Do you have a special Christmas tradition?  Those can make each year’s celebration near and dear, no matter how old we get. My family loves to sing Christmas carols.  In fact, I’ve just returned from my father’s house, where he, my sisters, and I all sang probably close to 20 Christmas songs.  We love it! Every Christmas Eve we gather to exchange family gifts.  We all bring refreshments (I bring pecan pie) and sip hot wassail as we gather round the piano and sing while Mother plays. These are just a few of our traditions.   In Love Beyond the Curve, Charlotte tries to get Reed in the Christmas spirit by encouraging him to decorate a bit for the holidays.  Below is my recipe for Pecan Pie.  After that is an excerpt about Charlotte getting Reed in the Christmas spirit! Enjoy.  Leave a comment to be eligible for $10.00 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (your choice) for a randomly selected commenter.

Pecan Pie

3 whole eggs                       3/4 cup sugar                 3/4 cup white Karo syrup                  1 tsp. vanilla          1 TBS melted butter      1 cup pecans

                   1 unbaked DEEP DISH pie shell

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Beat eggs and vanilla (I use a whisk to mix everything).  Add sugar and blend together.  Add Karo syrup and blend.  Add melted butter and pecans and stir into the mixture.  Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake in oven for about 1 and 1/2 hours.  The center may “jiggle”, but shouldn’t “slosh” when done. May serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

EXCERPT:

“Reed, move it a little to the left.  There.  That’s the spot.  You have officially participated in the Hamilton tree decorating celebration.  That is my favorite ornament.  It has to be up high and in front, so I can see it from anywhere in the room.”  Charlotte admired the gold and crystal bell that hung from a branch near the top of the tree, sparkling in the glow of the lights.

Reed stepped back and walked over to stand beside Charlotte, placing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close under his arm.  “It is a beautiful ornament.  I have to admit it was fun decorating your tree together.  I didn’t even put a tree up last year.  We were so busy, and I am hardly here.  I decided the tree in my office reception area would be enough.”

Charlotte turned under his arm and stared at him with her jaw dropped in shock at the thought of him not having a tree at his house.  “Reed, you have to have a tree, even if you don’t have any other decorations.  It’s just not right.  I will get a tree and decorate it for you myself.  It’s too sad to think of you not having a tree to put presents under.”

“Charlotte, it is no big deal to me.  Really.  I don’t believe Santa will be coming down the chimney to leave any presents for me, now that I’m thirty-eight, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”   Reed tapped her on the tip of her nose and kissed her forehead.

“You have to have a tree.  Let’s go get one tonight.  It will be so much fun.  It doesn’t have to be a huge one.  We can set it up in the den by the fireplace.  With the glow of the fire and the lights on the tree, the room would have such a romantic feel, and be perfect for snuggling.”  Charlotte snuggled in closer to him, arching her eyebrow.

“Well, when you put it like that, having a tree might be a nice touch.  Okay, let’s go.  Grab your coat.”

* * * *

“Come on, Charlotte.  How many trees do we have to look at to find “the right one”?”  Reed let Charlotte pull him along throughout the tree lot until she found the one tree that suited her specifications.

“Reed, we’ll know it when we see it.  It can’t have any gaps in it.  It needs to be at least seven feet tall, and have a straight tree trunk.  And I think this may be it right here.  Would you mind holding this one up for me?”

“I wouldn’t mind doing anything you asked me to do for you.  Here, what do you think?  Does it pass inspection?”  Reed held the tree for her to check it out.

“This is the one.  It’s perfect.  We’ll set it up in the den by the window, otherwise you won’t get to enjoy it.  You can turn on the lights and stretch out in your recliner to relax and enjoy the soft glow of the tree.  It will be wonderful.” Charlotte stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“You’re wonderful.  You make it sound wonderful.  I may get in the Christmas spirit yet.”  He pulled her to his chest and kissed her deeply there in the middle of the evergreens with Christmas tunes playing in the background.