I Am So Proud

I am so proud of myself.  This year I am totally organized and ready for the holidays.  Just look at the list of what I have accomplished.

Early in 2015, I made a month by month list of all the handmade gifts I wanted to make and got each one done in the allotted time.  Such a satisfying feeling.

I had all my shopping done by Halloween.  Christmas gifts were wrapped within an hour of bringing them home.  No last minute rush of wrapping for me, oh-no.  And the carefully arranged display of the masterfully wrapped presents under the tree has been a sight to behold. 

I've baked an amazing assortment of luscious holiday cookies, candies and confections that have been packaged and sent off to relatives in various far-flung parts of the country.  I was so wise to have all the doughs made and in the freezer well before Thanksgiving.

I shopped months ago for some new holiday clothes for myself.  I bought red, I bought green, I splurged.  I bought several floor length skirts with matching festive tops and a lovely green brocade suit.  What a nice change from my usual navy and black turtlenecks and jeans.  Yes, I needed some new holiday clothes, and these will make me feel and look appropriate for the season.

For special friends, I hand crafted elaborate remembrances.  I have them all wrapped and ready for presentation.

I made two new wreaths with freshly gathered boughs and decorated them with ribbon, pine cones and berries.  The smaller is hung on the front door and the very impressive larger one is on the outside wall of the house you see when coming into our yard.  They look so lovely and professionally done.

Before putting up our Christmas tree and house decorations (immediately after Thanksgiving), I spent a week deep-cleaning the whole house, top to bottom.  Now when I take the decorations down after January 1st, the house will already be clean and ready for the New Year.

I purchased and/or made new decorations for my home replacing all those that were looking shabby and past their prime.  This gave my holiday decorating a sparkling new look and everyone asks if I hired an interior decorator.

In the coming weeks, I have a full calendar of dinner dates and casual get-togethers scheduled.  Invitations were sent out weeks ago.  (I made them myself, of course).  Menus are printed, foods have been prepared ahead and are in the freezer, holiday napkins and tablecloths are washed and ironed.  It will be no-hassle entertaining for me this year.

Oh, I am so proud.

* * * * * * * *

Ah, yes.  Sometimes reality necessitates we escape into our own little made-up fantasy world.  The truth is I've been operating under the influence of heavy brain fog for about a month now.

I read that extra doses of Ginkgo Biloba help clear your head.  I'd take some, but I can't remember where I put the bottle. 

It's the Pits . . .

Yesterday we were hearing reports of a big snow heading our way.  Well, 'bout time.  It would be our very first ground covering of the year. 

Our temperature had been staying right around 28 degrees for several days, and our continual rain had turned to freezing drizzle and a bit of hail.  Not nice, to say the least.

This morning when we got up, surprise, surprise.  The temperature had risen to 34 degrees and rain was coming down.  But!  Shortly the temp dropped a degree (yep, just one little degree) to 33 . . . and lo and behold, it started to snow.  Really snow.

In short order we had an outside scene that looked like this.  Hooray!  Has winter finally arrived to the north woods?

But back to yesterday afternoon when the temperature was still 28 degrees.  

I spent a couple of hours (silly me) making the decorations for a bird's Christmas tree which my dear husband had set up on our front deck. 

I used my donut cutter to make bread "wreaths" . . . 

. . . which I then "frosted" with a mixture of peanut butter and bird seed.

Previously I had made and dried apple slices and attached ribbons.  A couple of nights ago, I made a long popcorn string for the tree, too.

Hollowed out orange halves made festive little baskets holding more goodies for the birds.

The bird tree was decorated by late yesterday afternoon (too dusky/dark for a picture) so I figured I'd take one this morning.

Doesn't it look lovely?  Can you see all my carefully crafted ornaments?  Nah, me neither.

 And, oh look!  Now the snow has stopped and it's started to . . . yep.  Rain.

Good-bye, Winter.  Sigh.

