Firecracker, Firecracker, Boom, Boom, Boom!

 I'd be a terrible elf.

"Man pants! Man pants!" or something like that.  

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas/holiday/day off. We did our usual Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas eve where I made a paella with seven fishes in it, except it was four this year because shit happens. No one really cared. I like making a big paella so there's leftovers and I don't need to spend Christmas cooking. 

The sofrito was made back in September with tomatoes from my garden and then frozen. I was happy I planned ahead because one less thing to stand and do this week was a gift. 

I bulked it out with chickpeas and artichoke hearts. There's salmon, Mahi Mahi, Cod, and Tilapia. Anyway, for something I only make once a year I was happy I didn't screw it up. My brain hasn't been functioning at peak performance lately. 

Boxing Day I made an orange sesame chicken stir-fry that was quick, easy, and used up the odds and ends of vegetables. That's not proper rice under the chicken, but rice made from chickpea flour. After the arborio rice in the paellla I figured it was best to stay away from the real rice for a bit. I did manage the cooking for Mr. ETB's diabetic needs and he was able to enjoy a Christmas fruit cake that was mostly nuts, whole wheat flour, and grated carrots. I've been feeding it booze for a couple months. They both said it reminded them of a white christmascake without the molasses, but that the spices got the job done. So that's good to know, and I'll post the recipe for anyone that wants to try it for next year, or as a diabetic wedding cake, Simnel cake, or anywhere else a fruitcake makes sense. 

The waffle maker is fantastic. Dan's finding reasons to get out of bed before dinner. 

The all important Christmas trousers got worn, which felt like an accomplishment of sorts because most years I don't get to the majority of outfits I want during the holiday period. 

I love these so much. There's nothing that says they're Christmas, just that the pattern makes me think of a stylised tree. I could wear them year round of course, but then they wouldn't be special. I don't wear trousers much anyway. 

Maybe I can wear these in June for laughs. 

Or just the bodysuit and tights next time I need to go to Dan's school. I'm sure he'd appreciate me turning up like this. 

Christmas Eve was so warm there were giant flies emerging outside. Christmas Day was nice too, but next week we're headed into more seasonable temperatures. Still, it was nice to get into December without needing to run the furnace every day. 

My horrible/wonderful vintage shoes. They need to go to the cobbler for a professional re-gluing. 

This angel was a recent thrift purchase. I liked the mid-century lines of it. 

My earrings are pinecones, but that's hard to see in the photo. 

It was time for the red velvet skirt. 

and the tartan shoes...

Dan got a marzipan pig from Germany. I remember those being a very big deal when I was a child, and almonds being one of the few nuts I could have. It isn't the same without the  delicatessen/grocery/bakery/import shop paradise that was Kuhn's Delicatessen on Lincoln Ave and the old lady that would send me home with a year's worth of 4711 samples because she knew I liked it. No one is getting a bottle of Asbach Uralt (almost impossible to find in Nebraska) and there were no licorice pipes, ornately wrapped chocolates, or imported beer with a lady in a swimsuit on the can (I can't remember the brand) but by golly, my boy is having a piece of the American Midwestern 1970s Christmas experience that included a marzipan pig from Germany. 

The boys bought me a robe and it matched my velvet trousers so nicely I just went ahead and wore it all day. I'm sure I looked like  loony sitting in the sun Christmas day wrapped up like a convalescent at a TB sanatorium, but it was a nice way to spend the day. Beth's slippers have been getting a lot of wear.   I spent most of the day checking my plummeting blood sugar and then trying to force it back up with juice. Not ideal, but that's where we're at. Hopefully I can get an Rx for a continual monitoring one that I can wear and don't have to prick my fingers for blood tests so much. I have an appointment Tuesday, so we'll see. On a positive note, I've discovered I really like white grape juice. Almost like having a glass of dessert wine. 

Just like last year, Mr. ETB made the trip to the Mexican pottery shop in South Omaha and bought a couple planters as our gift. 

This one weighs a tonne.

A squirrel having a meal. How cute is that? I love squirrels as everyone knows, so that was just the perfect gift. I bought Mr. ETB a nice set of pencils and small notebooks along with a quality pepper grinder. We're still using the one my parents got when they were married in 1957. It will be nice to have one that can handle harder peppercorns. Anyway, he was excited to use it and likes that it has an adjustable grind feature. I bought mine from Penzy's because I like their spices, and their politics. I know they lost a lot of business this year for taking a stand against all this nonsense, and we try to buy what we can from them in support. Speaking of which...

I put packets of Penzy's spice samples in the Christmas crackers. Everyone's had enough candy anyway. 

I also put Thanksgiving stickers in because, what the hell why not?

Okay, the suction hanging hook was a last minute thing to fill out the tube, but they're useful. Not your typical Christmas cracker, for sure. 

And then it was Boxing Day. I got dressed, spent the day monitoring my blood glucose and drinking juice accordingly. Not bad, but I'd have rather been out. I won't be going out for any unnecessary trips now until the covid numbers come back down. I'm worried what's coming post holiday, but maybe people did the right thing and got vaccinated and wore masks. A Christmas miracle? 

Unlikely, but not impossible. 

I'm looking forward to a nice New Year's Eve at home. Maybe for excitement people can start their "Celebratory Gunfire" before midnight. Because what's more American than greeting the New Year by firing several rounds indiscriminately into the air? Happens every year, and every year someone gets shot by the "celebratory gunfire" but traditions are hard to change. Yeah, what can I say? Fireworks are also legal on New Year's Eve in Nebraska and last year they passed legislation permitting even larger ones to be purchased by the home consumer. So that's fun because we have plenty of extra help at the hospitals right now to sew people back together after they set off the equivalent of an artillery shell on their driveway. It also makes it fun sitting at home playing a game I like to call, "Shot or Firecracker"? Most of the time I can tell, but when they're going off at the same time it scales up the level of difficulty. 

But don't mind me. I'm old and cranky and just want to be in bed by 10 PM with a mug of cocoa and a book.

I hope the last few days of 2021 are pleasant for you and that you celebrate in an appropriate manner. Cheers.