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Ah the holiday season is once again upon us…as is the snow and cold up in our area. But it just wouldn’t be the same with out it. We here at Rosewillow have been to busy to really notice to be honest.

If you didn’t read the Oracle last month you may have missed that a Full membership here at RoseWillow is now FREE. Yesiree. Once you join up you will be bumped up to a full yearly membership at no cost what so ever. Just please give Grace a few hours to get you all set up. Follow the instructions in the create handle pages and then register. You’ll have full membership privileges in no time at all.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this type of community format here’s what you get with your full membership package. Registered handle with your choice of Icons. Use ours or pick one of your own. Personal web page, a forum of your own, a private chat room and guestbook and access to all the members’ only areas once they are set up.

Once again we have something special this month for our members and friends. We think you’ll like and might just help with your holiday shopping experience. I’d like to announce the opening of...

The Town Mall!

Hours upon hours have gone into making this space for us and there is still more to come! So far there are 23 Categories in the Mall and over 130 vendors with more being added weekly. For your convenience five you a quick blurb on the vendors and let you know where they ship to. These shops are not just limited to the US. We have vendors from Canada and the United Kingdom and a few other countries too! The majority of these shops will ship internationally which makes your shopping experience even better!

We are trying to reach at least 200 vendors by the New Year. By doing your on line shopping through The Town Mall! here at RoseWillow you will be helping to support our website and offset webhosting costs.

Haven’t sent your Season Greetings out yet? Don’t forget about RoseWillow’s E-Greetings! We have a Featured Artist this month! Zi-O has made some wonderful Christmas cards for the holidays stop in and check out her gallery and be sure to send out one of her cards to your friends or family! Joy has promised Glaring her way to make us some Seasonal Greeting cards for December too so if you don't see them nag her!. I’m so going to be shoveling coal from my stocking this year. ..

I’ve had a great year here at RoseWillow and am quite looking forward to year 2. I’d like to wish the greetings of the season to everyone, our Members and their families, our readers, our lurkers and all our friends. And if you're just lurking stop it come on in and say HI! We don't bite honest!

To you and yours

Your Mayor

Do you recall the Chia pet, why I bet you do, but what about the Chia seeds? Well, according to reputable sources they were prized more highly than gold by the Aztecs. When bringing perishables from far-flung parts of the empire Aztec runners would pack Chia seeds in leather pouches, subsisting on these tiny seeds alone during their long journeys---as did warriors going into battle. Today, because Chia seeds prolong hydration, absorbing twelve times their weight in water, the Tarahumara people, known as champion long distance runners, still use the seeds for endurance and stamina.

Today dubbed as the ancient grain of the future, science has discovered these tiny seeds are full of nutrients, providing all the essential amino acids, it’s the richest known vegetable source of Omega 3 fatty acids, it has more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, and is a better protein than soy and beans---19-23% protein by weight. It has three times the antioxidants of blue berries plus the gel forming property of the seeds slows digestion---which contributes to balanced blood sugar levels. Talk about survival food---Go Chia Seeds!

“New research by Dr. Vladimir Vuksan's research team at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto has revealed fascinating properties of Salba seed, a variant of the Chia grain, highly valued in ancient times by the Aztecs.

Dr. Vuksan, Vice-President of GI Labs, and his team of researchers studied the Salba seed, known to be exceptionally high in nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids and rich in fiber. Dr. Vuksan and his team discovered that regular consumption of Salba in individuals with type 2 diabetes led to a decrease in clotting factors and inflammation. Most importantly, the study participants achieved a drop in blood pressure better than what is typically achieved with many medications. The results of this study have far-reaching applications for the management of type 2 diabetes, offering a non-medicinal effective diabetes therapy.”

Click for additional information.

If you’re looking for a Holiday treat that is good to eat and healthy too, why not cook up a chia surprise and enjoy the best of both worlds.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds, ground (use a coffee or spice grinder)
• 1 cup whole wheat or whole grain flour
• 1/2 cup white unbleached flour
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 16 oz. can organic pumpkin (make sure there is only pumpkin listed on the ingredient list)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup pure maple syrup (or 1/2 cup agave nectar or a combination of the two)
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
• Salt and pepper to taste

-Pre-heat oven to 350°.
-Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl.
-In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients.
-Fold the wet ingredients (fold in nuts now if you are using them) into the dry ingredients and spoon into paper-lined muffin or greased muffin tins.
-Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
-Store completely cooled muffins in sealable plastic bags in the freezer.