Let's Play 20 Questions . . . Plus 15

Since I've been sadly lacking in ideas for interesting blog posts lately (maybe it's the visions of sugarplums dancing in my head), I'm resorting to these questions (and my answers to same) that I saw posted on the Internet a few years ago.  Here we go.

1)  Do you like blue cheese?
      No!  That stuff is moldy, you know.

2)  Have you ever smoked?
      Yes, for one (stupid) year in college.

3)  Do you own a gun?  
      "Property protected by Smith & Wesson 4 Days A week.  You Pick 
      the Days."  (That's not original.  It's something I've heard my 
      daughter say.)

4)  What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite?
      Grape, hands down, but I haven't had any for decades.

5)  Do you get nervous before dental appointments?
      Yes, but not as much as I used to.

6)  What do you think of hot dogs?
      I only eat organic chicken hot dogs.  They're good.

7)  What's your favorite Christmas movie?
      White Christmas.

8)  What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
      Latte, homemade.

9)  Can you do push-ups?
      Sure, but only about 5.  Okay, maybe 3.  Or 2.

10)  What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
        My wide gold wedding band.

11)  What's your favorite hobby?
        Quilting.  With knitting running a close second.

12)  Do you have A.D.D.?
        Nope, too lazy to be that active.

13)  Do you wear glasses or contacts?
        Gotta have 'em for close work.  Sigh.

14)  What's your middle name?
        Ann.  Although I use my maiden name in my "official" signature.

15)  What are your thoughts at this moment?
        I wish those dirty dinner dishes in the kitchen would magically
        wash themselves.

16)  Name 3 drinks you regularly consume.
        Lattes, black tea (always iced), and kombucha.

17)  What is a current worry of yours?
        Terrorism.

18)  What do you currently hate?
        My uninhabited quilt room.  Because it's uninhabited.

19)  Where is your favorite place to be?
        Home.  I'm definitely a home-body.

20)  What do you plan on doing on New Year's Eve this year?
        Being home with husband before an open fire trying to stay
        up until 2016 arrives, but we usually give up and go to bed a little
        after 10 p.m.

21)  To where would you like to travel?
        The East Coast and the Maritime Provinces.

22)  Name three people you think will do this questionnaire on their
        blog.
        That's a hard one.  I could guess, but I don't want to put pressure
        one anyone.  (It's a busy time of year.)

23)  Do you own slippers?
        Huh?  Dancing?  Ballet?  Bedroom?  No.  No.  Yes.

24)  What color shirt are you wearing?
        Emerald green turtleneck and pale green hoodie.

25)  Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
        Never tried, but they sound cold.

26)  Can you whistle?
        Yup, but just as off-key as I can sing. 

27)  What is your favorite color?
        Orange.  Everybody gives me a hard time about wearing so much
        of it.

28)  What songs do you sing in the shower?
        None.  It would be too frightening.  (See #26 above.)

29)  Would you be a pirate?
        Heck, no.  I'm afraid of big ships.

30)  What's in your pocket right now?
        A bent roofing nail (we finished a little job yesterday) and a used
        tissue.

31)  What's the last thing that made you laugh?
        Oh, gosh.  Hubby, daughter and I laughed until the tears rolled
        today when adorable two-year old boy twin walked toward Papa 
        Pea with his little lips pursed and head pointed skyward to give a 
        good-bye kiss, forgot there was a step in front of him and went
        down like a rock.  Don't worry, Papa Pea saved him.  (Maybe
        you had to be there.)

32)  What vehicle do you drive?
        '93 Suburban.  (RIP, my beloved, old '84 Toyota Tercel.)

33)  What's the worst injury you've ever had?
        Broken nose.  Ouch.  Owie.  OW-EEE.

34)  Do you love where you live?
        Yes!

35)  Would you change your first name if you could?
        Absolutely.  I've never thought mine fit me.

Okay, now all the rest of you out there . . . how about YOU copying and posting these same questions on your blog with your answers.  Come on, I double dare ya. 

