Saturday, December 28, 2013

A Holiday Tradition Continues

~Cissy~
Christmas at our house this year was a quiet one.  Good friends had us over for Christmas Eve, but Christmas Day was spent at home.  Carl and I were the recipients of kind and thoughtful family members and friends who sent gifts for us to enjoy, and (of course) there were a few packages for the dogs too.
One gift we received was anonymous, and while I can't be totally positive, I'm quite sure that the giver was at a luncheon that I attended a couple of weeks ago. Over lunch that day, the conversation turned to favorite holiday traditions, memories and food.  I shared one about Christmas stollen.  (For those of you who may not know, a stollen is a traditional German Christmas yeast bread with nuts and dried fruits. The dough is wrapped around a log of marzipan before baking and the finished loaf is generously dusted with confectioner sugar.)
~Shadow and Sheba~
For many, many years, my Mother used to send me a Christmas stollen.  I have to admit, that I didn't always like them, but my Mom enjoyed them so much, and so eventually, I did too. Getting a stollen in my Christmas box from home each year and enjoying a slice with a cup of tea became something I looked forward too. Even when my Mom was unable to shop for herself, she still made sure that I received one (or two) at the holidays.  After my Mom passed away, I found myself that first Christmas missing having a stollen and so I bought one, and have gotten one each year to carry on that tradition.  But this year, as I told everyone over lunch, the Scrooge inside me was balking at the price of $20 for a small loaf, and so I had decided to forgo the tradition; I still had the memory after all and actually having a Christmas stollen wasn't really that important. However I have to admit, that after lunch that day, each time I saw them at the grocery store, I hesitated when I walked past, because deep inside, I really did want one.  But I was determined to stand strong in my boycott of such a high price for a small Christmas stollen -- I simply was not going to spend that much on one.    
~Charlie~
Fast forward to early Christmas morning.  The day began with the dogs and I taking a walk as the sun started to rise. When we returned to the house, the sun was just above the horizon, and its brilliant rays were shining brightly and warming the air.  That was when I noticed something hanging on our gate, in a plain brown bag.  Inside there was no card, just a Christmas stollen.  There are no words to express my humble gratitude for a perfect gift on Christmas morning.  I could only make a toast with my cup of hot tea to my Mom, and to whoever left the stollen, allowing my tradition to continue.
~A slice of Christmas stollen~

59 comments:

  1. that truly brought tears to my eyes. what a sweet, dear person...

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful thoughtful gift. The giver's action capture what Christmas is truly about!

    ReplyDelete
  3. what a wonderful holiday story!!
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  4. How wonderful, Kim! :) And it looks very yummy. The Universe is full of beautiful people like this person. It's a good thing to know! I'm glad you and Carl and your dogs had a Merry Christmas! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So sweet!
    And you just have to love when family remembers our four legged friends at Christmas. :)

    Wishing you a most wonderful 2014 Kim!
    xo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  6. And thats what Christmas is really about, unknowns doing unusual things for others. Bet that Stollen was one of the bestest. Hey, gotta ask, is that Charlies normal color around his mouth, or did he partake of some food, thats look is like Opps got caught!

    The Mad Scots

    ReplyDelete
  7. My Mom is German and I remember her relatives sending those over. They had a falling out a few years back and I haven't found any in Arizona, but I miss them.

    Monty and Harlow

    ReplyDelete
  8. That is an awesome thoughtful gift. It truly is the little things that make someone's day. Giving a gift should be just like that, and not something we do because we think we must.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can see why you love the stollen! It looks delicious. The perfect gift from a very perceptive friend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Why is it on Christmas Day we miss those who have left us, more than another day? Family, pets, all alike, A perfect gift, and someone who is so understanding of a tradition. Enjoy, you deserve it so very much . Greetings from Jean.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so glad someone surprised you. I've begun to hate Christmas. This year, one side of my family (the uninvolved one) bought all our gifts at the grocery store - immediately before arrival. And not nice stuff (at least for my mother), cheap crap. If it weren't for a couple of friends, my Christmas would have really sucked. I'd rather stay home with my dogs!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautifully heartwarming story about your Christmas, Kim. That says it all, doesn't it. That is indeed Christmas!!

