the midwest holiday traditions book 2012

8/3/2019 The Midwest Holiday Traditions Book 2012

1/23

A VeryBarn DoorChristmas

Have a LovelyHoliday!Your Friends behind the BarnDoor.net


2/23

Prude Rules for ChristmasBy The Prude

There are strict rules in my family regarding Christmas.Rule #1: Christmas observances do not commence until the day afterThanksgiving.

Rule #2:Christmas observances dont conclude until New Years Day. Dont eventhink of taking the tree down until January second.

Rule #3: Lying is evil. Letting your children believe that St. Nicholas arrives lateDecember 5 on his horse to leave small gifts in exchange for the carrots and apples

and cookies your children placed in their shoes? That is not lying. Not even if you

encourage the belief by eating the apples and carrots and cookies yourself and going

out in the snow to make horse hoof tracks. It is merely fostering a healthy imagination

and therefore not evil.

Rule #4: String popcorn and cranberries while watching Its a Wonderful Life. NotElf. Not Charlie Brown Christmas. They have their own designated Christmas tasks.

Rule #5: Diets are forbidden during the period described in Rules # 1 and 2.Rule #6: At least one Sunday School Christmas Program must be attended.

Preferably one which culminates in the distribution of paper bags filled with apples,

nuts and some Christmas chocolate wrapped in shiny foil.

Rule #7:Christmas doesnt consist of December 25th. It cant. No single day canaccommodate all that excitement and anticipation or all those dreams and calories.

Refer to Rule #1and Rule #2. Stretch out the season.

Rule # 8:Rocking Around the Christmas Tree does not qualify as a legitimateChristmas carol.

Rule #9: Christmas gifts are wrapped while watching A Christmas Carol. One ofthe old versions. The ones where Tiny Tim

looks like he is old enough to shave.

Rule #10: We break rules. We breakthem all the time no matter how hard we

try. Yet the Ruler of all chose to be born

among us, live for us and die in our place.

Every Christmas, be astonished all over

again.


3/23

All I want for Christmas is a KangarooBy Cheryl Moeller

(Big Jackson One Room Schoolhouse, Big Jackson, MI was one of the schools where Marvel Windquist taught.)

My Grandma Windquist was one of the last one room schoolhouse

teachers in Michigan. She retired in 1969.

Grandpa Windquist's farm was near the Big Jackson crossroads. At the crossroads

there was just the one room schoolhouse and a church. Big Jackson is in

Newaygo County, north of Big Rapids, MI.

Through the years, Grandma lovingly knitted and crocheted made us all baby

blankets, afghans, mittens, and gloves.

One Thanksgiving she whispered to my mom she was knitting cardigansweaters for all 12 of the grandchildren for Christmas. Grandma was way before her

time, being cool with knitting.

I overheard the conversation and told my three sisters, we were all getting knitted

kangaroos. Being the youngest sister, I felt very cool and important that I had theinside information.

I was shocked Christmas morning, when we received knitted cardigansweaters instead!

Moral: Don't listen in on other people's conversations.(Cheryl Moeller shares the next several items.)
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4/23

Momlaughs Night Before Christmas PoemMommy's Night Before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the house,

The children were sleeping,

Even my spouse.

I was searching for the stockings, I looked under a chair,

But under the cushion found rippled potato chips there.

The children had not wanted to go to their beds,

As visions of Easy Bake Ovens danced in their heads,Exhausted I closed my eyes and soon fell asleep,

Till rudely awakened by the sounds of BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The relatives made it here hurray after all,

Now it would truly be a complete Christmas ball,

The children were awakened, and with them hubby Steve,

by Grandpa Alexander and Grandma Eve.

As the hot cocoa that night so generously flowed,

I noticed something under the sink that seemed rather old,

It was the stockings I had sought for hidden inside a container.

Only they had been used last week as a handy spaghetti strainer.
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5/23

10 Free or Nearly Free Christmas Gifts to Make & GiveMaybe you don't have as much money as you did last year to spend on gift

giving? Did you know the best gifts are homemade gifts? Maybe we need to be

reminded of that this year? Share your heart with others on a deeper level this year

through homemade, personalized gifts for everyone on your list.

During the Great Depression, everyone HAD to use their ingenuity to create gifts

conveying their heartfelt love. Here're some ideas to get you thinking. You could even

make a couple of these homemade gifts for each person on your list.

Know a child learning Spanish? Save several sizes of clean tin cans with

unique labels in Spanish, with any jagged points bent safely down. Fill withslightly used pens, sharpened pencils, paintbrushes, markers, and dried

flowers. These make great decorative storage for your el esponolstudent's

desk or dresser top.

