Metcalf Family Mews

I’m trying really hard not to turn this Christmas into yet another McChristmas. A quick shopping trip the day after Turkey, to the stores at the crack of midnight [which I missed again this year - I slept in] just to buy as much as I possibly can in as little amount of time as possibly can. I do love shopping as much as the next woman, but it’s really getting to be more than I can handle at this point. Then look on the kids faces when they didn’t get exactly what they wanted under the tree or as much as they thought they should have. Is this really “Christmas?”

My sister-in-law told me that her grown children actually counted the gifts under the tree to make sure they all had gotten the same amount. Now, I thought the entire point of a gift was to give something from the heart. Where did I go wrong in my thinking?

An old friend, Maxine Morris, many years ago, told me that when she was a very young girl, that Christmas was an apple, an orange and a stick of penny candy in a stocking. And she was thrilled for it. Try that today in our McChristmas world.

I’m not really complaining, as much as, I’m just thinking out loud.  I’m trying to rationalize my way of spending at Christmas.  This year, like every year past, my husband has vowed we are cutting our holiday spending way down. Maybe one or two gifts per person.  And really we should. There is no real reason to buy presents just to see packages climbing the walls, as it was in our youth. The economy isn’t even the real reason, it plays a part, but it just isn’t practical. How much stuff does one person need?

I know we don’t need anything really, and if our kids need something, they just run out and pick it up. So aren’t we all just getting a little crazy over an event that takes a few minutes to unwrap and in a day or two they won’t even remember what they got?

Example: Two years ago, I bought Steven an 60Gig IPod it was stolen at his school the very next day @ wresting practice.  Yes, just a few bucks short of a felony. Now you know, when some kid brought that home, there was no way his parents thought he got a new $498 IPod as an exchange gift.  But like I told my son, it’s just a thing… you got along without it… before you had it. Hopefully next time, he’ll be more aware of his surroundings and just not trust anybody[Doubtful, since he lost or had something stolen weekly]. I guess, some kid at his school was a kleptomaniac. I blame the parents.

Anyway, I don’t plan on giving anyone a gift this year, that will cause someone to loose their soul over. Nothing coveted here. Just a handful of little trinkets, not to tell them that I love them and cherish them, but just a little something to put a smile on their face. I’m still making my list and checking it twice. They have all been a blessing to me and I hope to be a blessing to them.

If you want to give ME a gift this year, I would consider it a huge blessing, if you help me – help others with these query’s: Virginia history Pennsylvania county Morris; what is the Scottish clan name for the surname Caswell?, Adkins genealogy, Blue Sky – Chief Cornstalks daughter, Quakers + “Simon Metcalf”, ancestry of John Montgomery b. 1779 KY, John Franklin Reed family history. If you have any information – no matter how small, please do share it. Thank you in advance.

A rose only becomes beautiful and blesses others when it opens up and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tightly-closed bud, never fulfilling its potential. ~ DALE GALLOWAY

It’s not a secret that my favorite Christmas movie is, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I usually try to watch it 6 or 8 times every year and yes, it makes my husband crazy when I do. I love the end of the movie when George runs to the edge of town and reads the sign: You’re now entering Bedford Falls. He has “His Life” back. It may not have been what he perceived to be as the perfect life. But once he was removed from it, on the outside looking in so to speak, he knew it was the life that he really loved and wanted. Without a doubt it was the perfect life for him.

I’m sure everyone or almost everyone has seen the movie by now and we can all relate to this movie in part or as a whole. Its just a wonderful realization of what our lives and the people that we care the most about, would miss if anything were to change, or if we weren’t in the picture anymore.

I sat down and re-watched The Family Man – which I’ve seen a few dozen times as well… aka chick flick. I love movies that remind people what life could or should be if they have family to love and to love them back. It’s what we all strive for; some to the point of obsession. We all take a hard look at our lives at some point and make decisions on what to do to improve our daily lives. Each day; buy a new house or car, move to another house or school district, we clean, we decorate, we call friends and family, we share stories, we do all the mundane tasks that we are supposed to do, I’m not sure if its to impress the neighbors or to make ourselves feel happy, but we complete these tasks everyday.

But what if this was to change? What if you’re not here tomorrow to complete these mundane tasks? Whose job will it be then? Did it really matter to anyone if it were done? Did I make all the right choices? Change the bad things into good? Appreciate all the simple things that I have?

Think about all the simple things; things you put aside to complete all of your mundane daily tasks, when you could have spent that same amount of time making someone you care about or someone who cares about you, feel more alive, more needed or more important to you? Did you share a little of yourself with someone today? Make the right changes for you?

It’s almost Christmas, and it’s not about what I can afford to buy you, it’s about what will you remember about me when I’m gone? Was I trustworthy? Honest? Loving or Caring? Empathic? Did I only remember you as a name on a Birthday or Christmas card; sent once a year? Did I love to see you come by the house or called to say, “Hi?” If not, why? Did I not take the time to let you know how much you mean to me? Didn’t I show you that I care? Even in some small way? Did I tell you how much I love and appreciate you?

