Written by Today we’re celebrating our annual Thanksmas dinner with the family, but I was able to sneak in a super fast doodle of a nutcracker. My dad collected these, so there’s an entire shelf dedicated to them at Mom’s house. Philippe thinks they’re sort of creepy, so we don’t have any in our house. My dad’s collection includes cuter versions featuring snowmen and teddy bear nutcrackers, but the traditional version always fascinates me. They are, indeed, a bit creepy, now that I consider it. But, they’re such an icon of the season that the very sight of them always makes me smile and get excited for the days ahead. Although, I thought I didn’t eat too much, I’m now a bit catatonic, so that assessment is probably false. It’s perfectly impossible to avoid overeating when food is served buffet style! I need handlers, or people who ration my food into appropriate-sized proportions. Otherwise, I just go all primal and eat everything in sight. It’s not pretty.
It was dessert that sent me over the edge. Not any one dessert, of course, but my gluttonous sampling of every single selection on display. It all looked small on my plate because I would finish each little bite before adding others. Though I’m rather sure it could all be reassembled into more than half of an entire pie were someone cruel enough to demonstrate the fact. But, that’s part of the season. The entire year proceeding it is spent following all of those normal little restraints and this is the time to simply enjoy the moments. Even so, I’m secretly wishing I had a bit more willpower. There are several hours left before bedtime and all I want to do right now is curl up and take a nap. Two of my family members have already passed out in chairs, so that’s a sign of a season well enjoyed.
We’ll be heading back home tomorrow afternoon, so the trip is already coming to a close. What had seemed like a blissfully long moment of time standing still is now already less than 24 hours away from ending. It will be good to be back home again, but I always wish these moments could last a bit longer. It’s such a rare and wonderful time that won’t happen again for an entire year. Sure, it’s much more festive considering our annual arrival is in itself something to celebrate. But, it’s the conversations that I enjoy most. Silly and often mundane conversations, mixed with periods of insightfulness and cleverness, mixed with moments of heartwarming joy. It’s rather like my blog posts, actually. Words said from the heart that don’t start out attempting to make a point, or indeed, ever worried about ever arriving at one. Real life doesn’t come with that much structure. It’s just a game of the heart that we play each day, where sometimes, you can even find yourself doodling a nutcracker.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Vermilion, Aureolin, Leaf Green, Quinacridone Red, Terra Cotta, and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Puzzle update? Did you get to the theater yesterday? Inquiring minds want to know!
Nutcrackers are creepy. I never noticed that before. They aren’t clown or handpuppet creepy, but they’re on the spectrum.
Safe travels coming home to the deep freeze tomorrow!
Lol… I realized I was a bad storyteller as I rambled off in different directions and didn’t have time to respond to comments until now! 😊 Puzzle completed… all 1,500 pieces… and theatre attended. A perfect trip! And yeah, nutcrackers are almost cute compared to a clown some hand puppets. Eek!
I’m with Philippe. The solider nutcracker is creepy! Time is … well, it’s timey-wimey to quote Doctor. Who. It goes fast and slow at the same time, depending on how you are looking at it. But one thing is true about it. There is always time to go back and refill your plate at a holiday dinner!
I agree with Sandra. It is Dr. Who like. I always take a small piece of two or three deserts and know that I am not really missing anything (and could go back again if no one was looking. Hehe)
I think that’s the perfect way to eat in general…. small bits, no matter how much they add up to, just don’t count the same! lol 😉
Also time to refill the plate! lol Yum! 😃💕 And yeah, nutcrakers are a bit creepy. An entire shelf of them is really strange. It’s high up on the wall and I’ve noticed Philippe averting his gaze. hehe
Bravo for eating lots at the holiday dinner! Isn’t that why they exist? Nutcrackers are not my favorite either – something about the faces.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, the faces are just so odd. It’s like a caricature of a caricature of yet another caricature…. the result is unsettling.
I’ve always loved nutcrackers, probably because I love the eponymous ballet and danced in it twice as a kid – every child who takes a ballet class dances in the Nutcracker at least once in their lifetime. Not sure why you find them creepy though I know they do a terrible job of cracking nuts. Still, yours is a handsome sentry.
We celebrated Chanukah last night. Our tradition is that I do all the food except for the latkes. My son comes over and turns my house inside out, upside down and turns about a dozen potatoes, a dozen eggs, 3 – 4 onions, and a few other ingredients into a fried treat that we down with applesauce and sour cream. This year was especially sweet as he carefully taught his two kids how to make them.
My house will smell of fried oil for the next week, but the memory of watching my son patiently teach his children will last me and them forever. That’s what holidays are all about – the traditions we pass from one generation to the next. In your family, it’s the nutcracker; in mine, it’s the latkes.
Oh, dessert too – lots of that!
Yay to dessert, always!! 😃💕 hehe… and yeah, it’s more Philippe who truly finds a creep factor in nutcrackers. I think they look odd, but nothing too scary. And I used to take ballet for a period, but was too old to ever perform in the show (I wasn’t that good to be the prince! lol). And yay to family traditions. I ADORE latkes… delicious!! (I prefer the sour cream over the applesauce). That sounds like a perfect time indeed!
What wonderful memories you’re making! Thank you for bringing us along.
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 Glad you’re enjoying my holiday rambles! hehe
Nice doodlewash of a nutcracker! By the way I have never seen one…Do they crack nuts as well?
Thanks, Anita! 😃💕 They are nutcracker in name only… hehe… maybe once they did? But most now are ornamental and couldn’t crack a nut at all!
Oh I love him! So colorful. I bet your momma was happy to see you eat so well! I don’t know why it makes us momma’s happy to see our children eat their brains out. ( I already read your chapter on cliches’ Lol) Even though we know it is not good for them. I was supposed to wrap your book up for Christmas, but that hasn’t happented yet…..I still have over 2 weeks. ;p
Thanks! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, moms love seeing kids enjoy their food. And very occasional overeating is at least good for the soul (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! lol). And glad you’re enjoying the book! Since it can be read in any order, you can treat it like a fun advent calendar, so no wrapping is required! (though the last section is Christmas, so you could save that for the big day. 😉
Oh I like that idea of an advent calendar!
Charlie says “it’s the conversations that I enjoy most… Words said from the heart that don’t start out attempting to make a point, or indeed, ever worried about ever arriving at one.”
Truth and beauty live in those words.
About nutcrackers…Back in the dark ages when I was a newly wed, my husband and I collected nut crackers. We had friends stationed in Germany so our collection was extensive…and then my son was born. He was totally and truly terrified of them;thus a lucky neighbor acquired our collection.
haha! I’ll let Philippe know that his terror was shared by a small child. 😉 But I’m sure your collection was awesome! My sister’s husband was stationed in Germany (my nieces were all born there). We got cool presents when they returned to visit. I liked the cuckoo clocks most… but those would be tougher to collect so I only ever had the one.