(Kiki's Corner by Kiki Angelos - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Now is the time we must all gear up for the biggest holiday of the year and the pressure starts now because we only have a few days left until Christmas.

The last couple years our Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s has been very different and challenging for all of us. This year getting back to some of our old routines and celebrating makes us all appreciate what we had and are getting back.

This year it seems as if people are excited to be getting out and getting together and returning to shopping, decorating, eating out and entertaining.

If you stop and think about the two years we were all limited to as what, when and where we could go and do. Many went months without seeing their families and friends and now that we are getting our lives back together it seems even more exciting than ever to celebrate Christmas and try to even make it extra special because of everything we missed.

There are always many Christmas parties and events this time of the year including school and church programs which makes it a very busy time of the year for most people. This year is somewhat different because usually the Christmas decorations and store sales begin after Thanksgiving, however you could hear Christmas music, see many houses already decorated and store sales taking place, all before Thanksgiving. It was almost as if they were trying to skip the holiday this year.

Personally, I am trying to keep ahead of the game this year and so far have managed to do so. I have finished my trees for the Blennerhassett Hotel Auction and now have started the trees for our house where I have completed nine trees of the 15 I plan to have.

Now is also time for people to start to think about shopping for presents and if you have a big family like we do it is challenging just to find what each child wants. The shopping seasons has been and is on high gear and all of us young and old out trying to find the right gift for people on our list. Shopping can be fun if you know what the person you are buying for likes or wants and also if you have the finances to purchase the item.

Gift cards and cash are an answer but they also like to have surprises. Another major concern is the extremely high cost of so many items, especially the iPhones, electrical devices, blue jeans full of holes, sweaters you wear inside out and high-priced tennis shoes, etc. The bad thing is inflation seems as if it is going to continue to go out of sight and get worse instead of improving anytime soon. This really puts a burden on many many families as to how to be able to keep up with all the increasing prices.

We only have seven days of shopping left and if possible we need to shop at our local establishments. There is really no free shipping what ever they say and one may think.

The Parkersburg High School A Cappella Choir is celebrating its 90th year. Can you imagine how many alumni and directors took part in this great organization. We were honored last week when the choir came to our home singing Christmas carols in our neighborhood and one of the choir members this year is our granddaughter Kiki Staats along with other members that we knew. It was a wonderful way to kick off the Christmas season and spirit.

This Monday the choir under the direction of Joshua Dubbs will present its annual Christmas Concert at Parkersburg High School. The choir will also be taking part in the Annual Choir competition in Nashville in March.

Try to come and enjoy the concert this Monday, you’ll be so pleased to hear those wonderful voices those young students have, I guarantee you you’ll get the Christmas spirit for sure. And it will give you a chance to see the beautiful auditorium red chairs that we, the PHS Foundation, had a fundraiser to replace the old ones along with so many generous citizens and alumni. The auditorium looks absolutely beautiful. Also it will be a big sign on the wall with everyone’s names where they purchased a chair or chairs. So look for your name.

Don’t forget next week exactly the same day it will be Christmas Day! So I don’t try to put pressure on you but it’s time to finish your shopping, wrapping , baking, gift exchange and enjoy the parties along with the kids’ Christmas programs.

Until next week

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CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE MINTS

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

3 tablespoons of warm water

5 cups of confectioner sugar sifted

2 drops red food color

3 teaspoons warm water,

1/8 teaspoon oil of cinnamon

2 drops green foot color

1/8 teaspoon oil of peppermint

2 drops yellow food color

1/8 teaspoon oil of lemon

Combine butter, shortening, 3 tablespoons water and 2 cups sugar. Mix thoroughly. Add remaining 3 cups sugar and 1 tablespoon water. Divide mixture in thirds. To 1/3 add red food color mixed with 1 teaspoon water and oil of cinnamon. Knead to mix. Rollout to 1/8 inch thickness on wax paper dusted with confectioners sugar. To another third mix green food color mix with 1 teaspoon water and oil of peppermint. Knead to mix and roll out. To final third, add yellow food color and lemon oil. Knead to mix and roll out as above. Cut with a very small cutters in fancy shapes or center of a donut cutter .Let the mints stand bottom side up on waxed paper for at least 2 hours. Store in airtight containers.

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LIGHT FRUIT CAKE (approximately 5 pounds)

5 large eggs

1/2 lb. butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pound candied cherries

1 pound candied pineapple (green, red or yellow)

1 cup white raisins

5 cups shelled pecans

1/2 oz. bottle lemon extract,

1/2 oz. bottle of vanilla extract

Cream sugar and butter till fluffy. Add beaten eggs and blend well. Chop fruits and nuts and mix with part of flour (1/2 cup). Sift remaining flour, salt, and baking powder together, fold in eggs and butter mixture Add flavoring and mix well. Add nuts and fruits, mixing well. Pour in to greased paper lined tube pan. Place in cold oven and bake at 225 degrees for two hours or until done. Cool in pan on cake rack. To dress up of cake, brush with corn syrup. Decorate with nuts and fruits (pineapple and cherries). Do this 1/2 hour before cake is done.

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CHOCOLATE DIP COOKIES

Melt 2 sticks margarine and add 1/2 pound graham cracker crumbs

1 cup chopped pecans

1 box confectioners sugar

1 cup coconut

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 tablespoon vanilla

Mix well. Shape in balls about the size of a walnut and dip in the following. Melt 1/2 cake paraffin wax. Add 1 package semi sweet chocolate bits, or use semi-sweet baker’s chocolate. Place separate on wax paper, as they are dipped in chocolate. Use fork so chocolate will drop into pan in order to have enough chocolate to cover all.