Favorite Winter Activities
I had asked folks to tell me what some of their favorite activities are during Winter, or even share some old memories of Winters past. I received a few replies and sharing them below.
Cousin Sue wrote: I remember all of us cousins sledding out in the fields of Aunt Sadie's farm. I don't remember how old I was just that I didn't mind winter then. Now I hate it!
Cousin Patti wrote: One of my favorite things to do in the winter when we were kids was to play on the snow hills across the street at the little church. They would plow the snow up in what seemed like "giant" hills back then and we would make forts and have snowball fights and just spend hours playing over there :)
WOOD - TALES
Happy New Year !!!
Well, I sure hope everyone made it through the holidays alright. I'm figuring we all ate too much and now we're headed back to work. Gonna be a spell before we get another long weekend now.
For January, I've got some old photos from about 10 and 11 years ago when I returned to the Midwest after being away for nearly 19 years. My son, being a native Texan, hadn't really been exposed to true Winter fun. At about 6 years old back then, it was a great age to get into Winter activities and fun. I tell you, even I was like a kid again. Does everyone remember Hospital Hill? I've even got pictures of a visit there too. Enjoy!
Winter fun photos from the past.
WOOD - TALES
Adventures of the Wood Family in the Great Outdoors
10 years ago, my son and his first snowman. Hard to believe he graduates high school this year.
The Best New Year Resolution !
Are you one of the many people out to make a New Years resolution of some sort aimed at improving their life? Well, I challenge everyone, including myself, to abide by the Ten Commandments given to us by God. I believe we have been instructed to live by these commandments and I believe that our lives will be improved if we do. On top of that, I think God is more willing to help us obey His commandments compared to if we pray for help to lose weight or make more money. So what do you say we all work harder on obeying the Ten Commandments and improve not only our own lives, but maybe even the life of someone else.
God's Ten Commandments for man to obey.
Traditional New Year's Day Meals
Traditions vary from culture to culture but there are some common similarities in what's consumed in different parts of the world. There are six major categories of "promising" foods, they are: grapes, greens, fish, pork, legumes, and cakes.
I read that pork (pig) signifies progress, and that the fat represents wealth and prosperity.
Legumes, which includes foods such as beans, peas and peanuts, are supposedly symbolic for money. Their seed-like appearance resemble early day coins and swell when cooked. Thus, consuming them leaves financial rewards in mind. Variations of bean/pea soups (some with pork) are very common among many cultures.
Greens include items like cabbage, collards and kale, which is like a cabbage. These "green" items resemble folded money and symbolic for economic fortune. Sauerkraut of coarse is cabbage, and included in many German dishes. Collards or other greens are often included in black-eyed pea dishes.
Grapes are from a Spanish culture dating back just over 100 years.Spaniards reportedly consumed 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. Each grape representing one month. If the 3rd grape consumed was a little bitter, the month of March could be expected to be challenging. This custom has carried over into many other Spanish countries like Venezuela, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, etc.
Fish is rather obvious as it could be preserved and transported much easier than turkey or beef in the days before refrigeration and preservatives. Also, some religions prohibited consuming red meat on religious holidays, making it popular during festive feasts.
Cakes, breads, and other baked goods are also traditional, with special interest in those round-shaped or shaped in rings. Some cultures would even hide trinkets inside the baked good. Whoever found it could expect a good year ahead.
Christmas Stories
What NOT to Eat on New Year's
Besides the "lucky" foods to eat, there are a few reported to avoid eating or you could be in for a rough year.
Lobster is to be avoided because it swims backwards, representing setbacks in the upcoming year.
Chicken is also to be avoided as a new year meal because it scratches backwards. This could mean regret or dwelling on the past.
Additionally, you should not eat any winged fowl at new years because your good fortune could fly away.
Like a fallen leaf riding the river current, life goes on. How long the journey will last is unknown. We know along the way there are ripples, jams, and forks that change the path of our lives, and at some point, with a quick, gentle breeze, we are swept from the river of life and are gone from the Earth.
