Friday, December 23, 2011

Santa Can Use His Sleigh

We finally got some snow! Only about 2" of it but it does a lot to make things look more like the holiday season.

Two days ago it was so warm here that Papa Pea washed all the vehicles in the back yard. Today he had to spend time clearing snow off of them.

I even got to shovel the deck off for the first time this winter. I always keep it shoveled because the dogs like to stretch out on it and take a sun bath on sunny days. This winter it'll just be granddogs Maisy and Tucker when they're visiting.

Will everyone please notice that under my down jacket I'm wearing MY APRON!? Yes, I've actually gotten into the habit of putting it on when I know I'm going to be doing a couple hours of cooking. Today I baked Italian Bread . . .

. . . to make into garlic cheese bread to go with the Cheddar-Cauliflower Soup I also made for our Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night. Then I stirred up some Amaretto Freeze for dessert and set it in the freezer to firm up. Got some sugar cookie dough half done which I'll finish tomorrow.

Kinda nice to have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on a weekend, don't you think? Seems to make it a little more special.

15 comments:

Sparkless said...

Those loafs look delicious. Glad to see you're getting use out of that apron. Wish we were getting snow for Christmas. The last little bit we got on Tuesday is melted mostly. Even the newspaper made reference to us not having a white Christmas. The last time this happened was 1955! How I hate global warming.

Anonymous said...

We got about 5 inches overnight too. While I could do without it, most people seem happy to have a white Christmas around here. Your bread looks yummy!!
Merry Christmas!!

Anonymous said...

LOL I was signed into my homeschooling email account when I sent that last message, if it looks funny to you.

Qwaynt said...

it's brown here, no snow for Christmas. Last year we had 40 inches of the white stuff. Was 38 degrees here today. Merry Christmas to you and Papa Pea

Sue said...

We got a dusting as well, though not enough to cover the fields. But I'll take it!! A white Christmas after all. Whew---close!

I'm so happy to see you've had time to get into the kitchen and do some baking. Your Christmas eve dinner sounds perfect.
Enjoy the snow, Mama Pea! And have a wonderful RELAXING Very Merry Christmas!
:)

Rebecca Shockley said...

I'VE NEVER HEARD THE EXPRESSION ,GRAND DOGS,NOW I HAVE TO TEASE MY NEIGHBOR WHO THINKS HER PETS ARE HUMAN AND SO DO THEY.I'll SAY."WELL ,WHERE ARE YOUR GRAND DOGS?"-NO FAIR YOU GOT SNOW,WE DIDN'T WHAA,WHAA---JK-LESS WORRY FOR ME ABOUT EVERYONE'S DRIVING SKILLS---UMMMM,GIVES ME A IDEA,I WONDER IF I COULD GET PAID TO WORRY,I DO IT SOOOOOOOO GOOD!--MY SON AND GRANDSON HEADING UP SORT-OF YOUR WAY TO GO ICE-FISHING IN BAUDETTE NEXT WEEK-THERE BETTER BE ENOUGH ICE ON THOSE LAKES OR ELSE---SEE,I can't stop myself.I will tell them to stop by with some turtles for you---ha,ha ,I'm such a tease,I KNOW YOUR NO WHERE NEAR WHERE THEY ARE GOING!

Leigh said...

Oh my, look at all that snow. All we got was rain, rain, rain. I have to say your Christmas eve menu sounds really good. And I just noticed your recipe for sauerkraut soup! That's a must try.

dr momi said...

We got 3 inches of fluff here too. Just enough to make it all pretty. Your soup and bread for Christmas Eve sounds yummy. Have a Very Mery Christmas Mama Pea!

Judy T said...

sigh... no snow for us. It's forecast to be in the low 40's both today and tomorrow. Enjoy your white Christmas!!
Judy

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - As with this past summer, the weather all over has been just plain weird! Our forecast had no snow in the offing until sometime after Christmas so the couple of inches we got was a real surprise.

Stephanie - The snow, especially the 5" you got, does add hassles this time of year (for those driving/traveling) but you must admit it is great "decoration!"

P.S. The homeschooling account did throw me for a bit! :o]

Qwaynt - Thanks, Jean. Happy Holidays to you and your family, humans and animals alike!

Sue - Not near enough snow for you snowmobiling outings, but we hope that will come yet.

As I had the acres of my new counter space in the kitchen covered yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder how I managed those 16 years with 2 sq. ft. in my "old" kitchen! It was great!!

Mama Pea said...

judy - I first heard the expression "granddogs" from a friend of ours years ago. Before they had grandkids, they got a granddog. Now they have 7 grandkids so any grand- dogs probably don't get much attention!

Leigh - Do you ever get snow that stays on the ground by you? Hope you enjoy the sauerkraut soup!

dr momi - Thanks very much and the same to you and yours!

Judy - In the low 40s . . . that sure sounds like a brown Christmas to me! Darn.

Karen L. said...

Glad you finally got some of the white stuff. Happy Christmas Eve to you!!! So after looking at your photo of the bread, I would like to ask a favor. It can wait until sometime after Christmas (duh!) or even into the New Year but before you start DIYing again. I would love a recipe for that Italian bread. Wondered if you put hot water in your oven when you bake it or perhaps spay it with water while baking? If you have done this before (I started reading your blog), just point me in the right direction for the recipe. Also, how do you store it to keep it fresh and crusty? It looks so wonderfully crusty and here in the South that is hard to come by. We miss our Northeastern breads. And I must say you look lovely in apron and jacket shoveling snow!!! hehehe

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

Well Ho Ho Ho! Glad to see Santa can make it, you have been a very good girl :) Wishing all the Pea's a very Merry Christmas.

Mama Pea said...

Karen L. - I'm pretty sure I did blog about the Italian Bread . . . I just have to find the blog to steer you to. I will definitely do that. Making myself a note on the desk right now.

Hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas!

Jane - I think there's some debate as to whether I've been a good girl or not. I sure had my cranky moments involving remodeling!

Are we going to get to see the ice sculpture? Before it melts?

Erin said...

Your Christmas Eve dinner sounds delicious, and I'm so glad you got just enough snow to celebrate a White Christmas!