Dec 7th 2019

By the Middle Ages, the Christmas holiday had overtaken solstice rituals throughout much of present-day Europe. However, the old feast traditions remained. And while the roast and drink recipes were probably quite similar to what earlier Europeans had enjoyed, the pastry world was experiencing some amazing changes. Spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper were just starting to be widely used, and dried exotic fruits like citron, apricots and dates added sweetness and texture to the dessert tray. These items, along with ingredients like sugar, lard and butter, would have been prized as expensive delicacies by medieval cooks. Only on the most important holiday could families afford treats like these, which led to a baking bonanza to prepare for Christmas. And unlike pies or cakes, cookies could be easily shared and given to friends and neighbors. Our modern Christmas cookies date back to these medieval gifts.

Saturday.

Usually a busy day on John Street

Today was an unexpected break

From routine chores etc.

John was home at 10

So I got dressed to leave the upper floor.

I was putting a holiday hairball in

When I heard a crack and suffered

An astronomical amount of sharp pain.

I screamed and woke John.

The shoulder blade pain was back

And with vengeance.

I limped downstairs 

And found a comfy (ish) way to sit

And stayed put for 2 hours.

By this time it was just throbbing

And 2 robaxacet was doing nothing

Particularly noticeable.

By 1pm

We had gotten to the 

Sportsmen club christmas raffle.

We spent the afternoon 

buying tickets to win a turkey

That would have cost us less

Just to go buy...but we had fun

And won nothing.

Home to sit for a bit

And then we were off to Spingwater Park

To do the Spirit Walk.

At first we thought

"What a nice night for this"

 But by the end we were all quite cold.

We even saw Santa and the Grinch.

At 9pm we settled into our chairs 

with cream of broccoli and cheese soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

We made a makeshift hot water

Bottle filled with water I could 

Just barely stand against my skin 

And that seemed to calm my back.

John crashed at 10pm

(He only slept 2 hours this morning)

And I myself only made it to 11.

Time for sleep.

Good night from John Street