HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I hope you’re all enjoying your holiday season. So far mine hasn’t been too bad as I’ve managed to stay on top of things for the most part. I think one of the secrets to maintaining sanity during this season is ‘Less is More.’ If you’re one of those people with a packed calendar, maybe say No to some of those invites or volunteer requests. In my case it’s how many things do I try to accomplish as far as baking or special projects. Not everyone can be Martha Stewart. However, if it warms your heart to step into her shoes for a month, then do it because you enjoy it, and not because you want praise heaped on you from whomever you are giving these gifts to. This is pretty much the extent of my creativity this holiday season: 

We got our holiday season off to a pretty good start when we recently attended the holiday jazz concert being presented by the Columbus Jazz Orchestra which was held at the Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus. It almost felt normal except for the fact that we had to show our Covid vaccination cards and ID, and of course, wear masks the entire time. I guess that is the new normal as long as new variants of Covid keep evolving. It didn’t mar our enjoyment of the concert, and I was quite happy to attend in person (even though we had the option of streaming it). 

I think we all enjoyed their guest soloist, Oscar winning, Vanessa Campagna. I loved her song which was a variation on “I’ll be home for Christmas” where she talked about making lots of banana bread and all the Amazon boxes stacked up in her closet. 

I also loved her story about being discovered by (the) Marvin Hamlisch (!). She was a child and was told to audition for him. Before she could finish singing the first line of her song he stopped her, so she was understandably crushed. She overheard him on the phone telling his wife to get down there right away (which took some convincing apparently as she was quite busy, so a bit reluctant). When she finally arrived he had Vanessa finish her song and both Mr. Hamlisch and his wife were noticeably moved. He told her, “You’re going to be a star some day.” Okay, I made up that last part, but as she’s won an Oscar, I think she’s doing alright for herself considering she’s not even 30 yet. 

After the concert was over we wandered across the street (on the other side of the parking garage) to the Columbus Commons which were lit in all their splendor for the holidays, including the traditional crackling fireplace being projected on one of the screens.

We did what everyone else did which was to pose for a picture inside one of the giant diamond ring decorations situated around the commons.

Thankfully a nice girl offered to take our picture, which was much more impressive than if we had tried to just do a traditional selfie. We did one for her and her friend and then later for another couple. It was absolutely freezing, but I was glad I got a chance to wear my new festive sparkly red sweater. I think visiting places with holiday lights is at the top of my list of favorite Christmas activities that never fails to cheer me up. 

Last year I wrote about holiday movie and book recommendations. This year I’d like to recommend a limited series (8 episodes) called “Dash & Lily” on Netflix. Quite honestly it’s probably aimed at more of a younger crowd (teens and perhaps young adults), but my husband and I (Gen Xers) thoroughly enjoyed it. First of all, it’s set in one of my favorite cities which is particularly gorgeous this time of year – that being NYC. It’s crazy busy packed with tourists, but if you can tolerate all that togetherness and want a truly magical experience I highly recommend a visit. 

We did our pilgrimage back in 2012 when we met up with family from Australia. We went ice skating not at Rockefeller Center, but instead at Lincoln Center I think. That should definitely be on your Christmas in NYC Bucket List. Checking out the artfully decorated window displays up and down 5^th Avenue and Macy’s, etc. should also be a ‘Must See.’

Add a cup of piping hot cocoa while engaged in either of these activities, then you have the perfect day out.  If you time it right, like we apparently did, you might observe a Santa Crawl

(and saw a couple of his elves getting reprimanded by the boys in blue in a subway station). 

If you can’t get to the Big Apple, check out what the major cities near you offer. Here in Ohio Cincinnati has a particularly spectacular Christmas array including lights, an ice rink, sheds selling Christmas crafts, food & drink, carriage rides, etc. It’s all in Fountain Square (yes, where “WKRP in Cincinnati” title shots were filmed). Columbus has a carousel in the Commons area, and used to have a rink by the Statehouse, but not sure they’ve done that lately. I believe Cleveland has something similar to Cincinnati, but as I haven’t lived there in quite a few years, not quite sure. 

Anyway, “Dash and Lily” is about a couple teens who meet via a dare written (by Lily) in a red journal placed on a shelf at The Strand Bookstore. Dash finds the journal and accepts Lily’s first dare. They take turns throughout the series without actually ever meeting.