Write a letter to your child, niece, or nephew telling them how excited you

were before they were born, about their upcoming birth. You could even

frame the letter, for a gift, showing your anticipated love,

Print out your favorite Bible verse as a small poster. Add a label at the

bottom that reads, "Mom's Legacy Bible Verse" or "Dad's Legacy Bible

Verse." Others, including your children, love to know what's on your heart

and in your head. Share yourself with them at this level and they will

cherish your gift.

Give a gift of a picture of you and the gift recipient. Write at the bottom of

the frame, "You are Loved." It could be Grandpa/Grandson, Mom/Dad/You,

Daughter/Mother.

"I love you all year long." Write a letter about the year just ending. Make it

twelve paragraphs long for each month. Tell the person just how much they


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meant to you each month of 2008, including a special memory from each

month and a canister of homemade granola (granola takes a long time to

eat)!

"What I'm going to Change, to Love you More." Write a card to those onyour list, with something that you intend to change/improve, with God's help,

about yourself, in your life this year. Make it something that will make you

an easier person to live with. (Now, that will be a welcomed surprise gift to

the recipient, a gift that keeps on giving all year!)

Shine everyone's shoes for Christmas morning. Under the tree, have

everyone's shoes lined up looking brand new. It's an act of service that will

be appreciated. Or, give another act of service, such as car detailing.

"Borrow" someone's car a day or two before Christmas and detail it for

them by hand for a Christmas morning surprise.

Give a gift of your professional services. Maybe you are a teacher and

could offer to tutor. Maybe you are an accountant and could offer tax

services as a gift. How about a plumber, carpenter, or electrician for some

home repair services? Perhaps you are a great writer and could help a

family member with an updated resume.

Perhaps, you have nice handwriting and can address envelopes as a gift.

Re-gift books you have already read. Wrapping it up beautifully, adding a

small letter, detailing why this book was special to you and why you want to

bless them by sharing it.

Give each person on your list, a souvenir of your life or heirloom. Give them

something of yours, that they would enjoy having. Clean it up, fix it up, and

wrap it up.


7/23

A Holiday Salad Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Salad Dressing:

6 Tbsps. olive oil

2 Tbsp. white vinegar

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsps. apple juice, concentrate

Salad:1 avocado, chopped]

1 stick celery, washed and chopped small

6 c. torn spinach leaves or 1 bag (10 oz) washed spinach leaves

1/2 c. craisins (dried cranberries)

1/2 c. almonds, silvered (optional: roast in a saucepan for 7 min. with 2 tsp. apple

juice concentrate)

1 tomato, washed and chopped or 15 cherry tomatoes

red apple, washed, cored, and chopped smallgreen apple, washed, cored, and chopped small

Whisk oil, vinegar, apple juice concentrate, salt, and pepper in a small, deep bowl.

Toss remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Pour dressing over salad to coat. Serve

on pretty Christmas plates.
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Christmas Hostess Gifts Solved

1. Christmas Candy Crunch Ice Cream Topping

Chocolate Candy Crunch Ice Cream Topping

1 stick butter

1/4 c. cocoa

1/2 c. milk (use regular milk)

2 c. sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla

1/2 c. peanut butter

3 c. oats

Boil butter, cocoa, milk, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter for 1 minutes. Add oats

and mix well. Spoon out onto wax paper. Let sit out overnight on your counter.

Crumble slightly and place in jars. Include a little card that says, Cocoa Candy

Crunch Ice Cream Topping Best kept in refrigerator.
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Or you can make:

Peanut Butter Christmas Candy Ice Cream Topping

2 cup sugar

1 stick butter1/2 cup milk (use regular milk)

3 cup quick oatmeal

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 Tbsps. vanilla

Boil butter, milk, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter for 1 minutes. Add oats and mix

well. Spoon out onto wax paper. Let sit out overnight on your counter. Crumble slightly

and place in jars. Include a little card that says, Peanut Butter Candy Crunch Ice

Cream Topping Best kept in refrigerator

2. Lemon Pie Ice Cream Topping6 Tbsps. Butter

1 cup sugar

4 Tbsps. lemon juice

2 beaten eggs

Melt butter. Take off heat; add sugar, lemon juice and beaten eggs. (The eggs must be

beaten very well or they may curdle). Then put back on heat, cook over low heat,

stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool. Pour sauce over ice cream. Include this on a

tag: Lemon Pie Ice Cream Topping

Do not heat in this jar. Keep this jar in the refrigerator.

