Hi, everyone!
On the Friday before Christmas, I was down to the last two items for my Reverse Advent Calendar! That was the day for Grandma and Grandpa’s stollen party, too! I was looking forward to seeing lots of my church friends when they stopped by for soup and cider! There was a big winter storm predicted for the middle of the day, so Grandma warned me I might not see all my friends. I got up early to help Grandma make the first batch of stollen dough! We had that baked and decorated by 10:30 a.m. Because of the weather, Grandma decided she would microwave bowls of soup on demand, instead of putting out the buffet server. My good friend Mike-san came to pick up his stollen and Grandma’s dessert for Christmas Eve dinner at his house.
Then two things happened! The storm cold front came through and dropped the temperature 30 degrees F. in two hours. Grandpa did a Covid test and got a positive result. After that, Grandma wouldn’t let any of my human friends come into the house and handed them their stollen at the door. LaVache’s grandma brought LaVache and LIC with her, and both grandmas agreed they could stay with me over the holidays. I was happy to have company!
When we got up on Christmas Eve, it was 5 degrees F. outside! LaVache and LIC helped me put the last items in my Reverse Advent Calendar box. Then Grandma packed them all up and took them to Uncle Steven’s house, so he could take them to church. She took all the presents for Uncle Steven’s family, too! Because Grandpa was sick, we couldn’t be together to open presents on Christmas. Christmas Eve dinner with friends was canceled and so was New Years Eve dinner.
On Christmas Eve, Grandma always makes croissant dough to bake for Christmas breakfast. I showed LaVache and LIC how to bash the butter and layer the dough. When the dough had six folds in it, we put it in the refrigerator to chill overnight. The plates keep it from rising too much!
Grandma was pretty sure she was going to catch Covid from Grandpa, so she didn’t go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. My good friend Papa Dick-san conducted the choir, instead. We baked the croissants for breakfast and Facetimed Uncle Steven’s family and Uncle David’s family to open presents. LaVache and I reminisced about other Christmases we had spent together. Christmas was a very quiet day!
On Monday, Grandma tested positive for Covid, too! On Wednesday, there was a very pretty sunset. On Thursday morning, we had sunshine! LaVache and LIC and I sat in the sunbeam, getting our faces and tummies warm. Grandma was crocheting a baby blanket like the one she made for Thomas. LaVache said she knew how to help!
On Friday, Grandma and Grandpa took us all out to the bay. LaVache had been there before at Christmas time, but LIC hadn’t. I showed them the shoreline repair work. The very cold temperatures around Christmas started to freeze the surface of the bay, but it was above freezing and drippy when we were there!
We had to snuggle to fit in my bed at the bay! When we got up on New Years Eve, LaVache and I told LIC about our trip together to the Canadian Rockies.
We went back to Fairport after breakfast at the bay on New Years Eve. That gave us a final chance to admire our Christmas tree lights in the dark. Then we watched New Years Eve fireworks displays from all around the world. It was fun to recognize places I’d been in Sydney and Bangkok!
On New Years Day, we helped Grandma undecorate the Christmas tree! It helps to have extra hoofs and paws available to unwind the garland! Grandma put all the ornaments on the dining room table. LaVache and LIC helped me take my favorite moose ornament off the tree. Once the ornaments were all off the tree, Grandpa took the lights off. Then he bundled the tree up in a tarp to take out to the curb. Grandma had already packed up three boxes of ornaments when she took this photo of the table!
Once the tree was gone, I could sit in front of the window with my friends! We like watching the apple tree lights at night. Grandma says they will stay lit through Epiphany. Because Grandma and Grandpa were sick, lots of adventures I was looking forward to didn’t happen. I’m glad I had friends to share the holidays with me!
Love,
Lion-san
Oh no, getting sick at the holidays is truly disheartening!! Customs and time with family and friends are so important. I’m so glad that everyone recovered.
Hugs, Rita
Dear Lion-San,
Thank you for showing La Vache and LIC such a wonderful time. For sure, it’s the only time they will observe the making of Croissants! You make it sound “possible.” I wouldn’t say easy.
Your Grandma was SO missed on Christmas. I know you helped her to not feel sad. It did turn out to be very special for a La Vache and LIC. For them it was a Christmas to remember!
Thank you!!! Happy New Year!