Happy Christmas

Boji Stone

~ Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.
~ Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.
~ In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.
~ In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
~ It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
~ In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.
~ When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
~ One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
~ Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
~ It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

-Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is a tree belonging to the Lauraceae family. The bark of the tree is what is used as a spice.
-True cinnamon, or Ceylon cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon).
-Cassia, a related spice, is sometimes sold as cinnamon but it is not "true cinnamon." Cassia is sometimes called "Indonesian cinnamon" or "Chinese cinnamon." In fact, most powdered cinnamon sold in the United States is actually cassia. It is harder to find true Ceylon cinnamon.
-Cinnamon gets is scent and flavor from a chemical compound called cinnamaldehyde.
-The word cinnamon comes from the Greek kinnamomon.
-Cinnamon is mentioned in Chinese writings as far back as 2800 BC.
-In the book of Exodus, God instructs Moses to make a holy anointing oil out of cinnamon, cassia, olive oil, myrrh, and hemp. (Exodus 30: 22-33).
-There was an ancient belief in something called the Cinnamon Bird that supposedly lived in Arabia and used cinnamon to build its nests. Herodotus wrote that these birds flew to an unknown land to collect the cinnamon and took it back with them to Arabia. The Arabians got the cinnamon from the birds by tempting them with large chunks of raw meat. The birds took the heavy pieces of meat back to their nests, which caused the nests to fall and the cinnamon to rain down and be collected by the people.
-Pliny the Elder wrote that the Cinnamon Bird did not exist and was a tale invented to raise the price of cinnamon.
-Pliny also wrote that 350 grams of cinnamon were equal in value to five kilograms of silver.
-In Ancient Egypt, cinnamon was used in the embalming process.
-The Egyptians also used cinnamon medicinally and as a flavoring in food and beverages.
-Cinnamon was used on funeral pyres in Ancient Rome. In 65 AD, Nero burned a year's supply of cinnamon at his second wife Poppaea Sabina's funeral in order to show the depth of his grief.
-In the Middle Ages, cinnamon was only affordable by the wealthy elite of society. A person's social rank could be determined by the number of spices they could afford.
-From the 16th to the 19th centuries, there were power struggles among European nations over who would control Ceylon and the very lucrative cinnamon industry. In 1833, other countries began growing cinnamon and the need to control Ceylon diminished.
-Hypocras is a famous centuries-old spiced wine that is spiced with cinnamon. It is named after Greek physician Hippocrates, who was believed to have invented it in the 5th century BC, though the exact origin is unclear. Hypocras is generally not produced commercially anymore, though it is still produced in small amounts in some regions of France.
-Cinnamon has many health benefits. It has shown promise in the treatment of diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, memory function, and even leukemia and lymphoma.
-Two teaspoons of cinnamon has about 12 calories.

There are more ways to go green at Christmas than ever before! First off.. Don’t be buying no real Christmas trees and for heavens sake don’t cut any down. Oh sure the fake trees don’t smell the same but once you buy one you’ll have it for years to come. Stop and think about how long it takes your average pine tree to grow to about 7 feet tall.. Well I’ll tell ya since we planted some outside.. You’re looking at about 6-9 years depending on the weather conditions and such. Six years being about the minimum for about a 6 foot tree.. That’s one heck of a long time.

That 6 – 8 year old tree will last at best 4 weeks in your living room. By then it’s probably just a tinderbox awaiting a match. Just think how beneficial that tree would be to the entire world if left standing.. Oh sure they have Christmas tree farms but really in this day and age what is the sense? So friends BUY a FAKE TREE! They’ll last you a lifetime.. or damn near close to one .. if the basement doesn’t flood or the cat doesn’t repeatedly pee on it!

Now.. When you are doing your Christmas shopping take reusable bags with you! You don’t need anymore plastic from the stores. Today just about everywhere stores are offering green shopping bags for a minimal fee. Better yet make some of your own! Or if you know a friend with a sewing machine buy some material and a bottle of wine and make an afternoon of it. You would be absolutely amazed at just how many bags you’ll be able to crank out over the course of the day.. *excessive wine drinking and sewing machines do not mix so sew responsively!*

What about reusable Christmas paper? Who says it has to be paper?! Incorporate a gift in the wrapping! Hey everyone needs a new towel or tea towel.. Wrap your packages in those just tie them up with a pretty craft ribbon or strip of old material from a favorite dress or shirt you no longer wear. Add a bit of glitter to make it more festive if you like. Heck buy the kids all new t shirts and wrap their gifts in those! Newspaper makes great wrapping use some glossy fliers if you want bright color and when unwrapping have a special bag for your newspaper to go to the recycle bin in. Another wonderful invention is the reusable paper gift bags.. Snatch them away once everyone gets their gifts out and store them for next year. Get Creative!

Trying to save a bit of cash this year? Like who isn’t? Make Something!!! If you aren’t crafty and many of us aren’t there are tons of other ways to make little gifts for friends and family.

