Editor-in-Chief
W
ith the coming of the holidays, the exterior of my home is
adorned with fresh evergreen wreaths tied with generous
plaid bows. Indoors, a single glowing electric candle is
centered in every window. The clean, sharp fragrances of cedar and
pine fll the air. I have piled boughs on the mantels and gathered
some in a stone container on the kitchen island. A towering blue
spruce, harvested and shipped from the North Carolina mountains,
adds majesty to our great room.
Family tradition calls for decorating both the house and the tree on
the Friday and the Saturday following Thanksgiving. We collect the
tubs of ornaments and reminisce as we unwrap decorations that have
been carefully selected over the years, giving special attention to the
ones family members have handcrafted. Now that there are little ones
to assist, we reserve the bottom tier of the tree for the nonbreakables
my grandchildren, Hays and Amelia, will place, remove, and replace
many times in the days leading up to December 25.
In the midst of all this activity, I love having the sounds of the season
playing. The mix we enjoy includes timeless carols, treasured hymns,
and works by our favorite contemporary vocalists. Hearing these
musical offerings revives the spirit of Christmas in our hearts.
One of my favorite memories is of baking cookies with my mother,
sister, and brother as Santa’s big day drew near. Perhaps Mom wanted
to keep us occupied so we wouldn’t go exploring for newly purchased
toys. Or maybe she really needed the help of six extra little hands to
complete the packages of cookies intended as gifts. But whatever the
reason, I remember the warmth of the kitchen, the camaraderie of
working with my younger siblings, and the sweet aroma that flled
the house with anticipation. I’ ll soon be baking cookies with my
grandchildren, using my mother’s favorite recipes.
I invite you to create a festive atmosphere at your house as you
prepare presents using our suggestions in the article “
Homemade
with Heart: Culinary Gifts from Your Kitchen
,” beginning on page 78.
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Happy holidays from te Victoria staff!