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I have not yet let go of Christmas. My tree and all my decorations are still up. I’ve never left a Christmas tree up this long. Maybe I’m delaying because I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. People keep congratulating me on my “retirement,” but maybe that’s just what people say when you’re around 60 and leave a job you’ve been doing for decades. In any case, a couple of favorite family traditions are Christmas-related, so I’ll write about those.
My husband always makes his mother’s scallops for the first course of Christmas dinner. He uses her original handwritten recipe cards and serves them in her giant scallop shells (surprisingly, they’re dishwasher safe). My mother-in-law Duilia was a tremendous chef. She kept careful notes. I’m just now noticing the reference to “Claiborne & Franey” on the recipe cards. At first, I thought they were friends of hers, but Google tells me they were high-end food critics and cookbook authors who had “a lasting impact on culinary literature and culture.” Sounds about right.
Another Christmas tradition we’ve kept (this one from my side of the family) is “one present on Christmas Eve.” Kids get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it’s always some type of sleepwear. My son got slippers this year. He really liked them. He wore them around the house for the rest of his winter break and took them back to school when he left last Sunday.
Today was my deadline to take down my Christmas stuff, but I can already tell it’s not gonna happen. I’m giving myself a one-week extension. I will put away Christmas by February 1. I promise.
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Thank you. I’ll try. Appreciate the support!
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Wow! Christmas tree still up after Epiphany? Past the 12 days of Christmas?.
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Im going to tell my wife about you when she starts taking decorations down on Dec 26th!
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P.S. Giant shells for the scallops…a nice touch.
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The 26th! Haha. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Living in Michigan, I wish it was more socially acceptable to leave Christmas light on my house all winter. It gets gloomy here now!
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I agree! It’s the same in MA. So gloomy and grey in January. I think as long as they’re down by Valentine’s, you’re ok.
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Unfortunately I was in a rush to get them down before it snowed here this year.
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Original, worn (loved) recipe cards. I liked the staple holes corners especially. Hand written, new found references. The recipe card is aged, but with age, it holds on to family memories. Thanks for sharing.
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What a lovely comment. Thank you so much!
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I like hearing stories like this. The picture of the recipe card was the icing on the cake.
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Sometimes my mother leaves the tree up all year. Decorates it for Valentines, spring, Mother’s Day, Fourth of July, and autumn. They turn out really fun and pretty. And this looks so yummy and great story!
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Your mom sounds fun. Thanks!
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