So it was not enough that my sweet niece, her husband and son came to the Little Bayou House and made my whole Christmas a lot brighter, they had to outdo themselves by returning. Well, Eva, their son and a family friend came. Erik was not able to be here in person as he works on a riverboat but with the magic of technology, he was able to be in on a huge surprise. And, WOW! What a surprise! I am at a loss for words to describe the feelings going on inside of me right now.
If you recall, it is a big part of my Christmas to make a special batch of cookies for Erik. With his sweet nature, he has always bragged on the cookies so it was only natural that I bake for him. When they came to retrieve his annual gift of baked goods, I offhandedly mentioned that my arthritis was acting up and I would have to wait before baking any more of that type. The dough is particularly difficult to get to come together with just a small hand mixer. Out of pure sweetness, this family opted to gift me an amazing stand mixer! It is so beautiful and big and powerful that I am almost intimidated to try it. Son promised that tomorrow, he will get me over my uncertainty and help me figure out this new gadget. "In no time, you will be using it with ease." he assured me. I hope so...I hope so. For now, it sits on the counter and I admire its beauty. Will I actually learn to use it and churn out some wondrous treats worthy of such a machine?
While receiving such a gift is phenomenal, what is truly mind-boggling is the love behind it. Erik and Eva care about me and the discomfort I am having. They sincerely care. It is beyond heartwarming. Several times this evening, the love and kindness shown has caused me well up with tears. I am so very blessed...so very blessed.
Christmas traditions are carried on generation after generation. Whether it be placing Baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas Eve or ringing Christmas Bells at midnight. The customs vary from place to place and from family to family. There are several "hand-me-down" favorites that have made it through the ages here on the Bayou. We still sing carols from the small paper books that Mom used as she played so happily on the old piano back on the farm. We still bake until "the cows come home". We still hang the old cloth socks from my childhood (not the newfangled stockings) from the mantel. We still enjoy family time. These will always be a part of our holidays. There are a few "new" traditions that I started with my kids that I sorely miss since the kids have grown up and left the Bayou. I miss watching Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Judy Haynes in "White Christmas" with my oldest son. It was one of our favorite times together. After he was "in the know" about Santa, he stayed up late to help me on Christmas Eve, then we would settle in to watch the movie together. Watching the movie is not the same since he is on the island so very far away. Some day..maybe...maybe. Then, there was the tradition of lying on the floor and looking up through the Christmas Tree with my daughter when she was a tot. We continued that even when she would come home from college. That has gone the wayside, too, since she is married and in her own home creating their own happy traditions. Some day..maybe...maybe. The tradition with my youngest son was making new ornaments for the tree each year. This, too, has ceased since he is grown. Although, he is still on the Bayou, his ornament-making days seem to be something of the past...perhaps a fond memory. Again..some day..maybe...maybe...
Now, I have sort of inadvertently stepped into another tradition. For the past few years, a certain nephew has always gotten a plate of his favorite cookies. Erik proclaimed that the Plum Dot cookies are the "best ever cookies". His fondness for the baked treats lead to me baking two batches each year...one for all visitors to the Little Bayou House and one batch just for Erik. In fact, I now call these "Erik's Cookies" when I start to bake. His ooohs and ahhs over the baked goodies are all it took for this old aunt to make sure that he has his very own supply. That young man knows how to smooth talk an old lady into baking for him but, then again, he is mighty special to me!
Today, the tradition of baking "Erik's cookies took place. Not a one of the cookies made it to the treat table as they were secreted away so they would be ready to be presented to Erik. No one gets to eat off that plate! Tomorrow, the second batch of the Plum Dot cookies will be baked and those will be placed among the other trays to be sampled by any and all who stop in for a visit. Christmas traditions on the Bayou say that you will not go away hungry! Last year, I fretted that I would have to alter the recipe due to the fact that I had used my very last jar of plum jam. How thankful I was to see that the plum trees outdid themselves this summer. Sixty-three jars of plum jam line the shelves so it was easy to reach up, grab one and fill the cookies for Erik! (Just so you will know, the recipe for the Plum Dot Cookies is on the Cooking on the Bayou page on this blog. Happy baking!)
