My husband’s extended family has been celebrating Christmas Eve together since they emigrated from Germany in the mid-1800s. I was feeling a tiny bit melancholy because the older generation (now in their 80s and 90s) is retiring from hosting the parties. The festivities will surely still go on, although not in quite the same high style as Christmas’s past because many of the next generation (such as ourselves) have made their homes far and wide.
This year was my mother-in-law’s turn to host the party. The table was beautifully decorated and I love the simple and cheery touch of the cardinals on the apples.
Bumbleberry Torte from BonBonerie
Cincinnati was settled largely by German immigrants and judging by the countless established bakeries dotted throughout the city, I imagine the original emigrees were fabulous bakers. One of Tom’s cousins, Debbie, created a cookbook based on favorite family Christmas recipes, including recipes that date back to the 1800s, recipes from the family’s cooks, and recipes from old German great aunts who also lived in the big house and whose job it was at Christmastime to make thousands of cookies. When we spend Christmas at home and not in Ohio, Liv, Alex, and I love to cook from the family Christmas cookbook and the cookies especially are the yummiest you could possibly imagine. My father-in-law, who is the most kind-hearted man I have ever met, has a wonderful sense of humor, and is a great storyteller, too–and boy does he have many stories to share from a life richly led!
Dusting of snow Christmas Eve morning
Cincinnati is just that much further west that sunrise is nearly an hour later than in Gloucester. The club that we stay at is set within a golf course sited on a hill, with beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Getting ready for Christmas Eve celebration #2! Always a challenge to get loved ones to stand still long enough for a photo!
End Notes: In poking around online, I found a photo of the home of Great-aunt Kitty, where the Christmas Eve parties were held continuously for many years. Tom has fond memories of wonderful Christmas’s spent there and especially of the “kiddy table,” where all the cousins and siblings sat together (no adults!), and I gather, where many food fights occurred. The house, still standing, was donated to the Cincinnati park board and you can see more photos of the gorgeous interior at this link: The Gibson-Hauck House. While in Cincinnati we also visited the Rookwood Pottery studio. If you have ever seen Antiques Roadshow, you probably know how beautiful is Rookwood pottery. This post is already too long so later in the week I’ll do a little post about Rookwood.
Oh, how grand~how beautiful~how special the evening must have been! What a wonderful Christmas tradition to experience and memory to recall. You have a beautiful family ~ the merry in a merry Christmas ~
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Ms Mary Tucker any relation to the Tucker Street in Lanesville Mass? I know many streets are named after the many families that founded areas? I lived on Washington close to it. 🙂 Happy New Years!
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GM Dave, no relation that I know of. Tucker is my married name ~ former husbands family from Vermont. I grew up in Maryland. However ~ I am a Gloucester Wonson and McLoud. My summers were spent on Bass Rocks with family from Bass Rocks, all along Mt Pleasant Ave to the end of Rocky Neck ~ what fun! Happy New Year ~ Dave ~ to you and Kim!
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Our neighborhood Mary–Plum Street runs parallel to Highland Street. Do you visit Gloucester every summer?
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Thank you! You too have a great new year 🙂 – 🙂 Dave & Kim
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Thank you Mary–very special for my husband, and especially for my kids, to spend time with extended family in Ohio. As they are growing older it becomes more challenging with their work schedules, but very fortunately Liv was able to come for part of Christmas, too!!!
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Yes ~ I have only missed a couple 😉
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What a beautiful Christmas gathering! I’m so excited that Rookwood is back up and running in Cincinnati. The pottery is absolutely beautiful and timeless. I made a stop into the store to buy some gifts and am looking forward to collecting a few pieces myself.
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Thanks for writing Andrea. I hope to post this week re, but may not get to it until next. It’s a wonderful Cincinnati treasure and i am happy to see they are back in business, too.
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Holy Moly, It looks like Christmas at the White House…Beautiful.
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I didn’t think of that Brenda, and yes it was very beautiful. Cincinnati is a beautiful city, with many outstanding features, especially its art and architecture.
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Kim & Family -Mary McLoud Tucker hit is all! 🙂
“I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.” Chief Joseph Nez Perce
PS I could never sit still either younger for a picture or doctors visit as it was cutting into my fun time 🙂
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Exactly Dave–son and husband the most difficult to wrangle for photos!
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lovely pictures
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Thanks Donna-Happy, Happy New Year to you and Rick and all your sweet babies!
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