I don’t recall any Clone Troopers in the Christmas Story in Luke 2. There was mention of a super special star though. Smiling at this mixed up manger scene, as I pack the nativity away until December 2012. Minus the clone, of course.
Uncategorized
The Christmas tree is down and tossed to the curb for chipping. Usually undecorating and taking it down makes me a little melancholy. Honestly, this year I am just glad, and a little relieved to bid the Christmas Season goodbye.
my mom’s spice tea recipe
My mom’s spice tea is one of my favorite tastes of fall and winter. I started my day by making a big pot of it – even though I’m the only one in my house who likes it. It’s Comfort Food for me – in liquid form. My mom made it rarely when I was growing up. I remember spice tea on Christmas morning, snow days and when she’d host her evening card group a few times a year. Sometimes I even got to take the left over to school in my thermos. When you make it, the cinnamon and cloves make the whole house smell good and everything feel all right – inside and out. Happy New Year’s Eve Day, as my father wished me in an early morning e-mail. ~ Janean
Spice Tea
2 cups sugar
2 dozen cloves (or less)
2 cups water
2 or 3 cinnamon sticks
Boil together 15 minutes
Pour 8 cups boiling water over 6 tea bags (or 2 Family Size tea bags), let stand
Add to sugar mixture when brewed
Then add: 4 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 can frozen undiluted orange juice. Add 4 cups boiling water. Simmer, do no boil
Extra can be stored in the refrigerator overnight and reheated the next day. You may want to remove the cloves before storing because their flavor gets stronger if left in overnight.
My sister told me once with a wink that this recipe was supposed to be a secret, but I think it’s meant to be shared.
a taste of home
upon waking
I know what I am about to do
the anticipation makes my mouth water
no coffee today
no herbal tea
made one mug at a time
today is a spice tea day
my mom’s recipe
a taste of home
the one I grew up in
the little house
at the end of the dead end street
the one with the kitchen so small
it was like an afterthought
oh, but the meals my mother made there
I smile at the memories
spice tea was special
not for everyday
for company
like when she hosted cards
the only outing with friends she went to each month
sometimes they’d come to our house
the living room would be filled with women
sitting at card tables in folding chairs
talking, laughing, snacking and even smoking
and no one smoked at our house
except my grandfather
the few times a year they visited
usually we went to them
spice tea became a Christmas traditon
mom would make it early
we’d drink it as we opened presents
ladled into Christmas mugs
one after the other
until the giant saucepan was empty
it is made for winter days and snow days
gloomy gray days
for the scent of cinnamon and cloves
makes you smile
even before the sugary citrus flavored tea
passes by your lips
I’ve burned my tongue more than once
rushing to take the first sip
oh, how I love it
today is one of those days
I didn’t make it on Christmas this year
I usually do
it’s early morning on New Year’s Eve day instead
the spice tea is on the stove
my first mug is at my elbow
almost time for the second
it’s as good as I remember mom making it
my sister too
a taste of home
soul food
comfort in a mug
memories too
© 2011 Turquoise Tangles
Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
Shel Silverstein (via lindseyx)
The Words We Never Finish
These crumpled pages prohibit empty words
with significant causeA simple feeling,
not worthy enough
for the world to see
An incomplete story
…worth finishing
The short poems and raw prose that we
long ago abolished when we barely started
… all sit under beds
couches
desks
booksThey wait for us to return with a
writer’s hand and an ink-filled pen– but we leave them there,
for the spiders to read
under the surface
I hold back
instead of saying
what I think
I bite my tongue
I chafe at the bit
I gnash my teeth
I choke back the words
it is better this way
keeps the peace
on the outside
I’ve done it since forever
it is a habit now
smile and nod
be polite
maybe not always
but usually
for it is expected of me
I don’t want to disappoint
or raise eyebrows
heaven forbid
what if…
perhaps someday
but not today
until that day
I will keep
my secret self
buried
under the surface
Once in a blue moon I take my children to the grocery store with me.
So far this week, during Christmas vacation, the three of us have made two trips.
On the second, I ended up with Blue Moon ice cream in the cart.
Tonight we taste tested it.
My youngest son and I.
Afterwards he opted to have chocolate instead.
I went for the new kind.
In a dazzling shade if blue.
The Cat was curious.
As cats often are.
Unless my oldest son love, love, LOVES it, I probably won’t buy it again.
Glad we bought it this one time though.
I admit, I’d been wondering about it for awhile now.
The box advertises vanilla with spices.
It’s…interesting.
And Oh, So Pretty.
Ice cream is ice cream.
Cold, sweet and satisfying.
Mmmmmmmm!
Paper Lanterns
Fragile as paper lanterns,
our delicate fibers tear.
Allowing the inevitable winds of change
to rupture the fabric into fissures of despair.
Tossing and twirling,
we vehemently fight against our fate.
Not wanting to relinquish control
to a life we have learned to negate.
Yet in the opening of that chasm,
our hidden light shall shimmer bright.
Exposing to the world that inner beauty,
as we unabashedly sway in the night.
“I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.” ~Joseph Campbell
I have a turquoise t-shirt that says, “Follow Your Bliss”. Before I left the office where I worked for 11+ years I left behind a sticker on one of the file cabinets that read, “Follow Your Bliss”, because I was. ~ Janean
Turquoise Tangles 