Hello and Welcome 2024!
Terry and I kicked off the new year by joining everyone at the Farm for fun, food and football. Having missed Christmas Day due to an unfortunate outbreak of illness at the farmstead we were excited to see everybody. I asked Jill if she had been naughty this year or if she had asked Santa for both Covid and the flu for Christmas. She laughed and said she would have definitely rather have gotten coal.
It was a chilly and overcast day typical for January. A roaring fire was blazing in the fireplace greeting us and warming us through. We arrived a little after 11am so we could catch the most important playoff game of the day, the Citrus Bowl. For those of us whose blood runs orange, we cheered on the University of Tennessee as they took on the University of Iowa in sunny Orlando, Florida.
There was an abundance of snacks to nibble on throughout the day of bowl games: Dad’s cranberry salsa with tortilla chips that was refreshing and highly addictive along with a baked spiral, glazed ham with Sister Schubert rolls, a white chicken chili cheese dip that Josh crafted, the perennial clam dip that Roy has now become the sole purveyor, Elijah’s rice Krispie treats, Norma’s chipped beef cheese log and gluten-free, honey glazed cornbread while Terry and I brought a Hickory Farms gift box and Chex mix we received for Christmas along with a crockpot of Hoppin’ John with a side of basmati rice for good luck in the new year.
That afternoon, we also exchanged a few gifts as well. Dad and Janice just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary so we brought a few “happy’s” to mark their special occasion and they in turn had a few Christmas gifts for us as well as a birthday gift for Terry. And we couldn’t forget Levi. We also brought a few Christmas gifts for Levi to open too.
We had a superb day and it was a great way to kick off the new year with the cherry on top being the Volunteers throttling the Hawkeyes 35 to 0 to clinch a bowl win.
Dad and Janice opening a few anniversary gifts. Retro VW tin box with a felted, Volkswagen Christmas van ornament.
“Willie, Waylon and me”…opening Willie Nelson’s newly released bluegrass album on vinyl.
Janice opening a WWI, French, trench art pom pom casing. I saw this in a store specializing in French inspired antiques and home decor and was surprised I had never heard of this type of art. Here’s a little history from the National Air and Space Museum:
War souvenirs are as old as warfare itself. Be they trophies of victory or personal keepsakes of combat experiences, soldiers have always saved material evidence of their wartime service. Some, if they had the skills, turned the materials of war into art. The tradition of artistically handcrafting war souvenirs goes back to ancient times, but the practice flourished during the First World War. The abundance of items created by soldiers in World War I and in the years immediately after gave rise to the term “trench art.” Some trench art was actually made in the trenches. Other examples were made by soldiers convalescing in hospitals, or shortly after the war before they went home. The pieces were made as personal souvenirs, for family, or sold to other soldiers to earn money. Local civilians and laborers supporting the armies also crafted items from war debris they collected.
Janice brings Terry his birthday gift and Christmas happy’s and then looks on with Roy and Levi.
Terry with his new, favorite flashlight, the Braun LED magnetic flashlight and a set of Chaps pj’s with candy cane socks.
There were surprises for me too…
Christmas oven mitts handmade by Janice, a collection of mini-spatulas, peppermint soap, & Christmas pj’s to match my honey.
Levi opened his Christmas goodies from us starting with an ornament shaped liked the state of Tennessee, hand-painted orange and detailed to look like a geode.
Levi opening his faux geode ornament.
Cool Carhart hoodie.
Lastly, a pair of magnetic LED lanterns to take with him on the ATV for illumination when he’s out on the back forty.
