Until January 1...

More goodies - I HAD to freeze some of my cookie gifts!

Yard man's family teens made these!

I didn't know the meaning of mushrooms during this season. Mushrooms honor the reverence for nature and hopes for good luck in the coming year! A nearby neighbor who just dropped these dear little cookies off for me came from Lithuania and she was so proud to deliver them, saying "I made these!" 

I've been busy today catching up with files and other necessary things that I do every year. I'm working on a family collage instead of the usual annual list of things that happened in my life during 2022. 

Let me share my last photomanipulation of the year.  A gift was shared for three of us!

And........it is still very cold outside! I'm staying IN!

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The Past Remembered

I wrote this in 2008. It was a fun thing for us to do for my parents.

CHRISTMAS SQUIRRELS

Memory Story

For many years it was financially difficult to give great holiday gifts to my parents. We figured out a way to surprise them with a gift each year and the plan snowballed from the first year thereafter. Because their wedding anniversary was August 12 and they were married in 1934, this was what we did.

August is the eighth month of the year and for eight months, starting in May, we purchased one specialty product a month. It was the start of a stash which, by December would consist of eight items. The items were grocery edible types of which they, being very frugal, wouldn't buy for themselves because it would be considered extravagant and extravagance was considered to be a "No! No!"

After watching their pleased reactions of receiving the contents of the brown bag for a  few years, it was decided that eight special grocery selections weren't enough so we started stockpiling in January buying one "anything" article a month for twelve months. The hoard was difficult for us not to raid when desire for an item was strong, but determination prevailed.

Now you might correctly guess what would happen after that! Yes! Thirty-four elements were saved, three a month for eleven months and one more in December. This became an annual ritual. Oh! What fun it was to see the surprise as each piece was pulled from those brown bags! "Oohs!" and "Ahhs!" were uttered and appreciation and delight were shown for the choices of objects they now had. Their response was wonderful and sweet to see.

It's those times that we remember fondly at Christmastime.

For your question of "Just WHAT did you purchase?" Here's what I remember:

 

• can of red sockeye salmon

• can of smoked oysters

• can of lobster bisque soup

• can of New England style clam chowder

• can of skinless-boneless sardines

• can of asparagus spears

• can of artichoke hearts

• canned ham

• canned brown date bread

• canned pecans and peanuts

• jar of tiny baby gherkins

• jar of marmalade

• jar of mint jelly

• jar of honey butter

• box of gingerbread snaps

• box of hard, round oyster crackers

• box of peanut brittle

• bar of cheddar extra sharp cheese

• Constant Comment tea

• amaretto liqueur

• figs and dates and cumquats

• pomegranate

• toasted coconut macaroons

• Black Jack chewing gum

• Teaberry chewing gum

• Licorice Allsorts

• Walnetto caramel candy

• Root beer barrels

• ribbon candy

• maple leaf candy

• Bay Rum aftershave

• Apple Blossom Cologne

• Lifebuoy bar soap

• Vermont maple syrup

GMR - December 20  (Pop Nulton's birthday)

Gift Thoughts

Two of my daughters know me very well and sweet sugary stuff is a real treat. Also another pewter ornament for my ceramic tree this year is an angel. She is beautiful. In the cupboard is a good supply of spirits as well. 

Two trays of homemade cookies arrived here last evening. YIKES! How I love them and appreciate the work that my two cherished friends completed. Sharing is one of my favorite activities and these are heartfelt gifts that came my way.

One never knows what will happen when one loans a large ancient cookie cutter to a friend, along with a recipe. I know personally that it is a challenge to make these as I did many years ago. It seems that Ginger Jack was out playing in today's snow.

And one of my cookie-bakers has exposed one of my secret loves - a lunchtime treat that I REALLY like! The bean tree for me - all for me! Who knew? Small but mighty.....

As I write this blog, I have a special CD that was sent by friends in HI playing on the old computer with the fantastic sound resonating from the beams and log walls. It is HAPA Holidays. And, Joyful Red is growing well. 

So folks, think positive, share, and be kind. This is the only life you will ever have so don't worry - be HOPPY!

Recipe Link

Don't forget to tap image to see goodness

 

Sweet Treats

Foodie! Sweet Foodie! Yep! That's right... Holiday gifts for the Foodies.

Assorted Italian dark chocolate pralines filled with liqueur cream Cointreau, Zabaglione, Cherry, and Grappa-Peach are "intoxicating" in flavor and fragrance.

The pure butter shortbread assortment of Walkers, a product of Scotland are almost gone already! Good milk dunkers.

How about a Bon Bon? Would you like a dark or a milk chocolate caramel cream? We have both. They melt in your mouth.

What is the holiday without a box of chocolate covered cordial cherries or marzipan? I cannot imagine it. The marzipan must be in the shape and colors of real fruit! Each remarkable treat is a moist, and perfectly shaped morsel. They scream, "More! More!"

Of course the green glass shaped Christmas tree was already needing a refill and there were exactly more of the same Andes Creme de Menthe Thins to fill the job.

We opened them all and indulged.

Don't judge.