Christmas in Hawaii | Virtual Advent Tour

From the shores of beautiful Kauai, a very Mele Kalikimaka to all of you and Happy Hanukkah! Christmas in Hawaii is spent at the beach with palm trees lit and Santa arriving by canoe. My traditions include both holidays and festive cooking from homemade latkes to gingerbread cookies.

Two days ago I was at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens at Poipu and took this photo of an ornament hanging from a tree and the blue Pacific beyond. My wedding is planned in April at this same meadow. Thanks to Marriage Equality in Hawaii, I am engaged to my long time partner Jeff.

I was clueless what to share with you until a dream this morning woke me up with my late Grandfather telling me, "share my Christmas poem!" Of course! My grandfather wrote this poem many years ago about his Christmas as a child in 1915. Almost 100 years have passed! There was no electricity then so candles in the house illuminated his childhood tree decked with homemade ornaments and strings of popcorn.

I hope you enjoy this fond look back and that it creates memories of your special childhood holidays.

Old-Fashioned Christmas Tree
by Calvin Eaton

How often I've wished as Christmas time nears,
That I could go back across the long years
And see once again that old-fashioned tree,
Just as my parents would trim it for me.

In the living room corner it stood straight and tall,
Soft lights from the candles would glow on the wall.
With ornaments and gumdrops the boughs were all dropped,
While over and around them bright tinsel was looped.

Strings of popcorn and cranberries in the tinsel entwined,
And hung from the branches candy canes you might find.
Then in the very tip top to make it just right,
A bright angel glowed in the candle's soft light.

Each day for a week when the daylight was gone,
We'd light all the candles as darkness came on.
Many years since then are now in the past,
The candles long since have flickered their last.

Now a modern tree is a sight to behold,
With boughs all a-glitter with silver or gold.
It's a thing of much beauty, I fully agree.
But I still love that old-fashioned Christmas tree.

You may also like my previous Virtual Advent Tour posts on homemade ornaments and baking tips plus Hanukkah on Kauai. Wherever you are, I send the warmth of Hawaii to you and a wish of Aloha. Happy Holidays!

Special thanks to Kailana and Marg for hosting the daily Virtual Advent Tour.

Silent Knife by Shelley Freydont: Book Review

Shelley Freydont creates scenes and characters in Silent Knife that will transform even the Scoogiest. Escape to the Christmas village of your dreams in this holiday mystery of a Santa slaying and good cheer.

Overview: Christmas festivities in Celebration Bay take a turn for the worse when a Santa want-to-be is found murdered out of costume. The town's official Santa is a major suspect. Is this a case of jealousy between two Santa's or could a deeper secret lurk in this snowy Norman Rockwell village? The event planner who recently moved to town has a lot on her hands to keep the holidays from turning into a public relations nightmare.

Christmas Cozy

"It was unnerving to move to a seemingly idyllic town and discover that things weren't always as peaceful as they appeared."

Review: Shelley Freydont captures a believable heroine in Liv Montgomery, the ex-New Yorker who navigates the inner workings of this town where, "...gossip could be malicious."

While the mystery is well developed and the novel brims with village atmosphere, I somehow felt like an outsider in Celebration Bay. I wanted to get to know the characters beyond their stereotypes. For example, Dolly "plump and friendly" owns Apple of My Eye Bakery and the librarian wears a shall and "tortoiseshell glasses attached by a black cord." And what about Ted? He is the able body assistant to Liv who dons reindeer sweaters and keeps a private life that remains a mystery.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed my time reading Silent Knife. The book's premise to solve a  murder around a holiday event will lead to more fun cozies I'm sure. Maybe there's romance too ahead for Liv Montgomery and that studly editor who assists her in sleuthing. I look forward to finding out!

Hawaii sighting in Silent Knife: "It's the artist's rendering of Kapua, the mischievous god of ancient Hawaii."

Snappy dialogue: "She was like a bad penny: no one could figure out how to lose her."

Mystery Rating: 8 Candy Corns for putting me in a nostalgic holiday mood.

Win my copy of Silent Knife in exchange for 1 credit on Paperback Swap. Leave a comment that you would like my gently used copy. I'll draw a name in November. Winner must buddy me on Paperback Swap and exchange a credit for the book. If you're not on Paperback Swap, join today and start sharing books.

Silent Knife by Shelley Freydont. The Berkley Publishing Group, 2013. ISBN: 9780425252383

My Santas for 2010: No Longer Secret

Thanks to my two Secret Santa bloggers, I'm starting the New Year with books from my wish list and some new cyber friends!

First up is Patty at Reflections From The Hinterland who participated in the Book Blogger Holiday Swap. It turns out that Patty lives near my hometown of Spokane.

Her package to me included Lemon Tea Bread made from an old family recipe. Lemons are a favorite of mine and her bread has been enjoyed throughout the season. My books from Patty included There Goes The Bride by M.C. Beaton, The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny and Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle.

My next package came from Melissa at Must Read Faster. It turns out that we are each others Book Lover's Secret Santa. My Amazon package from Melissa was beautifully wrapped and included a deluxe paperback edition of The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny.

