this thing called Christmas ....

                                                        yeepee, Christmas is over and we are still alive

Christmas is over - New Years Day has already slipped into yesterday and I try to think about, what to write in my first official blog. Its one of the so called resolutions, to do more writing, be more mentally creative.
As it is 'the season', I might as well chat a little bit about our way of celebrating that time at the end of the year.
Christmas was quiet, but relaxing and I have to admit really utterly stress free. All our family is from Germany and Portugal and we usually spent it in our own/adopted countries. So it is just the four of us.... the 2 boys, both home from college, hubby and myself.
When the children were little, we had to take on the rules of the country, regarding how to prepare for the big day and also let 'Santi' do all the giving on Christmas morning. But once both went to Secondary school we all decided to celebrate on the 24th, Christmas eve. I never liked this 'Coca-Cola Santi' anyway .... . Growing up with 'the Christkind', I just couldn't leave it behind and pretend that Santi is the man now, distributing the presents. Despite trying to rare the children in my 'catholic believe', I have to admit, that this didn't turn out to be to successful. But my wish for Christmas is since, that they go to mass on Christmas eve.... and they do - except the man himself, who hasnt fallen for any religion. Even though they wouldn't mind bringing their headset and listening to music during the ceremony :).
As a Florist I work up until Christmas eve and so I escape indirectly all the shopping stress in the last few days. Like rushing into town several times, buying this and that, consume up until the last minute. Usually beginning of December I get my few bits and there is one grocery shopping done on the 23rd. Traditionally we have goose on Christmas day - our own goose. As I grow also vegetables I would still have winter veggie and salads in the garden or the freezer. I do love cooking and baking and last not least also eating :). My 'other half' eats absolutely everything, even lentils, polenta or millet..., and the boys near to everything, that means I don't have to cook for specific tastes, which helps a lot. Stop, Seamus, the older boy never liked to eat his own animals, so he is usually a vegetarian on Christmas day. But there is plenty of other food, so he doesn't mind.
Overall I m glad Christmas is over and that life can go back to normal, if there is such a thing like 'normal life'.
Lets dive brave and bold into that new year 2015. Swim, drift, paddle, surf, but don't drown in that main stream, Be bold enough to swim against that stream to follow your dreams. Surf if the waves of life swell up to high.....
More news from the bog in a little while - in the meantime, leave a comment, an idea or simple an inspiration - Thank you

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