Tis the Night Before the Almsgiving

 

Holiday Gifts

And I finally have some time to post a holiday update!  

We had been invited to Christmas dinner by my late friend A's family, so, in the morning, I baked a peach and blueberry dump cake, using homegrown peaches and blueberries I had frozen.  In the late afternoon, after some discussion about how we were getting there (I had planned to drive us over there and back, but, A's younger daughter wanted to come and pick us up due to a lack of parking spaces at their condo unit; then, while we were waiting for her to pick us up, she called to say that a parking spot had opened up and her dad had parked his car there to reserve the spot, so could we drive ourselves?) I drove us there.  The girls and their father had prepared a lovely meal and we got to meet one girl's boyfriend who entertained us with some magic tricks.  After we came home, I wrapped up the gifts shown above, to take to my cousin's house, the next day.

On Thursday (or Boxing Day as it is known in some countries; it's a regular work day over here), I called the monks to confirm Saturday's almsgiving, then, picked up the groceries I had ordered.  I had received everything I had ordered (including a dozen large eggs for $7.99), but, I had forgotten to order some orange juice to serve at the almsgiving.  So, I put in another order for groceries, ordering a few other items, such as bagels and cold cuts, in addition to the orange juice.  I ordered enough pantry items to bring the total up to qualify me for free pick up.  With daughter staying with me for at least another couple of weeks into January, the pantry items will not go to waste.  

I watered the backyard after I came home.  

In the evening, we went to visit cousin V and her family, including her daughter who had come from New York with her husband and two young sons.  Cousin R (cousin V's sister) joined us, too, and it was nice to see the family.  V's other daughter was not well and V had told her to stay in her room for the duration of the visit because she knows that I am still being extra cautious.  Although V had invited us to an early dinner, I had told her we'll just have a cup of tea and some snacks.  We had the tea and the snacks V had prepared and were considering leaving, when V started making "appa" or "hoppers" as they are also called in English - a type of bowl shaped pancake with a soft spongy center and a thin crisp edge - I couldn't resist!  Both my daughter and I love V's hoppers.  So, we stayed and had dinner, after all!

After we got home, I put away all the Christmas gift wrapping paper and card making supplies and cleared the big table in the family room.

Today (Friday), I picked up the second batch of groceries and picked up my friend R on the way home.  She had offered to come and help me with the almsgiving preparations.  We removed the Christmas dinnerware and the red plaid table cloth from the dining table and set out all the almsgiving plates and dishes, rearranged some of the furniture, got the robot to vacuum, and prepared the last two dishes that needed to be made - the shredded kale "mallung" with grated coconut and turmeric and another peach and blueberry dump cake.  I crossed off all the items on my Almsgiving Schedule that I had listed that needed to be done, today.  Thanks to R being here, we were done by 4:00 p.m.  We exchanged gifts after that and R was very pleased with the blanket I had made for her and the beaded necklace my daughter had made for her.  Afterwards, daughter and I dropped R off at her home.

R has promised to come over in the morning to help with the last minute preparations.  It's her late husband's death anniversary, so, the almsgiving will be given in his name, as well.  

Here's the To Do List for tomorrow:

- Pick flowers from the garden, arrange in vases
- Cut up fruits and arrange in saucers; cover
- Arrange the various sweets in saucers; cover
- Make the salad
- Pour treacle into the sauce boat
- Serve the yogurt into dessert bowls
- Serve the dump cake into dessert bowls
- Cook rice (red rice and white rice)
- Warm up the curries (they are thawing in the fridge)
- Dish up the curries
- Serve the rice and curries to be offered at the altar and the plate to be offered symbolically to the community of monks (not just the monks who will be physically present at the almsgiving)
- Boil a kettle of water and keep hot for the monks who prefer to drink hot water
- Pour out the juice
- Keep warm water in bowls for the monks to wash their hands both before the meal and afterwards

10:45 a.m. - everything should be ready
11:00 a.m. - the monks arrive

After they arrive, the monks will chant some blessings and offer the food to the Buddha and to the community of monks (Sangha).  

Then, the meal will be served to them. The menu has been posted on the fridge door so that we won't forget anything!

They need to finish eating by 12 noon.  After which, they will deliver a short sermon, we will offer the merits accrued by the almsgiving to those family members and loved ones who have departed by pouring water into a bowl until it overflows (there will be a larger bowl to catch the overflow), and then, the monks will chant more blessings.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, I will offer some donations to the monks.

We will have our lunch after they have left and then, I'll do a load of laundry (chair covers, table cloths, napkins, etc.) and drop R at her home.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Friend R helping me with the almsgiving preparations
- Daughter doing what she can to help
- Being able to order and pick up grocries as needed
- Working appliances
- Celebrating Christmas with family and friends

Joyful activities have included spending time with family and friends; getting ready for the almsgiving.

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas or are celebrating a joyful Chanukkah.