For older folks buy a coffee mug and some instant coffee or tea mix boxes.. if you can get a variety pack all the better.. mix up the bags of coffee or tea and set them into the cup get some clear cellophane or even saran wrap will do or heck brown paper and tie up with a colorful ribbon. Believe it or not you can find brand new mugs in the second hand stores and lots of them are seasonal. Never used.. pick some of those for 50 cents each and if you’re not sure drop them in a sink of bleach water for a few minutes.. they’ll be as good as new.. You can even buy a bag of wrapped cookies and add some of them to the gift.. It’s really easy to get creative just browse through a few gift catalogues to get some ideas. Then just think of how you could do it cheaper! *L*.. It is actually quite fun.

Send E-Greetings Zi-0's are Fantastic and we're told Joy will have new ones out this month.. ( Lord we’re getting coal too).

No matter how green you get we wish one and all a very Merry Christmas from the Green Space here at RoseWillow.

Greetings of the season! This month I will forgo my Beer Blogging and get a bit festive with an Eggnog Blog. What would the Christmas season be with out it?!

There are varying thoughts on the tradition of eggnog. Some believe that it was brought to America from Europe and that the once here they.. Changed the recipe as it were by adding Rum or Grog so the name was Egg of Grog which probably got shortened to Egg’n grog and then to eggnog. At least this is one version of the story.

Others tell the story that the Nog part comes from the Noggin. The noggin was a small carved wooden mug which drinks were served in at Tavern tables. Apparently at the tables near the fire they served the drinks in Tankards not noggins. Tankards were made from silver or pewter or earthenware. It is thought that eggnog started out as a mixture of Spanish "Sherry" and milk. The English called this concoction "Dry sack posset".

But who knows. An Egg mixture in a noggin would certainly be shortened to an eggnog sooner or later so perhaps the tale is a mix of both stories. Either way It became a popular winter drink through out Colonial America.

In the 1820's Pierce Egan, a period author, wrote a book called "Life of London: or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and His Elegant Friend Corinthina Tom". To publicize his work Mr. Egan made up a variation of eggnog he called "Tom and Jerry". It added 1/2 oz of brandy to the basic recipe (fortifying it considerably and adding further to its popularity).

Eggnog, in the 1800s was nearly always made in large quantities and nearly always used as a social drink. It was commonly served at holiday parties.

Apparently old George Washington, was quite a fan of eggnog and devised his own recipe that included rye whiskey, rum and sherry. George liked his Nogs stiff.

Eggnog in our home is a tradition at Christmas time. At least one go round with the spiced rum and eggnog is enough to do us till next season. Though our eggnog is store bought there are many recipes out there to try. The following is one you store for up to a year!. I know I couldn’t believe it either but from the reviews it was getting it sounds well worth the wait and I suppose the alcohol pretty much destroys any nasties that might be in the eggs.

Here’s the recipe for
Aged Eggnog.

-12 large eggs
-2 cups granulated sugar
-1 cup heavy cream
-1 quart (4 cups) whole milk
-1 liter (about 4 cups) bourbon, such as Jim Beam
-1/2 cup Myers’s dark rum
-1/2 to 1 cup good Cognac or other brandy Get the good stuff.
-Pinch kosher salt
-1 whole nutmeg

To serve (optional):

-10 egg whites
-1 1/2 cups heavy cream Instructions.

1. Separate egg yolks and whites. (Reserve egg whites for another use.) Combine yolks and sugar in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well blended and creamy.

2. Add cream, milk, bourbon, rum, Cognac , and salt, then stir.

3. Bottle it right away and refrigerate it until it’s ready. (Old liquor bottles works great, as do 22-ounce bail-top bottles, available in brewing supply stores.

4.It’s traditional to wrap the bottle in aluminum foil, shiny side out, together with a fresh nut of nutmeg tucked into the foil for grating later. Keep refrigerated for at least 3 weeks, or up to a year if you can.

-To serve eggnog in the traditional way, pour it into a punch bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whip 10 egg whites and 1 1/2 cups heavy cream to soft peaks and fold them into the eggnog. Serve in punch cups, garnished with freshly grated nutmeg.

Dear Dr Phyllis
I’m in a Christmas-draw with relatives where everybody draws one name and that’s the only person you have to buy-for. Last year I got a $50 gift-certificate I haven’t used yet. Would it count as re-gifting if I used that to get another one for the name I drew this year?
Frugal in Fredericton

Dear Frugal
Well okay now.. let’s think about this.. Does this particular store have a sale on now? If so go buy something that looks like it’s worth 50 bucks but must be selling for at least half price or much less.. Buy it wrap it up and Viola! You have not only purchased a gift with out spending any money what so ever you now have some cash left over to get yourself something nice.. Or wet.. with olives on a pick..
Dr Phyllis..