Will keep fresh for one week in the refrigerator.


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3. German Chocolate Ice Cream Topping1 c. evaporated milk

1 c. sugar

3 egg yolks c. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/3 c. coconut

1 c. pecans

Combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter and vanilla in small saucepan. Cook

and stir over medium heat until thick, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly. Stir in coconut

and pecans.

Include Tag that says: German Chocolate Ice Cream Topping. Serve Hot or Cold onIce Cream. Do not heat in this jar. Keep this jar in the refrigerator. Will keep fresh for

one week in the refrigerator.

4. M & Ms Hot CocoaHanukkah Theme Craft

Single Hot Chocolate Gift Bags

Supplies:See-through Hanukkah decorated party bag

or see-through plain party bag, Hanukkah stickers to decorate

Box of packets of hot chocolate mix

Royal blue (color of the Israeli flag) M&Ms

White M&Ms

Using one see through party bag, open and pour in six dry hot chocolate packets.

Add twenty white M&Ms and twenty royal blue M&Ms

Tie bag closed with a silver twist tie and arrange a small driedel in the closed twist tie

as the package dcor. Write on a gift tag: Happy Hanukkah! Mix with boiling hot

water. Serves three!


11/23

5. Caramel Apple Hot CiderCombine dry Apple Hot Cider Mix and wrapped Kraft Caramels (unwrapped). Place

this mixture (dry cider mix and unwrapped caramels) in a cute see-through jar with a

cute lid or cover with ribbon. Wrapped up with a cute mug, this makes a great fall gift.

6. Christmas Bread in a jarZuc coconut quick bread dough with a few maraschino cherries mixed in.

Spray a wide mouth Ball jar with non-stick cooking spray. Then, fill it half full, but no

more than half full. Now, you must place all the jars you have

filled on a cookie sheet (the jars should not be touching). Dont put more than 6 8

on one cookie sheet. The jars must be placed on a cooking sheet or they will crack up

in the oven. Bake for 20 30 minutes, depending on the size of the jar. Then sealwith the lid while the jars are still hot and put the whole top on. Decorate with a cute

piece of material. Add a tag: Christmas Bread in a jar. Keep refrigerated. Use within

one week.

Recipe for Zuc Coconut Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

1 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsps. Vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup shredded coconut or shredded flaked coconut

2 cups raw unpeeled grated zucchini

1 cup of maraschino cherries, drained and cut (optional)

Mix together the first nine ingredients. Then fold in the coconut and zucchini.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes to 30 to 40, depending on the size of Ball jar

that you use. Whether its a big or small canningjar, just make sure its wide mouth.


12/23

7. Childrens HandprintsAs a cute grandma or mom gift you can buy some fabric, and cut with patterned

scissors. Then have each of your kids put their handprint and write their own name (if

they can) and then date it - all in fabric paint. You can do it any size - and any fabric.

So you can do it as a tablecloth, table runner, doilies size, or as a wall hanging. It'sespecially clever as a grandma gift if you get all the grandkids in on it - not just your

own.

8. Placemats for grandparentsLeaf Placemats

These are placements Grandpa and Grandma will love. This is a good craft project to

do when the leaves are changing in the fall with your children. Find and collect some

colorful fresh leaves on the ground around your neighborhood. Take a picture of yourpreschooler near a tree. Write on a small index card the Bible verse - Hebrews 13:5b

- God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Cut four pieces of wax

paper about 16 inches long. Lay two pieces of wax paper, wax side up, on your work

table. Situate several colorful leaves on the paper right side up, leaving at least a one

inch border around every side of the wax paper. Situate the Bible Verse card and the

photograph of the preschooler near the tree right side up, also. Lay the other piece of

wax paper upside down so the wax is touching the leaves. Make sure the two pieces

of paper are the same size and match up or cut accordingly. (You need an adult tohelp with this part.) With a hot iron but a light touch, quickly iron the two pieces of wax

paper together.)

9. Penguins on Ice (as an appetizer or a gift). Arrive at your holiday party with atray of these cute little Penguins for the guests or the hostess gift. For the tray, use a

mirror to pretend like it's a skating rink for the penguins.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-Cheese-

Penguins/Detail.aspx

10. Buttons, Buttons, ButtonsThe big thing for Christmas gifts this year is buttons,

buttons, buttons. Hot glue gun buttons to barrettes, flip-flops,

magnets and cardboard (frame in a cute picture frame).


