Holiday stories

CONCORD, N.H. -- Santa has his crew of crafty elves, but those of us living south of the North Pole could use a little help. Sure, your creative friends and loved ones will appreciate a how-to book full of new projects for an existing hobby, or ideas that could spark a new one. ...

For many of us, wrapping gifts is even more fun than giving them. But each year, we throw away miles and miles of wrapping paper, much of which can't be recycled because of inks, coatings or other additives. If you want to make a gift to the environment at the same time you're giving to others, choose any of a variety of smart, stylish and eco-friendly ways to gift-wrap this year...

There are many ways to entertain, but during the busy holiday season, it's the open house party that I gravitate to. Not a big, sit-down meal. Not a frenetic, crowded, two-hour cocktail party. Rather, a gentle stretch of time with people coming and going as they please...

I remember the first party I ever hosted. I was 5, and my mom invited all of my kindergarten girlfriends and their moms for a holiday singing gathering. We noshed on homemade cookies dunked in hot cocoa made from packets of powder dissolved in boiling water. ...

For the 15th year, Happy Slapowitz's Toy Bash is collecting toys for local children in need by holding a party Thursday that spans more than a dozen venues throughout downtown Cape Girardeau. For a $10 donation, the purchase of a Happy Slapowitz's Toy Bash T-shirt -- which are nearly sold out -- or a new, unwrapped toy, bash-goers will receive admission to 13 downtown Cape Girardeau venues -- 12 of which will offer a barbecue buffet followed by a concert by a local band...

Throughout December, the Jackson Heritage Association will host tours weekly at the Oliver House, which is decked out in classic Victorian Christmas-themed decorations for the season. "Every year we have the house decorated for Christmas," said Kyle Mabuce, Jackson Heritage Association member and Jackson High School history teacher. "We have a wonderful team of decorators and they have decorated the house in the Victorian style, which fits the inside of the home."...

Handbells have been a measure of the musical landscape of Beth St. John for much of her life. The Jackson Senior High School choir director was introduced to handbells when she, herself, was a student at Jackson High in the 1990s.

Nothing says Christmas quite like church, music and decorations. Add history, and it's both a celebration and a learning experience for the whole family. A two-day event in Southeast Missouri will include each of these festivities. The Tenth Annual Christmas Country Church Tour will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19...

NEW YORK -- The good news for Thanksgiving travelers: The price of gas is at five-year lows. The bad news: A lot more people will be on the road. During the holiday weekend, 46.3 million Americans are expected to go 50 miles or more from home, the highest number since 2007, according to travel agency and car lobbying group AAA. That would be a 4.2 percent increase over last year...

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Marshall Johns. The weather turned frigid last week, and we had our first snowfall of the season here and in Dallas! The thermostats were turned up and the humidifiers came out hoping to achieve some semblance of humidity in our homes...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The warm wood stove, the twinkling Christmas tree, the smell of home cooking coming from the kitchen: To Betty Larsen, a resident at Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, there's no place like home for the holidays. Larsen, 80, was one of seven nursing home residents the Stoddard County Ambulance District helped come home for Christmas this year as part of its 26th annual Home for the Holidays project...

Truck drivers Michael Webb and Rodger Pritchett wrote a song about a misfit Christmas tree over a citizens band radio while driving from Cape Girardeau to Little Rock one night, never imagining the words would grow into a children's book and then become a play...

KELSO, Mo. -- More than 80,000 lights flash to music at the Clark home near Kelso to celebrate Christmas, to raise money for charity and to remember a Jackson fifth-grader who died in November. Brandon and Brooks Clark put up the display for the third time this year at their mother's home, beginning work in September and finishing the day before Thanksgiving. ...

DENVER -- Santa's piling up more than presents this year. The big man's trackers at NORAD say Santa Claus also broke records this Christmas Eve. Volunteers at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado were fielding 8,000 calls an hour Saturday afternoon, on pace to break a record. Also, Santa's NORAD Facebook page approached 920,000 "likes" by midafternoon. Last year, Santa had 716,000 "likes."...

Dawn Grammar pushed the grocery cart toward her car, full of food she didn't have to pay for -- couldn't have paid for, even if she had wanted. A turkey. Milk. Bread. Canned vegetables. A few other items. Not much, really, but there wouldn't be a Christmas dinner without it...

A baby doll. Perfume. A watch. With every gift Santa handed over Tuesday night, Camry Brinson's smile grew wider. Even when the 9-year-old girl was handed toenail clippers, she couldn't help but grin. But it wasn't until St. Nick pulled a colorful box from his bag that she absolutely erupted...