Dear Dr Phyllis
My ex-boyfriend Tom and I are still friends, even though we broke-up over his drinking and having trouble holding a job. He has a good job now, and tells me things are going well, and how he works hard all day and never gets any time off. We don’t talk all the time, but last Tuesday, I accidentally saw him inviting a woman into his house in the middle of the day, when he should have been working. I’m worried he’s lost his job and drinking again. Should I confront him with that?
Nervous in Nantucket

Dear Nan
Now.. this woman you saw going into his home in the middle of the day.. Was she perhaps wearing a tool belt and carrying a clipboard? Did your ex answer said door in a thong and bunny slippers? Have you noticed he’s been a bit vague on things such as when you asked him about the mirrors he installed on the bedroom ceiling he just shrugged and said he was trying to make the room look more spacious?

Honey.. ya dumped him once.. Garbage still stinks even if it’s wrapped up in a pretty bag. Leave well enough alone and move on.. Oh.. and the Mirror thing.. It’ll work but only on a north facing wall with no windows..

Happy Holidaze!
Dr Phyllis..

Dear Dr Phyllis
My ex-wife is suing me for custody of our frozen embryos. We weren’t even married two years, and the divorce was her idea, saying it was unfair to me we couldn’t have normal relations due to her condition. I can understand her hardship, having that unavailable “small-v” physical condition – I had no trouble thinking of her and wishing it was otherwise in the fertility clinic on my own, if you know what I mean! It’s a shame she felt we had to divorce, because I really could have stood by her - but I’m glad her best-friend Cindy was able to move-in so soon. I’m still a little confused about the embryos though: I think that’s maybe too much and too weird a keepsake, even if she still carries a torch for me.
Litigious in Lethbridge

Dear Leth..
Alrighty then. Where do we start here.. You say embryos.. which implies there is more than one but not less than 100.. I say give up the embryos to her if and only if she let’s you sign away all rights. Then I’d also add.. you knew what she was up to all along and paid a visit to a bull insemination facility the morning you went to leave your specimen at the lab… Moo… loudly.. just before you hang up the phone..
Dr Phyllis..

Have a question for the good doctor? Just drop it in the maildrphyllis@rosewillow.ca or drop her a note in her Forum.

From Dr Phyllis and all the Loonies in the Bin A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Want to know how to say Merry Christmas in.....

Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Bosnian: (BOSANSKI) Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lao: souksan van Christmas
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele or Craciun fericit
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil: (Tamizh) Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM HRYSTOVYM
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!

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-Cream butter and sugar then add the rest of the ingredients in order.
-Add cherries and almonds last and fold them in to the batter.
-Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for 18 - 20 minutes. The batter will be thick.

Icing

3/4 cup sifted icing sugar
3 - 4 tsp milk.....or egg nog for extra flavor

Make icing pourable and drizzle on cooled bars

Freezes really well but don't put the icing on til it comes out of the freezer and it has thawed.

My family says that if we don't have these at Christmas it just isn't Christmas..
I actually only use about half the sugar this recipe calls for because I find that the egg nog and the cherries make it sweet enough....and so does the icing.
If you find this too egg noggy then you can cut the amount of egg nogg back and add milk to make up the amount that is needed.
I always suggest to try a recipe the way it is first then adjust it if you need to to suit your taste..

Granny Gert

Times have certainly changed for my family during the holiday season. With the children having boyfriends/girlfriends or are now married , there is the commitment to celebrate with more than one family. This juggling act can put a strain on anyone. I know families that even have to eat more than one big turkey dinner in one day and then face the same again the next day! Our family has tried to alleviate this problem by celebrating on Christmas eve and instead of having a big meal we just snack all evening long or as we call it "grazing". One of the great things about this is that most food can be prepared the day before and you don’t have to spend the night in the kitchen. The following recipes are some of our favorites and are ones that the family ask for every year.

MOM’S NO BAKE NIBBLES

-3 cups Quaker Oat squares cereal (don’t substitute)
-1 box Ritz mini crackers
-½ cup cooking oil
-1 pkg dry Ranch Dressing mix
-1 tsp of dried dill

Mix oat squares and crackers in a big bowl. Add oil and stir 3 or 4 times. Cover and leave overnight to let the oil soak in. When the oil has soaked in, add the ranch dressing and dill. Stir well. (Keeps well in the freezer).

ARTICHOKE DIP

1 cup artichoke hearts (in water)
1 cup mayo
1 cup Parmesan cheese
crushed garlic (or ½ tsp garlic powder)

Drain and chop artichoke hearts finely. Mix with other ingredients. Put in oven-safe dish and bake at 375F till hot and bubbly (doesn’t take too long). Serve hot with crackers or soft bread sticks. (Keeps well in freezer).

