Happy Holidays from LaBolt, SD

We are having a quiet Christmas with Josh, Carter, and Hayley.  Hannah & Branden, Bianka & Keegan were here yesterday.  Bianka helped Dale and I do the lightening of the advent candle ceremony at Christmas Eve service.  I do not know why I say yes when they ask me.  It is something neither of us like to do, but Bianka was happy to read her part.

My children are thinking I need to try some new holiday recipes.  I tried one that the staff at school and my grandchildren liked called Snowman Poop.  Mix 3 cups miniature marshmallows, 1 box cocoa puffs cereal, and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts.  Melt 1 package chocolate almond bark and add to the other mixture.  Stir until coated and spoon onto parchment paper to dry.  Store in covered container.

I have been thinking about family traditions this morning. Dale's background is Swedish and Norwegian so potato sausage, rice pudding, and lefsa are a part of our holdiays. I have numerous Swedish decorations that we share with our church at our annual Christmas smorgasboard.  I can remember lutefisk and lefsa being important to Avis.  I even have my students playing Somerset, a card game that has fractions instead of suits that we used to play with Avis.  I never really knew of any Threadgold traditions.  Phyllis, Dawna, or Harlyn can you remember any?  I do know there is a salad in the Fedora cookbook in memory of Gertrude Threadgold.  As I remember, it has pineapple in it.  That is something nobody except me eats.  Mom had some fancy bowls and a cake plate that were gifts from Gertrude.  Was this the kind of things she liked?

Betty