Visions of Gingerbread

Putting together a gingerbread house has been a family tradition for many years. It began with a recipe and a pattern using a cereal box for the template. That was really starting from scratch! We enjoyed doing it and the results were quite a bit like my Photo of this Week. Gradually life became more complicated and kits became more available. So each year buying and putting together a gingerbread house was essential. As grandchildren were old enough, they, too, became part of this process. When Nick was about three, he could hardly wait to have dad and grandpa come view the finished product! Some years we ate the pieces on New Years Day. Always a few candies were popped in the mouth when no one was looking. Sometimes I wanted it to remain; by the time I was ready to let go, it was so stale that even the birds didn't want to eat the remnants. This year has been a time to simplify. Each time we saw a gingerbread house kit in the store, Art would ask if I wanted to get one. Unfortunately, I couldn't muster the enthusiasm to do it. When I finally decided that, yes, maybe I would at least get a gingerbread nativity kit, they were sold out. So for this year, the picture will suffice to remind me of times past and maybe, just maybe, some fun possibilities for the future.