Hannah

Once upon a time Wheat was not a regular part of the American Diet. Corn was the available grain and Cornbread was far more common than wheat bread. The reason was that Wheat as we know it didn't grow in North America. But, when it was grown, there was still a problem. The Average American (or Canadian for that matter) lived on a farm, had no refrigeration and may not go to a general store for weeks at a time. Yeast came in cakes and wouldn't keep without refrigeration. So How does one make bread every day under these conditions? The Answer is Wild Yeast or Sour Dough.

Once a Starter could be obtained, a pot of "sponge" (sour dough yeast) was started. It was used and replenished daily. Kept in a warm place and used as the only leavener in all bread making and often in cakes, cookies, biscuits and pancakes. The sourdough took longer to raise than commercial yeast but also gave a tangy taste (hence the name sour dough) and people developed as taste for it.

Sometimes the Starters was actually started with commercial yeast and kept going for years and even generations. Your Great Grandmother might have gotten hers from her mother etc.

The sponge(starter) is quite simple to make.

-Two cups of flour
-one cup of warm water
-a spoon of sugar(white brown or even honey)
-a pinch of borrowed starter, or commercial yeast of any kind. The wild yeast will start working over a period of a few days and will swell and liquefy the flour water mix
-Add flour, sugar and water and it will turn into more starter.

About 1 1/2 cups of starter were used to make bread and the remaining half cup was mixed with the flour, sugar and water for the next time.

Some Starters were so valued by their owners that they went to great lengths to protect them, even taking them to bed with them on cold nights. The Alaskan Prospectors favored the wild yeast so much that they took the name Sourdough from it. One legend is that a Prospector who lost most of his provisions and his mule in a rock slide, climbed down the mountain to scrape some of the starter off the dead mules nose into a snuff can.

Sourdough sponge was also used to make Home Brew beer and even a form of Moonshine. Alaskan Indians were know to mix the sponge with trade molasses and skim off the Liquid that formed on the surface (An Alcohol) to distill into a Liquor.

There are enough recipes for sourdough baking etc available by googling in case anyone wants to try some sourdough yourself.

I have a sponge from a wild yeast source that I have used for over 30 years. I keep it refrigerated and refresh it every few months if I'm not using it.

The kind of crock that some cheese spreads come in is a good way to store it in the refrigerator. Just don't use a metal container. The sponge will etch the metal and foul the taste. A glass jar will work as long as you keep the sponge away from the metal lid. Try it sometime. You might like the taste and enjoy doing something the way your ancestors did it.

Ishmael

There are always sights sounds and smells that remind us of special occasions. More than likely the Christmas season has more of these reminders than any other occasion. One sent that to me is Christmas is the Christmas Clove Pomander. Not only does this smell wonderful they make excellent gifts. They’re easy to make while you’re sitting relaxing in the evening.

They were originally used in the middle ages as a way to carry scents and to cover up bad odours. The globe shaped cases or pomanders which contained the scents were hung from a neck-chain or attached to the girdle.

They were usually perforated and made of gold or silver. Sometimes they contained several partitions, rather like a chocolate orange, in each of which was placed a different perfume

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Christmas Pomander!

-An orange (Not a Christmas orange stick to the navel oranges) or lemon.
-A small bag of whole cloves
-A wood skewer or round toothpick.. ( a few they get a bit soggy)
-About 1 sq foot of tulle or netting color of your choice.
-2 feet of 1/2 inch satin ribbon or what ever you can get your hands on.
-A damn cloth to wipe your hands on and a tray to set on your lap.
-Plain white glue.
-Sequins or plastic confetti.

-Start by poking a hole in the orange just deep enough to inset the clove.
-Insert the smaller end and leave the star and bulb side up.
-Continue poking holes and inserting cloves about one clove head apart around the whole fruit.

-The fruit will dry and shrink so you don’t want them to terribly close together. Keep doing this row after row going around the fruit till you have covered the entire thing in cloves. If you are poking the holes to close together you will find your fruit gets really mushy. It will tend to get soft anyway but if the holes are to close the cloves will start dropping out. You’ll find you develop a bit of a rhythm doing this.. It’s quite relaxing and smells Wonderful.

Once your fruit is completely covered give it a bit of a tamp with a dry cloth and set it on to a glass to dry a bit. The more air that can get around it the better you don’t want it to stay damp and mold..