Many spend the holiday season trying to find perfect gifts. For Cape First Church, the Perfect Gift is about meeting needs. This is the second year Cape First has done the Perfect Gift. In October, members were asked to submit requests for people they knew were in genuine need. They were asked, "What would the Prefect Gift look like and why?"...

Packed parking lots and shoppers standing in long lines carrying bags are all signs of a strong holiday shopping season seen in Cape Girardeau this weekend. But some shoppers seem to be spending less this holiday season, while others are spending more, local retailers say...

OMAHA, Neb. -- The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children. He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn't be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter...

As of Tuesday night, the Cape Jaycees still had around 70 bags to fill for Toybox. Organizers hope the community will donate quickly during the last few days of the campaign of the program that delivers Christmas toys to local families in need. The program accepts monetary donations and new toys for children ages 1 to 13...

About 2,600 volunteers flocked into the Shawnee Park Center on West End Boulevard this weekend to prepare meal packets to feed starving children in Haiti. Their efforts will ensure that more than 1,644 children will get one balanced, nutritious meal a day for the next year.

Jackson's Santa Express was stranded at the station last year, but tickets for rides with St. Nick on the antique tourist train are sold out this Christmas. Harriet Drusch, a volunteer board member with St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, the not-for-profit group that keeps the train going, said the positive response is greatly needed and appreciated...

Although holiday spirit filled a packed Bedell Performance Hall Sunday night, no one was safe from one devout nun's jabs. For a second straight year, actress Kimberly Richards reprised her role of Sister, a nun who frequently involves the audience in her stern yet hilarious monologues. Richards came to the 550-seat venue last November and performed "Late Night Catechism," which was met with immense laughter and cheer...

When Cheri Foster of Cape Girardeau first heard of a free photography event called Help-Portrait, she was excited at having a family portrait taken for the first time in years at no cost to her. When she and her family arrived at the Help-Portrait event Saturday morning, she realized that there was going to be more to the experience than a free 8-by-10-inch photo.

The winner of the 2011 Season's Best holiday cookie contest, Jodi Thompson of Jackson, said her Brownie Rubble is so good that it should be against the law. "They are so sinful," Thompson said. Readers were invited to submit recipes for holiday cookies and bars until Nov. 30. Then 10 semifinalists were chosen to compete in the contest, which took place Dec. 5. However, only eight of the 10 contestants submitted their cookies for judging...

The holiday season is a time that many observe through faith and charitable service. More than 2,000 people will do just that this weekend as part of the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event, organized by La Croix United Methodist Church. Last year, 925 volunteers from La Croix filled the Arena Building and packed 15,000 meals for 400 children. This year, the church's fourth to participate, La Croix has signed up 2,600 volunteers to pack more than 600,000 meals...

Goldie Benefield remembers a day last year when she felt special and, well, pretty. She heard about an event in Cape Girardeau called Help Potraits, and Benefield, 75, along with her husband Bill, 76, saw an opportunity to get their children something for Christmas on a fixed income...

On the outskirts of town sits an old trailer with a ratty van outside. The door opens to reveal the two adults and five children who live inside. The children have nothing to play with and they are dressed in shorts and T-shirts in mid-December.

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- The Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg is celebrating its sixth-annual Luther's Indoor Walk in the Woods this Christmas season with over 40 trees on display. Among the trees exhibited at the center this year is a German immigrant tree celebrating the 1839 Saxon German immigration; a Scherenschnitte tree featuring German paper ornaments created by the local librarian Kathy Schlimpert; a Perry County tree displaying antique local postcards in German and English; and a "freedom tree" which sits on the corner stone of the now defunct Mack's Chapel, one of the first African-American churches in Missouri.. ...

Hundreds flocked to the streets of downtown Cape Girardeau Friday night for the annual Christmas Open House, sponsored by Old Town Cape. Activities for families included free horse and buggy rides, free photos with Santa and crafts inside Santa's Worksop, Christmas carolers, downtown retail discounts and a giveaway prize package worth $1,500...

BRAZEAU, Mo. -- Keeping a 12-year-old tradition, the village of Brazeau dressed up for the holidays and offered an afternoon and evening of old fashioned activities for the community to enjoy Saturday during the annual Old Fashioned Christmas Walk...

The damp, chilly air didn't dampen the holiday spirits of those lining the streets of downtown Sunday night for the 20th annual Old Town Cape Parade of Lights. Bundled in blankets, people said the secret to staying warm despite temperatures in the 30s was lots of layers...

Children will have an opportunity to dine with Santa Claus soon. The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department and Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Foundation will sponsor the fifth annual Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 10 at the Osage Centre...

