A Tammy twist on an old favorite

On the last weekend before Christmas, I've been really busy.....

We made 12 dozen meatballs
There are still 11 unwrapped gifts
We had 10 groceries bags after food shopping
We made 9 batches of fudge
Mom made 8 dozen cookies
There are 7 un-ripened bananas (waiting to be made into bread)
I had to go and buy 6 last minute gifts
I did 5 loads of laundry
We used 4 pounds of butter
I broke 3 of my fingernails
We had 2 new hair cuts and colors
And we made 1 trip to the ER (nothing serious Mom bruised her foot badly)

I also cleaned the upstairs of the house, got the oil changed in the Jeep, went to Home Depot and Lowes with hubby, went to the tanning salon and helped hubby get his old radios out from the deep dark corner of the attaic. Glad Christmas comes but once a year.

A bayberry candle burnt to the socket......

This is a great tradition that was passed on to me by friends during yule many years ago. We had a holiday celebration where each person in our circle would give something (usually small, hand made and with special meaning to the giver) to every other person. I gave my home made fudge the first year. Some of the great things I received where runes, soap that was molded to look like the goddess , crystals in little bottles and other cute little items many of which I still have scattered threw out my room. But the first year I was invited to join in this festive exchange I was given a small bayberry votive and a note that read:

"This bayberry candle comes from a friend,

So on Christmas eve burn it down to the end.

For a bayberry candle burned to the socket,

Will bring joy to the heart and gold to the pocket."

I felt this was a great tradition and have done so every year since then. I was told the Christmas eve rule isn't in stone. You can burn it on Yule, Christmas eve or New Year's Eve and you will get the same positive energy sent out and with any luck receive your good luck and intentions back three fold.

And of course threw the decades that this has been practiced the sweet wish has a few different variations.

"A bayberry candle burnt to the socket brings food to the larder and gold to the pocket."

"Bayberry candles burned to the socket bring health to the home and wealth to the pocket!"

"To bring good luck for a year, they say,

you must burn a Bayberry Candle on Christmas Day.

And if the flame burns bright, and the light shines clear,

then heaven will bless you all the year."

Another variation is that sweethearts who light bayberry candles when they are separated at Christmas will be united by way of the gentle scent.

The bayberry candle tradition goes back to colonial times. And the origins are fuzzy. One legend says that the Bay Tree gave shelter to the holy family during a storm. Therefore, lightning is said to never strike it. But what seems to be more likely was that colonists could not depend on regular shipments from the old world, and were always searching for local alternatives. One such happy find was the bayberry bush. When colonists boiled the bayberry fruit, they found that it left a fragrant wax on top of the water. Better still, the bayberry wax was harder and more brittle than beeswax, whey they were already using. And, although making bayberry candles was considerably more effort, the colonists discovered that they burned longer and cleaner, with a brighter light than other candles. Because they took so much effort to make, many families saved them for special occasions, such as Christmas and New Year's Eve.

So what ever your reason to burn the bayberry candle during the holidays, I hope that it brings you luck, love, happiness and health in the upcoming year. Have a blessed Yule.

This is the Best thing Ever! If only it were true!

Looking forward to some R&R

After a long year of preparation, the day finally came, the West Windsor Plainsboro South High School 2008 Holiday Craft Show. Sharon and I get up early and headed to the high school. We got there and set up in about 30-40 minutes or so. I had a mild panic attack when I realized that I not only forgot bags but my cute little business cards too. I call for reinforcements and both hubby and lil' bro came to the rescue. All in all I felt it was a great success. I also got two orders that were happily fulfilled and mail one week later, thanks to sweatshop worker Kimmy.

Mom and I took a well deserved trip to New York City on Sunday for a little pin trading and christmas shopping. We ran over to see the Rockefeller Tree. The tree came from our home town here in New Jersey only about a mile from my house. I have to say it looks a lot bigger up there in the city then it did here. It was really pretty to see. The CEOreo also took a long deserved break from supervising. She is all wrapped up in hubby's coat. She is so cute. And hubby is home for the season. He is fixing things around the house at his own pace. Just taking it easy.

I want to thank my sweatshop for all of their hard work and dedication. Get some rest over the holidays cause spring will be here soon enough and we will be getting ready for next December.

Thank you all for you support!

The craft show was a great success! I will have a complete update later in the week after some much deserved R&R. Thanks again for you support!

Sincerely,
Tammy

Quick Reminder! Come and see me this Saturday at the Craft Show!