Take your square of netting or tulle and if you want to perk it up a bit glue bit’s of sequins onto it. Those cute little bags of different occasion sequins or confetti they sell at the card counter are just prefect. This is simple to do just set your net on a piece of hard or drape your cutting board in a plastic bag. Dab random bits of glue here and there and stick on your sequins. Lift off the plastic and set down on a new piece. Tug it up from time to time so it doesn’t stick to the plastic.. It will only take about 15 minutes to completely dry. If you want to leave it over night that’s no problem..

After the glue on your netting has dried place your cloved fruit in the middle of it. Make sure the sequin side is facing outward. Then pull up the edges around the fruit. Tie it at the top with your ribbon. You can add another piece of the ribbon as a hanging loop in the center of the gathered part. Just drop a glob of glue in the center of the gather and push down the ribbon loop. You can hold it in place with a strait pin till the glue has dried.

Hang your clove balls up someplace where they will get lots of air and dry out nicely. Or you can turn the oven to 200-250 degrees and slowly dry them from 4-6 hours. If they are not completely dried make sure that they are left to air dry for a few days Do Not wrap in plastic or cellophane. If the pomanders are not allowed to completely dehydrate they will mold and rot.

These can be given as gifts which can be hung on trees or in closets for sent. The citrus and clove smell is lovely and will last for many many years. The fruit dries out hard as a rock and the cloves stay in tight to the fruit even years after the fact. They really are amazing little things I stick them in drawers around the house..

Howdy do everyone! Hope you’re all having an enjoyable time getting ready for the holidays. We’re in get ready for Christmas mode here.. ARRGGHHHH… I just have to keep telling myself, ”It’ll all come together it always does.”. Make it my mantra .. I figure if I convince myself.. I might just convince my family.. so far.. it’s just not workin.. ..

As the Mayor mentioned we have a new Town Mall I hope ya’ll will visit and do your shopping through there.. It’ll go a long way to helping us with the site fees. You’ll see there are stores from Canada the US the UK and a few other countries here and there. We’re trying to get a good variety of places that will ship internationally. I could use some help though, There are obviously some big name stores in the US and UK and other countries that I don’t know about. If you have some names of popular stores where you live drop me an email and let me know about them. joy@rosewillow.ca.

I was going through some of my photo’s and found a few Christmas ones.. I had pulled one of my Christmas tree that I put up in my very first home. And come press time I still could not find the damn photo to scan!

I was 19 way back then. I didn’t have a lot of money. Artificial trees were costly and who wanted a damn broom stick with pine needles? So Real trees were the thing. Course.. Dad usually was the one paying the Christmas tree fella not me I’d just go pick them out.. Little did I know just how much those suckers cost. But I headed down to the tree dealer at the end of my street a few days before Christmas and picked out one of the few trees left I could afford.. It cost me 9 bucks..

It was a little skimpy on ornaments but I was delighted.. Okay so it was a little to tall for the house..by about.. 2 feet... but I would not could not cut the top off and since I had 3 screw drivers and a hammer sawing off the bottom just wasn’t about to happen either.. So there it stood.. In a pail of wet cat litter.. I was so proud.. and the top bend over nicely.. it kinda looked as though that one ball dangling from the end was so heavy it had bent the tree..

Well the tree and the decorating has improved over the years.. I think I enjoyed the year I made my own decorations for the tree the most.. Though it took hours to make stuff for it the thing did turn out kinda nice that year.. and.. it was a fake tree too which was even Better.. Plus.. I had a cathedral ceiling in that place we coulda had a 15 ft tree if we wanted.. but that just wasn’t gonna happen.. Unless someone else wanted to be in charge of the decorating.. And ya know.. a 15 ft tree coming down on the bloody cat and having to be redecorated isn’t my idea of a good time.

I’m not much of a tinsel person anymore.. well.. ever.. Nothing worse than having to listen to the cat horking up a tinsel ball.. well yea I suppose there is.. Having to pick it up and not being able to flush it down the toilet cause god only knows what’ll happen to the plumbing when you flush enough of those down the tubes!

Last year.. I stole a tree.. Oh now.. it wasn’t that awful a thing.. The house across the street from us is abandon.. and No I don’t live in a crack house infested area. The farm was sold, it was an old home and the new owners only wanted the place for the land so.. no neighbors.. Anyhow.. We (the kids and I) went snooping over there one day and wasn’t there a little potted tree sitting out beside the garage.. Stood about a two and a half feet high.. I felt sorry for the damn thing.. So.. we stole it.. Brought it home and gave it a place of honor in the living room.. Apart from the fact our house has been under mega construction for.. um.. years *L*.. we just did not have room for our fake tree last year.. even if we took the bottom half off there was no place to put it.. So we had our potted tree.. It lived indoors all winter with is.. was only sturdy enough for 3 balls but hey it was festive enough.. and the cat only peed in it a couple of times.. But the fresh pine sent intermingled with the moss and dead god knows what else in the pot.. kind negated the cat urine smell.. damn cat..

