You've Got Mail.

It's fun getting presents at Christmas time.  Pretty packages all tied up with ribbon.

It's really nice though to get packages from far away.  From people you've never met face to face but you feel like you've known them forever.

Packages with things in them like this:

Unexpected parcels  from other countries.

All the way from Italy!  Thank you Bobbi I haven't tasted them yet.

The greatest gift I have received through blogging though is making so many fantastic friends from all around the world.  My friends are the best gift ever! Thank you all for putting up with me on this blog and allowing me to share my life with you a little bit.  I hope we all have the best New Year ever in 2012.


p.s. Skype is a modern day miracle.

Back to Business.

Yesterday Mr LC and I brainstormed some items for my Etsy shop.  As you know, I will be featured in this magazine so I figured I better start loading up on some new things.  I decided to try some aprons.  I just wish I had Janet to model them for me!

At the very least, I wish I had one of those old style dressmakers forms.  Anyone have one for rent?

Christmas Day.

Did he see Santa???

I hope everyone had a cracker of a day.  Good friends and family, good presents, and most important of all, Good Eats!

It's Christmas Eve.

We're having a white Christmas here Gentle Readers.  It just doesn't seem like Christmas without snow.  We have much to be thankful for this year, especially the safe arrival of our first grandchild.

No, he didn't arrive under the Christmas tree.  He must be either waiting for Santa or he thinks he's a present.

anime.desktopnexus.com

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.  Isiah 9:2

I wish each and everyone one of you, my friends near and far, a joyful and happy Christmas.  God bless us every one!

Tree Trimmings.

The weather hasn't been cooperating for photos of my tree.  I just snapped a few today.

Here's an old favourite from my childhood. It's getting tarnished but who cares?

I got this one for Mr LC a few years ago.

I love these birds.

Daughter #1 crafted Mr LC's coat of arms many years ago.

Here's the real one.

Another old dear.

Got to go.  It's a one dog night. Brrr...

Broken Item of the Week.

Yes folks, it's that time again.  Yesterday Daughter #1 came over and we trimmed the tree.  I was in the kitchen so I know it wasn't me when I heard a tinkle of breaking glass in the living room.  This is what I found:

Now don't feel badly.  All of our ornaments are glass and many are vintage from my tree and Mr LC's from our childhood.  This little house is fairly new.  No one is copping to the crime.  Let me show you the front of the ornament and you'll see why we were all kind of relieved the thing broke.

Does that house look like a face to you?  It does to us and it's kind of creepy.  I think the tree may have thrown the thing off because it was embarrassed to be wearing such a decoration.  I guess we'll never know.

The Weather Report.

Last night I had another interesting email conversation with my buddy Steve from An Urban Cottage .  He usually apprises me of the weather situation in the Boston area because in a day or two we get the same weather up here most of the time.

Last night he wanted to know how cold it was here because it seemed to be cold enough down there for him to wear a hood.  I told him it was about -7C but that I can't translate that into Fahrenheit anymore.  I decided to post a pictorial representation of the chilly weather here:

Cold Much?

Favourite Things.

Do you remember waaay back when you were a child having a favourite cup or maybe a spoon?  It could have been a special cereal bowl.  I remember having a favourite spoon.  Was I annoyed if anyone else mybrother used it!
When we get older we're supposed to put away childish things aren't we?  Not Mr LC.

 

Official Mug Shot

He now has a special mug and woe betide if anyone else me even thinks of using it.  One of the fellows he met in the Dominican Republic gave it to Mr LC as a parting gift.  He took a real liking to my hubby and even invited him to his home for dinner. The meal alone was a real sacrifice because most of these people can barely afford to feed their families let alone a guest.

The day Mr LC left for home the young man presented him with the coffee mug. Another sacrifice because he had to spend precious money to buy the mug.  Mr LC was deeply touched by the generosity of this young man.

Another Official Mug Shot

 

 

 

Mr LC told me the strange thing was that everyone has a smart phone.  They pay for minutes as they go.  No cellphone plans there.  It's great because Mr LC is able to stay in touch with some of the guys through Facebook.  Sometimes the translation gets a bit confused though.  Hubby thought he told one fellow who posted a picture of his family that he had three pretty sisters.  It turns out  he said he had three pretty to die.  Whoops. Maybe he should get some Spanish lessons for Christmas, you think?

I Do What I'm Told.

 UPDATE:  Note to self; Do not use organic canola oil in place of salad oil.


Due to popular demand re my earlier post today,  I reveal the mysteries of this cookie.  Or biscuit.  Depending on where you live.

Here is the recipe for Sugar Cookies:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
5 cups of flour                                                
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup margarine or butter
1 cup salad oil
1tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Mix margarine, oil, and sugars. Add eggs, then dry ingredients.  Roll into small balls and press down on ungreased cookie sheet with a glass dipped in sugar.  Bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes.

I used Martha Stewart Holidays sanding sugar in red instead of regular sugar.

I couldn't find a photo of Martha's but you get the idea.

Oh, and by the way, Mr LC says they taste like fish.  Guess what he's getting for Christmas.

Holiday Prep.

Daughter #1 has proclaimed tomorrow to be Christmas Baking Day.

 

 

 

Eat your heart out Martha!

 

I just do what I'm told.  So be it.

Shameless Promotion.

Take a look at this video.  Tara and Jeff are friends of ours.  Tara and Daughter#1 have been friends since primary.  Besides having a beautiful voice, she plays a mean fiddle.  Enjoy.

Yes, this is where we live.  All.Winter.Long.

Mail Call.

This is what I found in my mailbox yesterday:

And in other breaking news my grandbaby is getting saucy:

seven weeks

Talk to the hand!

p.s. Please ignore all that baby truck in the background.

Cross Cultural.

Here is Grandbaby ready to go out into the cold and wind:

Burka Baby!