Preparing for Christmas

I was happy to see that the Organic Prepper just had an article on Preparing for Christmas now. I am done with my Christmas shopping and have been collecting special food items that I plan on bringing out Christmas day. It may sound paranoid but I do think Christmas will be disrupted.

Here’s Why You Should Start Getting Ready for Christmas NOW
It’s probably no surprise to learn that what has been one of the strangest years in recent history could culminate in a very strange Christmas. Our nation is reeling from an economy that was crashed by COVID lockdowns, the potential second wave of a pandemic which will result in more economic damage, a broken supply chain, civil unrest, and a presidential election that will almost certainly be hotly contested, regardless of who “wins.” Here's Why You Should Start Getting Ready for Christmas NOW

If you are planning on traveling over Christmas, that could be a problem. I have heard airlines are asking people to get a covid test prior to flying. So if we are in a second wave then getting a test may not be easy.

What about stocking up on your favorite Christmas meal foods now, ahead of the crowd. In March the supermarkets were wiped out of most foods in my area so buying your canned cranberry now may be a good idea.

Also, I have been purchasing soaps, wipes and hand sanitizers that will go in gift baskets. I have certain folks in my life that do not prep but these things will be valued especially if we are in a second wave.

 

Turkeys are already in the stores here, so no worries there, besides I have 2 in the deep freezer anyway.
Christmas will be disrupted for sure! Firstly, its a holiday at least based in Christianity (and paganism, but lets not start that thread) and we know the Dems aren't fond of Christ these days... Second, Dr. Whats-his-name (faucet, faker, falcon.... whatever, its an F word) already said that we are going to have to "Sacrifice Thanksgiving" for the good of the country.
Personally, with very few exceptions, I have been back to my "normal" life for a few months now, no mask (with rare exception) and going out and doing whatever I want/need. To be fair, I was a bit of a hermit before COVID too. So no change in my plans for this year, Thanksgiving with family and Christmas with a few close friends.

-JediWoodsman

 

Christmas should be a happy time. The earlier you start, the longer you get to be happy.

And if you run it out past New Year's, that's ok, too.

 

some people won't be taking airline flights because of the dumbazz mask rules >>> about it - gas is cheap - some people will be driving for the 1st time in many years ....

shouldn't be any shortages involved - China has been on production & delivery schedule - Xmas decorations are coming in behind Halloween like usual ....

 

Good lookin' out @Motomom34

 

No travel for my family if I have to travel for business or other I'll travel alone..... Well me and my little buddy 1911 and the sextuplets mags

 

Is the future here?
Christmas lockdowns, people dieing?

 

Here are some suggestions for folks that may be in need.

Gas or an oil change gift card (Walmart, target or local supermarkets if you have someone who lost their job this year)
Coffee/tea, cheese and stuff in a gift basket (gift baskets can be fun but actually a way of giving someone groceries)
Warm socks, throw blanket because some folks are cutting down on heat so this will keep them warm.
Packets of seeds or live herb plants (start plants now to be ready for gifting)

 

Well Thanksgiving supper is still out back running around on two legs. Will harvest a few days beforehand. Will most likely smoke a small ham as well. Christmas will be here and we will either do the same or a Prime Rib. Sass, the kids and I like my prime rib, but other family members prefer the traditional turkey and ham. Either way is good with me as long as we have a house full of hungry folks.

Good topic Moto, and post #9 has some good ideas I'd not thought of.

 

We tend to get our non perishable or freezable Thanksgiving and Christmas foods at the first sale just after Halloween. Most of that gets rotated so for example the ham we have in the freezer will be replaced with with the new one. Ditto the turkey we have for Thanksgiving.

 

Thanks to a miscommunication last Christmas the Mr and I both picked up hams, so one is still in the freezer. Well stocked on ingredients to make an assortment of pies and traditional dishes for Thanksgiving, while our Christmas after-party usually features pulled pork and/or smoked ribs and we have plenty of both in the freezer.

Gifts this year are an assortment of canned goodies and thick fleece blankets for the adults. I scored the blankets during the after Christmas sales last year, marked down 60% simply because they were holiday colors. The kids are horribly spoiled and incredibly unappreciative of gifts so I got these buckets of nail polish and nail decals for the girls (after Xmas markdown for $1.50), a Playstation gift card for the older boy, and nothing yet for the youngest boy. He seems the sort to enjoy a nice bowl of paste but the Mr vetoed my plan to give him a bottle of Elmer's so I'm still puzzling out what might be appropriate.

 

Its not even Halloween yet, much less Thanksgiving! I'll worry about Christmas and New Year's after Thanksgiving!

 

I love your optimism. Like we are going to make it past the election.
Bwhaahahahaha

 

Did you see the last post I did ?
Trump might smell , But is pulling back from the BS of the NWO i live in ,, total crap , they want me to pull my fireplace and buy power to heat !!!!! THINK USA
S

 

Great topic. I start preparing Christmas in October every year. I hand make an assortment of stocking stuffers and bath bombs. I usually buy or make cheap stocking and stuff them as I hate wrapping...

Make snowflakes from paper so buy paper while school supplies are on sale.
DYI - SNOWFLAKES
I start looking for ham or beef for beef wellington... I can't cook a decent turkey ... its always too dry. I hate turkey.

Preparing early doesn't break the bank

 

You might try high temperature roasting.
The last turkey I did was 12 lbs. 30 minutes at 500 degrees F and it was done, (don't cook with stuffing in it) . Moist, tender, and tasty too!

 

Brine it 24 hours. Rinse well, pat dry, rub with olive oil or butter. Make a little foil breastplate for him, into the oven for 30 min at 500. Then drop temp to 350 and 20 min per pound. Take the foil off midway to allow the skin to brown.

Brine is the trick. Never had a dry bird, and I always hated turkey growing up.

Credit for the foil breastplate goes to Alton Brown.

 

We always get started mid October, it's a tradition to get a good size Prime Rib ordered from the butcher early enough to beat the rush, we also ordered our Spiral Smoked Ham a year in advance, again, due to the YUGE demand locally from those in the know, and the Wife really enjoys glazing and cooking it her way! We also get our shopping done early, usually the summer deals on stuff is what everyone wants anyway, so that's all done!

Only thing different this year that the Little ones got to build their first "Real" rifles, so we have been hunting down all the goodies to go with them. Naturally, My M.I.L. has been sewing like a mad woman to get the skins done up traditionally with their fur linings and all that. The little ones will be attending their first Rendezvous this spring and will be a real hit with their traditional culturally unique garb! Uncle Ura-Ki has found a pair of .36 cal percussion revolver kits based on the original Colt designs so that the kids can have their own pistols! Being kits' the kids can decide how they want them finished!

 

We will here one way or the other. May not be ideal, but my family and I will make it and will have plenty to be thankful for.