Of Trees and Candles

Snippets from the day.

A very festive day. Christmas songs permeating the air. Frazzled but friendly people. A holiday party in the evening. And food. Lots and lots of yummy food.

I brought the antipasto kabobs pictured below. Very easy to make.

Six ingredients: store bought marinated mozzarella balls, green olives, sliced pepperoni, cheese tortellini marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, salami, and black olives. 

Cook the tortellini as directed on the package. Run under cold water and then marinate in one cup of balsamic vinaigrette for a couple hours. In the refrigerator.

Layer on skewers and store in refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Heard a wonderful story from a patron today. A seventy-nine year old man, speaking in a very thick German accent, asked me if he could bring his tree into the library. Since we have lots of trees on display right now, I said, "Sure!"

Then he chuckled and said, no, he couldn't bring his tree in. 

He uses real candles for lights.

About a dozen candles, he told me, when I asked him about it. And he does not ever leave the tree unattended. He keeps a glass of water nearby, in case he needs it. His grandchildren love watching the tree with real candles on it. He has to get a special tree - a naturally grown one that has not been trimmed. The branches have to be wild and spacious, not close and tight or there's no room for the candle and flame.

I wish I could see his candlelit tree.

The front door of the library.

So pretty.