Category – ‘Tis the Season

I regret to announce that I failed to take advantage of any Presidents Day sales. Not a single one. Even worse, I didn’t offer Presidents Day deals on any of my books. So if you were hoping for either of these things … sorry to disappoint. On the bright side, I didn’t spend any money!

Just finished frosting the first set of Valentine sugar cookies! A little early because they’re being shipped. Making these cookies is a three-step process. One day to mix the dough, one day to cut and bake, and another to frost. Frosting is the fun, creative part! I love to try new designs and play around with sprinkle combinations! Baking tip: This time of year, when the heater is running and the air is dry, I always use extra large eggs to give the dough a little more moisture. Do you have any tips/tricks to share? Do you bake for Valentine’s

Continue Reading Frosting is the fun part!

I am sooo glad to be almost a week into the shortest month of the year. I can’t wait for longer days without gloves and scarves and coats. We’ve had a surprisingly warm weekend, so I went out and poked around in the yard a bit today. And was cheered to see signs of spring. These little crocus will be blooming soon, a promise that winter will go away again! What do you look forward to most about spring?

I posted recently that our weather in Kansas City this winter hasn’t been that bad (so far). But we have had our share of grey days. Recently, after one long grey day, I was rewarded by this image. There is hope.

Much of the nation has had dreadful weather this winter. But in Kansas City we’ve been relatively fortunate. We had bitter cold just before Christmas, but have had mostly mild weather since then. This week, it looks like we’ll have a brief cold spell, then return to the 50s. That’s warm enough for a walk, which warms my soul as well as my body. How do you define a warm winter?

I got a Timex Weekender Chronograph watch for Christmas. I haven’t owned a Timex since I was a kid, so it was interesting to see what they had to offer these days. Until a few years ago, I hadn’t warn a watch since my twenties. Then I discovered mechanical watches and started a small collection. It’s nice to have a timepiece on my wrist that doesn’t have to be plugged in every night. It just tells me the time and date. And looks pretty good too. While I still love my automatic/mechanical Seiko 5, I also enjoy a nice quartz

Continue Reading Telling Time

About a year ago, we received some free plastic cups from a realtor who works in our neighborhood. I never really looked at the cups until last week, when I read this one. “I’m sorry for the things I said when it was winter.” After the cold spell we endured just before Christmas, this made me laugh. I might have said a thing or two I shouldn’t have. What about winter makes you laugh?

Many years ago, I gave my parents a Waterford set of the Holy Family. And somewhere in her childhood, my daughter acquired a Waterford angel. After my parents died, and after my daughter moved away, I acquired (reacquired?) these items. They are now displayed together on my bookshelf. Not just during the Christmas season, but year around. What “holiday” mementos do you keep on display throughout the year?

We still get a real Christmas tree. Every year I think it might be time to switch to artificial, but so far we still buy real trees. A Fraser fir tree if we can find it. A friend of mine has an artificial tree that looks so real I had to check to be sure she hadn’t put it in water. If I got an artificial tree, I’d want a green one that strives to look real, not a frosted white tree. Which are you — Team Real or Team Fake?

No elf on the shelf in my house, but I have these two figurines of Father Christmas. They both ended up on my mantel this year. Which do you prefer?