Christmas musings

 Christmas has been so quiet for us, but it's still always wonderful. We didn't go to Joanne's, no lively visit with the Italian cousins. No rum cake that she always makes, that her mother made before her. I thought about that and decided to make it for work. 

It's not cake, but a kind of trifle. You cut up some pound cake, wet it with a rum/milk mixture, chill it for an hour. Meanwhile cook up some vanilla pudding and pour it over, then let it set. Another layer of cake and rum, then chill. Then chocolate pudding. Whipped cream over all. It came out delicious, but was soggy. I didn't think I wet the cake too much but maybe I did; Joanne's is never soggy. She's had more practice.

The cats are enjoying the Christmas cds I'm playing; Dolly is also enjoying the tree. As soon as I put it up, she seemed interested in it, and I think she remembers it in past years. She lays near it every day for a spell. I say near it because not even a small cat can go under it - a certain young person has climbed it enough times and bent the lower branches down too far. They don't seem to bend back up and it looks pretty dumb but we won't go there today. 

Christmas Eve I made minestrone but wanted something more, so I made some parmesan crackers. I've been wanting to try making crackers for ages - it was pretty easy. I could have kept them in the oven longer, but they were a nice treat. 

I'm still reading the Chesterton biography, still enjoying it. He and Frances never were able to have children, but they loved them.

"On the sands I romped with children

Do you blame me that I did not improve myself

By bottling anemones?

But I say that these children will be men and women

And I say that the anemones will not be men and women

     (Not just yet, at least, let us say),

And I say that the greatest men of the world might romp with children

And that I should like to see Shakespeare romping with children

And Browning and Darwin romping with children

And Mr. Gladstone romping with children

And Professor Huxley romping with children

And all the Bishops romping with children;

And I say that if a man had climbed to the stars

And found the secrets of the angels,

The best thing and the most useful thing he could do

Would be to come back and romp with children."

Look there at the star!

I, among the least,

Will arise and take

A journey to the East.

But what shall I bring

As a present for the King?

What shall I bring to the Manger?

I will bring a song.

A song that I will sing,

A song for the King

In the manger.

Watch out for my flocks,

Do not let them stray.

I am going on a journey

Far, far away.

But what shall I bring

As a present for the Child?

What shall I bring to the Manger?

I will bring a lamb,

Gentle, meek, and mild,

A lamb for the Child

In the Manger.

I'm just a shepherd boy.

Very poor I am -

But I know there is

A King in Bethlehem.

What shall I bring

As a present for Him?

What shall I bring to the Manger?

I will bring my heart

And give my heart to Him.

I will bring my heart

To the Manger.

- Langston Hughes, Shepherd's Song at Christmas