Projo Holidays Blog

Since Christmas has ended, the song What are you doing New Year's Eve? plays over and over in my head. It got me to thinking...

Years ago, my extended family would get together every New Year's Eve. Each family would take a turn to host the party. The gatherings would sometimes go all night. It was intended for the adults with card-playing, Guy Lombardo records in the background and food. Lots of food. it was the Italian side of my family. The kids would have fun, too. Some of us would play board games in small groups and some would join in the card games or start a young-player's version of poker.

I can't remember celebrating New Year's Eve in such a way since then. My family and I are usually too worried about driving from house to house for fear of drunk drivers being on the road. Sad, but true. So I sit in front of the television with a bottle of champagne and countdown to the New Year. (I've even shared a sip of the champagne with a my dogs in the past. None of them ever passed it up!) Many cable channels have marathon shows playing; could be the Three Stooges, The Twilight Zone or back-to-back Bond movies. I'm hoping to catch up on some of the new DVDs I've purchased.

So, what are YOU doing New Year's Eve? Have a Happy, healthy and SAFE New Year!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
When the bells all ring and the horns all blow
And the couples we know are fondly kissing.
Will I be with you or will I be among the missing?

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year's eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Ahh...

It's a sense of relief when all the holiday chores are done. Not that I am done, mind you. I'm going to have a house full of people tomorrow. I have tablecloths to iron, a table to set, food to cook, a house to clean and a year-old Boxer puppy at my heals the whole time.

But my sister and I did finish the cookies. She baked 6 kinds and I baked twelve. From the bottom left going clockwise, they are:
chocolate peanut butter chip
toffee bars
chocolate logs
cut-outs
almond crescents
cherry winks
cherry bars
prune cups
molasses bars
white chocolate cranberry bars
lime thumb print
butterballs
white chocolate chip bars
peanut butter blossoms
magic bars
raspberry chocolate chip bars
Brazilian coffee cookies
egg nog spritz.

Whew!

Merry Christmas!

In addition to the Cool Decade ornament I purchase each year, I'll get an ornament that will remind me of my dog. For Holly's and my first Christmas together, I picked up this ornament. Cute, huh? The gold heart tag attached to the dog's collar has the year engraved. Each year that I decorate my tree, I hang ornaments that remind my of my other three dogs from years past. Each ornament tells a story.

I love collecting Hallmark ornaments. This ornament is obviously for this year's Cool Decade. I must have well over 120 Hallmark ornaments!

A friend of the family gave my Mom the first one back in 1974. It was a Betsey Clark ornament. I referred to Betsey Clark's artwork of little waifs as the "onionhead kids". I was mesmerized by this ornament. I never saw anything like it. I think because it was new and different, it caught my attention. Back in the 70's there were lots of tacky ornaments. I remember my mother buying the plastic balls that were covered with some kind of "string" that stuck to my fingers. Each year when we'd hang them on the tree, they got worse because the material would pull away from the form. I still have them and can't part with them. Another year, my Godmother gave our family a set of six gingerbread soldiers to hang from the tree. I was so little, I thought they were real cookies! I took a bite into one of them to quickly find out they were styrofoam. I still have that ornament, too. When I hang it up, I have to laugh. You can still see my teeth marks.

I actually have three sets of ornaments; one set is from my parents and when we kids were growing up. Along the way, I added several more ornaments from my travels around the world. The second set is all Hallmark ornaments that I started collecting when I was in my late teens. Actually, that also makes up set three. The third set of ornaments are the Hallmark ornaments that are too heavy to be hung on a real tree, so I put those on the fake tree. Yes. I put up two trees! I put up a fake tree right after Thanksgiving because I can't wait to get a real tree.

Upload a photo of your favorite ornament and share its history.

I received a Christmas card in the mail the other day. It was from my best friend from high school.

I was always quiet, shy and a loner. Wait. I still am. But there was something about Joan that clicked. We really got along! We had the same odd sense of humor. We understood each other without even having to talk. And we went through a lot together. I think we hit it off right away because we both lost our mothers at around the same time. I think we helped each other through it.

Anyway, after getting her note, it brought me back to old times. I remember one time when we traveled to down town Providence after school during Christmas. We stopped at the Outlet to visit Santa Claus. No, we weren't young children. I think we were about 17. We even had out picture taken!

Then I started thinking about the Outlet. Do you remember it? There are no department stores quite like it. My Mom used to take me into the basement to visit Santa Claus. Then after, she'd pay a quarter so I could get a grab bag. The grab bags were in two huge clown heads; one side was for boys and one side for girls. I remember being scared stiff to stick my hand in the clown's mouth for fear that someone would pull me through on the other side! But if I didn't, then no toy. One time, I stuck my whole head in to make sure nobody was on the other side. I even remember being a little rebellious one year and getting a toy from boy's side. I can't remember what it was but really, a toy is a toy.

It's funny how one little card can trigger so many memories. Take the time to send out cards and give someone a precious gift.

I know I'm in trouble when I'm only in day three and I'm all ready sick of cookies! Usually this doesn't hit me until my final batch of cookies on the final day of baking.Santa wouldn't appreciate the words that come out of my mouth. Then again, I believe I redeem myself by leaving him a big plate of cookie and a tall glass of milk on Christmas Eve.

You have to understand, with each recipe, I have to try the dough AND the cookie to make sure it came out perfectly. It may not sound like such a tough job but when you make three to four different types of cookies a day, it gets sickening. And I get sugar rushes.

Sunday I started my cookie baking. I made chocolate logs dipped in white chocolate, cut-out cookies and peanut butter blossoms. Monday, I made magic bars, raspberry chocolate bars and pecan toffee bars.

Today, day three, I'm all cookied out. The sad part is, I have ANOTHER day of baking! I know I'll get through it once I get started. Besides, today I'm making MY favorite: my great-Aunt Josie's recipe for butter balls! Yummmmm! I'll also be making lime thumb prints and egg nog spritz. If I still have the energy, I'll add one more cookie recipe.

Oh! Did I mention I made 120 vanilla marshmallows and 120 chocolate marshmallows? Insane, aren't I?

Just in case you couldn't tell, this is my Boxer, Holly. I've been waiting for a snow storm just so I could take her photo outside! Actually, my plan was to have just a dusting of snow and have Holly sit in the English ivy in my backyard. I was hoping to create a photo card that said "Holly in the ivy". I think this photo is prettier. It would have been perfect except all my cards have been sent already!