RAMBLINGS & RECIPES - Memories of Icicle Christmas Trees

"Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard or too sad when you've got a Christmas tree in the living room. All those presents under it, all that anticipation. Just a way of saying there's always light and hope in the world." ~ Nora Roberts

I recently noticed that someone posted on Facebook a picture of their Christmas tree many years ago. It had icicles hanging on it. You know, those silvery, aluminum foil looking tinsel strips that used to cover trees after they were decorated. Oh! And bubble lights! Do you remember bubble lights? It brought back some memories. Memories of the icicle fights my sister and I had when more icicles ended up on us than on the tree. And I'm not referring to my sister and I as children. Nope. We were full grown adults.

As my family grew and we each got married and moved away, we missed getting together at Christmastime. We had obligations to our new families and to our in-laws. So my brothers, my sister and I would gather every year at my mom and dad's home on the weekend before Christmas to put up my parent's Christmas tree and decorate it. We had our own little Christmas party and exchanged gifts, just between us. It was a special time for my mom and dad and it made my siblings and I feel like kids again.

It all started when my sister Penny would try to place a single strand of an icicle in my hair without my noticing. Of course I would be doing the same thing with trying to put icicles in her hair without her noticing. Then there would be more. And more. Eventually, my mom would walk into the room with her hands on her hips and looking around the room, she would give us that "Mom look". You know that look a mom gives you that makes you fully understand that you are in trouble. No words ever need be exchanged. She just gave you that look.

Mom and Dad have been gone for many years now and that tradition has drifted into the recesses of our memories. But if I find a package of those icicles in the store somewhere, I'm going to save it until the next time I see my sister.

COCONUT MACAROONS

Ingredients:

1-1/3 cup flaked sweetened coconut

1/8 tsp salt

1/3 cup sugar

2 egg whites

2 tbsp flour

1/2 tsp almond extract

Directions:

Combine coconut, sugar, flour and salt in mixing bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake at 325 degrees F for about 20 minutes until edges of cookies are golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet immediately.