The great cranberry sauce escapade

Christmas Day started out pretty low-key. We just hung out, trying to stay out of the way while dinner preparations were begun. It was the first time in years that I wasn’t doing Christmas dinner, so it almost didn’t feel like Christmas. So when Katie asked us to run out for some cranberry sauce, we just jumped into the car and headed for the grocery store. Which was closed, of course. Down the road was an open store, which turned out to be an Asian market. It was a neat place, but not only did they not have cranberry sauce, I’m not sure they knew what we were asking for. We then came across a Walgreens. They have a small food section, so we tried our luck there. They had one can of the jellied version left, which we bought. We regarded this as only a partial victory, since we weren’t sure (a) one would be enough and (b) whether we were supposed to get this kind or the whole berry kind. So on we went. We found a Subway restaurant where two police cars were parked, so Jim did his “I’m from Cleveland, my daughter sent me out for some cranberry sauce, do you know where there’s an open grocery store?” routine. They sent us to an Albertson’s, which was closed. In the meantime, we found a Mexican grocery store which only had the jellied sauce in stock, so we bought one can, just in case the can we bought at Walgreen's wasn't enough. But we were still in search of the whole berry sauce. A few consultations with the rental car company map, and we wound our way to a retail district that I recognized, having already been there with Katie, where there was another grocery store. Not only was it open, but it had lots of both kinds of sauce. We grabbed two cans of the whole berry stuff and headed to the checkout. Then it got kind of weird. The clerk asked us if we had a preferred card. We said no, we’re from out-of-town. Do we have a Safeway Card (it was owned by Safeway)? No, we said, but we have an old Dominick’s card from when we lived in Chicago. She practically squealed when she told us that’ll work! So using our old phone number we got the sale price on our two cans of sauce. Off we went, feeling we had saved Christmas and relishing (ooh – sorry!) our little Christmas adventure.

The fruits of our labor! (pun definitely intended!).

Weather shock

In a few short hours, we went from this . . .

To this. Welcome back to NE Ohio!

It is a very GRAND canyon

This was taken as we flew over the Grand Canyon. It was a little hazy that day, but still, it's very impressive from 30,000 feet. One of these days we'll see it from the ground.

Cooking with Jim

Yes, Jim CAN cook! Those of you who have known us for a long time know that for years he professed a lack of a cooking gene. But all those years of boy scout camp outs finally laid that image to rest, especially when we started camping as a family! And now I reap the benefit from all cooking experience, especially at breakfast. Most Saturday (and Sunday) mornings we sleep in, then Jim fires up the cast iron skillet. The actual result varies, but generally involves eggs, bacon or some other meat, onion, bell pepper and sometimes potatoes. Oh, and always cheese! Whatever form it takes, be it scrambled eggs, an omelet or fritata, it's always tasty. Lucky me!

Why poinsettias?

Whose idea was it to pick the poinsettia as the official (or maybe semi-official) flower of the Christmas season? It's actually native to much warmer climates than most of the country has. It doesn't do well in the dry, furnace-heated environment of your typical house. And while it can be drop-dead gorgeous when you first bring one home, it drops its leaves if you just look at it funny. So after a week or two, you end up with a plant that looks like a cross between a flower and a lollipop. But still, every year I succumb and get at least one, just because they do look so good.

Christmas lights in our fair city

Tonight we drove around town, checking out how other people decorated their houses and maybe getting some inspiration for next year. I love doing this. It reminds me of when I was growing up, and we would drive around this neighborhood in Chicago called "Candy Cane Lane," where every house had a huge (probably 6' or taller) lit-up candy cane set up in the front yard, and the houses were completely covered (or so it seemed at the time) with lights.

The Santa in the chair looks eerily real.

There's a cul-de-sac in a nearby development where all the houses on the block get together and decorate the whole block -- I think it's part of their Homeowners Association rules. The sidewalk is covered with lit up archways, and every one (except one notably dark house) is decorated to some degree -- some took it to the max. During the season, traffic is backed up for a couple of blocks and there are crowds on foot. One house even managed to get Santa to take a break from his busy schedule to talk to kids today and tomorrow!

Every year Strongsville sets up a Christmas display in the public square in the center of town. Donations from local businesses, organizations and citizens help fund this annual extravaganza of lights. Depending on the day and weather, it can be quite crowded. Tonight, we had the place to ourselves.

Where Katie and Sean's wedding pictures were taken

Other highlights of our tour:

Our next door neighbors' house: