~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!

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

It's finally beginning to look like Christmas here in Ohio because it snowed. I LOVE snow. I mean, I really love it. Okay....not driving in it when it's icy. But snow, I love. Since I was a kid. So...it has finally snowed here. Finally. And it looks like Christmas~

I decided to count all my packing slips to figure out how many orders I had filled. I knew it was a lot. But I was stunned: I sent out 264 packages since Thanksgiving Weekend. Considering that I make each item or items IN those packages....that's a LOT. The orders are still trickling in....but hopefully, the end is near. I have to laugh at the emails I get, with questions of: "When will I get this?" (they don't bother to tell me WHERE they live!!) Even with shipping within 24 hours, they still insist I tell them exactly when the good ol' USPS will deliver their treasures to their mailboxes. (if I could predict that....I wouldn't be making dolls and jewelry!)

At least that explains my fatigue, and the reason I'm mainlining caffeine in any shape or form: coffee, lattes, chocolate, Excedrin, Diet Coke, more chocolate.....

I've finished baking cookies: Snowballs, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Italian Iced Cookies, Thumbprints, Date Squares, Coconut Bars, Hello Dollies, Spritz Cookies, Rum Balls and Decorated Sugar Cookies. Phew! Over 40 dozen cookies. Jim asked last nite why I bake so much every Christmas. Why? My mother did. Always. For the three of us kids. So when I became a mother....I did, too. Always. And now as a grandma...I still do. And always will~

I'm off to see Mom. I'm bringing Christmas cookies. Made from her recipes. Just like she made. Always.

Happy Thursday~