EUREKA, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's ornament for the 2011 National Christmas Tree display in Washington will honor the state's ongoing recovery from devastating tornadoes like the one that killed 161 people in Joplin in May. And for the second year in a row, a St. Louis County woman has the honor of designing and creating the ornament for Missouri's tree, The Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis (http://bit.ly/uZ9GF7) reported...

While his friends and family indulged in turkey, football and family bonding on Thanksgiving, Cape Girardeau firefighter Greg Foote could be found at Fire Station No. 1 examining fire engines or studying department policy. Thanksgiving was just another day for Foote. ...

First came Black Friday. Then Cyber Monday. Now, wedged in between them is Small Business Saturday. For the first time last year, a movement called Small Business Saturday encouraged shoppers to patronize local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A researcher at the University of Missouri's flagship campus in Columbia has found that turkeys don't need as much protein as they're getting and that adopting his feeding plan could save the industry $100 million. Jeff Firman, a professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, tested his theory on 800 turkeys, giving them a mixture that included more cheap grains and fewer proteins. ...

NEW YORK -- A festive mood prevailed Thursday as the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade made its way through the crowded streets of Manhattan beneath brilliant sunshine. A jetpack-wearing monkey and a freakish creation from filmmaker Tim Burton are two of the big new balloons that were making their inaugural appearances. Paul Frank's Julius and Burton's B. joined more than a dozen other giant balloons, including fan favorites like Snoopy and Spider-Man...

Samantha Sander had a busy day as a Red Cross blood collection specialist Sunday. Sander helped prepare and extract blood from roughly 40 donors Sunday as part of a blood drive at the St. Mary's Cathedral school gymnasium, effectively eclipsing the drive's 25 pint goal...

Many children gleefully count down the days until Christmas, looking forward to finding their gifts from Santa under the tree. Kids, and their parents, have been doing it for centuries, and the practice eventually gave rise to advent calendars. Advent, which means arrival in Latin, begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas...

Compiled by Heather Collier Some drinks are holiday classics -- eggnog, hot toddys and mulled wine come to mind. But if you really want to impress your guests this holiday season, whip up some of these festive drinks. Ginger, honey and apple martinis...

Tablet computers began to emerge in the mainstream last year, and now the market is saturated with more than a hundred of them. Although tablet computers have been around for years, they were long considered niche products that were designed mainly for business professionals. And while business-oriented tablets are still all the rage, the latest tablets have consumer-friendly designs popular with everyone from students to soccer moms...

1. Donate food or serve meals at the Salvation Army's annual Thanksgiving dinner, or ring bells for donations. Call 573-335-7000. 2. Ask a nursing home if you can help with any holiday activities or visit residents who don't have friends and family nearby...

There's always someone -- maybe a colleague or your child's teacher -- on your Christmas list that you aren't sure what to give. Food is almost always a safe option, and holiday treats are easy to mass produce if you're getting gifts for a lot of people. But if you want to go beyond a tray of cookies, try these fun and simple holiday goodies/gifts...

Think your cookies take the cake? Once again, the Southeast Missourian's Sunday section, Good Times, is teaming up with the special publications division for the Season's Best holiday cookie contest. Readers are invited to submit their recipes for holiday cookies and bars by visiting semissourian.com/cookiecontest or mailing the recipe to Season's Best Cookie Contest c/o Chris Harris, PO Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702...

The holidays are a busy time for Hollywood with big-budge action flicks, family films and Oscar-contending dramas hitting the big screen. Here, a look at some of the movies coming soon to a theater near you. Remember, release dates are subject to change and not all movies have received ratings as of press time...

Compiled by Robyn Gautschy If you've got turkey... Turkey and vegetable chow fun Ingredients Kosher salt 12 ounces wide rice noodles, pappardelle or fettuccine 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup oyster sauce 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)...

Creamy pumpkin pie with cranberry topping Ingredients 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 3 eggs, at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger...

Ringing in the New Year with a champagne toast is a long-held tradition. But Keller Ford of Primo Vino in Cape Girardeau says champagne and other sparkling wines are great for all holiday occasions -- or any other time, really. "It doesn't have to be a special occasion to enjoy sparkling wines," Ford says. "There are different styles and price points to please anybody."...

For Sandi Williams, a Cape Girardeau mom of four, using coupons for food, baby wipes and diapers is just common sense. It makes just as much sense to share her bounty with others. "I was finding that some items I was actually getting for free," she says. "So I decided to take my own coupons to the next level, searching for coupons and deals that actually got me the items for free or a very reduced price. They might not have been items I would use, but that others could benefit from."...

