~Welcome 2012~

Happy Happy New Year to all our friends and customers from all of us here at RoseCreekCottage Studios~

Thank you for your patronage through this past year. We truly appreciate your business. It is because of each of you that RoseCreekCottage has grown to be the huge success that it is today~

We will be back in the studio on Tuesday, January 3rd.

~Merry Christmas From Our House to Yours~

May the magic of Christmas fill your hearts and your homes with the love of Baby Jesus~

Have a Blessed Christmas~

Jim, Carol, Rosie...and the staff at RoseCreekcottage Studios~

~Monday Blessings: It Snowed! Yayyyyy God!~

We finally have snow here in Ohio....just in time for Christmas. If you're a regular reader of my blog...you know I LOVE snow!! It looks like a Christmas card here, and brings back all kinds of wonderful childhood memories of sled riding, caroling, and Christmas lights at Nela Park on Sunday nites after leaving our Nonna's house! We're nestled in five acres of woods here in Geauga County....and if you look out any window, you see white! I'm in heaven~

To all of you in warm parts of the world: I don't envy you one bit. It's Christmastime, and to me...that means snow!!!

Have a Blessed Pre-Christmas Week wherever you are in God's big beautiful world~

~It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas~

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here…finally. NE Ohio is usually under lots of snow by this time…and although it’s been very nice not to have to maneuver our cars through icy streets…I really miss it. I LOVE snow. Always have. Always will. So, God……where is it??? We need snow for Christmas. Have the angels up there crank up the snow machines. My grandbabies are gonna be disappointed to come to Grandma’s house and not have it. So, please? It’s my number one Christmas Wish.

But for now….we’ll just enjoy the dusting we have. It IS truly beautiful!!

Katie and Fanny and I spent an afternoon of Marathan-Cookie-Baking to finish up cookies to give for gifts. The house smelled wonderful...the tree is up....it's looking a lot like Christmas.

Rosie and I are working lots of long hours finishing up the Christmas Orders for 2011...and already have a folder full of ordes for January! So...we're off to the studio to finish up some more before the mailman rings the door to pick up more bins of goodies. Have a beautiful Monday, wherever you are in the world~

~Monday Blessings: Christmas Elves~

Today's blessings start with the Christmas Elves in my life these days: Katie and her sister, Fannie.

I saw a commercial the other day that said, "Santa has elves....YOU have Target". With all due respect.....you can keep Target. I'll take my elves!! These two amish girls are helping me more than Target ever could!!

Katie is here 3 days-a-week doing all the polishing, packaging and shipping of orders. She keeps the studio (and me!) organized and running smoothly...which is no small task. Fannie comes with her on Saturdays and cleans and bakes. I feel like I died and went to heaven!! The house looks amazing, and the cookies....well....can you say, "Perfection"? I never realized how cookies could truly look perfectly uniform as well as tasting delicious!!

So....Rosie and I have been in the studio since 4:30. One pot of coffee down.....several to go. We're off to pick up Katie. Have a gloriously productive, blessed day wherever you are in world....and don't forget to thank God for the Christmas Elves in YOUR life!

ps. That my sweet Jim is also up there on my 'Blessings' list goes without saying. He does everything from keeping the coffee coming, to rubbing my sore back and shoulders, bringing me sweet treats and dinner, etc. etc. He is the greatest blessing I have~ xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

~Candy Cane Bark~

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is baking cookies. It was something my mom always did as soon as Thanksgiving was over. She had her traditional ones which my sister and I still bake, but I have added my own 'traditions' over my many years of marriage.

One of our favorites is Candy Cane Bark. It not only tastes 'Christmasy', but looks beautiful on cookie trays, too. And...it's easy!

Candy Cane Bark

1 lb. dark chocolate (I used 1/2 semisweet and 1/2 bittersweet)
1 lb. white chocolate
6 oz. (1 regular package) candy canes, crushed

1. Melt dark chocolate over a double boiler until smooth. Spread in an even layer on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Place in freezer to harden, approx. 30 minutes.

2. Melt white chocolate over a double boiler until smooth. Spread (with an offset spatula) on top of the dark chocolate layer. Working quickly before white chocolate sets, sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top and gently press into the chocolate. Refrigerate until complete hard and set, at least 2 hours.

3. Break into pieces by inserting tip of knife to crack into pieces. Enjoy!

Rosie and I are off to the studio extra early this morning (the orders are stacked to the ceiling) with Peppermint Mocha Coffee and, of course, some Candy Cane Bark. I know I know...it's breakfast time, but hey: Tis the Season!