I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Okay, so I lucked out.  No dreaming needed, I had a white Christmas this year.  I was able to fly to Utah and spend my holiday break with Trisha, Chris, Sara and Mak.   We had a blast in the kitchen...there was sooooo much food: gingerbread cookies, persimon cookies, brownies, 2 jello salads, bread, cinnamon rolls, the traditional Christmas egg souffle, ham, beans, and many other little delights crafted up by big and small hands alike.  Mak is very happy to be a "sous chef" these days and we put her to work.  All of these delights were made over the course of 2 days and had yet to be finished off when I left a week later.

Christmas day was wonderful! Lots of fantastic presents, more delicious food and grandma Kupfer's traditional Christmas Jell-o.  While looking up the recipe for Cranberry jell-o salad, we (Trish & I)found a strangely intriguing new recipe. Since it was entitled Candy Cane Salad, we knew it had to be attempted.  Which gives us jell-o salad #2 and a new addition to Christmas dinner.

The girls had a great time in their pj's on Christmas morning...

And us adults enjoyed watching and drinking hot cocoa during the unwrapping fun...

And a lovely dinner with coconut birthday cake completed our very nice Christmas celebration.

I would like to say that I am grateful for this time of year when we join together and celebrate God's great gift to man - the gift of His Son.  Who gave us some of the greatest gifts ever to be had.  The gift of eternal life, eternal love and a way back to the presence of our Heavenly Family.  I praise God's name and I praise the life and love of Jesus Christ who we celebrate on this day.  Merry Christmas.

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Christmas Mandarin Oranges

This post is dedicated to my wonderful parents, Doug & Cindy Simmons

I want to share a story that is rooted in tradition.

I fear I live in a society that does not value tradition or a continuing pattern of beliefs and practices.  Instead, we have live in a fast-paced, ever changing, disposable world.  Now, I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water, or in this case, the disposable water bottle out with the recycle bin.  I have, however, come to crave the traditions of my childhood as I continue my own path into adulthood. And I recognize that my peers and the future generations are in danger of being short changed. Short-changed from the joy and strength of cultural, religious and community tradition.

The story.

In the backyard of my childhood home is a mandarin orange tree.  As most children, I used to love to pick the oranges because I knew that they were a tasty treat! It was often one of my "chores" to go out and pick a bowl of them for the family.

There was another secret to my love of the mandarin oranges.  I knew that when it was time to pick them, it was also time to go to the Oakland, CA LDS temple to see the Christmas lights.  You see, in California, mandarin oranges are ripe in December; citrus season.

Each December, my parents would load all us kids into the van (first "blue," then "darth vadar") and drive us to Oakland.  Because it was a long drive, they would bribe us with a bowl of mandarin oranges.  This served to keep us fairly calm and made sure our hands were busy peeling and not picking fights.  By the time the big, industrial sized bowl of mandarines were gone, we generally were rounding the corner to the Oakland temple.  I remember how my eyes would light up everytime as I walked around the temple grounds in child-like awe of its beauty.

I didnt recognize then that my parents were diligently molding tradition. A tradition of family.  A tradition of love.  A tradition of God.  A Christmas tradition of the temple.

I am almost 30 now, and those sweet days of childhood are much in the past.  But, every year, when I peel back the skin of a mandarin orange, and the scent of orange oil wafts to my nose, my mind is flooded with memories and images.  And I know its time to go to the temple.  My heart and soul are called there.

So, I am grateful for tradition.  For good traditions.  For traditions that bind me to my family, and to God.  These are the things that shape a soul and give courage and strength to a rising generation.  I hope that my peers and those that come behind me have the blessing of roots grown in righteous tradition.

Washington DC Temple Christmas 2009 (and yes, I sat in the parking lot and ate my mandarin orange)

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O Tanenbaum....Part 2

I'd like to thank the participants of the ONE (out of a possible three) white elephant party I was able to go to this year.  I was snowed in for the other two. Which means I have extra WE gifts in my closet. I see a party coming on in 2010....

How did they know I was a lover of Christmas trees? Better yet, how did they know I was a lover of obnoxiously pink tinsel trees that look reminiscent of who-ville? (Trisha? Did you spread the truth around my workplace?) Better yet, gow did I manage to get in possession of such a fine gift at the end of the game? Well, that answer folks can be summed up in one word. Strategy. And when its a fine fuchsia tinsel tree you're talking about, strategy is imperative.

Marquette is looking so festive in her holiday vest, holding my treasured prize. (this will be kept for many Christmas's to come.  Future husband beware.  I make no apologies for my odd taste.)

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O Tanenbaum....

Christmas Trees.

I love them. Put that together with my love of pink and you have a winning combo! With my relic pink feather Christmas tree in my repertoire, it was time to build upon my collection. (yes, you heard me correctly. Pink. Feathers. In the shape of a Christmas tree.)

This year, my sister Trisha, provided me with the inspiration for a new tree. A pink tissue tree. The original form was tissues tacked to a styrofoam cone.  However, I dislike styrofoam, and tacks are tacky. So, I created my own version. 

Dip dyed (by hand) pink tissues. Use any shade of pink Rit Dye. 

(my first attempt with pomegranate juice failed)

Sticks from the back yard. Birchy like ones are pretty. 

Floral tape.  Brownish burgundy looks swell. Green might be a little too kitchky. 

McGyver it up and you have a lovely little decoration!

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December in DC

Dear Readers:

I have a few family members, a few "blog stalkers" (You KNOW who you are) and probably a few strangers that follow my blog.  Thank you.  Somehow its gratifying to know that my words in cyberspace are being read by a small mass.

