The Passing of the Tree

This time of year always brings a touch of sadness. And it's not just about figuring out how to pay for all those holiday gifts. As I drive by the houses, it saddens me to see all those harbingers of holiday happiness along the curb waiting for the recycling truck or worse yet - the garbage truck, barely any life left in them.

But sooner or later, the Christmas tree has to go. I keep mine up as long as possible, sometimes too long for my husbands liking. But to me, the tree is such an inviting bright spot in the dreary winter that I'll fight to keep it going as long as I can.

When the time eventually comes and I just can't justify keep it any longer, I like to try to find some way to keep the spirit of the tree around. I think of it as Holiday recycling.

One thing I like to do is strip down the needles from the branches until I have a good size bowl full. Then I'll take those lone socks that the sock monster has left in my dryer and stuff them with the needles. Stitch the end closed and you have a wonderful pine sachet to put in drawers or tuck in corners to add a refreshing whiff of pine when needed.

One of our favorites is to take the tree outside and attach crossed wood pieces so it will still stand. Then we decorate it again - but this time we use strung pieces of fruit or cranberries, dried suet balls, nuts and other bird tasty treats. For at least another month it provides nourishment for a grand assortment of birds, a few squirrels, and our cats who watch from the window.

Whether we make the bird feeder tree or not, we always cut up some of the branches and the trunk and add it to our wood pile. In the summer, we have some nicely dried pine to add to our fire ring. It's a very old tradition to keep the yule log for fires throughout the year, and it's just our way celebrating the old ways.

How do you recycle your holiday tree or wreaths? I'd love to hear from you.

Happy New Year!

A very happy, fun-filled, prosperous New Year to all!

Tis the Scent of the Season - The Magical Pine

I always have a live Christmas Tree. I know there are those who don't like having to clean up all the needles or the trouble of remembering to water it - but to me it is the very essence of the Yule season. Bringing in the evergreen,whether it be branches or the tree itself, is an ancient tradition which celebrates the returning of the sunshine. A fir tree fills the house with the scent of the season that refreshes and revitalizes the spirit.

Pines, firs and spruces are all conifers, lovely bright spots of green among the grey and white winter background. There are distinctions between them all, described wonderfully at the Stupid Questions archive (personally, I didn't think it was that stupid a question.)

My favorites are the pines, with the wonderful, heart lightening aroma. But they aren't just the holder of lovely ornaments and lights, pines pack some powerful benefits for health and home.

Pine cones are the home to pine nuts (called pignoli in Italy). These with some basil and garlic and olive oil make fabulous pesto. Pine wood is strong and is used for building of all sorts. But did you know you can make tea from pine needles?

Pine is said to help ease breathing and stimulate the respiratory tract as well as aid sooth intestinal disturbances. You can take the younger, tender needles (make sure it's from a tree that hasn't been treated with any chemicals) and steep them in hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and add honey if you'd like. The aroma will open your sinuses and the tea will help soothe you.

Put pine needles in the bedding of your pets. It's said to repel fleas - and it will help it smell good too!

I collect pine needles from my tree outside and from my Christmas tree, let them dry slightly, and put them through my herb grinder. I mix that with some baking powder and use it as a natural carpet deodorizer.

The benefits of pine include the many uses of its essential oil. It is analgesic, antiviral, deodorizing, and so much more. At Celtic Chairde Creations, we use it in our Muscle Rubs for it's ability to soothe sore muscles. It's scent adds that uplifting boost to our Lughnasa Lotion Bar.

I'll be including more information about the wonderful evergreen of the season, whose magic lifts spirits and refreshes the mind. After all, mine is still standing sentinel in the corner, reminding us of all the joy this season can bring.

Joyous Yule!

Have a most Joyous Yule!

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The Tale of the Apocryphal Cookie

From the days before email, there was a wonderful chain letter with the story of the department store cookie. Typically, the store is Neiman Marcus. According to Snopes, it's not a true tale, thus the name of Apocryphal Cookie. Not a true story - but yummy non-the less.

Urban legend has it that a woman and her friends went to lunch at a posh restaurant in a very elegant department store. There the woman had a wonderful cookie for desert. She asked the waiter if the recipe was available. He said yes, but that it cost two fifty. She said that was fine and to put it on her tab. Off she went with the recipe.

When she received the bill the following month, she was stunned to discover that it wasn't $2.50 - it was $250! Despite her complaint, the store insisted that it was the correct price. To protest, she copied the recipe and distributed it to everyone she knew and asked them to do the same.

And so I came into the recipe. In fact, I still have the yellowed photo copy from so many moons ago. This recipe, with a few minor changes, has become a favorite of ours. If you haven't seen it, you'll find it below.


Apocryphal Cookies

* 1 cups butter, softened
* 2 cups sugar
* 4 eggs
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 2 tsp vanilla
* 4 cups flour
* 5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and whir in a blender to a fine powder)
* 2 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp salt
* 24 oz. raisinets or chocolate chips or cinnamon chips
* 8 oz grated milk chocolate
* 3 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Cream the butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients of flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend completely and fold in chocolate, raisinets and nuts. Drop teaspoon size balls into an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and place on racks to cool. Makes 124 cookies - but you can half the recipe.

Whether the story is true or not, this is a yummy cookie that deserves its place in legendary stature.