I overshot a Blue Christmas

     Today was similar to standing in the checkout, with one register open. My muscles tight and ready to pounce into a better advantage point. We went to get the Christmas tree, and normally I would inspect and contemplate the perfect tree. But hubby was hauling a-- on a backroad, so I was a little rattled by the time we got there. Maybe, annoyed is a better word. The first one the guy held up "You like it?", "Ya I like it". Within five minutes, the tree was netted, thrown into the back of the car, and we were motoring back to Brattleboro with Johnny Mathis.

     Having a birthday so close to Christmas at times feels really special, and at other times (like now) triggers a need to schedule things. Like a Christmas tree. Not that it is a big job, but my hubby is 6'1" and better equipped to haul a tree into the house, than myself. The whole time I am thinking, Wow  we should have done this last weekend.

     I should not be allowed to shop at Walmart, anytime during the holiday season. Because, Guess What???!!!!! We have a themed tree.  Shush up Barb~Martha!. Any who, I thought it would be super cool, to have some organization to the tree. Only because the rest of my life is dangling from a toe nail. Well my new look is very blue and silver, and thanks to my sister a shade lighter than my childhood tree; blue and gold. By the way, No Amanda, I am not going to wrap the tree in spider webs, a.k.a Angel Hair, because it was deemed hazardous, otherwise..why yes, yes I would.

     One thing I can say, with the lights on the tree is devoid of color. But with the lights off..Hallelujah !!! a blue-bluish-bluesy tree. I guess I just wanted continuity in my tree, I overshot it. HA HA. Typical overachiever behavior. In the words of my golfer friend Fish, I totally duffed the tree.

     The highlight of the day, is that I went to church, I am so blessed to be a part of something so special. I truly believe in the statement: " You go through what you go through, to get where you are". Wow, wish I knew that when I was 21, I would have saved tons of time. But...we all know the moral to this story.. I would not have learned what I needed to learn.

    Christmas Eve in my house is appetizers and the list is endless for things that you can do. One of things that I have done is Chicken and Rosemary in Puff Pastry.

1 package of chicken tenders,chopped
1 tablespoon garlic chopped
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon butter
1 package of Pepperidge farms puff pastry
2 8oz packages of cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons sherry
salt and pepper to taste

Cut the tenders and set aside. Chop the onions, garlic and rosemary set aside. In a saucepan melt the butter and saute the garlic and onions add the chicken and cook until it is almost done. Finish with sherry and cook until the alcohol is gone, on low heat. Add the cream cheese and cheddar and melt on low heat until well combined. Season with the rosemary,salt and pepper. Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll slightly longer and wider. Just a wee bit. Spoon the filling along one edge of the pastry, until the filling is gone. Roll, somewhat tightly towards the top, brush the top edge with egg wash and set on a greased cookie pan, edge side down and baste with egg wash. Cook in a 400F oven for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Cool before slicing. Serve with peach preserves.

And the Grinch,with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something that he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr.Suess