What does Christmas Smell like to you?

Christmas smells like Spiced Respite Coffees, Chocolate Yule Logs with kumquats, and Pine Trees.
Christmas smells like White Peppermint Bark, Matte Tuscana Tea and Crunchy Snow.
Christmas smells like butter on warm West Coast Sour Dough bread, Respite House Blend Coffee, and Twinkling Stars.
Christmas smells like Respite House Blend Coffee!

This time of the year always reminds me of the small portion of my life living in Germany, four years off shore from the good ol’ USA. That is where I first became whickedly crazy about good coffee, while sitting at a table with my German Landlady practicing my broken German. She would be all day preparing her soup at the wood burning stove while we enjoyed a cup or two of strong coffee that allowed us to discuss cultural differences at a very fast speed. The strong coffee was good for another reason too…

I was married then and my spouse and I traveled often our last year living abroad. Across Europe: Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Austria. We visited many locations within the Country as well: Munich, the Black Forrest, Trier, East Berlin (when Check Point Charley still existed) to being bedazzled at the Christmas Market in Nurnberg, a welcoming sumptuous and festive event.

I took in the sights and sounds of a city opening itself up to the joy of the season in the glow of elegant twinkling chandeliers made entirely from millions of Christmas lights. Outside in the middle of a city street the clicking of my heels across the shiny cool coblestones kept beat with the grand pianos set up outside where musicians played traditional music of the season. I bought handmade ornaments and ate cookies and toasted spiced almonds by the pound. But more than anything what I remember is the scent in the air — orange, cloves, cinnamon and coffee mingled together speaking to me, the spiced holiday drink guaranteed to deliver cheer in a mug.

The airpots of bubbling and steaming coffee were a welcome sight every time I came across them filling me with the warmth of the season. I would like to share this spirit with you. You may come into Respite Cappuccino Court to enjoy Fairly Traded Organic Flavor of the day, or our unique House Blend hinted with vanilla, mocha, and nut during the days before Christmas or take one to go to enjoy when you arrive home. If you have yours to go don’t forget to purchase some Fairly Traded Organic Respite Coffee for the next morning…your going to need it! Merry Christmas…it’s almost here.

Holiday Memories Part 4: Christmas Day

Christmas day is usually an extreme contrast to the previous night’s event. A quieter more intimate setting is the scene for Christmas morning. As kids my sisters and I would wake just as the first rays of the sun were hitting the sleepy town of Douglas and immediately bolt to the living room to make sure Santa did indeed leave gifts and then to Mom’s room to wake her up. Impatient to rip open the gorgeous wrapping paper and find out what was hidden underneath it, we were usually disappointed but somehow never surprised to be blockaded by the Waddell family tradition employed by one sleepy parent; the kids have to make breakfast and eat it before any gift opening would begin. In my younger days I HATED having to do this it always seemed so unnecessary to wait that long when breakfast could be eaten AFTER presents were opened. As an adult however, the smell of cinnamon roaming throughout the house as the cinnamon rolls are cooking and the feeling of squeezing an orange to get that fresh squeezed orange juice in the glass is what I look forward to the most. I still get up at the crack of dawn on Christmas Morning, but now I love being able to fill everyone’s bellies with the warmth of a fresh baked cinnamon roll, or fresh made waffles with a sweet strawberry topping, it is what makes Christmas morning feel like Christmas morning to me, and is truly what I believe brings my family together. That is why I have decided to start offering these same cinnamon rolls that have been a family tradition in my family for many years to you. Respite Cappuccino Court, located in Downtown Douglas, MI, will begin taking orders for these Cinnamon rolls on November 25th and will be delivered on December 18th ready to bake for your family on Christmas morning or whenever you wish to. I am hoping that by offering the same Christmas morning experience to you as I have had growing up, it will bring your family together this holiday season as it has done for my family over many of years. As always Respite Cappuccino Court and its staff wishes you the very merriest of a holiday season and an even happier and merrier new year.
Jacqueline Waddell

Holiday Memories Part 3: Christmas Eve

With the realization and acceptance of the warmth of the Holidays comes the next step in my climb to the big day of the season. This is usually directly proportional to my level of busyness as I am filled with the need to give and pass on this truly amazing feeling. Gift buying for my family has never been an over the top thing. I was raised by a single mother who worked day and night to get her youngest child, Respite, off the ground. We were taught from an early age that it was not the amount of gifts, nor the price of the gift that mattered, it was the thought that was put into said gift that really mattered, and for this I truly thank my mother. For without this I truly don’t think I would fully comprehend the true spirit of the holidays.
I remember distinctly one year complaining about not being old enough to make money which meant I couldn’t afford gifts for anyone. That was the year my mother came up with the bright idea to make gifts for the family. Since then, even as adults who are able to purchase gifts, my sisters and I have always made our Aunts, and Uncles their gifts taking time to really think about and individualize these gifts.
In the early days gifts were things such as home-made soap, candles, hot fudge canned and decorated, cookie dough wrapped up in pretty little packages, toffee, and peppermint bark wrapped and topped with a beautiful red ribbon bow. As the spirit of the holiday season grows a little louder inside Christmas Eve hits, like the forte to the holiday crescendo, all the family, minus a few that are only able to join in spirit, gather together yet again at Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Douglas.
As you walk in through the sliding door and carefully navigate through the mountains of snow boots and coats you are overwhelmed with the smell of home-made pizza, (that we only allow Grandma to make ONCE a year, Christmas Eve) and the sights of little snack bowls strategically placed on every surface. The sound of laughter is once again ringing in your ears as well as the sounds of about 20 different conversations, each one trying to outdo the noise level of the other. A perpetual smile is plastered on everyone’s face as you walk into the front room and then the sight of presents stacked to the ceiling hits you.
As a child it is an awe-inspiring sight that is closely followed by your jaw hitting the ground and the electric feeling of excitement coursing through your body. As an adult it is just as thrilling to see how every- body is going to fit in the tiny living room, still have room to breathe and open presents, but somehow it always works out. Santa is played by Grandpa, as the real Santa is busy with other things, and his elf is usually one of the youngsters circling around like vultures ready to rip the paper covering the gifts to shreds. We still follow the tradition of opening one gift at a time to give everyone a chance to ooohh and aahhhh over your gift as well as for you to be able to give thank you.
After all gifts have been opened and torn wrapping paper is appropriately spread throughout the house it is time for the adult’s favorite part of the Christmas Eve celebration: Rum Slush’s. Adults sit and sip their rum slush’s as children begin to play with their gifts unaware of what tomorrow will bring them. There is a definite feeling of togetherness and warmth palpitating throughout the house. As the witching hour approaches individual families begin to leave, goodbyes, well wishes and see you tomorrows are heard along with the closing of the sliding glass door as another fantastic Christmas Eve quickly comes to a close. However, only after Santa’s ½ pound chocolate chip cookies from Respite and Rudolph’s carrot are put out.

To be continued………..