This Christmas, don’t just buy someone a gift; share a picture, a cup of tea or coffee, and/or some small part of yourself, with those you love. It’s after all, what they will remember the most, not the tinsel or the lavish gifts; it’s the love that went into it. So stop by or call and tell the ones you care about, that they are the thing that you treasure, the most precious gift you will receive this year. Your presence is the gift! Welcome Home and Welcome to the Family! And as my gift to you, “Enjoy your Wonderful Life!”

Trust is the conviction that the leader means what he or she says. It’s a belief in two old-fashioned qualities called consistency and integrity. Trust opens the door to change. ~ Peter Drucker

Never stop counting your blessings.

Nourish beginnings, let us nourish beginnings. Not all things are blest, but the seeds of all things are blest. The blessing is in the seed. ~ Muriel Rukeyser

gone… gone is yet another Turkey; deboned and the last few fragments are resting in a large Ziploc baggie in the bottom of the fridge. Hopefully, I will enjoy a nice creamed turkey on a biscuit or a turkey turnover for dinner tonight to finish off the rest.

My theme for the decorations this year was, “Give Thanks.” It was on the plates and just about everywhere in the room really. I thought it a fitting theme for another harvest of memories, a day of thanks; to be mindful of those loved ones I have lost, to all those whom knew how much I loved them, and the love they gave me in return, was enough to last a lifetime. Inwardly, I thank them every day, because they will always be a part of me. I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing them, but even when I miss them the most, I can remind myself of the lives they have lead, the things they have touched and taught me, and the things that I have to remember them by.

While my husband & I argued again this year, about the amount of sage I should use in my mother’s stuffing recipe [A little Lovin’ from the Oven... I'm for lots and he's for a little -  it always ends the same way; with a hug and a kiss, and my adding what I want... it's a fun thing to do every year]. I do love the smell of sage; it always reminds of my childhood. I may only make the dressing a few times a year, but I could make it in my sleep.

I decided not to use my Grandma’s turkey platter this year, opting for a more decorative one instead [one that if it broke on the garage floor - I was only out five bucks and not a dear family heirloom]. I spent my time remembering each one of the people that meant, and still mean, so much to me in my life. They may be gone now, but never far from my thoughts.

I can remember the smell of Thanksgiving as a young girl; my Mom’s dressing always let me know it was a holiday. The whole house was filled with the scent of turkey with her old bread dressing. My mom always stuffed the bird. I never do for fear of whatever the newest baking turkey plight is. I have to say after all these years; I’m still not a big dressing lover. I’ll eat a little if I have a little extra room on my plate, but I actually prefer to cover my turkey with Cranberry relish and eat it that way. You… It’s just a personal thing, but I will always be thankful for my mom and her secret recipes that made the holidays special for me. I hope in some small way, that I do that for my children and my grandchildren.

I remember my mom making dinner and her telling me how she wasn’t as elegant in her serving of the food, as her mother before her.  I guess, we all should make some of our own traditions, use what we have. She said, her mother always piped the yolks back into the deviled eggs with a pastry bag and decorated them with paprika and/or olives. I do that too, but no one, but me, ever eats the ones with olives. What’s that about? Oh well, more for me. LOL I say, “Celebrate our Differences and Give Thanks!”

We each spent days writing what we were most thankful for on Facebook, everyday I would remind myself what I was holding onto as my most sacred of memories, and it was almost always had something to do with my family and friends. After all it is what we hold near and dear to our hearts. The memories of our past, our present and when we look into the faces of our growing grandchildren, we can see our ongoing future.

May the bounty of the season fill your hearts and your home with all the wonderful things you can be thankful for each and everyday. Love your life and enjoy the little things. It is after all, the only things they will remember you by when you’re gone, so in the uncanny, zany drivel and yet bountiful ramblings of Mel Brooks, I found words that I actually want to learn to live by and I quote…

My message to the world is “Let’s swing, sing, shout, make noise! Let’s not mimic death before our time comes.” ~ Mel Brooks

We’re Thankful, enjoying and living life. Counting our blessings.  I know I did and one of my most favorite things I had written I was thankful for and still am are my Friends, Family, Food, and Football!

So until next the Turkey Time; when I count my blessings, I count you.  Say, Bye now!”

by Lydia Maria Child

Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather’s house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring,
“Ting-a-ling-ding”,
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting-hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood,
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go
Extremely slow,
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood—
Now Grandmother’s cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

HOT SPICED CIDER
2 qts Apple Cider
¼ cup sugar (more if desired)
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 whole cloves
8 whole allspice
8 sticks cinnamon (2 inches each)

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain out spices before serving. Serve in mugs with cinnamon stick stirrer. Serves 8.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THANKSGIVING BLESSING

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!