Whether you think about it or not, we all have circles. If you are of a certain age you may remember your mother belonging to a circle at your church. Those circles were often named after Biblical characters like Ruth or Mary. These gatherings served several purposes — social, mission-related projects and sewing, as in quilts or church banners.

Circles, especially women’s circles, have been around since the beginning of time. It seems when the men were running the country, women were gathering for the purpose of education, friendship, sharing their faith and support.

During World War II, sewing circles in the United Kingdom helped to win the war. Women were called together to sew garments, gloves and socks for the war effort. It was a “make do and mend campaign” supported by Elizabeth II who hosted two circles a week inviting palace staff and other society ladies to join.

For our purposes, Oxford languages define circles as groups of people with shared interests. Hence, the Sowin’ Circle idea came to mind when I decided to share this newsletter. So, no need to know how to “sew” to join this circle. We will be “sowing” seeds. Its sole purpose, of course, is to keep me focused on penning a book idea that has been burning in my brain for a long time.

I’m currently working on documenting a year in the life of a market gardener, cumulating in the storied recipes I have come to love. I’m gathering all the tips and hints I have learned over the years into one document to share with my children first and foremost, but with anyone who enjoys similar interests.

This circle is meant for sharing with everyone interest in gardening, cooking, canning, having fun or anything that comes my way. Conquering social media, email newsletters and videos as part of this endeavor will be as much a learning experience for me, with you by my side. I hope it will be fun for you, as well as educational.

I’m counting on your feedback over the next year or so to keep me on target with my writing project. So, please, pull up a chair and join our circle of friends Don’t forget to leave your comments or suggestions below.

Would it surprise you to find a pickle hanging on your Christmas tree? Another German tradition focuses on one German-Russian dinner staple – the dill pickle.

The Christmas Pickle
Naturally, you wouldn't hang a real pickle on your tree for obvious reasons. And, because of its color, the glass pickle disappeared within the branches of a pine tree. It was hung very last. On Christmas morning, the children would rush to the tree, looking for the ornament.

The child who finds the ornament receives a special gift. The silver pinecone tradition was carried to this country by German immigrants until after the 1920s. It then became a pleasant Christmas memory.

The Silver Pinecone
 
Pinecones are one of those intriguing, gotta-pick-a-few-up natural decorations at Christmas time. Pinecones are abundant and come in all sizes, from tiny to giant high-mountain cones, depending on where they grow.
Sometimes noted as a symbol of eternity on a tree, pinecones remind us of God’s love for us and the offer of eternal life.

Pinecone ornaments, like pickles for your tree, were made of blown glass by German artisans. I prefer the real ones.

Here is one German legend about the pinecone. As with the pickle, the story begins with a mother who in this story is picking up pinecones for her fireplace. While filling her basket, an elf asked, “Why are you stealing my pinecones?”
The mother explained her situation and the need for fuel for the fireplace. 

“Put my pinecones back,” the elf said, pointing to an older section of the forest. “Pinecones are more abundant over there."

So the mother emptied her basket and made her way even farther from her home, hoping to return before dark. Stopping to rest at the foot of a tree, the woman had to shield herself from the pinecones falling to the ground. The elf was right, the pinecones were larger and more abundant. She quickly filled her basket and headed home.

Tired from the long walk, she placed the basket of pinecones next to the fireplace and fell asleep in her rocking chair.

In the morning, she found the pinecones were shining with a bright silver light. Upon further inspection, she discovered the pinecones had turned to real silver. She will always be able to provide anything for her children from this Christmas forward.

Because of this legend, placing a silver pinecone on your mantel or hanging from a tree is supposed to bring good luck in the coming year.

It’s Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. From Thanksgiving to New Year, our lives are filled with traditions, new and old.

Once my children married, had children and began their traditions, I cut back on mine. We live in the country and any holiday decorations are shared with our UPS and Fed-Ex drivers delivering gifts to wrap.
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I willed all my German glass ornaments, crystal icicles and various antique ornaments with my children and my favorite sister-in-law who appreciates vintage. Instead of decorating a live tree in our limited space, I fondly prepare my Grinch tree.

My small tree is the color of the Grinch. It is wound with orange and purple Halloween lights that flash and blink, and drive my husband crazy. The branches have Martha Stewart's shiny round ornaments. In between those bulbs, my Christmas spiders weave the season's magic. 

Most folks are surprised about the carefully crafted bead and wire spiders, but there’s a good reason I chose spiders. First, I am by trade a hand weaver. I have a spider tattoo named Deloris on my shoulder. Spiders are also good for the environment. We live in the cold Northern Plains so we have very few run-ins with poisonous varieties. 

One year, I enlisted the help of the grandchildren to make a few spiders for me under the guise of a craft project after Thanksgiving Dinner. They are on to me now and make faces when I bring up “making” things at my house. 

Have you heard the legend of the Christmas Spider?

On Christmas Eve, a mother began to clean so her house would be ready to be blessed by the Christ Child's birth. Vacuuming sent those spiders in a frenzy of legs to the basement to find new corners to weave webs.

While the family slept peacefully in anticipation of Christmas morning, during the night, the spiders returned to find the main house clean and adorned with decorations. In the center of the room, a Christmas tree.

In their excitement, the spiders danced through the tree branches to admire each ornament spinning strands of dull spider silk behind.

Naturally, when the Christ Child arrived on Christmas Day, He loved that His creatures created such beautiful webs, however, wasn’t convinced the mother who worked so hard the day before would feel the same way. So, the child touched the webs, and behold, they took on gold and silver shimmers.
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In the morning, the family discovered a true Christmas miracle. The tree was glowing with beautiful silver and gold threads and the tradition of hanging tinsel and shiny garland on a Christmas tree was born. 
To honor the spiders' weaving, the mother hangs a spider ornament on the tree every Christmas. I happen to have a few more.
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Being of German-Russian descent, some legends have Weihnachtsmann, German for Father Christmas performing the miracle of the spider webs. So that’s why my tree has spiders.