Christmas preparations.

I went down to feed the cats today, and to pick up some extra insulation batts that we did not use at the new house, and brought it back to the rehab. It was snowing like crazy by the time that I finished there and headed out. Big fluffy flakes after a night of rain made for slush, and a tricky drive home. I saw spots where cars had slid around on the road and I was sick to my stomach as I drove, but I was awfully glad to get back into town. 

I dropped off the insulation. Tim was doing some wiring, and there was nothing I could really do without interrupting that, so I came home and spent the afternoon wrapping.  

I need to buy Tim's gift. I have one thing. I am getting one more, but it is kind of difficult when we're always together. We are not buying a lot for each other this year. He wanted a heated vest for hunting, which I found and bought for him, but there was no use making him wait until Christmas for it. He bought me a new stove and then we both picked out our flooring. That is more than enough Christmas, I think.

I bought two dozen farm fresh eggs for the Christmas strata, which is what we have for breakfast. I like it because you make it the day before, and stick in the fridge over night. Pop it into the oven when you get up the next morning, and you have a good breakfast that feeds whoever comes by. 

8 cups of dried bread, cubed (I like to use a loaf of Italian bread from the day old discount shelf.)

Brown the sausage. I also add my onions, peppers and mushrooms to that, and fry it up all together. If I have some spinach, I toss that in at the end. Drain off any liquid/grease, add it to your cubed bread. 

I use a dozen beaten eggs, 2 cups of milk, 3/4 cup heavy cream blended together. 

Season with 8 ounces of grated cheddar. 

I season with a teaspoon of thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 tsp of pepper, and a dash of cayenne, mixing it into the egg and milk mixture. Add that to the bread cube/meat vegetable mixture, and stir all together. Put in a greased 9 x 13 pan, cover with foil and stick into the fridge over night. Next morning, remove the foil, bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven, for 50 minutes or so. Watch it. It's done when it is puffed up and golden and doesn't jiggle in the middle. Don't overcook it or it will be dry. 

The cool thing is that if you are not a meat eater, leave the meat out. (If you do not eat eggs or dairy, well...I would suggest something else for breakfast.) You can vary the vegetables used. Just google 'strata' and you will find them, I'm sure. 

Put some juice on the table, and you've got your breakfast. 

My favorite carol this year: The Wexford Carol is the oldest known Christmas carol, dating back to the 13th century. It is as Irish as our Dave. Stop over and check out his dogs all done up in their Christmas finery. 

There are many version of it out there. 

It is a quiet Christmas season here, but there is peace, and that is good. I've been doing a lot of reading. The Tao Te Ching has been providing clarity to these days that I simply do not understand. There is a great deal of anger right now. "Fight, fight!" I don't feel that. What I believe is that we should pay very close attention to what is happening, believe what is being said, and plan accordingly. There is nothing to 'fight'. We can't fight about what will happen, because there are people who simply do not believe that it will happen. Their unbelief will not change the future, however. 

It seems wise to prepare. My sister asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Cow poop, I told her. I told her not to bother wrapping it, but I imagine she'll drive the tractor over, dump a load or two, and then put a bow on it just for giggles. After Christmas, I'll place an order for my seeds.