How to tell that you're really behind on Christmas tasks ....

• It's ten days before Christmas and you're still finishing up the fall placemats you hoped to use in November!  (See great tutorial on easy placemats over at I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts.  Yes, they are easy; but you still have to plan enough hours in the day to finish them!)
• You have the full-blown flu including a low-grade temperature, aches and pains.  Therefore, your mental and physical speed is about 15 mph instead of 95 mph.
• The gifts are wrapped - whoo hoo!  None of them, however, have bows or gift labels (unless you consider green post-it notes labels).
• The most important thing on today's "to-do" list is to convince DH that we can skip the holiday letter this year.
• Thoughts of making any last-minute homemade gifts flew out the window about 2 a.m. this morning when the latest coughing spell took over.
• DD called to ask what cookies I would be making so we don't have duplicates.  Cookies?  I'm supposed to make cookies?
• Today's weather is cloudy, damp, and gloomy - a perfect reflection of my holiday spirit.

I'll feel better tomorrow - promise.  Please, Santa!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Someone brought the flu bug to Thanksgiving dinner!  DH and I have been sick on and off since Turkey Day.  Our son, Matt, also caught the bug as did all five members of our daughter's family.  Now, several in the family have either had relapses or succumbed to another bug.  Fortunately, everyone is muddling through and getting on with Christmas preparations.


Little Helper - Jackson



I had a blast the week before Thanksgiving looking for appropriate designs to put on aprons for the kidlets.  The pictures aren't the greatest, but you can get an idea how they turned out.  Unfortunately, only Talia was interested in donning her apron and actually helping in the kitchen!



Tasha still naps in the afternoon, so a full day of family and festivities without a nap just about did her in.  So much fun, however, watching her explore the house and play with the toys that we keep here - all new to her!  Jackson rushes into the house and immediately heads to the toy box and demands that we empty the entire box so he can dig right in.  Tasha's apron says "More sprinkles, please!"  Couldn't resist this design since our daughter loves to bake, and she often sends me phone pics of the kidlets mixing the dough at the kitchen counter.

More sprinkles, please!



Sugar & Spice - Talia



Thanksgiving is all about traditions, of course, and one of ours is that the kidlets go on a walk with Grandpa collecting colorful fall leaves to adorn the table.  We started this tradition at Talia's first Thanksgiving.  She was all of 9 months old!  Miss T., the elder, is now closing in on 5 and has graduated to working with Grandma to decorate Oma's Thanksgiving table.  Note how seriously she takes her decorating!

Miss T.., the elder, aka Martha Jr.

I'm just about ready to take the turkey carcass out of the freezer and make soup.  Although it's unseasonably warm in Southern California today (supposed to hit 80 degrees), the weather will turn cool and rainy towards the end of the week.  Soup weather .... here's a very good recipe for Turkey Rice Soup.  Enjoy!

TURKEY SOUP WITH RICE

1 turkey carcass
2 stalks celery with leaves -- coarsely chopped
2 carrots -- coarsely chopped
1 onion -- peeled and quartered
1 bay leaf
8 cups water
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 cups chopped carrots
1 cup uncooked rice
2 cups chopped leftover turkey
1 cup frozen or leftover corn
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, combine carcass, celery, carrots, onion, bay leaf and water and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours over medium low heat.  Strain and discard vegetables and bones.  Reserve turkey stock.  In a large pot, melt butter and cook onions until tender. Stir in celery and thyme. Stir in carrots and rice and toss to coat. Stir in turkey stock and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables and rice are tender, approximately 30 minutes.  Stir in turkey, corn, and parsley. Return to simmer and season to taste.

Off to Twin Lakes!

Doug and I spent all day getting ready for our annual trip to Twin Lakes in the Sierras. Friends of ours from Thousand Oaks rent a house every year and invite us to tag along for a few days. Our son, Matt, has been going on this annual fishing expedition for quite some time. We'll be visiting with Polly & John, their son, Jeff, as well as Matt. Maybe others! One never knows just who will show up at the cabin.

I'm expected to bring beef stroganoff for one of our dinners and Aunt Glo's Best Brownies. This is a recipe from the book Country Baking which is a rich, gooey brownie - yummy! I think Jeff's girlfriend, Rebecca, ate half the pan last year. The best thing about this recipe is that you just throw everything in one bowl and mix away - no sifting, no blending, no beating. Simple, simple, simple.

Aunt Glo's Best Brownies

1 c. margarine

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. cocoa

2 t. vanilla

4 eggs

1 c. chocolate chips

powdered sugar, optional

Melt margarine in a large bowl in the microwave. Blend in all other ingredients. Bake at 350 in a greased and floured 13 x 9 pan for 25 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar while still warm if desired.

Later in the week, we'll be driving through Yosemite on our way to a B&B in Three Rivers. We'll stay three nights while we explore Kings Canyon and Sierra National Parks. We haven't been to either one in quite some time. This part of California is exquisitely beautiful and well worth a return visit.