Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
Gingerbread Church, 2007
I made a gingerbread church this year with Melissa's and Hilary's assistance. One more and I'm done for a while.
My main inspiration was the Virgin of the Guadalupe Shrine, my favorite church building in Dallas, located in the Arts District of downtown.
My first thought was to replicate this church as much as possible. Instead, I made a few design changes.
On all four sides of the tower, I recreated my favorite towers: the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, the London Bridge tower, and the UT Tower, circa 2006 (stained to show the "#1" lit).
This structure is much bigger than last year's project. It features seven independent buildings, measures approximately 3.5' x 2' x 7', and has stained glass windows.
I started designing this project in my head last January; I started putting it to paper in October. I started baking the first batch of gingerbread two weekends ago.
Unfortunately, my original design did not turn out as planned. I wanted the tower to be 9 inches tall. Those crumbled and I had to start over again.
As usual, my lack of foresight has created some problems: mainly, where to store it. You'll also understand Melissa's final plea - "Next year, Neil, can you be a little less ambitious?"
Not likely.
My main inspiration was the Virgin of the Guadalupe Shrine, my favorite church building in Dallas, located in the Arts District of downtown.
My first thought was to replicate this church as much as possible. Instead, I made a few design changes.
On all four sides of the tower, I recreated my favorite towers: the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, the London Bridge tower, and the UT Tower, circa 2006 (stained to show the "#1" lit).
This structure is much bigger than last year's project. It features seven independent buildings, measures approximately 3.5' x 2' x 7', and has stained glass windows.
I started designing this project in my head last January; I started putting it to paper in October. I started baking the first batch of gingerbread two weekends ago.
Unfortunately, my original design did not turn out as planned. I wanted the tower to be 9 inches tall. Those crumbled and I had to start over again.
As usual, my lack of foresight has created some problems: mainly, where to store it. You'll also understand Melissa's final plea - "Next year, Neil, can you be a little less ambitious?"
Not likely.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Worms, Roxanne! I'm Afraid of Worms!
My words and thoughts of late have been incomplete. Still, I wanted to share my latest musings:
-- I hate mathematics but I love numbers. Give me raw numbers, especially of the political variety, a calculator and I'm good for hours upon hours.
Additionally, I've always had a knack for remembering dates and other statistical data. Just not birthdays.
A couple of months ago, I slept in rather late. Until 8:12. When I opened my unadjusted eyes, I saw a "1" in front of the 8. My first thoughts were of Andrew Jackson and the Lafitte brothers fighting a swamp-land war they didn't know had already been won.
It happened again last Friday night: Melissa rolled over and woke me up. At 4:44. It was a little more timely since I've been reading this.
-- Melissa's favorite show is Everyday Italian. About 80% of our DVR recording memory is reserved for this, and other, cooking shows. I'm not complaining since Giada and Bobby Flay have helped Melissa to learn that cooking is simple and fun. The only downside is that she now wants all their appliances to make our meals.
Christmas Eve, Melissa and I cooked a rather elaborate meal for her family. But the one thing we were really missing was a zester; our grater can be a make-shift zester, but it's not specifically suited for that purpose.
I had actually purchased one from Williams-Sonoma as a stocking stuffer. I gave thought about taking it out of her stocking a day earlier than intended. I left it hidden since I wanted her to be surprised Christmas morning.
Turns out the surprise was for me. She had also purchased a zester from Williams-Sonoma for my stocking stuffer and also wondered if she should take it out earlier than Santa intended.
Just one of the many memories from this Christmas. I'm sure there's an O.Henry-esque story in there somewhere.
-- A few weekends ago while Melissa went to the gym, I went to Half Price.
Typically, my trips to the fiction section are pro forma. This time instead, thanks to the book club, I slowed down and looked more thoroughly.
Anyway, I made my final stop in the T's. Ever since Presumed Innocent, Turow has issued a new book every three or four years. As he published a book last year, I was not expecting one for at least two more years. In retrospect, I'm not even sure why I looked for his book section; nevertheless, I'm glad I did. I quickly grabbed his latest work, Limitations.
His formula for character development is fabulous. A secondary character in one novel becomes the central figure in the next. As the series progresses, characters and plots are revisited to provide error-free continuity.
Every novel takes place in a fictional mid-western city, DuSable, modeled after Chicago. Turow even went so far and created a history of the city and provided a map in one of the books. This city and its residents have become real to me in a cry-for-help kind of way.
His books go beyond judicial temperament and legislative intent. He is able to make tangible the deeper questions that form the bedrock of our judicial system. He is able to clarify the murkier complexities that exist in the prosecutorial system.
Once again, I'm reminded of why Turow is my favorite writer; once gain, I am left wondering how Grisham has become the more popular author of this genre.
-- I hate mathematics but I love numbers. Give me raw numbers, especially of the political variety, a calculator and I'm good for hours upon hours.
Additionally, I've always had a knack for remembering dates and other statistical data. Just not birthdays.
A couple of months ago, I slept in rather late. Until 8:12. When I opened my unadjusted eyes, I saw a "1" in front of the 8. My first thoughts were of Andrew Jackson and the Lafitte brothers fighting a swamp-land war they didn't know had already been won.
It happened again last Friday night: Melissa rolled over and woke me up. At 4:44. It was a little more timely since I've been reading this.
-- Melissa's favorite show is Everyday Italian. About 80% of our DVR recording memory is reserved for this, and other, cooking shows. I'm not complaining since Giada and Bobby Flay have helped Melissa to learn that cooking is simple and fun. The only downside is that she now wants all their appliances to make our meals.
