Hi, everyone!
It’s almost time for Christmas! Grandma and Grandpa have helped me with all the adventures I have to get ready!
On the third Sunday in December, we went to Tuba Christmas! Uncle Bill played in the very first Tuba Christmas. That was held at a downtown mall that has been torn down since. Now it’s held in Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theater. Grandma and Grandpa and I go early, so we can get the seats we want in the front of the balcony. We save some for Uncle Steven’s family, too. From the balcony, it’s really easy to see the chandelier!
The tuba players rehearse before the hall opens to listeners, then they take a break before the concert. As they return, I like to see how the instruments have been decorated! The Sousaphones always have Christmas lights! When Santa came in with his double-belled euphonium, I asked Grandma if we could go down and meet him. There was enough time before the concert was going to start, so we did. On the way, we listened to a student quartet playing in the lobby. Santa was very nice to me!
Uncle Steven’s family arrived just before the concert started. The sound of all the players tuning up gets everybody’s attention. One hundred and twenty low brass players make a lot of sound! I really like Christmas carols played by low brass and look forward to hearing them every year.
Uncle Steven’s family always comes for home-made pizza after Tuba Christmas. It was cold and rainy, so we didn’t go to the Powers Farm Market nativity display in between.
On Monday, Grandma said it was time to put up the Christmas tree and start decorating it! I helped Grandpa get the tree straight in the stand. Grandma asked me to start unwinding the twine that baled up the tree. Then Grandma and I handed Grandpa light bulbs in the proper colors to fill the sockets on the light strings. We didn’t finish the lights until Tuesday morning, but they were looking nice anyway!
Tuesday night after dinner, Grandma and Grandpa took me back to the bay. According to the weather forecast, Wednesday morning looked like the best time to finish the outdoor tasks there. Uncle Steven came out to help. We wrapped the rhododendron in deer fencing to protect the blossom buds from nibblers. Grandma and I helped Uncle Steven put a tarp over the jet skis on their trailer.
It started raining just as we left to come back to town. When we got back, the town leaf removal crew arrived! They worked in the cold rain to move the rest of our leaves onto the street and scoop them into a dump truck. I decided to watch from inside this time!
Grandma and I started putting ornaments on the Christmas tree. We finished on Thursday morning! The tree takes the space where I normally sit to look out, but I like sitting next to it where I can see it and outside at the same time. We’ve had some more snow, so it’s especially pretty at night!
Last Saturday was our stollen pick-up day! Grandma got three kinds of soup out of the freezer and made two more kinds on Friday, so all we needed to do was make the stollen! Grandma got me up early to start the first batch! I can help with stirring in the ingredients, but Grandma has to do the kneading and shaping!
While the first batch of dough was rising, I made sure the dining room table was ready. Then I put my reverse Advent Calendar food item in the Advent basket. By the time we had the first batch of dough shaped and rising for the second time, the second batch of dough was almost through its first rise.
We had a steady flow of church friends, Grandpa’s work friends, and neighbors all day! Grandma and I made thirty stollen. After the party, there were only two stollen and one gluten free scone to go into the freezer. It was fun to see so many of my favorite people!
Saturday was a very cold day, with some snow. On Sunday morning, the temperature was 9 degrees F. when I got up! Last night it got down to 3 degrees F.! This morning was warmer — almost 20 degrees F. Grandma said the snow ought to be perfect for my snow bath! She was right! I had light, fluffy snow to roll around in.
Grandma brought me right in and wrapped me in a towel. After she rubbed all the snow off, she used the hair dryer to warm me up. Then I got to rest in front of the heat register in the kitchen. We had a few minutes of sunshine, so Grandma let me finish up in a sunbeam! Christmas, I’m ready!
Love,
Lion-san