On Christmas Eve

Not quite the picture you expected, given the post title, huh? The "Christmas Eve" portion of the day hasn't really begun for me just yet. By ten o'clock this morning, I'd been to the gas station ($2.23 a gallon; the station that had it for $2.19 wasn't open at five to six this morning), spent about two and a half hours at Panera having breakfast, journaling and organizing my thoughts, and gone to the bank to pay the property taxes.

Next up, printing out the recipes for the bounty in the refrigerator, some time in the studio, lunch and some more time in the studio. Then the fun began.

The picture is the chicken I mentioned in the prior post. The marinade smelled divine. As for cutting out the backbone, well, let's just say I need better cooking shears.

So that is done and marinating. The chicken bits - the packet of miscellaneous parts from inside the chicken plus the removed backbone - are simmering in a pot of water along with some aromatics in hopes of getting a nice, healthy broth. The turkey thighs are in the oven, roasting away for eventual use in soup.

Naturally, the kitchen smells like Lysol. Had to disinfect that counter, you know.

I'm taking a short break before mixing up the pizza crust dough. It only rises once, for 1 1/2 to two hours; I'm sure that in my little kitchen, with the oven's residual heat, it will take less time.

Once the dough is rising, I can start celebrating. A glass of wine, a fire, reading the Christmas account and the various prophecies that go along with it. Reflecting on the audacity of God's plan - to provide a way for us to be free of His justified wrath against sin by entering humanity Himself, a tiny baby at the mercy of His creation. As always, He surprised everyone, not coming as a conquering King, but as a servant and sacrifice.

God rest ye, merry gentlemen
Let nothing ye dismay.
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day.
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same.
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Merry Christmas