13/23

Crystal Laine Miller: Christmas MemoriesBy Chrystal Laine Miller

It's a little hard to see, but the photo next to me as a toddler is of my mother. My

paternal grandmother and Aunt Linda (who was only 14 at the time) dressed me up

in this pretty dress and put me in front of the tree with my mama's picture at the side

to send to my mother, who was in an Indiana TB hospital. I was living with my

grandparents in Tennessee. My dad was working as a truck driver, and staying close

to my mother and his job.

I think of my mother in that hospital every Christmas. She was away from the

baby she got after five miscarriages, as well as family and friends. She was fighting

for her life. And all she got for Christmas was a letter her mother-in-law sent along

with this photo. And my birthday was exactly two weeks before Christmas and she

missed that, too. She wept.


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My mother did get me back after

losing all but one lobe of one lung

with one side of her ribs cracked and

broken to fill the empty cavity. She

fought to get back to her family. Then,she found out she was pregnant

again. Her doctor got on the phone

while she dressed to talk to a

surgeon about doing a medical

abortion. Back then (the late 50s,

early 60s) only to save the mother

could a woman have an abortion. But

my mother who displayed amazinglove, faith, courage and strength told that doctor in no uncertain terms that she was

carrying this baby, my brother. And so she did. Which lead to many memorable

Christmases, all because she had such faith.

Above photo: brother Rick and mother at Christmas (one of my most memorable Christmasesand I still have that doll,Baby Thumbelina)

Crystal Laine Miller, Fairmount, Indiana

Freelance Christian writer and editor who enjoys motorcycles, golf,

trapshooting, music, the outdoors and dogs thrown in between the pages

she reads, edits and writes. She's also rescued a few cats in her day.

Married to an ER doc, they have four sons. Life is always on the edge with

grit and joy combined.

http://www.facebook.com/Crystallainemiller

http://www.twitter.com/CrystalLaine

http://www.crystalwarrenmiller.com

http://wheniwasjustakid.blogspot.com

http://www.thebarndoor.net

[email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/Crystallainemillerhttp://www.facebook.com/Crystallainemillerhttp://www.twitter.com/CrystalLainehttp://www.twitter.com/CrystalLainehttp://www.crystalwarrenmiller.com/http://www.crystalwarrenmiller.com/http://wheniwasjustakid.blogspot.com/http://wheniwasjustakid.blogspot.com/http://www.thebarndoor.net/http://www.thebarndoor.net/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.thebarndoor.net/http://wheniwasjustakid.blogspot.com/http://www.crystalwarrenmiller.com/http://www.twitter.com/CrystalLainehttp://www.facebook.com/Crystallainemiller


15/23

Christmas Midwest styleBy Diane Loew

Our Christmas TraditionsThroughout the years we have had many memories and traditions as do most

families. We always decorate cookies. We have piles of sugar sand, globs of frosting

and cookie crumbs from the kitchen to the garage. Even after cleanup, we find

nonpareils under our feet from December1 until tax season.

We also, have a movie night when everyone dressed in their PJs gather in the

Family Room to watch a Christmas movie together.

The tradition Id like to share with you is what we started after being blessed with

the wigglies.2004, I started the Christmas Pajama-rama. All the wigglies got matching PJs for

Christmas morning, or the morning we set aside to celebrate together. That year I had

three male wigglies. Finding matching PJs for three boys all within four years age

difference was a snap.

2004


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2005

The following year we had a female wiggliette added to the clan and my

daughters-in-law surprised me with PJs that year.

2006

2006 with four wigglies under our belt I somehow failed to get a picture with our

little princess.


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Our next Christmas, 2007, we added another wigglie. Now the shopping got

tougher. I had to find PJs that match for boys and girls and from 3 months to 6

years. That was a busy buy and return year.

2007

2008, we had to switch up the PJs a little. So we found a similar nightie for our

wiggliette and a red sleeper for the little dude to match the three older wigglies.

2008


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We got a bonus wiggliette in 2009 when Son #4 married. So now, we grouped

them, female, male and toddler. We were forced to do this because the world of

fashion deemed this necessary.

2009

Last year, 2010, we added yet another wigglie, just in time for the pictures. We

managed to find all matching PJs except for the newbie. So we stuck him in a

stocking to add a little fun to the picture.

2010


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The hunt is now on for this years PJs. The oldest wigglie isnt too keen on PJs

anymore, so we may have to get creative.

Diane Reed Loew lives in West Michigan on a dairy farm with her Farmer of 40 years, her four

Sons, three daughters-in-law, seven wigglies, and all her BEBs (Brown Eyed Bossies). Her special

spot in this world has given her the unique ability to see, appreciate and Celebrate the Ordinary.


