Blue Moon

A wonderful dinner tonight at Enrico's with hubby, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and Mark. And a beautiful full moon to light the way home. A blue moon, they call it; the second full moon in a month.


Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

Blue Moon, you knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for.

And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me"
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold.

Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own. words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers

Happy New Year's Eve!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Continuing on...

My Mom's Peanut Butter Cookies

7-Layer Cookies

Yum Yum Cookies

A day of continued cookie baking, and an hour or two to visit a friend who is home from the hospital, and ten minutes to drop off an added gift that wasn't finished last week. Hubby shopped today for New Year's Day dinner. Tomorrow night we go out early and return early. Will I be able to stay awake?

Yesterday

Yesterday, a day at the hospital with our youngest son. He needed to have the tube, that has been in his ear for about ten years, removed surgically. Going in at ambulatory surgical care, we didn't know we would be there all day. Having general anesthesia, it involved the recovery room after and lots of waiting from beginning to end. Very nice people at South Suburban. A very nice surgeon. All went very well. And very thankful.

Tramping along

Went to a lovely dinner party yesterday. A nice ride there, a good time with friends, and a nice ride home looking at all the pretty lights mixed in with snow-laden evergreens. A Christmas card scene, everywhere you looked.

And speaking of Christmas cards, here are mine still on the assembly line. The thought is there. Happy new year?

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

... but for me it's so delightful! Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Yesterday there was a surprise amount of snow! It was a pretty snow though. A Christmas card snow. Always a worry for people traveling here and there, but the trucks seemed to be keeping the roads clear all over, is what I heard. Ours were. I had to go out in the morning for gold gel pens. Mine ran dry. Can you believe I am still adding gold flourishes to my Christmas cards? Yes, this year's. And yes, you can believe it, if you know me. So, they are New Year's greetings! Another thing on the list, Uta. But they'll get done.

Gum Drops and Spanish Peanuts!

Did you ever have this combination? I remember my Mom used to put these together years ago. There's something about the spicy flavor and sweetness of gumdrops mixed with salty Spanish Peanuts. It's an old favorite. Try it!

while visions of sugarplums...

Timber, nestled all snug in his bed. Still dreaming of Santa, see that droll little mouth drawn up like a bow?

Henri, settling his brain for a long winter's nap.

"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

Merry Christmas!

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." Charles Dickens

and good-night...zzzzzzz

It's Christmas Eve!

An icy morning. Henri skated down to the yard, but Timber is having a hard time with this weather. Continuing on with the list this morning, the "Eclair Squares" are done and now on to making the Cheeseball.

Julie's snowman is happy and waiting to greet everyone!

And my old skates are at their place under the tree. Happy day, everyone!

More done!

Potholders! Well, done for today anyway. Want to do more, but another day. Now to "journals" for threee little girls on my list. And made Brownies for hubby's barber shoppe. Do you like Brownies? These are the best! Found this recipe in the newspaper many years ago.

Brownies

2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 cup sifted flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix together and bake in 9x13 greased pan at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. (or two greased 9x9 for 35 minutes) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar when done.

Done!

No Doris, it's not over till it's over. Stockings are done and now today it's on to potholders!

So, do you know "Zhu Zhu Pets"? Well, our little "sugar lump" mentioned to "Daddy" that she would like them. She loves animals. She mostly plays with animals. Not dolls. Animals. So...over the river and through the woods, Grandma drove to Walmart at 6:50 a.m. this morning. The snow plows were still far and few between. The doors were open already and there was a line for zhu zhus! One to a customer per day. Well, they are cute...

Monday

It's the countdown! Finishing those stockings today!

Baking day on Sunday

It was a perfect Sunday. First we went to church. Julie and me and Dan and Danielle. Back at Julie's, she had Lasagna Soup ready on the stove for lunch. Hot and yum.

Then the cookie making began. We made "Mock Turtles". Easy to put together with mini waffle pretzels, Rolos and pecans....

