tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653399301717513709.post2859782121308841173..comments2024-03-25T17:18:09.834-07:00Comments on Becoming Gezellig: Because what is a perfect Christmas, anyway?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06171205124450749463noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653399301717513709.post-23441367927370650412016-01-04T15:49:14.404-08:002016-01-04T15:49:14.404-08:00Hi Marian, yes it was properly wintry, though not ...Hi Marian, yes it was properly wintry, though not on Christmas itself (that photo was several days later). Still, fun to see snow (and a city that knows how to deal with it). I have been noodling over a post on what we saw/did/ate on our trip, and knowing that you want to visit will help me follow through with that I hope, knowing that my report might actually be useful to someone.<br /><br />The Christmas bread is neither a braid nor a ring, just a simple boule. Easy peasy, that's probably why it's become a tradition!<br /><br />And yes, I think you're right that a lot of "heirlooms" and hand-me-downs especially are given for the sake of expediency, and those are the ones that cause angst. I think that releasing ourselves (and our recipients, if we happen to be the givers) as much as possible from guilt in those situations is the way to go!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06171205124450749463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653399301717513709.post-39857702355791167492016-01-04T04:42:04.855-08:002016-01-04T04:42:04.855-08:00Oh, Montreal for Christmas!! And it looks like it...Oh, Montreal for Christmas!! And it looks like it was "properly" snowy and wintry ;) . I hope you had a wonderful time! What did you do and see there? The kids and I have never been, but my husband has gone there for work several times. He says it's quite beautiful and it's definitely on our list of places to visit as a family. <br /><br />Love the note Santa left for your daughter, and it's so nice to hear she went with the flow and enjoyed her Christmas adventure too. <br /><br />We too, are travellers, and not vacationers, although before reading that link I didn't know the difference! I smiled when I read that you enjoy grocery shopping in a foreign country, because that's something I also really enjoy. <br /><br />So glad you managed to squeeze in the Swedish Christmas bread once you got home :) . Is your loaf a braided one, or a ring? As per our conversation in your last post, baking is high on my "traditions" list, but sometimes it feels like the baking of these things have to be slotted in with military precision ("if the dough is rising for X hours, that means I can quickly run these errands..."). So lovely, the gifts that your mom sent you :) . I have been thinking of what you had said in your reply to Kerry in your last post (about not wanting to be a person who can't accept a gift) and I think that some gifts are easier to accept (and then hang on to!) than others --- when the gift-giver is thoughtful and has truly given something she/he *knows* the recipient will want/need/love versus when the gifting (of an *actual* present, or merely a passing-along of *stuff*) is thoughtless and done for the sake of expediency. Personally, I don't think one should be made to feel that they are becoming "a person who can't accept a gift" when they are placed in the latter situation. <br />Marianhttp://greengreyandgezellig.comnoreply@blogger.com