Jim and Cody Gray and Linda Kohls were decorating a beautiful Christmas tree today when I stopped in Drovers to see them. They cut a tall, well-shaped tree at Bell Tree Farm (as once we used to do) and placed it right by the front door. When I left they were adding ornaments that are for sale…cute little cowboy type decorations. It’s a very festive tree. If you need a stocking stuffer or an exchange gift for not too much money, stop in and buy an orament, or any one of a number of unusual gift items they have for sale. It’s a good thing to shop at home.
I had not met Cody Gray before, but maybe I have and forgot. He’s too good-looking and personable to do that or maybe he was too far away for me to get a good look when he was here a number of years ago re-shingling our roof with the Kohls brothers. He was recently married, lives in KC and does contract work for Sprint. I like Jim and Robin’s boys and their sister Megan…nice young people.
The downtown area was full of cars and people which is a very good sign. I need to check to see when the Christmas opening is…Monday I think. I don’t want to miss that.
The high school Spanish class is selling homemade peanut brittle today at ALCO. They appeared to be doing a brisk business. Drew helped with that. He says he doesn’t know how to make it as it was an assembly line project and all he did was the same one thing over and over for four hours. If you haven’t tried their peanut brittle, I can attest to the fact it is as good as any you can make. It’s pulled thin and has a great flavor. I think I bought 12 pounds last year for gifts. This year I’m steering clear. The diet you know.
Brit got a load of red oak firewood from Todd, Karen and the boys for his birthday. Caleb Svaty had it as a fund-raising auction item at the Presbyterian Church so Todd bought it and today Caleb and his cousin delivered it. Drew and Tyler helped stack it. It didn’t take those strong, willing guys very long to do that and bring a bunch to the back door for our fireplace downstairs. We use a lot of firewood during the course of the winter.
It’s time to start on the Christmas “stuff” that I churn out of my kitchen. It isn’t what it once was by any means and a lot of that is because the friends my age, like me, are on restrictive diets of some kind or can’t “drink”, so nogs are out.
I have a peppery “sorta” hot, candied pickle recipe that I’ve made to share. And I will continue to make several batches of Rom Pope, the very secret recipe I’m sworn not to divulge to anyone…for fear of instant death. Last year I think I blogged how we got the recipe and I’m not going to blog it again. I just can’t tell how I make it as I promised Ally I wouldn’t and she promised the guy who told her she wouldn’t. It took years and years to get it.
I have several friends who would never let me forget it if they didn’t get a big jug of Rom Pope every year. Meridith and Cindy have fits of apoplexy just thinking about getting through the holidays without it. Jim Gray is not far behind only he savors his for months. I thought you’d die if you didn’t drink it in a couple of weeks, but he is living proof you won’t.
I better go check to see how my supplies are for making it.
We’re not putting up a tree this year, at least I don’t think so. I have my Christmas chair that Lori at La Prairie made for me and that is enough. The grandkids really don’t care and for the last 15 years, I’ve only done it for them. I falter at traditional Christmas celebrations for obvious reasons…as do many of my friends. The family has grown accustomed to our humbug spirit during the holidays and enjoy things with us other than the anticipation of Christmas.
Speaking of the grandsons, they are joining their brother, Rod, his uncle Ron and other guys to see the K-State basketball game tomorrow. The grandson brothers are driving themselves to Manhattan tomorrow. It’s not their first trip, but it tells me that when they can do that…and they are responsible…they are growing up. They’ll soon fly away.