Friday, December 4, 2009

Sinterklaas is coming....

I am sitting on a stack, 70 high, of term papers this weekend. I wish you were here to help me grade them. Especially since you are all smarter than I am. Case in point: in my last post I casually used the word irregardless, without even knowing the controversy associated with the illogical double negatives in the prefix and suffix. (See comment section for explanation.) Well, I fell off my grammar pedestal and scraped my syntax, but I'm finding my way back again. But still (or irregardless-if you prefer non-standard forms), I wish all you highly intelligent readers would form a committee and come on over to help me grade my term papers.
But then again, this weekend is really not the best time for red pens and furrowed brows. Sinterklaas is on his way on the evening of December 5th. I'm pretty certain he cares nothing for grammar and will leave me candy, despite any of my shortcomings. I'll shine up my shoes and hope for the best.
I'll also be making this Dutch soup that I posted about last year. It's one of my favorites, especially with those melted cheese toasts on top.
And everyone will get a chocolate initial by their plate, in keeping with tradition. This one is for my dad. So, put out your shoes because here comes Sinterklaas.
You can read all about the Dutch traditional holiday here.
And have a merry feast of Sinterklaas tonight.
Thanks for being such a lovely group of readers.
Be back again soon with Christmas give away ideas.

22 comments:

The JR said...

I'm going to have to read that link. I have no idea about the shoes and Sinterklass.

Catherine said...

I love sinterklaus! I'm so excited for this one, I'm so glad you're posting Christmas around the world.

I didn't really mean yesterday's comments were "feisty" perhaps I should have used words like "fun" or "interesting". It was all in good fun. =D

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I'll help you grade if you help me with MY schoolwork! ;)

Love your Christmas series - great start to this year's!

Mishqueen said...

Lol! I'm SO glad you caught your own "irregardless." I always, always notice it when people use it. Although, it is so common now, I wouldn't be surprised if it starts showing up in the dictionary due to common usage.

Adrienne said...

Oh man, I was a T.A. for an Isaiah class back in college. I had to grade 180 papers at the end of each term. Grading papers isn't such a bad a way to spend Christmas vacation as long as the subject is interesting.

Tasha said...

I have been following your blog for a while, but just felt an additional connection to you as you are doing all this frugal cooking while not being a full time homemaker. I teach high school English, feel your pain with the papers, but appreciate that someone can make it work while having a job - thanks!!!

Jillian K. said...

I loved your Christmas around the world posts last year -- thanks for the reminder re: Dec. 5th & Sinterklaas. My son would think it was a fun trick to have his shoes filled in the morning. Irregardless, I hope you get your grading done soon and have plenty of time to relax.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

This is new one to me too, but I hope your syntax didn't get too scraped up and Sinterklaas leave you lots of candy!

The Blonde Duck said...

I wish you'd been my Mom growing up.

Valerie said...

Sounds like fun traditions! Hope you and your family have a great time together. And good luck grading all those papers. It makes me glad I'm no longer a TA. :)

Christina said...

Fun stuff! I learned about Sinterklaas from my friend who au paired in Holland and now lives there with her fiance. She sent me some treats a few weeks ago!

Julie Harward said...

I love the Dutch traditions..fun! And I think that people who come to visit a blog and then send corrections, are RUDE! Sorry, but thats my opinion! People are TOO nit-picky about things that don't matter...look at all the good..who wants their in-put..not me! :D

LMT said...

I'm so glad you did this post. I was recently in Denmark and Sweden and loved learning about their traditions. I would love to learn more. Can't wait to see what other countries you feature.

Happy holiday planning, Merry Christmas!

Prudy said...

Candy?!?! Alredy?!? I havn't even emptied out my trick-or treat-bag yet!!!!!!!I better get cracking.I think I'm going to be sick tonight............ -sailor =D

Marthe said...

I love that you celebrate Sinterklaas, are you Dutch? I made banketstaaf this year and brought it into work, my coworkers loved it! (I blogged about it too)

Anonymous said...

Hey there Prudy,
I just made a fabulous soup w/ your leftover sweet/spicy chicken taco recipe. It was sooo good. This is not it exactly, but I used 6-8 cups water that I added some chicken bullion to, 3 diced zucchini, 1 diced yellow squash, 1/2 a head chopped cabbage and about cups of the chicken. I'm pregnant and can't seem to force myself to eat vegetables and this has done the trick. I added some cheese, sour cream and crushed tortilla chips. It is sooooo good! You'll have to try it sometime.
Thanks for all of your great recipes. I'm always checking your blog!
Amanda

Leslie said...

For a few moments there I thought that was Dad dressed up as SinterKlaus. I had to stare at the picture to make sure it wasn't him.
I love all the Christmas around the World traditions. Have you seen The Friend this month with the daily calendar teliing different countries traditions? We really liked it.
I still however, can't bring myself to leave candy in my kids shoes. On the shoes or by the shoes, yes, but in, I just can't do it.
We celebrated this last year after Europe, and it was a lot of fun.
It's Sunday night and we are eating your cheescake from your blog, writing in our journals, listening to Andrea Bocelli, and laughing that I thought that was Dad all dressed up as Sinterklaus.

Peggy Clyde said...

I would help you, but I retired from teaching after 31 years and I don't want to check any more papers of any kind. Sorry.
I do love the foods on your blog. Thanks.

small cabin plans said...

Thanks for the link! I just heard Sinterklass somewhere but I don't really know who that is.

Sonya said...

I'm an american living in the netherlands and Sinterklaas is a neat tradition for us to add on to christmas. They sell big thick chocolate letters here that are the best! There are a bunch of goodies to also eat around this time..I'd be happy to send along a Sinterklaas package to you sometime:)

crabigail adams said...

I love your "irregardless" comment! The one I hate more is "orientate" -- if you go to an orientation, you are oriented to the situation, not orientated. You are also disoriented if you're confused and dizzy, but you are NOT disorientated. Ever.

Pet peeves are funny things, eh?

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