A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Hello everyone.  I hope your holiday season is going well.

Usually, I either talk about housewife stuff, hence the blog name, including broken dishwashers (now the new one is broken), vacuums or roasting the nine millionth chicken.  Or I tell you some absolutely delightful childhood story, that I know you just can't wait to read about and tell all your friends.  I'm picturing people standing around one of those old water coolers at an office all abuzz about my sister and I arguing over airspace in the backseat of the car. Yes, I know, I'm delusional, it's my next hobby down from reading.  Anyway, I can't tell you anything perfectly charming or recipe related today because I'm extra ticked off.  We have been avoiding society in general for the last two years.  We haven't even gone into the grocery store, doing pickup only.  Finally, last week, I really needed eggs for holiday baking, and I prodded my husband to go in.  He went early in the morning, wore a N95 mask, and stayed away from everyone.  Yep, you guessed it....ONE GROCERY STORE VISIT in two years gave us covid.  He's further along with it than I am, and it is heartbreaking listening to him cough, and frankly scares me for what is to come my way.  Anyway, I have stacks of books right here but cannot concentrate, making me behind on reviewing some recently released books.  Sorry, but it can't be helped....one time in two darn years!

I did want to talk about A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Everyone knows the story and the thought of reading a classic, well, compared to thrillers of today you might think it's dry or boring, perhaps you think it gets bogged down in the period's language.  It is wonderful.  The reading is easy, smooth, no running to the dictionary.  The story is quick, it doesn't doddle on any area too long.  After seeing endless movies of A Christmas Carol, there is something charming about holding good old Scrooge and Marley in your hand. If you wanted to start reading "the classics" this would be a great place to start, and it is just so Christmasy.  Obviously, it has gift written all over it, okay, not really but doodle as you see fit.

Given how we feel, roasting the chicken seems a lot better.  I should learn to be more grateful.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.

'Tis that time of year again.  Time to make construction paper chains, string popcorn (avoiding the bloody pieces) and get yelled at for not putting tinsel on one annoyingly staticy piece at a time.  Okay, so nobody does that anymore.  Now it's just pop up trees that come in two pieces and are fully lit.  For you youngsters who have only known pre-done trees, I'm telling you that you have not fully enjoyed any holiday season until you have successfully untangled a huge wad of c-9 bulbs.  The satisfaction of getting to the end of the last string of lights, well that's just a holiday tradition and practically a gift in itself.  Did you buy that?  I keep telling myself that when I have to untangle lights that I just stuffed into a box the season before.  It's also not Christmas until one of the aforementioned c-9 bulbs, that get to about nine thousand degrees, brands you with that shape merely for brushing up against the tree.  First, to start off the season of joy, I usually read a Christmas book...I know, you're shocked.

I recently read The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews.  This is the story of a newly divorced woman, Ivy, who buys a house in a new town for a complete change.  Having only seen it online, when she arrives to take possession of the property Ivy is disappointed as it doesn't look like the photos.  In fact, it looks like it may take a fair amount of work to make it a home.  While clearing out some of the previous owner's belongings she finds a beautiful Santa suit with a note in the pocket.  The note is from a little girl, written years ago.  Ivy becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the little girl.  

This story is lovely, it's sweet, romantic, charming, and oh so Christmasy.  At barely over two hundred pages, you'll be surprised how much story the author has packed into this book.  It's a fast read that will not rob you of your decorating, baking or wrapping time but enhance it.  Not only will it melt your grinchiness, but it would make a great gift....perhaps for a Thanksgiving hostess who likes to read.