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A Thread To Share Holiday Cheer

CM-BlueButterfly
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Mountainair

Mountainair

My teen son loves pierogies so I was thinking of getting some from a local European store that makes them fresh in-house as part of our Christmas Dinner. He has only ever had frozen ones from the grocery store. The main course is yet to be decided. 
We started a new tradition last year that for New Years Day we break out the Hot Pot and have the table filled with all sorts of meats, veggies and noodles and the kids can add whatever they want and it’s a good way to sit around the table and chat :)

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CM-BlueButterfly
CM-BlueButterfly

While the anticipation from when I was a child is gone and instead of too many days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there never seem to be enough of them anymore, I still love the holiday season:

GHScorpiosRule
GHScorpiosRule

I also love this season. I love putting up a tree, lights (I still struggle with finding battery operated lights to put on my balcony when I see so many of my neighbors with uber kewl ones and try not

Bastet
Bastet

Oh, man, he'd come home to find me day drinking in front of the TV with not a single Christmas decoration in sight if he were my husband.

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Ohiopirate02

Ohiopirate02

18 minutes ago, Mountainair said:

My teen son loves pierogies so I was thinking of getting some from a local European store that makes them fresh in-house as part of our Christmas Dinner. He has only ever had frozen ones from the grocery store. The main course is yet to be decided. 

Just make sure to check what kind of cheese that store uses for their pierogi. The frozen ones are made with cheddar cheese while homemade ones can use different cheeses. The traditional cheese used in Polish pierogi is farmer's cheese which is a cross between cottage cheese and cheese curds. Most Americans use cheddar in their recipes, but a local European store may opt to make the more traditional recipe. 

My two favorite kinds of pierogi are sauerkraut and jalapeño cheddar.

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Mountainair

Mountainair

8 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

My two favorite kinds of pierogi are sauerkraut and jalapeño cheddar.

Those sound yummy! My kid is a more adventurous eater so the cheese shouldn’t pose a problem. I plan to go closer to Christmas to check out the selection but I may have to buy the frozen ones from the store for my other two kids. 

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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

(edited)
3 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Just make sure to check what kind of cheese that store uses for their pierogi. The frozen ones are made with cheddar cheese while homemade ones can use different cheeses. The traditional cheese used in Polish pierogi is farmer's cheese which is a cross between cottage cheese and cheese curds. Most Americans use cheddar in their recipes, but a local European store may opt to make the more traditional recipe. 

My two favorite kinds of pierogi are sauerkraut and jalapeño cheddar.

Farmer cheese is my fave. But I have made homemade mushroom. FRom a recipe from the old gourmet magazine. I should dig that out it’s really worth the effort. Of course for me the most important part is the topping of Caramelized onions. And sour cream. 

Edited by EtheltoTillie
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Dimity

Dimity

Due to family circumstances we are alone for Christmas Eve and Day - at least it's not because of Covid!  Big get togethers are going to be Boxing Day and then on the following Saturday.  It's going to be a little different than usual but I'm thinking it will be nice to have things a little laidback.  I'm trying to decide what to have for meals - I've definitely got the nibbles and goodies covered!

PRgal

PRgal

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

Due to family circumstances we are alone for Christmas Eve and Day - at least it's not because of Covid!  Big get togethers are going to be Boxing Day and then on the following Saturday.  It's going to be a little different than usual but I'm thinking it will be nice to have things a little laidback.  I'm trying to decide what to have for meals - I've definitely got the nibbles and goodies covered!

Not shopping on Boxing Day?  Oh wait, Boxing Day is basically Boxing Month, running from Black Friday until January 1.....on and off, anyway.  I DO need to get my little guy a new car seat...he's "graduating" to a booster soon.....still a little on the lighter side though (i.e. he's still hovering at the 40 lb mark.  We want to wait until he's 45+)

PRgal

PRgal

Just now, Dimity said:

This is something I've never done.  The last place I want to be on Boxing Day or anyone other big shopping day is a mall!  I've still got to get a few things and am bracing myself to do some in person purchasing as I figure I give Bezos enough of my money as it is!

This is why I shop online.  For the car seat, I'll probably do a pick-up since they're delicate and I don't want to risk damage.  But I don't want to deal with lines. 

GHScorpiosRule

GHScorpiosRule

On 12/11/2024 at 10:45 AM, GHScorpiosRule said:

and now Cinderella. Oh, I also need Ariel!

Quoting myself because, YAY! I found Snow White, in a glittering yellow skirt (under $10), and another of her with Dopey; and Ariel, sitting on a rock (only $3)!

Though Ariel looks NOTHING like her 'toon counter part! But I don't care. Ooh! Also got one of Snow White's evuhl Step Mother. Found Genie and one of  Ursula! Found a more Ariel looking Ariel from the Hallmark store!

Interesting that with all these collections, nary a sight of Prince Charming, Prince Phillip, Aladdin, or Prince Erik!

Okay. I need to just STAHP.

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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

22 minutes ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

Quoting myself because, YAY! I found Snow White, in a glittering yellow skirt (under $10), and another of her with Dopey; and Ariel, sitting on a rock (only $3)!