P.S.  Sorry about the wonky line spacing.  I couldn't get Blogger to print it the way I wanted.  :o(

Addendum to This Morning's "Fruitcake" Post

Well, turns out I wasn't the only one who has been having problems pulling up info from older blog posts.  It's apparently been a "blogger" problem, but as usual my computer guru daughter solved the problem for me.

So if you wish, you may follow this link which will take you to my original blog post on making my mom's fruitcake complete with pictures which will give you more of an idea of what our traditional fruitcake is all about. 

Should you be having the same problem as I was, for a good glass of dry wine my daughter will be glad to make a house call and fix your system, too.*

*I just made that up.  It would probably take more than a glass of wine for her to make the trip.  On the other hand, maybe not.  She does love to travel . . . 

Our Fruitcake Tradition

One year when my husband was still teaching, someone at school decided to put together a little booklet of food traditions the teachers enjoyed at holiday time.

I kept a copy of the following that Papa Pea submitted.

* * * * * * * *

A holiday tradition in our home is my 

mother's-in-law fruitcake.  Shortly

after I got married, I discovered she

made a fruitcake that was nothing like

the too-sweet, candied fruit concoctions

I had known while growing up.

When we moved from Illinois to Minnesota,

it wasn't always possible for all of us to be 

together for the holidays.  But I can always

look forward to receiving a very heavy

package in the mail --- several loaves

of her fruitcake!

A couple of these loaves get tucked away

in the freezer to bring out for canoe, car or

backpack trips during the year.  (Once my

wife and I existed on hot tea and fruitcake

for three rain-soaked June days on a

canoe trip.)

Each year, we look forward to that fragrant

batch of fruit cake to continue a very special

holiday tradition.

* * * * * * * *

Here I'll add that my father was not happy that my mom baked these loaves of her fruitcake and paid a substantial amount (!) to mail them to us.  Each year he asked if I had the recipe (I did), and why didn't I bake our own holiday supply of it?

Of course, once Mom was no longer able to make the fruitcake, I did take over the tradition but, sad to say, mine has never tasted quite as good as the special ones we received from her.

I know I've posted the fruitcake recipe before, but for some reason my computer is currently refusing to retrieve and give forth recipes previously included in any blog posts.  So, once again, here it is.

Mom's Fruitcake

Mix together in a large saucepan and 

boil for 5 minutes:

1-3/4 cups honey (can use sugar)

1/4 cup molasses

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups hot water

1 cup butter

1 pound raisins

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cool above mixture on counter overnight.

Next day add:

1 egg

1 cup chopped nuts

3-1/2 cups flour (can be part whole wheat)

2 teaspoons baking soda

2-3 cups chopped dried fruit  (Mom liked

one cup of dates and the rest whatever

she had on hand such as dried apples,

apricots, peaches, cherries, figs, etc.)

Put mixture into three greased and floured 

loaf pans and bake at 300 degrees for one

hour and fifteen minutes or until toothpick

inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from pans and cool on racks.  

Slices better after being wrapped and

 refrigerated over night.  Freezes well.

Makes three loaves.

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Good News:  Papa Pea and I got all industrious and thoroughly washed, inside and out, every single window in the whole house this fall.

Bad News:  As of this moment, they look as if they've not been washed in ten years.

 * * * * * * * *

Good News:  We were forecast to get out first real snow (hooray!) of the season yesterday.  We had a beautiful snowfall which was gorgeous to watch.

Bad News:  The temperature was 36 degrees all day.  There's nothing left but a slushy, muddy mess today.

* * * * * * * *

Good News:  We've been researching and designing a new chicken house we'll build in the spring.

Bad News:  Methinks the time spent planning the new chicken house will far exceed the time spent actually building it.

* * * * * * * *

Good News:  I've already baked three big loaves of our delicious traditional holiday fruitcake.

Bad News:  There are presently only three slices of the whole batch left.

* * * * * * * *

Good News:  This past weekend, I made a daily schedule for myself which would enable me to more efficiently get my household chores done of a day while at the same time affording me more time each day to pursue my hobbies and other interests.

Bad News:  It's Wednesday afternoon, and I haven't managed to implement the new schedule yet.