That being said, I have not posted a thing about December. And a lot went on, so here is a recap in highlights.(Starting with the front of December and not including Christmas. I will do that separately.)

1. I got a job! Hooray.  I work at a non-profit organization called The Madison House Foundation.  We do advocacy and education for individuals aging with autism. Since its a small organization, everyone does everything and I do a mix of marketing & PR, along with assisting the owner and really whatever needs to happen to help the organization run.  So far its amazing.  I have the liberty to do things in the manner that I choose and I feel like my daily work has real purpose. Here is a sunset view from a window at work.


2.  The "tri-state" area (this is DC, VA & MD) got hit by a major snowstorm. Trisha, Doug, Cindy and anyone else from a real snowy place, dont feel as though we are trying to one-up you.  For us, apparently this was a big deal.  20 inches of snow in about a 30 hour period.  Everyone was snowed in.  The monday after the terrific storm, all the Federal buildings were closed.  That rarely happens.  I suppose the big deal was that there arent enough resources to clean up the snow since we dont get dumped on like that very often.  I work at a house in Potomac (which is a beautiful sprawling city in the county of Montgomery, MD) and got snowed in at work.  Thank heavens I work with nice people and had my camera.

Here are a few shots of the incredible snow scape.

3. I went to NYC! I have been there in the past, but never during the Christmas season.  What a beautiful place. There truly is an energy and a creative rush that rests with New York.  Prior to my move to DC, I wouldn't have ever considered the possibility of living in New York.  I am still not sure that I would want to live there. However, I know I could should I choose to.  And what an exciting place it is.  Not a lot of yard space, but a fascinating place all the same.  Here are a couple pics from the big apple: holiday style:

Next up: Christmas

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Past Addition

I just found a post I wrote a few months ago (9/17/2009) that somehow was saved as a draft and not actually posted.  Its a little entertaining and I would invite you to go back into my archives and check it out.  Its also a bit long, so there is a chance that you will not return to my blog as I can be long winded...

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MIA? MIA nO mORe

As usual, its past midnight on a school night. [enter laughter...] I should be sleeping, but I am up late...alas the night owl is singing its song. I made it two nights in a row - two nights for going to bed early. Three was just too much to ask for.


I digress.


I have been MIA on this blog for a whole month! yikes. There is a lot of posts to be had, and I have a list of topics to blog about, but not tonight. Tonight I just wanted to send some simple words into the sphere of the Al Gore created internet to reinstate my existence. 


Its been another fantastic, rainy, adventure - filled day.  And I am ready to do it again tomorrow.  By the way, day one of my new job was fantastic. I really feel good about my future and its so nice to work with people I like. I forgot what a treasure that is.  Megs (a friend from the mission), you are wonderful and I love that we laughed at least 87.3% of today. You are now a reader of my blog, so you will get this message. And, family, know that there is a very funny photo-blog entry comming forthwith as a result of lunch today.  It may have something to do with hot sauce bottles. And random burrito customers. And maybe a reminder that crack kills. Yes, this will all be a part of the "rest of the story."


For now, a friendly reminder from my father "7am (insert whatever time your wakeup call is) comes early." So, I am gonna gets me some sleeps. And thanks Brent, for your bedtime story of Sugar Plums...I sure hope I really do wake up to eat some sugar plums for breakfast like your story said...before my commute to Potomac. That would be a treat.

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Shopka in the garden...

Some of you may be wondering....what is a shopka and why is it in a garden. Others may be wondering how I am referencing a garden at all seeing as I no longer live close to the Simmons family garden or my Auntie's garden....

This was a special request from my dad. He wanted to be in his beloved garden...wearing a shopka. That is russian for big, fuzzy, fluffy hat.

Dad, here is your wish.

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Warmth...

Happy Birthday dad! I know its snowing in Siberia (its raining here in VA) but, I want you to have a little sunshine on your day! Love you!!

Mom, since you also enjoy these "mash-ups" consider my Sunflower picture your birthday present...a little cheer and brightness amid all the grey and white!

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Portrait of a Perk

So, I am sitting in the Robert and Arlene Kogod "courtyard" of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. The gallery is a U shaped building and I sit in between two corridors of incredible art. This courtyard is enclosed by a glass square paneled ceiling - offering the benefits of natural light but non of the rain, wind, etc. I decided since I had to be in the district today for some temp agency interviews, I should bring my laptop and do some work in an alternate location other than my house. Additionally, I have access to free internet here in this place. Inspiring, beautiful and useful. Ahhhh, thank you tax payers for sponsoring this creative working moment.

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Stalactites...stalagmites

Laray Caverns.  A beautiful underground fairy land built from thousands of years of natural evolution.  Breathtaking.

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Sunflowers, Sunshine & Sweetness

"I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers consultin' with the rain." -Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz

What a lovely day! Today was filled with pure happiness.  I spent the first part of the morning hand picking my produce at the Eastern Market in the district. YUM! Lots of fresh produce to be had - all from the hands of local farmers. Basil, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, zuccini, cucumber, bell pepper, and even some late growing peaches! 

After my little "shopping trip" it was off to a beautiful place called Crooked Run Orchard. Sitting about an hour outside of Arlington (where I live) is this charming family owned and operated orchard.  There was a lovely apple orchard, pumpkin patch and sunflower patch.  The weather held up and there was sunshine all afternoon.  And...anytime that I get to frolic in the flowers is a pretty good day!

Enjoy some pictures:

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