be bothered with shopping after a long day of work. I am trying to get as much off of my mind as possible.

Yesterday after our Happy Birdday party, Jim trimmed a juniper that had gone a bit wild at Kerry's house. 

Juniper is my favorite green for fragrance and helped me get it in my head that autumn and all of its glory is disappearing **fast** and I need to gear up for Christmas and winter. The snow flurries that are predicted will help.

Meanwhile, I am going to enjoy being out and about today. One highlight will be meeting up with a few of my writer buds at Barnes and Noble. We're meeting to check in how we're doing and to offer support and encouragement to each other. Like me, most have given up the pressure to be done with NaNoWriMo on time, and to know that others are of a like mind helps me relax about changing the date of my personal goal.

Marcheta *breathing