By Lynn R. Mitchell
It’s late Christmas Eve. I’m alone with the Christmas tree, “It’s a Wonderful Life” showing on the television, and my laptop. Everyone else has turned in for the night in preparation for a busy day tomorrow that will include family and friends.
When we look back on the historically warm Christmas of 2015, I think I will remember it as the year the fudge wouldn’t set up.
It’s been rainy with warmish temperatures most of Christmas week but today — Christmas Eve — the temperature was in the upper 60s, humidity was high, there was on-and-off rain, and we tried to stay cool by opening all the windows and doors — which didn’t help much in the kitchen. The oven was turned on by 10am to cook the ham for Christmas Day dinner, and it didn’t get turned off until 7pm as ham and casseroles were baked one after the other.
Fudge that was made Wednesday afternoon was still soft and not totally set when I cut it today so I scrapped plans to make toffee. The weather conditions just aren’t conducive for candy-making. And so it’s the Christmas that the fudge wouldn’t set.
Historic temperatures are in the forecast for Christmas Day all over the eastern part of the country. Friends from Williamsburg east to the beach had 80-degree temps today. Tomorrow … who knows? The warm temps will continue through the weekend.
It’s a far cry from the white Christmas many had hoped for … including me. Instead, we spent the day with windows and doors wide open, and ceiling fans set on high. My hair battled the humidity and lost as summertime frizzies set in.
In the Richmond area, not only were there high temps but also thunderstorms and downpours. Many reported running their air conditioning. Power outages were reported in the west end.
A wild outbreak of tornadoes spun off violent thunderstorms in Mississippi and Tennessee where seven people died including a seven-year-old boy. It’s sad to think of such tragedy especially at this time of year.
Toasty fires and visions of snow will have to wait, at least until after this week. Santa may get warm in that velvet red suit as he makes deliveries.
I think I’ll sit here and enjoy the lights and the quiet for a while longer. We’re all together, and that is all that matters. Merry Christmas to you and yours as the world pauses to celebrate the birth of a King….
LynnRMitchell.com 