The when and where is what kept us in suspense. I can’t really say much more without totally spoiling it, but some of the dares, or rather ‘challenges’ were quite creative and certainly gave more meaning to the holiday for both of them. I felt a little inspired by them, and would definitely watch the entire series again should it ever end up on DVD or archived for streaming again later. 

I would also like to recommend another program we recently enjoyed on PBS (by the way, if you don’t support them financially, you really should; cheaper than cable and no commercial interruptions).

As we’re fans of “The Great British Bake-off” we saw an ad for a program hosted by our favorite  Bake-off alumnus, Mary Berry called “Mary Berry’s Country House at Christmas.” (originally aired on the BBC in 2018) https://www.pbs.org/show/mary-berrys-country-house-christmas/

According to the BBC advert, “When it comes to Christmas food and entertaining, Britain's country houses have always put on a show. In this sumptuous and heartwarming programme, Mary Berry visits Harewood House in Yorkshire to meet its army of skilled staff and dedicated volunteers as they prepare the house for Christmas. With its Robert Adam interiors, Chippendale furniture and Capability Brown gardens, Harewood is one of the nation's most beautiful stately homes. Mary discovers how houses like Harewood celebrate Christmas on a grand scale and shows us how to make delicious modern recipes inspired by forgotten festive dishes of the past.

image from: https://www.art.com/products/p36991786235-sa-i9630539/harewood-house

Harewood's volunteers are the life and soul of the house. Mary discovers their stories as she helps them bake gingerbread and decorate the tree. Delving into the archives, she finds out about the inspiring story of Princess Mary, sixth Countess of Harewood and the current Queen's aunt, who helped provide Christmas gifts for serving soldiers during the First World War. Then she heads out into Harewood's spectacular grounds, gathering vegetables from a historical walled garden and meeting the estate's animal inhabitants.

Mary's visit culminates in a glittering party for staff and volunteers, who gather together to preview the house's spectacular Christmas decorations and celebrate another magical Christmas at Harewood.”

I would also like to recommend some new Christmas songs I heard this year – one is “Christmas Sweater” by Michael Buble. I like everything he does, so not surprised his Christmas song should also impress me. Here’s a link to the video (which is super cute!) on You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfuBZqXa-4

I am also quite keen on Kelly Clarkson’s Christmas songs and just purchased her album “When Christmas comes Around.” “Santa Can’t You Hear Me?” (with Ariana Grande) is probably my favorite.

I also want to give a shout-out to Brad Paisley’s “Santa looked a lot like Daddy.” My dad still swears to this day it wasn’t him playing Santa in this photo:

but I don’t know. The resemblance is uncanny. These days with natural beard and belly, he’s definitely on his way. :  )

Probably the most meaningful encounter that makes this Christmas stand out so far, is when our neighbor’s mom popped over with a card and gift for us. We had only just gotten home from CVS (having just received our Covid boosters) when the doorbell rang.  I said to Andrew that I hoped it was our neighbor from across the street bearing goodies (don’t worry Liz, not trying to put you on the spot :  )  I heard Andrew comment that it was some strange lady with a bag. I sort of recognized her and definitely did when she greeted us with her foreign accent.

This past summer the neighbors that lived diagonally from us (a divorced woman with 2 daughters) moved, and in their place the Hanna family moved in. Pilar is a PHD student studying Anatomy at nearby OSU and resides with her parents. When I met her this summer she told me they moved from Southern California mainly because of the affordability of property and lower cost of living here as compared to there. Though I’ve only been to Southern Cal once, if it’s anything like the northern half of the state where my uncle lives, I can imagine she’s right. Judging from their accents, I would say they’re probably not American-born, but haven’t yet asked where they’re from. 

Anyway, Pilar’s mom handed us a scroll and card and told us they were flying to California the next day to spend the holiday back in California with family there. As Pilar is done with her classes until January, they thought it was the perfect time to get together with family. I teased her about missing an Ohio winter, but thought maybe the snow will wait until their return. Living in Southern Cal they probably haven’t seen snow very often (though I don’t know how much snow they might get wherever they’re from). Andrew and I were really touched by the thought and gesture, and I felt a little bad that I hadn’t yet gotten around to writing a card to them, though I had thought about it. We hope to frame the scroll (see below) and write them a Thank You note to be delivered after they’re back in the new year.

Here's a couple pre-holiday photos:

HAPPY CRIMBO EVERYONE!