No surprise- it has been crazy around here. I’m not very good at maintaining my sanity around this time of year. There is never enough time, everything seems out of control and this year seemed worse then usual. I always look forward to the first week in January when life returns to normal. Sort of.

I went on a cookie making toot- got to start with chocolate of course… and once I was in the cake decorating store there are so many fun things to look at. I had to get these chenille fir trees- I am sure they’ll come in very useful for something! and the flowers… they even sold edible glitter there!

here is my chocolate melting-

so I can dip the biscotti-

some classics- I have great admiration for people who make beautifully decorated sugar frosting cookies- not one of my skills!

then I found an old issue of Fine Cooking that had some great recipes-

lime nut-

and these spice cookies came out just like in the photo!

there are about 4 other types that I haven’t photographed. These will be our family gifts. I’ve also been knitting, sewing, cooking and cleaning- busy, busy busy. Pictures of the projects will hopefully be posted after Christmas. It will be very strange to have Christmas without Eleanor here. She is experiencing the Holiday in the Southern Hemisphere. WE MISS YOU!!!!

Tonight we will have fondue from Brandy at Loosetooth. The perfect food for teenage boys. Nothing like a new tradition- yum!