Then set outside to cool and harden, "Missy" tried her hardest to find a place inbetween the deck chairs to reach those cookies!

Next came "Peanut Butter Blossoms". Rolled in lots of sugar, it seems.

and "Abby" was ready on the spot, licking up any sprinkles of sugar that dropped.

Peanut butter and chocolate. Julie likes that combination!

Candy Cane Cookies seemed to be on the agenda, so we used Susan Branch's Butter Cookie recipe.

Pretty dough.

And red sprinkles on top.

As evening came, it was colder outside and the blazing fire welcome.

Julie's real tree is perfect. A Canaan Fir.

And her lights are new, but old-fashioned looking. Pretty! A perfect day, I say.

And a party!

Another full day yesterday, continuing with a fun "girl's" party at a friend's. Linda decorates inside and out. Her front porch is so welcoming every year with lights and greenery. Her tree has a multitude of lights, including these old-fashioned Bubble Lights and ornaments that turn with the heat of the lights. There were about ten of us and four dogs! Sweet dogs. One I hadn't met before; a Portuguese Water Dog named "Jackson". What a sweetheart! He and Henri would have a gay ol' time playing! A nice party and it was good to spend time with these good friends.

Well, "hello"...

And is this my little friend from last summer? Wishing it was Spring are you, and I was putting out my hanging planter for you to nest? I've been filling this feeder and scattering some on the ground for the juncos. They are sharing with the doves.

Yesterday

Yesterday, "Daddy" brought Danielle over after taking her to a birthday party, and instead of paper chains, we made these ornaments. Thanks to http://www.deepspacesparkle.blogspot.com/ . She loves glue and glitter! And now they have some new ornaments and memories for their Christmas tree.

Snow!

A little snowy out there this morning. The dogs love it! Timber romps and rolls around like a puppy. So now, on with the sewing this morning. Paper chains with Danielle this afternoon!

Today Friday

A Christmas Tea at The Center.

Delicious punch welcomed the guests.

And a table of balsam, tiny pine cones, dried orange, cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and star anise for making a bag of potpourri to take home. Pictured is Pauline, the balsam pruner.

And the guests enjoying the fragrance.

The tables are set by the fireplace with cups waiting for the tea to be poured.

The center of the buffet table was inviting.

Lois' igloo cheeseball and friends, made from black olives, always brings a smile.

There were Cookies!

And Tea sandwiches...

And more sandwiches!

And much more.....a lovely buffet.

Story time and Pauline read a poem by Ogden Nash, "The Boy Who Laughted at Santa Claus" and a lovely one by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Then Mary Ann read some thoughts to end the day and reflect on the season. Another wonderfully uplifting afternoon at The Center. Merry Christmas!

On Thursday

Last night was Danielle's Christmas Program at preschool. With paper antlers and red noses, they sang ten songs including "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "I'm A Little Pine Tree" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Just delightful!

A delightful afternoon

Time out of the "hurry-scurry" yesterday for tea with some friends. A visit to a dear, dear friend, who just had surgery and will be leaving soon for the warmer climate. We miss her when she goes away for the winter.

Making memories is what we did. Just taking time to be together. Good conversation. Yummy munchies of cookies, nuts, cheeses, flatbread, special teas and German Rock Sugar to put in it! German Rock Sugar. I was not familiar with this. A natural sweetener that adds just the right amount of sweetness. It's wonderful! www.teavana.com .

Brrrrr...

6 a.m. and it's 6.8 degrees F. And I'm on to sewing pot holders for our "little house on the prairie" Christmas!

Henri in training

Yesterday was Henri's training day. Not "formal" training. "Functional" training, it's called. Manners. I think it came of a surprise to him. To "Wait". This morning, he was happy to just play for a while with his new "squirrel", but in a little while it will be time to work on some homework.

I believe Timber was "in sympathy" with him yesterday when the trainer was here. He followed us all around and tried to do his part too. It was so unlike Henri to "wait" and "follow". "What's going on?"