Whether you're trying to keep them busy while you're wrapping gifts or just keep them entertained when it's too cold to play outside, we've got some great craft ideas for kids, all using paper plates and a few other materials. Look for more craft ideas in the coming weeks in the Holiday Surival Guide inserts in the Sunday Southeast Missourian...

Nothing is more Christmas-y than the smell of a live Christmas tree. And though artificial trees have their benefits -- no needles to clean up, no allergy worries -- real trees have pros that go beyond the smell, too. Real trees "are grown by U.S. farmers," says Joannie Smith, owner of the Yule Log Cabin near Commerce, Mo. "It supports the economy. Most artificial trees are foreign."...

When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees.

Shimmering glitter, shinny ornaments, dark evergreens and bright lights are just a few festive indicators that the most wonderful time of year has yet again arrived. However, as many Americans struggle to make ends meet in today's economy, some consider holiday decorating a frivolous and unnecessary means of spending money as well as a time-consuming chore...

Targeted publications manager Cheryl Ellis is a serious crafter. Here, she shares ideas for two seasonal wreaths that can add color and personality to your front door. Initial Wreath Materials Grapevine wreath Wood letter (Find them at Hobby Lobby) Silk flowers of your choice...

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, sometimes it is easy to lose sight of why we celebrate. Maybe instead of enjoying the Thanksgiving feast with your family, you're plotting a strategy for Black Friday shopping and making a mental menu of what to do with all the leftovers...

When the holidays roll around, you may be tempted to splurge on the perfect gift, go wild with decorations and cash in on big sales. But is it worth starting the New Year at a financial low? "While you certainly enjoy hosting family gatherings and giving presents to your loved ones, you'll find these things even more pleasurable if they don't add a lot more weight to your debt load," says Charlotte Matthews, a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Cape Girardeau. ...

If you entertain a lot, coming up with new things to serve your guests can be hard. If you don't entertain a lot, coming up with foods that don't take a lot of prep work can be daunting. But it doesn't have to be. First things first: When a guest asks if he or she can bring anything, say yes! It doesn't make you a bad host; it will relieve some of the burden, giving you more time to prepare your dishes and therefore more time to enjoy your own party. ...

Arriving home after a long day at the office to find a pretty envelope with a hand-written address is one way to brighten a day. After quickly ripping it open, a sparkly explosion of bright colors and festive shapes are revealed, all well-crafted and printed on elegant paper. The mind promptly shifts from the stress of the day to the thought of attending a favorite annual holiday party, and the invitation is hung with pride on a bare and lonely spot on the refrigerator door...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's going to cost a bit more to put a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on the table this year. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported Thursday that a meal with turkey and all the trimmings will cost about 13 percent more this holiday...

Baking time: 8-10 minutes Yield: 3-1/2 dozen 4 cup shortening 1 cup sugar, divided 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped fruit-flavored or spiced gumdrops 2 egg whites In a large bowl, cream shortening and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. ...

Here are tried-and-true tips to help make your holiday baking recipes healthier. 1. Substitute whole-wheat flour for white flour Compared with 1/4 cup of white flour, each 1/4 cup of whole-wheat flour adds 3.5 grams of fiber, various phytochemicals, and double the amount of magnesium and selenium. The extra fiber helps slow digestion and increase fullness...

Baking time: 8-10 minutes Yield: 3 dozen 3/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs, separated 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup baking cocoa 1-1/4 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts 4 squares (1 ounce each) white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped...

You can save big bucks and make a party memorable by creating a specialty cocktail. I'm into a drink called Santa's Helper. Start by soaking peeled and sliced cucumber wedges and crushed mint overnight in Bacardi Limon. Then right before the party, strain out the solids and add limeade concentrate, no-sodium soda water and enough cranberry juice to create a beautifully crimson cocktail. Garnish with edible gold or silver leaf flecks and tie a bell around each cocktail glass...

Create invitations that convey the theme of your party -- and that it's going to be really fun, a must-attend. To get guests excited, be creative. Send a sprig of holly with details listed alongside a lipstick-imprinted kiss, affix a swizzle stick with a promise of a great custom cocktail you plan to serve or shoot out an Evite with whimsical holiday-inspired verbiage. ...

Unless you plan on serving a full-blown feast, your party should start long before dinner or well after. Even then, it's important to offer an array of snacks. Everyone loves delicious food at a party, plus it'll help soak up all that boozy holiday cheer. ...

Baking time: 8-10 minutes Yield: 5 dozen 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2-1/4 cups cake flour 1/2 teaspoon salt Food coloring, optional Holiday sprinkles and colored sugars In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. ...