I also participated in Book Bloggers Holiday Card Exchange.  Cass at Bonjour, Cass! sent me greetings from a cold Boston a few weeks ago (which I'm sure is even colder now). She recommends I read The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. It's sitting right now on my long TBR shelf.

My other card came from Ryan at Wordsmithonia. His book recommendation is Deck The Halls by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark. I found a copy last week at Borders for $3.99 and purchased right away. Ryan also suggests I read author Timothy James Beck which I plan to do in the new year.

Have you read any of the titles I received? If you have a favorite let me know.

Virtual Advent Tour: Happy Christmanukkah

Welcome to Day Two of the Virtual Advent Tour. For the fifth year in a row, the Virtual Advent Tour is making its way around the book blogging community. Every day from December 1-24, a group of us share holiday posts. Today it's my turn along with Amy Reads, Jenn's Bookshelves and Staying Awake.

Aloha! My holidays celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. Right now we're planning a Latke party on Sunday for the 5th night of Hanukkah. On Christmas Day I'll be making my Norwegian Christmas Rice Pudding called Riskrem. All holidays here on Kauai include an ocean swim and no snow or ice.

Favorite Book Tradition: For the past three years I've started each season reading, A Little Fruitcake, by David Valdes Greenwood. I'm giving away a free copy on December 5 (international entries accepted). The book reminds me of my own childhood growing up in the 1960's.

2010 Recycled Ornament: Last year I shared an ornament with you I made from a container of SPAM. This year I have a Royal Mounted Police ornament. It was actually the top of a large souvenir pencil I purchased in Canada. I cut off the lower section, painted the bottom black and inserted a small nail on top so I could wrap around a wire hanger.

New Tradition: I started playing flute this year after a 35 year break. It began as a way to honor my late mother who always wanted me to play in an orchestra. Thanks to music lessons and lots of practice, I'm performing tonight with the Kauai Wind Symphony. That's right...TONIGHT! I'm nervous and will be practicing all day.

Cookie Tip: Form your cookie dough but instead of baking, freeze instead between layers of waxed paper. That way you can bake as needed and always have cookies on hand for guests.

Here's wishing each of you Happy Holidays and Mele Kalikiamka from the Garden Island of Kauai.

The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

There's no Bah Humbug in these pages. This behind the scenes look at A Christmas Carol will entertain all fans of the holiday classic. You'll be treated to some interesting facts too.

Did you know this about Christmas:

• Pope Julius I created the holiday in the 4th century to draw Romans to the Church who celebrated Saturnalia.

• The holiday was banned in Massachusetts during colonial days.

• Charles Dickens rescued his career when he wrote A Christmas Carol and gave new life to the holiday.
  

If these facts intrigue you, then I suggest adding, The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford to your list of books. I felt inspired by Dickens and how he showed guts and an entrepreneurial spirit during a tough time in his life (something we can all relate to in today's economy).

Faced with bankruptcy, he (Dickens) was contemplating giving up writing fiction altogether. Instead, he pulled himself together and, in six short weeks, wrote a book that not only restored him in the eyes of the public but began the transformation of what was then a second-tier holiday into the most significant celebration of the Christian calendar (page 6).

In a rare move for an author, Dickens became responsible for the costs of production, which would be deducted from sales. The publisher who was not interested in some Christmas book "dashed off on the quick" would simply become its printer.

The gamble paid off and A Christmas Carol remains one of the most popular stories of the holiday season.

Standiford's writing could use some editing and adding a synopsis of A Christmas Carol in the middle seemed rather odd (it would be rare to find someone not familiar with Scrooge).

On the whole it's a good read and one I recommend for Christmas aficionados.

Rob's Grade: A B C D

Note: I found a great deal on this book last year and purchased mine through Strand Bookstore on-line.

The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford, Crown Publishers, copyright 2008.

Dreidel Bell Rock: 2009 Virtual Advent Tour

Welcome to Day 14 of the Virtual Advent Tour. It's a pleasure to be part of the tour and also introduce you to my new blog.

The holidays here on Kauai, where I live, have a tropical theme and always include family gatherings and beach time on Christmas Day.

As the title of my post suggests, not only do we celebrate Christmas at our home but also Hanukkah. This year the first night was December 11. We attended Shabbat, watched the children light candles, then feasted on latkes and jam filled donuts (sufganiyot). Here's a 90 second video that my partner took at the event using his iPhone.

My family came to Kauai in the 1800's as missionaries. Celebrating Christmas has always been my tradition and an 8 foot tree goes up each year in our Great Room. The ornaments honor both faiths and include dreidels, shells and souvenirs from our trips (including favorite bookmarks).

One fun ornament we make is using an empty can of Spam. It's a creative way to add a touch of Hawaii to your tree.

I always enjoy reading Christmas themed books. This year I've added on my list, "The Man Who Invented Christmas," by Les Standiford. I hope you'll check back later for my review.

Whatever tradition you celebrate, I wish you and your family Aloha and peace.

If you'd like to read other Day 14 posts, here are the book sites joining me today: Jenn's Bookshelves, Cam's epiBloguer, Meryl's My Bit of Earth and Kerry's So Many Books, So Little Time.