Where has the time gone?

You know… it seems like “just the other day” when my daughter and I built that snow fort — in our front yard. That happened in January 2011, and now we’re quickly approaching the end the new year.

It’s been an eventful year, filled with the accomplishments, challenges, and a few unexpected deaths that invaded our lives, but I cannot complain.

This school year, my daughters involved in a lot more activities. She still plays piano, but know she’s involved with a choir group which meets every Wednesday (right after school). I’m still volunteering with her schools class, and now the church — and so my hands are full.

Thus far, this has been my busiest week in December . My daughter has a musical rehearsal on Saturday, later that day she has her piano recital, and Sunday is the Christmas musical.

Christmas Decorations

Our church is having a Christmas musical, and I’ve offered to make decorations for the Christmas trees. The play is set in during the depression era, and so the decorations that I’m creating are items you’d most likely see on a Christmas tree from that period — well for those who could afford a tree.

Christmas Baking

As a child, decorating Christmas cookies in anticipation for the upcoming holiday was something I always looked forward too. I have many fond memories of decorating cookies with my mother. The kitchen was warm, and my brother and I were able to choose a cookie cutter to cut our Christmas butter cookies. My favorite was the Christmas tree cookie cutter. My brother wasn’t as particular, and would pick any cookie cutter that was free.

My brothers baking days were cut short after he dipped the spoon in the batter one too many times. My mom banished him into the living room — and so ended my brothers cooking days. Which was fine by him. He only wanted to decorate cookies, and lick the remaining batter that was left over from the bowl.

In the early days, my parents didn’t have a lot of money. When I think back, my brother and I weren’t really aware of that fact — and it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. My parents were resourceful. My mother was a stay at home mom until my brother and I were in our early teens. Then she went to college, and acquired her nursing degree.

Speaking of holiday baking, Erika of the Fur Lined Teacup usually has something delicious to share, and I always enjoy to see what she’s baking — especially during the holidays. Check out the Christmas cookies she made this year, and if you want the recipe you can get her  Merry Christmas cookie recipe, My daughter and I will be making them next weekend.  I’ll be making a vegan and non-vegan version.

Question: Any plans for this month? If so, let us know what you’re doing in the comment section.

Completely off topic…

No reason to add these videos, I did it just because…

I’ve always loved Etta James’; Something Got a Hold on Me. Etta’s song came out in the early 1960s. That was a little before my time, since I was born until the 1970s. While driving, a few months ago, I heard a remake of her song by Flo Rida titled Good Feeling.