Though Ariel looks NOTHING like her 'toon counter part! But I don't care. Ooh! Also got one of Snow White's evuhl Step Mother. Found Genie and one of  Ursula! Found a more Ariel looking Ariel from the Hallmark store!

Interesting that with all these collections, nary a sight of Prince Charming, Prince Phillip, Aladdin, or Prince Erik!

Okay. I need to just STAHP.

Are these figurines?  I thought you were talking about movies earlier.  Can you send a picture? 

GHScorpiosRule

GHScorpiosRule

Just now, EtheltoTillie said:

So you can hang them on a Christmas tree?  So cute. 

Yup! The one I have of Beast plays Angela Lansbury's version of "Beauty and the Beast" so I have that and Belle "looking" toward each other on my tree!

But my tree looks like it's full of "holes" because of all these ornaments surrounded by traditional ornaments. As a result, some of the warm clear lights are hidden. So of course I just got some multi-colored lights to string around it, to "cover" the holes because my poinsettia clips and tinsel did not resolve the issue!

And these light are blinky-blinky! I'll post a short video once I'm done. Probably this weekend.

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GHScorpiosRule

GHScorpiosRule

14 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

I, too, own a Christmas onesie!  It's one of the only thing that gets me through Winter.  I may or may not be wearing it right now.  No pic though as I can't compete with cute dog. 

The last time I wore a onesie, I was a baby. I have a wonderfully cute "ugly" sweater I'll be wearing on Christmas Day!

I've been really amping up the silliness this week, and my fellow co-workers and colleagues have told me they love it. 

Like, for our party last week, I was dressed to the Nines (I always do) with my blinky Santa Hat! And did I mention I won the prize for best dressed? $250 Visa gift card, which I'm using for stuff now!

This week, I had on this tiara with gold tinsel, mini ornaments and that had three speeds of blinky-blinky that I wore to one of the practice groups holiday lunch (got it from Hallmark), and yesterday, I had that honker of an elf tiara I picked up at CVS! That one got a lot of laughs and "I LOVE IT!" from folks.

And I succumbed and watched a video on how to make that tissue paper in gift bags, since my way is just scrunching them up and it looks just like that-scrunched up mess. But this one dude's way? I won't lie-it worked! 

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Dimity

Dimity

Despite hating Bezos I do have to concede that I order from Amazon, probably more than I should.  That said I have been really disappointed with a few of my purchases this holiday season.  Let's just say "buyer beware" - the online descriptions are, to say the least, creative, in some cases.  Definitely prompting me to brave the malls and do more in person choosing this year!

PRgal

PRgal

4 hours ago, Dimity said:

Despite hating Bezos I do have to concede that I order from Amazon, probably more than I should.  That said I have been really disappointed with a few of my purchases this holiday season.  Let's just say "buyer beware" - the online descriptions are, to say the least, creative, in some cases.  Definitely prompting me to brave the malls and do more in person choosing this year!

If you don't like Bezos then I hope you don't have any Amazon shares (if you don't have the stock outright or in an ETF, your pension plan might).  As for Amazon itself, I find that the Amazon Market stuff tends to be of lesser quality.  And I also don't like how the third party items are charged separately so sometimes, I'll see three separate listings on my credit card bill.  

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GHScorpiosRule

GHScorpiosRule

On 12/14/2024 at 4:00 PM, EtheltoTillie said:

I do like the colored lights hope you get them to work again. 

Oh they work, they just don't blink. And that's okay. Trying to screw in the one that would make it blink is well...not lit. And I don't feel like messing with it. So all the lights are steady, as you can see in the picture.

I may just get a tree with prelit blinking lights for next year. I've some of them in my neighbors' windows. Or not.

I'm so paranoid that the bulbs will burn out that I turn off the lights to the tree and the ones blinking in the living room and near my kitchen, instead of letting them flash and blink overnight!

But I turn the tree lights on in the morning. But leave them off on the days I go to the office.

OOH! I found some ornament and Nutcracker earrings from Michael's!

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GHScorpiosRule

GHScorpiosRule

(edited)

Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is one of my top 10 Christmas songs.

Hands down, I prefer the original-and I know in previous threads over the years, I mentioned how Kool and the Gang were the only American artists who participated.

I didn't like the remake in...2004? And I certainly don't like the mashup they've done this year.

Yes, yes, the line that Bono sings "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you" doesn't sound good. And in the new documentary/making of that I found on YouTube, Bono even says when he saw those lyrics, he was hoping Geldof wouldn't make him sing it. But the explanation or reasoning Geldof gave makes...sense to me. It shows how privileged we are, and how many of us who aren't suffering like those children and families we saw in the video, were silently thanking God or whoever that they weren't in such a plight? It's hard; It's difficult. But he kept that line in.

That all said, I remember as a teen, counting how many lines Simon LeBon had (I was and still am a HUGE Duran Duran fan), how many lines Boy George had, Sting, Bono, George Michael, hee!  And trying to see how many artists I recognized.

I knew Boy George was hung over, but I didn't realize he was in New York and was late in coming to London to make this video! Or that he missed the Concord! He eventually showed up, but man! And Geldof didn't even know Phil Collins!

