“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
― Charles Dickens
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Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category
Merry Merry
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Christmas, Thoughts on December 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The Strange Phenomenon That Is Saint Nick
Posted in Holidays, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, children, Christmas, creativity, science, Thoughts, Writers, writing on December 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Christmas Eve, when Santa is racing around the world distributing presents, seems like an excellent time to think back to the experience of the holiday as a young child. If Christmas was part of your family tradition, do you remember what it was like to believe in Santa Claus?
I do, and despite the ever-present pressures of reality, that sense of wonder is part of why I write.
Making Sense of Santa, as a Science Reporter and a Parent ‹ Literary Hub
“When I was a kid, did you try to get me to believe in Santa?” I recently asked my parents. My father, a mathematician, scoffed. “Of course not,” he said. “We told you he was a mythological being that represented generosity and good cheer.”
Still, every December, my mother hung stockings above the chimney with care. And every Christmas Eve, she made sure cookies were left on a festively decorated plate, as though she truly believed St. Nick would soon be there.
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Relativity, Thanksgiving Style
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts, whoops on November 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Yeah, so, it’s like this. Yesterday, Mr Man and I decided that time is fluid and also history is a human construct and why not just do Thanksgiving dinner on Friday?
So forget what the calendars say, tonight is Thanksgiving.
And also, why is it that any time a recipe says something like “Stir constantly to reduce by 50%, or approximately half an hour,” it always ends up taking at least twice the time? Seventy-five minutes, in this case. Now I’m a little cooked from all the stove time and very behind on my schedule, but at least I don’t have to caramelize any onions.
But uh oh, I’m all out of cream.
Hmm. Maybe Thanksgiving should be tomorrow?
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Anticipating Fun
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, experimental cookering on November 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today is work and dentist and vax and flu boosters and oh yes, Thanksgiving!
Don’t tell him, but I got the crazy idea to make one of Mr Man’s favorite cakes. Which is complicated. And I’ve never made before! I anticipate fun.
While you wait for your turkey to cook, here are some helpful or at least entertaining links to help keep the conversation going:
- Why is turkey the main dish on Thanksgiving?
- Carving Your Turkey Like A Professional Chef | Esquire – YouTube
- The History of the Turducken – Moss and Fog
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: 10 decades of balloons, visualized – CNN
Have a wonderful day!
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The Trees Remember
Posted in Holidays, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration on November 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. I found this commemoration of Canadian soldiers in England both unexpected and beautiful.
Red Maple Trees Line English Road to Honor 418 Canadian Soldiers Who Died Defending Freedom Overseas
Many motorists are unaware that they are passing through a sacred war memorial on the A3 in Hampshire, England.
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Words of Thanks
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on November 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”
― Gaylord Nelson
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Know Your Limits
Posted in Food and..., Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on November 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Now that Halloween has come and gone, you may find yourself wondering what to do with all that candy. And really, does candy spoil?
Good* news, candy eaters, your typical Halloween treat will last well into the next season or even longer, depending on the type.
How Long Does Halloween Candy Last? – Eater
And on the off chance that you find yourself with an excess of aging candy (not a problem I generally have), these ideas might help:
What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy
40 Best Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes – What To Make With Leftover Candy
15 Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes | The Kitchn
What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy | Bon Appétit (Reese’s peanut butter cups in brownies? Sounds good. But Black Licorice Vinaigrette? No. Just… no.)
* Look, it’s been established that excess sugar is not great for our health. You know it, I know it, and the kids bouncing down the aisles at the grocery store before having a meltdown and collapsing into a sugar coma know it too. As the purveyors of other addictive products like to say, know your limits!
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Not So Scary
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Halloween, Thoughts on October 31, 2023| Leave a Comment »
To all those who celebrate, Happy Halloween!
Here’s a collection of holiday-related links to keep you entertained as you prepare for an evening of trick-or-treating. Or candy distribution. (Or holing up in your house and eating all that candy by yourself, your choice!)
Halloween Timeline: How the Holiday Has Changed Over the Centuries
Candy corn is still winning, despite its bad rap (of course it’s still winning, it’s the best!)
Chemistry Students Explode Pumpkins to Infuse Halloween With Science and Chemistry
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie, To Be Exact
Posted in Food and..., Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on October 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today I’m grateful for family, friends, and an excuse to try a recipe for pumpkin cheesecake pie.
Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!
Turning to Fall
Posted in Holidays, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, astronomy, fall equinox, NASA, science, Thoughts on September 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »
It’s that time again. If you are in the northern hemisphere on planet Earth, today is the Fall Equinox.
Autumnal Equinox 2023: First Day of Fall | Facts, Folklore & More | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
After the autumnal equinox, days become shorter than nights as the Sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier. This ends with the winter solstice, after which days start to grow longer once again.
The word “equinox” comes from Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, ”night.” On the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length.
Why just “roughly” equal in length?
Why day and night aren’t equal length on an equinox
Firstly, the sun has a size—it’s not just a point in the sky.… Secondly, the Earth’s atmosphere refracts (bends) sunlight.
What does the ebb and flow of axial luminescence look like from space?
For more on the “why” of seasons, check out this explainer:
What Causes the Seasons? | NASA Space Place
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