    Love~ Andrea
    XOXOXO

    ReplyDelete
  13. Those are the best Christmas gifts...something thoughtful and from the heart. When you are next with those friends, you should tell them that story and how much it means to you.

    Our Farmer's Market has stollen (homemade) throughout the year. Haven't bought one yet, but just may. They are way cheaper than $20.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a wonderful, sweet thing to do for you. The thoughtfulness almost trumps the actual sweetness of the enjoyment of the stollen with your tea.
    When we lose our parents, we truly lose a part of our heart. No one, even our spouse, can truly understand and love us the way they can, especially our mother. I think I miss that unconditional love the most. I think, what touched me about your experience, is that someone, made the effort to please you with no regard for themselves. I miss that.
    Gus' Mom

    ReplyDelete
  15. What an amazing surprise gift you received. I'm very lucky to have my German born mother still around to make her Christmas stollen every year. I always look forward to it and have probably taken it for granted that it will always be there. My mom just turned 79 on the 21st so I should probably not put off learning how to make it myself.

    Glad you Christmas was pleasant and peaceful.

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  16. same as texwisegirl.
    tears in my eyes at the stollen.
    and then smiles.
    and the wonderful pictures of your "kids"
    a perfect christmas.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a wonderful story. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sweet Kim
    What a beautiful, heart warming post.
    Thank you for sharing your heart and this story with us.
    This is what love is all about...
    love in the purest form.
    love
    tweedles

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dear Kim,

    If your baking readership (like me) knew your story, you might well have had a Wall of Stollen on your porch!

    What you got looks excellent and I am sure you enjoyed it greatly.

    Jo, wishing you Happy 2014!

    ReplyDelete
  20. You have a real friend somewhere! Such a kind and thoughtful present. I wish you and your furry friends Happy New Year 2014, Kim!

    ReplyDelete
  21. And that is the true meaning of Christmas. What a beautiful story, Kim! So glad that you have a friend that really made your day special!! I am sure all the dogs appreciated you two being there with them for the day! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!! xo Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug

    ReplyDelete
  22. You have such thoughtful friends, Kim, and your 'Stollen Fairy' was SO kind.

    Wishing you very warm wishes for 2014.

    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  23. That stollen looks delicious, mmm! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a sweet friend you have - they are much like you!!

    xo
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  25. Friends are just the best! What a nice story. I am happy you and your doggies all had a happy Christmas! The Stollen does look delicious!

    I wish you, your family and the doggies all the best in 2014.
    Happy New year!

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a kind lovely gesture. I had meant to bake one myself this year as, although not expensive here (UK), shop stollen are not as nice as home made. I didn't get around to it, so maybe I will do one for the new year. Yours looks moist and delicious. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  27. Kim,
    What a beautiful act of kindness.
    You have to really appreciate someone who takes the time to think of others and then acts on it. Which looks delicious.
    Glad you had a great Christmas and enjoy the weekend with the crew.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Very nice gesture from a friend.
    Glad to know that you had a nice Christmas day.
    Have a Happy New Year.
    Ana

    ReplyDelete
  29. what a wonderful friend...but you must be equally nice to receive this kind gesture....!
    Stolen....ha...my daughter told me at 7pm one night that she had told her teacher that she would be bringing to German class...a stolen!! made by her mother
    I never had made one in my life....
    it was the best stolen I ever made
    ....fools luck
    So...enjoy your wonder

    ReplyDelete
  30. That was such a kind gesture from a friend. I'd never heard of stollen cake before, but it sounds yummy :-)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh Sweet Kim, tears all rolling down my cheeks reading your post, how wonderful. Warms the heart that out there are truly angels and I believe you are one of them. Enjoyed the pictures of the beautiful fur baby's, so cute, Happy New Year to you all, Big Hugs Francine.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh what a wonderful story ! The stollen looks good I have never tryed it before would like to though . My mum used to make fruitcake as out traditional Christmas treat but she made it like no other could it was the only fruit cake I have ever liked and she made it so moist with a hard white icing on top it was lovely since she passed 5 years ago I haven't had any fruit cake and I cant make it like hers so I have only memories of mums fruit cake and a cup of tea at Christmas time . Lovely post and photos . Wishing you all a Happy New Year !

    ReplyDelete
  33. How sweet and thoughtful (coming through tears).