Anyhoo, I just love that song and the video, and it makes me misty that George Michael is no longer with us.

So I'm listening to my playlist at work now, which includes whoever did that Porky Pig impersonation and sang "Blue Christmas", along with:

  • Bill Rivers' "The 12 Pains of Christmas"*
  • Bill Rivers' "The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen" (To "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" I think)
  • Alvin and The Chipmunks' "Chipmunks' Christmas Song"
  • Bing's "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
  • Wham's "Last Christmas"
  • John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"
  • And a whole slew of others....

*Used to play this on the Radio ALL.THE.TIME. in the 80s and 90s until the Music Police put a stop to it.

Edited by GHScorpiosRule
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Dimity

Dimity

13 minutes ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is one of my top 10 Christmas songs.

I agree.  I've gotten into a few 'discussions' over the years with people who dislike this song but to each their own.  To me this is a powerful song and definitely one of my Christmas favourites.

Another favourite of mine I only know of because we lived in England for awhile.  Mistletoe and Wine by Cliff Richard.  Love that one.

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Cementhead

Cementhead

9 minutes ago, meep.meep said:

I finished finding boxes for things that have to be mailed and filled them with a lot of kitty assistance.  For some reason, she likes to chew on strapping tape.  And boxes!

Did the assistance look a lot like this?  This has always been my experience with any cat I have ever met and any box they have ever met.

Cat GIF

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Annber03

Annber03

9 hours ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

Yes, yes, the line that Bono sings "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you" doesn't sound good. And in the new documentary/making of that I found on YouTube, Bono even says when he saw those lyrics, he was hoping Geldof wouldn't make him sing it. But the explanation or reasoning Geldof gave makes...sense to me. It shows how privileged we are, and how many of us who aren't suffering like those children and families we saw in the video, were silently thanking God or whoever that they weren't in such a plight? It's hard; It's difficult. But he kept that line in.

This. That's how I'd always thought that line was meant to be intepreted, I never got the sense that they meant it the way so many people have taken it over the years. 

I like that song, too. Like you said, so many great artists singing on it. And I'm a U2 fan, so anything relating to them, I'm on board :D.

Quote

Alvin and The Chipmunks' "Chipmunks' Christmas Song"

This one brings back happy memories for me, 'cause my mom had the vinyl of this and when I was a kid, I remember her playing it all the time at the holidays :). 

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

Officially done my shopping!  Frabjous day.   Now on to the wrapping phase of the program.  I always wait until I'm home alone and put on some Christmas movies.  I'm looking forward to it 🎅.

I'm close to done with mine. Just got a couple more things to get for a couple family members and I should be good to go :). Also participating in a holiday fic exchange for one of my fandoms, so that's fun, too. 

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GHScorpiosRule

GHScorpiosRule

7 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

Slàinte mhath, @GHScorpiosRule  what a great gift, beautiful label.  

It really was! I was expecting like some swag and chocolates or something. And my usual go to is Johnnie Walker/Black Label. But this? Wow. You know what I'll be having when I snuggle down this weekend with my wassail, Die Hard, Home Alone, Trading Places, Rudolph, The Year Without Santa Claus, Dr. Suess' How The Grinch Stole Christmas...

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meep.meep

meep.meep

20 hours ago, Cementhead said:

Did the assistance look a lot like this?  This has always been my experience with any cat I have ever met and any box they have ever met.

Cat GIF

It did, but imagine three different boxes open at the same time, in theory so I could move between the two boxes to be mailed and the decoy box that we've given to her.

 

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ECM1231

ECM1231

Do any of you tip your postal carrier at this time of year? I remember my mom always giving our mail carrier a gift, but it was never monetary. Sometimes it was a bottle of liquor, or a nice box of chocolates. 

I've never tipped because I thought federal workers weren't allowed gifts. Plus, they change my carrier around so much that I don't really know who's the regular carrier. But today I received a post card in the mailbox wishing us Season's Greetings. She wrote: " Thank you for the warm welcome back to work" and signed her name. I hadn't realized she was even gone. 😂 I rarely see my carrier and the mail arrives all different times, and not one specific time. 

I guess she's angling for some kind of gift. After 41 years of being a homeowner, I'm not sure I want to start now. But if I did, what would be appropriate?

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Bastet

Bastet

1 hour ago, ECM1231 said:

I've never tipped because I thought federal workers weren't allowed gifts.

From USPS website:

Employee Tipping and Gift-Receiving Policy

All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Exec­utive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount. Furthermore, no employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from any one customer in any one calendar year period. 

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Dimity

Dimity

1 hour ago, ECM1231 said:

I guess she's angling for some kind of gift. After 41 years of being a homeowner, I'm not sure I want to start now. But if I did, what would be appropriate?

We don't have door to door delivery (I see our Amazon driver way more often than I've ever seen a letter carrier!!) but back in the day I remember my mother giving gifts of either a box of chocolate or homemade baked goods.  I don't know how appreciative someone 'angling' for a gift would be about getting some fruitcake or shortbread cookies though!

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