Well anyhow.. Spring came. We, being the green family we are.. took our dear potted Christmas tree back to the wilderness of our front lawn and planted it in a spot of honor.. .. Okay so it was put into the tree line in front where we just happened to have an opening… But it was lovingly placed watered and smiled upon… The tree promptly died .

This year.. I’m trying to make space for the fake tree again.. although.. it’ll only be enough room for the top half of the tree. There won’t be tinsel and god help the cat if it tries anything with it. I’m gonna invest in a few pine air fresheners for that woodsy smell.. In hopes it’ll kill the musty damp basement smell the thing will have when we set it up. I’m kinda wondering though.. If they put out Cd’s and have television stations dedicated to that burning fireplace with festive music playing in the back ground..there has just got to be the same thing dedicated to a twinkly tinsel laden Christmas tree. With the sound of a cat in the back ground.. Horking up virtual tinsel balls!

Ya just gotta love the holidays.. EnJoy Yours!

Aries: Strange or dreamy thoughts may be accented at this time. You could feel rather foggy and confused now, which causes impractical and unrealistic thinking patterns, ideas, and decision-making. Musical, spiritual, artistic, or creative pleasures would be safe areas for you to pursue, rather than detailed, intellectual, and mental endeavors during this period. In either your personal or professional life, you could come across a shady or dubious individual. You could easily fall prey to another person's schemes or deception. You should also be careful in romance and relationships now, as impractical thinking and emotional fantasies can leave you prone to disappointment or disillusionment in your love and personal life.

Taurus: Your marriage partner or mate is supportive and appreciative of your career goals and objectives. If you receive recognition or rewards for your work efforts, it will have a beneficial effect upon your relationship. The image you portray as a couple appears to others as united and committed. You will greatly reinforce each other's confidence during this phase, enabling both of you to evolve in the outside world. This is a favorable period for engagements, marriage, births, or beginning a new love relationship. If you are unattached, you may develop an important relationship through business or professional involvements.

Gemini: This time period is harmonious and pleasant. Relationships are particularly pleasant and productive now, and you will find that business agreements and partnerships formed now work out very well. Cooperation and camaraderie is strong now, and you may receive a gift or offer from someone. This is a wonderful time to simply enjoy life; you find it easy now to put any worries or concerns to the side. You are likely to spend some time with friends or take a weekend vacation and thoroughly enjoy it. Have fun!

Cancer: This time may be spent trying to iron out the wrinkles in a close love relationship or marriage. Your spouse or partner may be a source of disappointment when their behavior falls short of your expectations. Although you may think you are being obvious about your wants and needs, your mate may not have a true understanding or be able to read your intentions. It is likely you will feel some resentment toward your partner if you feel you are not being appreciated and respected. Even if you do not see eye to eye with your mate, reflecting on the more positive qualities of the relationship will help smooth over minor difficulties.

Leo: You may find yourself at an impasse regarding a concern at work. Although a minor setback or delay is possible, you may do best now by maintaining a low profile. Conflicts of interest may arise between you and a superior or co-worker, leaving you feeling you do not get the respect or approval you seek. Your own leadership qualities may not be noticed or appreciated in ways that support your professional interests. Try not to assess your self-worth only on the basis of what you can accomplish at work now. Hold on to your self-confidence and take this time as an opportunity to gain further understanding of your vocational purposes and directions.

Virgo: At this time, you seek to broaden your horizons on both the mental and spiritual levels. A freer lifestyle appeals to you, one in which you can hold more original views and explore new pathways. You are also more open to things which do not necessarily fall in line with what you previously believed. Through education or religion or by adopting a more intellectual perspective, you search for ways to gain greater knowledge and insight into different ways of thinking. You may involve yourself in something meaningful which ties in with your own higher beliefs. You may develop some sort of unusual philosophy at this time which may be merely an attempt to find your own inner meaning and purpose. If your beliefs are sound, you may inspire others through your newfound faith and optimism.

Libra: You use charm, humor, and a light touch to get your point across now, and your friendly attitude makes a favorable impression on others. Your artistic and aesthetic sense is heightened now also, and interest in literature, poetry, and culture is strong. Serious and demanding mental work should probably be put off for another time, as either your mind is more on matters of the heart or you simply want to relax and think of lighter topics.

Scorpio: There is the possibility for misunderstandings and disappointments in your marriage or love relationship. If you or your partner have been keeping your true feelings and thoughts hidden from each other, it will only add to the confusion and doubt that already exists at this time. Be sure that you are relating to your partner as a "real" person and not to an imaginary ideal that you have dreamed up. This is especially true if you are involved in a new relationship. If you are married or have a significant other, you may sacrifice on behalf of peace and harmony, only to discover later on that you have avoided dealing with the practical issues and real problems in the relationship.