Christmas Eve, Melissa and I cooked a rather elaborate meal for her family. But the one thing we were really missing was a zester; our grater can be a make-shift zester, but it's not specifically suited for that purpose.
I had actually purchased one from Williams-Sonoma as a stocking stuffer. I gave thought about taking it out of her stocking a day earlier than intended. I left it hidden since I wanted her to be surprised Christmas morning.
Turns out the surprise was for me. She had also purchased a zester from Williams-Sonoma for my stocking stuffer and also wondered if she should take it out earlier than Santa intended.
Just one of the many memories from this Christmas. I'm sure there's an O.Henry-esque story in there somewhere.
-- A few weekends ago while Melissa went to the gym, I went to Half Price.
Typically, my trips to the fiction section are pro forma. This time instead, thanks to the book club, I slowed down and looked more thoroughly.
Anyway, I made my final stop in the T's. Ever since Presumed Innocent, Turow has issued a new book every three or four years. As he published a book last year, I was not expecting one for at least two more years. In retrospect, I'm not even sure why I looked for his book section; nevertheless, I'm glad I did. I quickly grabbed his latest work, Limitations.
His formula for character development is fabulous. A secondary character in one novel becomes the central figure in the next. As the series progresses, characters and plots are revisited to provide error-free continuity.
Every novel takes place in a fictional mid-western city, DuSable, modeled after Chicago. Turow even went so far and created a history of the city and provided a map in one of the books. This city and its residents have become real to me in a cry-for-help kind of way.
His books go beyond judicial temperament and legislative intent. He is able to make tangible the deeper questions that form the bedrock of our judicial system. He is able to clarify the murkier complexities that exist in the prosecutorial system.
Once again, I'm reminded of why Turow is my favorite writer; once gain, I am left wondering how Grisham has become the more popular author of this genre.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Merry, Merry Christmas
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Not a big fan of egg-based drinks. Nothing beats hot cocoa on a cold night in front of the fire.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Well, the elves wrap the presents. Santa places them under the tree.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I'm old school - white lights that don't blink.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No pity kisses in the Massey household.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The first week of December.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? All dishes are prelude to the dessert.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: Driving all night to Colorado; seeing Grandma's porch light from down the street and knowing we were finally there; playing basketball at the park down the street; watching Flash Gordon and Video Jukebox in Grandma's basement only to have Uncles Bo, Mike, and Rick change the channel to their fishing shows.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea how or when I learned.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes - that's Melissa's mother's tradition.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I set the tree up. Melissa arranges the limbs. I put on the lights. Melissa attaches the hangers to the ornaments. We put up the ornaments together and Melissa re-arranges the ornaments I've put up. I do the tree skirt.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, although I haven't done it in many, many years.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think my Phantom of the Opera discs remain my favorite.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Remembering to have fun amid all the chaos.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Listening to Bing and Frank.
17. What tops your tree? An angel.
18. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving gifts? They are equally enjoyable.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I absolutely love Christmas music. My favorites include the obvious: White Christmas, The Christmas Waltz, and I'll Be Home for Christsmas. However, there is perhaps no more beautiful a song than Ave Maria. It is simultaneously optimistic and melancholy and always puts me in contemplative mood. Plus, it's in Latin, which is always nice.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I enjoy peppermint for about 30 seconds before the taste is too much. Although, I still enjoy sucking the end of the cane down to a fine point and poking people with it.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Well, the elves wrap the presents. Santa places them under the tree.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I'm old school - white lights that don't blink.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No pity kisses in the Massey household.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The first week of December.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? All dishes are prelude to the dessert.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: Driving all night to Colorado; seeing Grandma's porch light from down the street and knowing we were finally there; playing basketball at the park down the street; watching Flash Gordon and Video Jukebox in Grandma's basement only to have Uncles Bo, Mike, and Rick change the channel to their fishing shows.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea how or when I learned.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes - that's Melissa's mother's tradition.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I set the tree up. Melissa arranges the limbs. I put on the lights. Melissa attaches the hangers to the ornaments. We put up the ornaments together and Melissa re-arranges the ornaments I've put up. I do the tree skirt.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, although I haven't done it in many, many years.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think my Phantom of the Opera discs remain my favorite.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Remembering to have fun amid all the chaos.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Listening to Bing and Frank.
17. What tops your tree? An angel.
18. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving gifts? They are equally enjoyable.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I absolutely love Christmas music. My favorites include the obvious: White Christmas, The Christmas Waltz, and I'll Be Home for Christsmas. However, there is perhaps no more beautiful a song than Ave Maria. It is simultaneously optimistic and melancholy and always puts me in contemplative mood. Plus, it's in Latin, which is always nice.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I enjoy peppermint for about 30 seconds before the taste is too much. Although, I still enjoy sucking the end of the cane down to a fine point and poking people with it.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Martha Stewart Meets Kirk Herbstreit
At the end of Christmas last year, I decided to make a gingerbread house the following year. I had never made one before and the sole reason I decided to is because it looked like a difficult and time-consuming task.
Well, it was time-consuming but not particularly difficult.
I began baking the dough at 9 am just as College GameDay began. I began icing the walls together as Army/Navy kicked off. I finished putting the roof on during Cal/Stanford.
I finished decorating the house during USC/UCLA and started working on the yard toward the end of Rutgers/West Virginia.
The yard almost finished, I wanted to put in a pile of logs and a back fence. Problem is, I didn't have pretzels or Tootsie Rolls on hand. At 11:30, Melissa and I ran down to Walgreen's for those two items.
I finished the backyard fence this morning and completed the restof the details - crushed peppermint in the yard, ice cycles falling from the roof, and filling in gaps of Shredded Wheat on the roof.
I'm already designing next year's project.
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