Part of what I love about the holidays is reminiscing--not  just about the events of Christmases past I see in my mind's eye, but also of the memories of the smells, sounds, and tastes of the season.  These multisensory pictures are so imprinted in my memory that I long to recreate them each year.  I carry on the labor-intensive tradition of baking and decorating butter cookies with my children from our treasured family recipe, as my mom did with my siblings and I many (many) years ago.  Hearing the delightful sound of sleigh bells, favorite Christmas songs, the rustle of wrapping paper--and yes, even the bell-ringer in front of the local store-- gets me in the spirit, even on cold and grey days.  We continue to prepare the same yummy foods for our holiday feast, with the anticipation of gorging ourselves on the best meal of the whole year.

But I decided a few years ago to create a couple of new "traditions" to add to my repertoire (perhaps I haven't gotten to sensory overload yet...).  I take my daughter to the Nutcracker ballet each December, which is now her most-cherished part of the season, and just the first few notes of Tchaikovsky start her reeling.  Both of my kids look forward to receiving a sterling silver ornament each year, which they will get to take with them when they fly the nest, to start their own tree with 20+ gleamingly beautiful and meaningful ornaments.  And this year, I'm starting a tradition just for us grown-ups.  All month long at Satek Winery, we are mulling our Blueberry Wine, which smells heavenly and tastes like Christmas in a glass.  Really.  So I'm digging out my crockpot (I always wondered what you use them for...), bringing home a few bottles of Blueberry Wine and our mulling spices (pre-made; definitely within my culinary capabilities!), and ending each day of this season of tradition with a warm glass of mulled wine.  I'll even try to save enough to share some with my holiday houseguests.  After all, traditions are meant to be shared...

Sláinte!

-Chrissie