Sagittarius: This is a time to carefully explore ideas which come up spontaneously. You may be planning to reconstruct or change a particular area of your life, especially if it involves others imposing their restrictions or limitations on you. You need to gain some perspective on whether you are only seeking release from a feeling of restlessness, or if change is really warranted. Guard against hasty or rash decisions and, instead, proceed calmly and cautiously, trusting your inner voice to guide you. If you go against your inner guidance, your behavior can appear quite erratic and unstable. You will only hurt yourself by jumping the gun on any issue. Although you may be in competition with the traditional views of others, you must refrain from having a "know it all" attitude.

Capricorn: This is an excellent time to make decisions about your financial affairs, as your judgment is sound and reliable, though a bit conservative. Investing in beautiful things which are likely to increase in value over time (such as jewelry or fine art) is favored. You are not interested in fleeting excitement or frivolity now. Spending "quality time" with an old and trusted friend or enjoying the company of an experienced, mature person who has much of substance to give you will make you happy.

Aquarius: The need to make yourself more attractive or improve your appearance is highlighted at this time. You want to be pampered by your mate, as well as lavish attention on him or her in return. You make a favorable impression upon your marriage partner or loved one, as you appear sincere, honest and cooperative. You place a greater value on improving conditions in your relationship, striving to achieve greater closeness and equality. This would be a good time to let your mate know how much you appreciate their love and dedication.

Pisces: This is a time when inner growth and healing can take place. Balance, resolution, and cooperation should be strived for in your personal relationships. You may gain a different perspective or take a new look at a situation or person that has hurt and troubled you in the past. An emotional encounter can be heart-warming and offer you valuable insights. In both your private and professional life, you have a keen sense of your individuality and of the direction you want to go. Other people will be drawn to your confident or unique approaches and some may even be willing to give your ideas a try.

-Deborah Browning

This was a busy month for us here at The Oracle. Once again I would like to thank our contributors! You submissions and help with the paper is greatly appreciated.

I hope those of you out there reading will consider being contributors soon. Every little thing you send in goes to making our paper more informative and more fun to read. Send us anything you like from a family photo to a story or informative article. We're open to anything!

Crafters and artisans are still wanted too! Even if you've been showcased here before if you have something new you'd like to show off send us some pictures! Let us know what your latest obsession is.

Greetings and salutations and or bragging rights to new babies, brides, graduates will also be accepted! If perhaps you have something for sale you can list it in our Classified section here at The Oracle. Crafters take note! A great way to sell your wares!

As the Mayor mentioned the new Town Mall is open for your shopping pleasure too! Help support our site won't you? It's not hard I've already done a bit of shopping there and it's great!

We also have a Poll we'd appreciate you all taking. RoseWillow needs a town mascot. We'd like you to help us choose! Pop over to the Oracle's Forum and answer The Mascot Poll. If you have any Questions, Comments, Cudo's or Complaints you are also encouraged to leave a note for us!

From Everyone here at the Oracle we'd like to wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and all the best in the coming New Year.

All the best

Pierre.
Editor of the Rosewillow Oracle

"Auld Lang Syne" is an old Scottish song that was first published by the poet Robert Burns in the 1796 edition of the book, Scots Musical Museum. Burns transcribed it (and made some refinements to the lyrics) after he heard it sung by an old man from the Ayrshire area of Scotland, Burns's homeland.

It is often said that "Auld Lang Syne" is one of the most popular songs that nobody knows the lyrics to. "Auld Lang Syne" literally translates as "old long since" and means "times gone by." The song asks whether old friends and times will be forgotten and promises to remember people of the past with fondness, "For auld lang syne, we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet."

Bandleader Guy Lombardo, and not Robert Burns, popularized the song and turned it into a New Year's tradition. Lombardo first heard "Auld Lang Syne" in his hometown of London, Ontario, where it was sung by Scottish immigrants. When he and his brothers formed the famous dance band, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, the song became one of their standards. Lombardo played the song at midnight at a New Year's eve party at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City in 1929, and a tradition was born. After that, Lombardo's version of the song was played every New Year's eve from the 1930s until 1976 at the Waldorf Astoria. In the first years it was broadcast on radio, and then on television. The song became such a New Year's tradition that "Life magazine wrote that if Lombardo failed to play 'Auld Lang Syne,' the American public would not believe that the new year had really arrived."

You may remember your parents tuning in the tv (or radio) to Guy Lombardo’s New Years broadcasts. It was the thing to do before the big ball drop in Time Square.

How ever you celebrate, we wish you Peace, Health and Happiness 2009!