20/23

Christmas Midwest-style Memory BookBy Karin Beery

The Christmas of 2006 my family had a picture taken. Youd never know bylooking at it, but that was the only thing we did as a family that entire holiday. Though I

wouldnt call it my favorite Christmas memory, its easily the most memorable and it

included ten adults, five cats, three bathrooms, two little girls, and one nasty stomach

bug.

One month after our first wedding anniversary, my husband and I rendezvoused

with my sisters and our parents house for Christmas. My younger sisters friend was

staying there with her three cats. Matt and I brought two with us. My older sister came

with a husband, a seven year-old, and a five month old. My aunt came, and so did my

younger sisters boyfriend.

There were literally people everywhere, filling every bed and couch. The five cats

were constantly spotting and growling at each other. There was nothing peaceful

about it. And then, less than 24 hours after we all got together, every bathroom

echoed with the sound retching.

My brother-in-law started it. He got sick a week before Christmas. The human

incubator carried that bug across the country, through two airports, and into my

parents house. We took turns celebrating, feasting, and trying to avoid the sickies. It

didnt matter. The virus hit in waves, crashing into one person after another. That yearI discovered that when Matt and I have kids, he

will notbe the parent holding the puke bucket.

Too often in my adult life I find myself at

home alone when Im sick. Its painful, tiring, and

lonely. That year I had a house full of people to

care for me, and I got to take care of them, too. I

can think of a dozen ways Id rather spend

Christmas, but if I had to get sick, Im glad it waswith all of the people that I love the most.


21/23

Tree-Trimming NostalgiaBy Naomi Musch

Ah, Christmas. Sometimes there's way too much hubbub surrounding it for a laid

back country gal like me. But there are a couple of traditions our family developed

over the years which we wouldn't trade.

One of them is Tree-Trimming Night at Harvest Hills.

Harvest Hills is the name of our farm. Our family has never majorly gotten into

holiday decorating. We aren't nearly that organized or motivated. But putting up the

tree does come with some ceremony. More precisely, it involves music, lights, fudge,

eggnog, and a holiday movie classic -- in that order. This single event of trimming the

tree has probably had the strongest impact on our children as far as how they

perceive and carry on their own family

traditions.

We always cut a wild tree. Sometime

during Wisconsin's late November deer

hunting season we begin pestering "dad"

to bag us a tree while he's supposed to

be scoping out whitetail. As the years have

passed and the boys gotten older, one ofthem has occasionally taken on this

responsibility. Some years the whole family

has marched out on the back 80 to

harvest a glorious spruce, balsam, or even

a white pine.

We drag it home, cut it down to a size

that actually fits inside the house (we

alwaysmisjudge this), crank up the Christmas music, and commence hanging the

finery. But the big event is usually theposttrimming. When the kids were small they

liked getting their fingers in there on the bulbs to help trim, but mostly they endured it.

They just wanted us to get to the part where the lights sparkled, everyone said,

"Ahhhhh!" and the real festivity began. Once the tree is ready and glowing, and excess


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pine needles are swept away, then we break out the fudge and eggnog and fire up

the movie.

It may seem redundant, but here's where we stick with tradition. We watch It's a

Wonderful Lifeevery year. Many times it's been our tree-trimming movie, but even

when it hasn't, we still watch it at some point during the holidays. Two other moviechoices also grab our attention alternately, The Muppet Christmas Carol, or The Shop

Around the Corner-- another Jimmy Stewart classic.

It doesn't seem like Christmas until we settle down to this simple tradition in our

home. Now that some of the kids have moved out and started their own families,

things change some. Occasionally Jeff and I are on our own with decorating the tree.

But at some point the young 'uns filter in and ask, "Hey, when are we going to watch

It's a Wonderful Life? Mom, didn't you make fudge?" It sure is a nostalgic blast of fun

hearing them explain the importance of our traditions to their own spouses andfriends.

Merry Christmas, everyone!


23/23

Ornament CollectingBy Lisa Lickel

I am fortunate to be able to travel quite a bit. I love to collect unusual ornaments.My husband suggested I photograph them and label them so I dont forget where

they all come from. The photographing was easy. The labelingnot so much. Ah, well.

Here are a few of my favorites, some of which I recall.

My late stepmother in law made this in

1990.

I got this one from Sitka, Alaska in 1997.

Probably

not too hard

to guess that

this one

came from

Maine.

And the quintessential Wisconsin ornament: a

milkweed casing nature scene, bought at a craft fair.

Sometime.

the midwest holiday traditions book 2012

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