Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's time once again to join Joyce From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge. What great timing this week - my brain is a complete hodgepodge as a result of my Booked for the Holidays giveaway and the busyness that comes with this time of year. (Speaking of Booked for the Holidays, today is the last day to enter! There are ten giveaways, which have been appearing daily since early last week. Comments/entries must be received by 8:00 pm CST tonight, so scroll down my blog and check it out if you haven't already!)

And now for Joyce's questions; some of are Christmas-themed, and some are not. (Hence the name Hodgepodge!)


1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'?

I would say it means NOT being a grinch! To have a generous and loving attitude and to be willing to go out of your way to spread cheer.

2. What sits atop your tree (s)? Why?

Nothing this year! LOL My girl has allergies and gets really congested and hoarse when we get a tree. However, the year we suggested getting an artificial one, you would have thought we had told the kids we were selling them (the kids) on eBay! (My girl can tell me exactly where she was sitting at a particular restaurant when we brought it up. They both burst into tears!) Last year, my girl was singing a solo at the Christmas Eve service, so when she started having problems we moved the tree onto the back porch. (We removed the ornaments but kept the lights on it) We liked that so much we did it this year from Day 1. It sits right outside our big bay window in the kitchen/breakfast room, so we enjoy it every time we sit down to eat! I do miss my ornaments, and I'm not sure how long we'll do this, but for now it works. When the tree is inside, it is topped with a big red bow. I never have found an angel or star that I liked.

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

I have absolutely no idea.

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

I've never thought about that, but probably smell or sight.

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

Clutter.

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

Traditional Christmas Eve meal at my inlaws is tamales and tacos. That began when my man's grandparents were farmers in South Texas, and their Mexican workers would give them tamales as a gift at Christmas. My in-laws continued the tradition (only my MIL has to buy the tamales now!) The grandkids have never been big on tamales, so we've added tacos and queso to the meal. Christmas Day is generally turkey and dressing mid-day and nibble on leftovers at night.

7. What is the best thing about winter?

It means spring is coming!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have no idea what I'm going to get my boy or put in his stocking this year. He needs nothing, he doesn't like candy, and he's really not big on little gadgets. He can't even come up with any ideas!