    Wishing you and your a happy healthy new year

    Nadine & goldens Neeli & Elle

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a wonderful Christmas gift! Looks delicious too!
    Glad to hear that you and the pups had a nice christmas. Best wishes for a happy 2014!

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a wonderful gift. I too, love Christmas stollen. My mom always made it and it was routinely my request at Christmas. Your post brought many Christmas memories back for me....loved when gramma's goodie box would arrive filled to the brim with all her homemade goodies, including fudge, divinity, glass candy and pepper nuts. I so miss my Gramma.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh how wonderful. This is what Christmas is all about. We're so glad you got your stollen. It reminds me of when my mother would make me a trifle on my birthday. I loved them and missed them so much then a couple of years ago, my eldest daughter made one for me as a surprise and has done so every since. Happy New Year to you all. No worries, and love, Carol (and Stella and Rory)

    ReplyDelete
  37. It wasn't me, Kim...but if I lived closer, I would have...nothing tastes better!!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  38. Oh crap mom is crying again. What a wonderful Christmas story thanks for sharing it.

    Aroo to you,
    Sully

    ReplyDelete
  39. Cissy seems to have got the right idea !

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a beautiful gesture... kinda makes me misty-eyed thinking of that moment you discovered what was inside the bag... :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Beautiful photos, as always. They always bring a tear to my eye (golden-lover) and then your story about the stollen...
    I love it too. My family used to buy it from a German bakery that was in our old neighborhood when I was a kid. My mom used to make fruitcake too...a light dough one though and it was delicious. Thanks for the memories...

    ReplyDelete
  42. How nice and the stollen looks wonderful. I admit I love the stuff. There is a bakery near me that bakes all natural and whole grain breads and cakes and they make the best stollen. I ordered one this year and picked it up two days before Christmas. It was wonderful and every bit was eaten, (even though hubby initially turned his nose up, he ate the most...lol).

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your story brought tears to my eyes, Kim. What a wonderful anonymous gift giver. That's a friend worth her/his weight in gold.

    I've never had stollen but now I'm going to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Your story touch some ones heart. On Christmas morning to find such a gift of kindness gives us hope for the world. One small simple gift like the Three Wise Men gift to the Babe.
    Blessings to all at Golden Pines and Happy New Year.
    Sweet William The Scot

    ReplyDelete
  45. Such a wonderful story. We're so glad you got your Christmas stollen.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sounds perfect to me!

    I'm glad that your Christmas was quiet and relaxing, and I hope the New Year brings blessings in abundance!

    ReplyDelete
  47. That brought tears to my eyes. There is nothing like unexpected and perfect gifts of kindness :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love a quiet Christmas and kindness from others

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

    ReplyDelete
  49. That's the best Christmas story I've heard this season. I honestly did not know what a "stollen" was. Learn something everyday.

    I love the look on the dog's face as they ponder their gifts and plunder. Great picture. Todd ready to pounce, Charley apprehensive and (I think) Shadow saying "OMG would you look at this".

    Happy New Year to you and Carl.

    ReplyDelete
  50. That's the best story, Kim! Wishing you and yours all the very best for 2014 x

    ReplyDelete
  51. Happy New Year to you, hubby and all of the lucky pooches at your home.

    ReplyDelete
  52. ✰¸¸Happy ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸✰¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪New¸¸✰¸¸ Year
    2014•*¨*•.¸¸✰¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Peace ♫♪ JOY ♫♪ and a ✰¸¸ Healthy Year ahead☆☆☆A♪♫•*¨*•

    Ron and Sophie

    ReplyDelete
  53. How lovely to get your stollen! It was a tradition at my house too, for many years. Bless the friend who made you some! A wonderful gift.

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Magical appearing Stollen.
    Happy New Year to all at Golden Pines x

    ReplyDelete
  55. What a cool story....could almost be a little Christmas book. Love the ending!

    ReplyDelete
  56. The best Christmas story I have heard this year. What a thoughtful person and lovely memory of your Mother.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Hi Y'all!

    Wishing y'all a safe, healthy and happy 2014.

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

    ReplyDelete
  58. I love these kinds of stories Kim, what a wonderful surprise.

    ReplyDelete

Speak--I really enjoy your comments! Thanks for stopping by today!!