A SPICY HOLIDAY SEASON

SWMBO has been on a tear lately.

First she made Spiced Pecans.

Then Spicy Red Pepper Jelly.

Some great Bacon Ginger Cookies.

Yesterday Apricot Pecan Cake.

When I was a wee lad in North Dakota my mother frequently used to bake.

Cookies, bread, sweet bread, cakes and pies.

Strangely, my memory of those times is her slapping my hand when I went for a taste and saying "That's for the Ladies' Aid."

I have related that story to SWMBO many times over the years and she has finally learned.

When she makes something for a gift to someone she always makes enough extra so I get my share.

Just to show her what an appreciative husband I am, while she's at the doctor and the grocery store I am whipping up a loaf of Pumpernickel Rye Bread.

Lori Down the Street frequently comments that we eat well.  

(So do she and her Handyman Husband, by the way.)

But I relish this time of year when the limits on treats for the sweet tooth seem to be lifted and the kitchen hums with activity.

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Christmas came to the Catalyst's house yesterday, Gentle Readers.

SWMBO put up her holiday display.

The tricycle and the wagon and the toys and the trees and the snow are all in place.

'Course when you have an inquisitive cat around the house you have to go miniature size and forego the big tree with all those tempting lights and ornaments.

Santa, or as I prefer to call him Saint Nicholas, dominates the scene.

A bit later I grew ambitious and set up the Las Vegas-style Christmas lighting extravaganza out on and around the front porch.

Brace yourselves and protect your eyes, Gentle Readers, as I unveil my handiwork.

It's only a string of clear lights connected to a string of multi-colored lights, connected to a stray string of chili lights.

But, hey!

It's all about the Christmas spirit, isn't it?

Speaking of which, one time many years ago we visited SWMBO's parents at their retirement home in Florida.

On Christmas morning, her father quietly said "Come outside with me."

I followed him out and met his neighbor from across the street who slyly asked "How about a little Christmas?" as he led us to his garage.

There, at probably 9 o'clock in the morning, he produced a bottle of whiskey and some glasses and poured us all a toast to the new day.

He had lots of neighbors and he was a gregarious guy.

I think he toasted Christmas quite a bit that day.

LA VIRGEN

I'm not a religious person but if you live in Mexico, as I did for four years in the 1980's/1990's, you can't escape the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, she is a representation of the Virgin Mary.

She is enshrined in a Mexico City basilica and Wikipedia tells me it is the most visited Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in the world.

The story of her discovery by an Indian peasant in 1531 is too long to relate here but you can find it at this site, if you're so inclined.

Today, December 12th, is her official feast day.

Once when I was living in Mexico I noted that December 12th was also the wedding anniversary of some friends of ours and not only that, it was Frank Sinatra's birthday!

It's also the first day SWMBO puts up a small display of Christmas ornaments.

So it's a good day to celebrate whatever you believe in.

RECURRING ROBINS

The robins I was surprised to find in my birth bath about a week ago are still hanging around, it seems.

As I noted then I was a bit surprised to see them at this time of year.

But here's proof, in a couple of photos I shot just this morning.

As you can see he loves the water.

A bit later, this forlorn looking creature was perched on the side of the bath for a very long time.

The puffy bird would occasionally take a sip of the water but didn't get in for a bath like the other one did.

And I couldn't tell if it was a female or immature robin or some other type of bird.

It doesn't have the streamlined but stocky image of the robin though so I'm stumped.

If there are any budding ornithologists among you Gentle Readers with more wisdom than I, let me know what you think.

EARLY MORNING

I used to think it was too early to get up before daylight.

But the beautiful sunrise yesterday has changed my mind.

It's amazing to me how much color can be created in the sky with a rising sun and some clouds.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Just in time for the Christmas holidays, I have had a variety of aches and pains this week that just irritates the Dickens out of me.

(ho-ho-ho)

But one part of my aging body has not been affected.

My funny bone.

So let us proceed, Gentle Readers.

There seems to be a dark mood prevailing here so let's get with the joy of the season and try to brighten things up.

Well I tried.

How about . . .

Okay, maybe my funny bone has been affected.

All I can wish for, Gentle Readers, is that you all have a very merry weekend filled with laughter.

Always remember the laughter, willya?

Oh, and remember in the spirit of the season to share.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

THROWBACK THURSDAY

I wonder . . . was this the impetus for my career in broadcasting?

My mother, my older brother and I sitting and listening to a program on the big Philco radio.

Thinking back to those days it might have been The Green Hornet, The Lone Ranger, The Shadow, Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve, Sky King, One Man's Family, Ma Perkins or maybe it was a news broadcast telling of the wars in Europe and the Pacific, or perhaps one of those wonderful baseball games from far away.

(I became a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, the rest of the family preferred the Cleveland Indians.)

Whatever it was, it captivated us, led us into worlds of fantasy.

Later on I got interested in short wave radio, which led me to become a "ham" radio operator and finally, in college, to a part time job announcing in a small radio station.

From there I graduated to bigger radio stations and on into television.

The road led me to Minot and Bismarck in North Dakota, Aberdeen in South Dakota, then Indianapolis and on to Phoenix.

Many happy days, great adventures and some marvelous trips.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it all dates back to those days in the 1940's in a small town in North Dakota and the Philco in the corner of the living room that opened up the world.