tradition

This year's entry for the gingerbread display at the library:

For me this was a cheat - I used a kit - but by the time I added roof details, a chimney, landscaping and a cinammon bear snowball fight, it feels like a custom job. 
Now I just have to deliver it safely.....

traditions

even though we all know traditions exist all through the year it seems that christmas brings them to the forefront. whether it is family gatherings, baking, mailing cards, whatever, we are too easily reduced to nostalgic marshmallows this time of year.

we will miss jacob and kate at our christmases this year.
with new jobs and time constraints they will stay in connecticut. while we want them to know they will be missed we also want them to know we're glad they won't be on the road dealing with weather and bad drivers. we further want them to know that we understand. there is no guilt/pressure being applied. catch your breath. relax. enjoy the opportunity to create some traditions of your own. we love you and look forward to the next time we can spend with you.

baking is an integral part of my seasonal traditions. you can see the official lefse process here.


here is a small glimpse of the spritz session. this had been my mother's press - you can see the bent handles














krumkake:
a treat from childhood, i'd always hoped to be the one to inherit the iron from our great aunt who brought a few of these on a plate of assorted goodies each year. imagine my dissapointment when i learned the krumkake iron belonged to her friend and we only got our few because they would mix and match batches.....
i finally bought my own.















kringla: no equipment - truly made by hand.







plates will be assembled and dispersed this weekend. with expectations high for family favorites at my mother's the rest will make their way to iowa.

tim and i made our traditional shopping run last saturday. i did most of my shopping online this year (which is pretty slick) but i do look forward to making a day of it with tim.

the jordisons will be breaking with tradition by moving the event to leslie's house which will allow some elbow room. each year we have such a turn-out. with maybe 1 or 2 exceptions everyone is there (usually around 25 of us)- a rare feat in any family. siblings, spouses, grandkids, greatgrandkids and an extra or 2 - crowded, loud fun. tim says we can take charlie along.
i'm not worried about space for him while there - what i can't process is where we will put him in the car!! suitcases, packages, food and one very large dog in my pt cruiser.....tim just keeps saying it will all work out.

i've squeezed some extra activities into my seasonal traditions this year. this morning i ordered textbooks. that was one 'submit order' button that made me grit my teeth! i'll be taking classes beginning january 11, starting with 12 credits for the first semester.

i hope your traditions are keeping you busy in a happy way!!

nostalgia

don't you think hollyhocks and the 4th of july epitomize nostalgia??
laura ingalls wilder's account of walnut groves' celebration is still a favorite. an old friend, leeta bode, used to talk about the beauty of our flag, recounting parades and family picnics, favorite memories of her childhood.
i had the pleasure of spending time at "the lakes" as a child and remember the look of okoboji with the boats on the water and the reflection of overhead fireworks.
sparklers in the front yard. quick runs to the south dakota border (they were illegal in iowa)to procure fireworks - and the jordisons gathered in the back yard to enjoy the show. the incredible fireworks display after the ball game in philadelphia. last year tim called me outside just before the local display started. he had backed the jeep to the end of the driveway, and was ready with a cold lemonade for me. we sat in the back end of the jeep and enjoyed the show until the mosquitos chased us in.
i hope you're making memories of your own this 4th of july.