My Christmas Traditions

                                     Christmas Memories for Every Year

As I look around this morning, I realize how many things I try to do each year at the holiday time.  Even though I don’t get to see my family this year I am blessed with my friends here in Los Angeles and my Iowa roots and my mother in me comes out at this time of year.

Of course, I start baking like my Mom and Grandmother would do.  I have, over the years, created my own baking traditions that my friends tell me that look forward to and frankly I better show up with some of this candy for them!

 Leading the way is my “famous” White Chocolate Toffee.   I actually ran into a friend this year at a function months and months after Christmas and she wistfully told me she missed my toffee.  We had not really seen each other at all last year and since I didn’t’ see her at holiday time she didn’t get candy.  So I suppose I will make sure she gets some this year even though we don’t see each other much at all. 

I always try new recipes each year.  I like “mixing it up”.   So this year I made my sister-in-law’s Cracker Mix.  It has Bugles in it.  Some of you may not know this cracker but although you use 4 to 5 kinds of crackers I must find the Bugles or it just doesn’t seem right for me.  And hey thank you Albertsons you had them this year. 

For some reason this year I made three new chocolate cookie recipes.  I like them all but I think the two favorite recipes for me are the Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cookie and the Brown Raspberry Double Cookie.  Who can say No to Chocolate, especially a cookie that tastes like a brownie!!!

Some years I get crafty. Sometimes with success.  One year I made Sand Candles.  This year I found a great deal on Paper White Flower Plants.  For those of you who don’t know them, they are a bulb flower plant and usually I only see them at holiday time.  I love the scent of the beautiful tall small flowered plants.  They don’t last very long.  I had to take one over to some friends last time since some of them are already blooming and I couldn’t wait until Christmas.  Luckily they are all blooming in my studio where I teach and the smell is fantastic.  I am sure some of you how these plants make me crafty but hey I do have to put them in containers and wrap them in tissue paper, right? 

I brought out my Aunt Gertie’s ceramic tree and turn the lights on every evening.  Yes it is a little shall we say corny?  But I love it because it was my Aunt Gertie’s tree in her living room each year and it reminds me of her and Uncle Harvey.  They were like my second set of parents especially after both my parents were gone.  And of course then I don’t have to buy a Christmas tree.  

I hope that all of you have created traditions or continue traditions from your family for your holidays. 

I want to wish all of you Happy Holidays whatever holidays you celebrate.  I look forward to seeing you in Hong Kong in February.  I only wish I could share in your New Year activities, I understand they are beautiful and fun, but maybe I can do that in another year. 

One of my most wonderful memories for 2008 was coming to Hong Kong for the first time.  It was so special for me.  I had always wanted to visit Hong Kong and since teaching actors and artists is my most favorite thing to do coming to Hong Kong to teach made it even more special. 

I feel honored to have worked with the Hong Kong artists this year and I look forward to seeing you and working with you again very soon.