A Little Classic Holiday Spirit

Well my friends ... even as Christmas may not my winter holy day, I do honor it, what with the Prince of Peace and all. So it is that on this night, Christmas Eve, I raise a glass of good cheer, a holy spirit, in gratitude of the Peace that the holy man who is celebrated tried so hard to convey to the world, and that resides within the hearts of each and every one of us,

And thanks to Olde Dame Penniwig for the classic image that graces this post.

☮PEACE☮

Preparations Mostly

Tomorrow The Boy has an early day, which means he gets home early and then has two days in a row off - the first such occurrence since Thanksgiving. So today I prepared the home, cleaned and tidied, got some homebrew chilled, steaks thawing, and reviewed my menu for Friday (christmas) dinner with his mom. Things are in order and I think even I will treat these coming days as "days off." I have a few calls to tend to in the morning and then I'll start imaging how to complete the started pages as well as fill these journal pages I prepared today. That's what I made today. Peace.

Time for Winter Welcoming

I invite you to block off *at least* a few hours in these next few days to unplug - no computer, no TV, no video games. Rather, light a fire, be it candle, fireplace or bonfire ... and simply BE in the darkness of winter ... alone or with family and loved ones. You'll be glad you did - even if you don't Know why.

Winter blessings. Peace.

Apologies Accepted

"I'm sorry mommy, but they were so good and I only had a couple." ::groan::

Yeah ... if a couple is something close to 50.

You see, iced cookies like the Anginettes I leave out, covered only with a cotton cloth so that the icing has a day or two to set-up nice. Not only that but Halley doesn't take food from the table ... well she did once when we first got her (and that involved a loaf of wrapped banana bread), but not since. Well, that is until last night. I woke at 3:something AM to the sound of The Boy's voice saying, "What did you do?" I knew in a flash that it wasn't saint Nick.

All I can say is I hope she enjoyed them and I hope she's not too sick today. Heck, I can make more cookies.

Dumb dog.

I love her so.

::Groan::

Well, I didn't make it ... the dog did. The bad dog. The very bad dog. Poor thing.

Need I say more?

More Cookies

Every winter I make a big batch of Anginettes and always ice a good portion of them with the traditional anise icing. The rest I mix up based on what I have on hand, and so it was today. I made an eggnog icing and topped those with fresh grated nutmeg, another was made with Midori (and next time I'll a bit of lemon) and the other a good cocoa icing 'cause I like chocolate. I'll be packaging some of these up to send to my mom along with her other holiday goodies, the rest will be shared with loved ones over Yule and Christmas. That's what I made today.

Mary Janes

Today I finally finished my first attempt at a pair of crocheted mary jane style slippers. They are not without flaws, flaws that I learned from and am already correcting in the second pair I've started. I adapted the pattern from this one I found at ohmygoodknits. They're so freakin' cute I can't stand it! That's what I made today. That and another batch of cookies. Peace.

Balls of Solace

It was a challenging day for me. Mentally and emotionally. I woke knowing that challenge lay before me and I was open and ready. That which I saw coming I managed with as much grace as I could muster, but it was that which sideswiped me that rocked me to my foundation.

I must be stupendously dense, for I have somehow hurt an old friend. That, in and of itself hurts - a variety of hurt that is mine and that I own. My old friend has shunned me for a while now, yet I have done my part in attempting to maintain contact. Heck, I even asked what it was that I had done that warranted this distance she put between us. She responded a while back with a hint that I had blown her off one too many times. I apologized with the caveat that I was unaware of any specific blow-offs and even asked for specifics. Unknowing of specifics I asked for forgiveness and an opportunity to talk it out and make it right. The opportunity remained ... aloof. That's OK I reasoned. Healing takes time and I'm somewhat patient. Alas, today I received the oddest and most hurtful response to an invitation to a Yule party that could ever imagine. Frankly, without the experience I could never have imagined such a response as that which I received.

Apparently I'm a manipulative, repetitive, sweet-talking, guilt-mongering bully with selective memory. Well ... I sat quietly with this for a while and was assured that these abusive accusations belong not to me. Such is life.

All this on the heals of a loving exercise in futility in attempting to help my mom procure christmas gifts for family members that consumed more of my day than seems reasonable given the rather empty outcome.

Yet amid all the silly futility and hurt I took solace in rolling sweet balls of chocolately confection for sweeter friends with whom they will be shared and who love me - as I am - flaws and all. Thank you very much. And the sweet simplicity of this recipe offered me a solace that I both needed and deserved.

Let's just call these Solace Balls, shall we?

2 cups oatmeal (and then some)

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter

6 tablespoons of good cocoa (and then some)

water to moisten - if needed

~ and your choice of confectioners sugar, cocoa & sugar, cinnamon and sugar, instant coffee and sugar, etc in which to roll the balls.

Mix all ingredients together like a loving madwoman, shape into balls and roll in your choice of ... whatever - use your imagination! And I gotta tell ya - folks love these!

That's what I made today. Damn it.