Blogtober: Day 16.

Tried a new cookie recipe this week.

Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies.

They were a hit with both my team

and the family. We'll make this again!

~ Chy

Homemade Cookies.

 

Baking homemade cookies is something

I don't do very much anymore. Part of it

is time ~ when I was a mom at home,

baking fit in to my day with my littles.

But now they're grown, life is so busy

with work and projects, and cookies

have taken a back seat without littles

in the cottage to gobble them all down.

I was excited last week with our "down

the lane neighbors" coming for dinner as

they have 3 kids and the cookies would

be so needed. They loved them and I

did send home some goodie bags. The

cookies were a hit but I wish I had sent

home more as we still have cookies a

full week later! Next time, more will go!

Do you like baking homemade cookies?

~ Chy

Eastern Sun.

I'm so thankful we faced the back of our little cottage to the east. We get this wonderful sun that streams in early and sticks around for a good part of the morning, until lunchtime, when it starts to move towards the south end of our abode. It was a messy sink pic this morning but frankly, with temperatures still stuck in the deep freeze, and a cottage that is all neat and tidy, one spot can be messy! We baked cookies on the weekend and will now have to do more time on the treadmill! But oh, they were so yummy and we still have enough left over for the week, while we wait for the warmth to return. Someone today said that the predicated temperature on Saturday will be +3 C. Wow! To go from - 50 C one weekend, to + 3 C the following weekend is crazy. We'll take it though. Grateful for all we have but wish the weather could be more stable here. So tiring.

I find it hard to deal with bad weather. It could be massive thunderstorms, that increase my stress with thoughts of lightening strikes or possible tornadoes. Too much heat translates to forest fires. Last Summer was the first time since we moved to the country that we were on high alert due to a fire just down the road from us. We are so fortunate to have the best firefighters and they did a brilliant job of putting out a very large fire, without a single home lost. When it snows, it's so pretty and mkaes me feel so cozy, especially when I'm home. But when we have a blizzard with icy roads and very low temperatures. I love our 4 seasons but truly wish we could have warm Winters, with some snow but no blizzards, beautiful Springs but no flooding, warm Summers but no scary storms, and long Falls without threats of early snow storms. My ideal!

Not sure I could live somewhere where there is literally one season. I need the change every quarter, with a break from the hot, or the cold, the wind or the rain. It's fun to to decorate and prepare for each time. Having different sets of clothes and footwear is a pain. But doable. One of my favorite author, L. M. Montegomery, wrote in Anne of Green Gables ~ "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."  The cool crisp air, the crunching falling leaves, and the homeyness of life around us makes Fall my favorite! Ah, Fall! Makes it worth the seasons to get thru the crappy days to get to the good days. Seasons mirroring life!

Do you have 4 different seasons in your area?

~ Chy

Fundraising Cookies.

My family was out today to get some

groceries and stopped to get me a treat.

A white hot chocolate and a special

cookie to support charities in our area.

Yummy!

~ Chy

Halloween Cookies.

 

Dh decided he needed cookies for when

his buds were coming over for a recording.

Dd, aka mama, is the expert cake baker

and decorator in the house and joined in.

Grandbaby was happy to help out with

decorating once the mama did the icing.

Cookies were a great hit, the night before

Halloween, while they recorded a podcast.

Did you have cookies on Halloween?

Or just chocolate and sweet candy?

~ Chy

Yummy Plate.

We don't bake a lot through the year

but as Christmas, we have so much fun.

An example of the treats we've been

trying out. More to come as we go.

~ Chy

Cookies for Santa.

Our grandson wanted to make special

cookies this year for Santa. He chose

this mix of Star Wars and did a great

job baking them with his mom. And

dear old St. Nick loved them! Even

left a very nice note, thanking our

little B for the treat. It was really sweet

to watch the expression on B's face.

Did your family make cookies for Santa this year?

Is this a tradition you carried forward from your childhood?

Melting Moments.

Finally, time to make our favorite cookies!

Recipe book ready.

Ingredients measured out.

Mixing ....

.... mixing ....

.... mixing.

Portioned and ready to go.

The beauty of an AGA ~ baking in layers.

Iced and ready to eat! Love how they melt in the mouth!!

Capture December: Day Twenty-Two.

Hi everyone!

Christmas is getting closer!! Hope you`re feeling excited and ready. Our pantry, fridge and freezer are full, the presents hidden and cards mailed. I have just one thing to get for my dh`s stocking but have to go in to work tomorrow for a bit and can then stop on the way home. Thankfully, I can go to a small shop on my route. I`m was reading today online many stories of the local mall being packed and no parking spots to be had. Happy to skip the chaos!

Today the prompt for the Capture December Photo Challenge is "Tradition" and I chose to focus on the tradition in our home of making cookies. Tonight, we made some yummy sugar, gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies. Our kitchen smells so good. My favorite holiday activity!

Sugar cookies with sprinkles.

Baking all wrapped up!

Gingerbread covered in colors. 

How is your holiday baking shaping up?

Christmas Cookies!

Icing Gingerbread cookies with my girls. 

Started out innocently but turned

into a big gigglefest!

Can't wait to enjoy our creations tonight!

Shopping Tools.

Christmas shopping is something we start early in the year so that we can enjoy the process instead of rushing around. Once the cold weather arrives, we usually only have bits to do but what makes it a truly "Christmacy" experience is the tools we need on hand to set the scene.

 

We need snow, which we have no shortage of in our climate.

 

We need warm coats, mitts and boots. Traipsing from store to store requires warm clothing.

 

We need our list of what still needs to be purchased, a budget, our cloth shopping bags and alternate ideas in case the items we are searching for are not available.

Finally, we need this:

 

White hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream.

 

Then we need this:

Sugary goodies to keep our strength up!

 

I hope our family appreciates the work we go to for

making sure their Christmas is amazing every year!!