Posted in Daily Blessings

Yes, it is now *officially* the beginning of the entire holiday season in my home!  What signals the *official* beginning, you ask?  Well, it's when I bite into my first chocolate-covered cherry!  Oh, yes, I know what you're thinking!  "A chocolate-covered cherry?  How does that herald the *official* start of the holiday season?"  I'm glad you asked!

I don't remember exactly when it began, but at some point, I fell into a passion for chocolate-covered cherries.  I remember I didn't like them as a child, and don't remember even trying them again until I was well into adulthood.  But someone gave me a box for Christmas one year (probably at an office Christmas party where you draw a name and have to buy a gift under $5 for the person--and of course, you never really know what that person likes).  Anyhow, I thanked the giver, and tucked them away. 

Well, I had a craving for something sweet one day a few weeks later, and just didn't want to bake anything.  I do remember it was snowing pretty hard, and I didn't want to get out on the roads just to go to the store for a sweet tooth.  And then I remembered that box of chocolate-covered cherries.  Well, I fixed me a cup of hot chocolate, figuring that would help me to get rid of the taste if I thought they were still as horrid as I had when I was little, and bit into one.  Oh, my, goodness!!!  Of course, that was also the moment I discovered that when you bite into one, you do so very carefully, otherwise you end up wearing all the ooey-gooey stuff inside!  But yes, my passion was sparked that day.

Ever since then, it's become a tradition of sorts here in my home, that before I begin any baking or cooking, or even decorating for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, that I go to the store and I buy a box of chocolate-covered cherries.  This is the only time of the year I splurge and allow myself this decadent indulgence.  And I did just that tonight! 

We are now on break from school for Thanksgiving, and since I have about 12 days off, I will be doing quite a bit of cleaning and decorating for the upcoming Christmas season.  Well, I couldn't even think of even opening the closet where my Christmas items are stored until I had my *official* kick-off to it all, so I took myself on down to the Walmart store this evening and bought me a box (albeit a large box!) of my favorite holiday treat. 

Of course, I did pick up a few other things while I was down there that were needed for my pantry, and then I came home, put those things away, fixed me a nice tall glass of ice water, grabbed my precious box of chocolate-covered cherries, and headed upstairs to my computer/sewing room.  I sat down here at this machine, opened up the lovely box, and ever so delicately bit into my first chocolate-covered cherry of the season.  Yep, still delicious, still decadent, still worth every calorie in them!  Do I feel festive now?  Yes, and I also feel pampered and spoiled.  You see, I've had the nasty flu bug the last few days, and have felt a bit better today.  So, yes, I'm celebrating the beginning of my recovery and kicking off the holiday season all at the same time! 

Do you have any special customs to begin the holidays in your home?  Leave me a comment and share them with me--I'd love to hear all about it!

Hugs,

Cynthia Robin