Pity Party for One

As much as I love Snow, I truly dislike the day after. Dirty snow clothes, very dirty wood floors, a filthy back porch and a dishwasher worth of dirty dishes found in those boyz' rooms after a day of lounging and snacking. And trust me there was a lot of lounging and snacking going on here yesterday. I don't have a vehicle today or I would ignore it all and get out of here. Maybe TOM or the Birch Bay outlets or whatever...grab the denial and leave it behind. But really I better get back to work.

Off the subject: Last night I made chicken and stuffing. I used the bread cubes that Fred had cut up and froze. They were from the wonderful bag of FREE bread end that you can get at Avenue Bread in Fairhaven in the morning. Sometimes we go and someone has beat us but when we get them oooh we feel lucky. I think it was the rosemary bread that made the stuffing so good. We are going to have to go for breakfast a lot this month to get enough bread ends for our Christmas turkey stuffing. They make good croutons too.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Cozy. Max & I did take the horse and sleigh for a run. It is so much work that I can totally justify hot cocoa, a slice of cake and a nap. We'll be hitting the hot tub later because I will be stiff. Really you have no idea what a workout it is to harness up a horse and sleigh. If we got more snow I'd be pencil thin...really!

Advent

Such a nice evening. Good friends, delicious holiday food, snow and holiday ale. We went to Vern and Shelly's place last night. Picked up Karen on the way and had a low key holiday beginning. We usually take in the Lynden Lighted Parade but it was too cold. The Edaleen Dairy entry came past their place so we did enjoy one entry. Since it was the beginning of Advent I brought the birthday cake. I make this for my guys on their special days & it is a family favorite.

Happy Birthday Cake and Mock Whipped Cream Frosting
1 3/4 c flour--------- 2 eggs
2 c sugar--------- 1 c milk
3/4 c cocoa--------- 1/2 c vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp baking soda--------- 2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking pwd--------- 1 c boiling water
1 tsp salt

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients except boiling water; beat at med. speed for 2 minutes.
Stir in boiling water. Batter will be thin. Pour into two greased and floured 9" pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Use a cake tester. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans. Cool completely.

Mock Whipped Cream
4 T. flour
1 c milk
1/2 c shortening
1/2 butter or marg.
1 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Mix the flour & milk; cook until thick, stirring constantly. Cool thoroughly. Beat on high, using mixer the shortening, butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy and then add the cooled mixture and beat until fluffy.

Let it SNOW!

I love snow! I know many of you don't and you get 350+ days a year of no snow so get over it! I am hoping for enough snow to take Little Bit & the sleigh for evening winter wonderland ride. Photos are from last year, taken by the Snap Sister who is my sister. Bring it on, the more the better. Absolutely no negative snow comments. It is beautiful, I think I'll go sit by my tree next to the window so I can enjoy God's Christmas decorating!

Yay God!

One of the sites that I have on the side of my blog is for Julie Lyons. Julie went home to her heavenly Father last week. I was introduced to Julie's blog through Ali Edwards and have prayed for Julie & her family for months. You can go to the archives and read about Julie's battle with cancer. Through it all she blogged and posted these words, "Yay God!" Amazing story. Get out the box of kleenex before you open it but also get ready to laugh.

Cinderella & the Victorian Christmas Ball

The museum hosted their annual Christmas fundraiser last night. Fred & I left just before midnight so I wouldn't turn into a pumpkin or a very cranky lady. A busy night. And I went to work today just to wrap up the auction etc.
Max told me this morning I might want to get back in the laundry room. Did not want to, Max! But I did and came home from work with a large garbage bag of dirty tablecloths. My house has been on the slow but steady decline that happens with hand surgery, Christmas decorating, going to work. Oh well! I am off to the kitchen to create a honey sesame pork loin, baked potatoes, green salad and carrots with good bottle of pinot noir. Why? Because I have the BEST husband in the world. He worked very hard at the museum fundraiser, took me to the doctor to get my stitches out and he has put up a stunning Christmas light display on our home. I will later post a photo of the lights...after dark and all...