Bah, humbug, Or, responding to a response while I wait for the cafFiend...

[lagilman]

In an earlier post, I seem to have hit someone's hot-button by the unintended implication that I don't think Christmas cards should be sent.

Not true. I think that, if you enjoy sending out Christmas cards, you should so so. You might want to remember that not everyone you're sending them to celebrates Christmas, but at the risk of arousing the ire of the "War on Christmas" folk, that's why they have cards that say "Happy Holidays" or -- my personal preference-- "Happy New Year!

My own personal feeling on the entire subject, since it was raised, is that cards are fun to get, but I don't think they're essential to the season. And I'm not a fan, myself, of sending cards to everyone I've ever met, because It's A Holiday.

I do like getting photos of families I may not have seen in a while, to note how big the kids are getting (and they do go up on the fridge for a month or two, yes). I like getting breezy, chatty year-end roundups of your life [so long as it doesn't become a list of oneupmanship WeDids, which are dreary and unbecoming].

I don't consider a mass mailing of a card to be an obligation to anything. I am[you are] not obligated to display the card, to add you[me] in turn to my[your] correspondence lists, or to turn around and write you[me] a note in reply [except for cases where a thank-you note is appropriate, for whatever reason]. And if you, out of the blue, send me a card, and I'm thriled to hear from you, and communications are reopened, then that's a wonderful thing. But it could happen any day of any month of the entire year.

I made the donation in the name of my LJ readers because I appreciate all y'all, and because I wanted to do something good, and allow you to share in that. End of story.

In other more important news, it is raining instead of snowing, damn it, the cats are sleeping in a peaceful lump, and I have been tasked to make scones. Yum. Sould I make raisin scones, or maple scones? Decisions, decisions....

Comments

[ebonypearl.livejournal.com]

Peppermint scones. With candy came whipped cream. In place of raisins, use Andes mint pieces, or, if you can find them, the red peppermint flavored baking chips, add a few drops of peppermint extract along with the vanilla extract, and make using your favorite scone base.

For the whipped cream, simply crush 1/4 cup of peppermint candies to a powder, then whip with 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream. Leftover candy cane cream goes great in hot cocoa.

[lagilman]

Hrm. Interesting adaption, and I might try that some time, but these are for breakfast, and those sound a little too sweet/candied....

[girasole.livejournal.com]

Not everyone loves raisins, although I do, passionately, but almost everyone loves maple.

[debg.livejournal.com]

almost everyone loves maple

Raising hand, to qualify the "almost". Not a maple fan, at all. But since I'm not getting any scones, it doesn't arise.

[lagilman]

But since I'm not getting any scones, it doesn't arise.

Nope, sorry, these are all for my dad, who had a Hankering. Maybe next batch, once the Holiday Mailing Hell is over...

[debg.livejournal.com]

Nope, that's fine - scones don't travel well, I find. I like them fresh.

[ebonypearl.livejournal.com]

The scones themselves aren't terribly sweet, but, yeah, the candy cane whipped cream is very sweet. If you serve the peppermint scones with clotted cream or creme fraiche, they'll almost taste savory.

But given a choice of raisin or maple scones - I'd go be all why not put raisins in the maple scones? Greedy - that's me!

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

We would've sent out cards in time for Christmas, but um, no. :-) They might get to people by New Year's, if not later! We usually leave the inside blank and write whatever greeting we think the receiver will appreciate. I do like your donation idea.

[havocthecat]

This was actually really nice to read, and not at all ranty. Also well-timed, as I've just been feeling guilty about not sending Christmas (well, holiday) cards to all and sundry.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I havn't sent cards in years. As a result I have been dropped from almost everyone's list. I got three this year and was very pleased to be remembered. Those three might get a note a little later on.

I sent one, to my granddaughter. It was chosen for the photo of a cat on it and the message inside wasn't appropriate to her, but the cat picture was. It carried a check, something granddaughters expect and should have.

Gpint to try to see a movie today. Death at a Funeral. I have seen it once and it is the funniest movie I have ever seen. Highly reccommended.

[rosefox]

I've never been a big fan of cards, which always seemed a chore to send and slightly awkward to received, but in recent years the environmental impact of them has kind of horrified me. How many trees go to Hallmark every year?

Now when I want to send a card, I send e-cards; and I use gift bags instead of wrapping paper, in the hope they'll be reused. I figure every little bit counts.

[bentleywg.livejournal.com]

Now when I want to send a card, I send e-cards

In my experience, 90% of e-cards are spam so I tend to delete them unread. At this time of year and around my birthday, I'll check the message-id to see if they're actually from Hallmark.com or wherever they're claimed to be from, just in case they're real, but most of them still turn out to be spam.

[rosefox]

You're not the only person I know who does that, so I tend to send them to my own email address and then email friends directly with a link. Saves them from being spamtrapped, too.

Generally, though, I don't bother. I'm not much one for seasonal gift-giving, either. Birthdays, yes; holidays, eh, whatever.

Cards 'n Scones

[otterdance.livejournal.com]

I do like getting holiday cards. I hate sending them out, but turn about is fair play. I hate those long newsy printed-out-with-cutsey dingbats-for-mass-distribution-inside-said-card letters that go on for pages about how perfect everyone has been this year. A short personal note with a few interesting details is much nicer, IMHO.

As for scones, personally, I am anti-candy in any form. I make cream scones with dried cranberries and a little grated orange peel, or with fresh berries, esp. raspberries. Clotted cream is not easily found, but well worth the search.