Christmas Baking or How to have Your Cookies and Eat Them Too!

Thursday, I spent the day making my version of Martha Stewarts' shortbread recipe from her Christmas Book and the Chocolate Chip Quick Oatmeal cookies from the Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer. Then, I made the ganache and dipped the Bavarian style pretzels yesterday. I then spent the rest of day putting together the Christmas cookie plates for my friends and post person and thinking about how I am happy to be baking but not so happy to eat all the results. Christmas baking solves for my heart and gift giving of them solves for my waistline. I didn't take pictures of the cookies but I did take pictures of the pretzels.

Next up, a gluten free cookie for my friend, Sheila, who has Celiac Disease. Going to try out dried cranberry and coconut macaroons.

One on One Journal Exchange

The package from my journal exchangee arrive yesterday afternoon. It was a tough choice whether to wait to open it 'til this morning or tear into yesterday. Well, I tore into it yesterday as I am not that grown up yet, LOL. Here's a fuzzy picture of the box's contents. CHOCOLATE, YARN, travel related bookmark and an Irish themed journal with Celtic Knot endpapers. Thank You! Susan in Ohio.
I am a huge fan of Celtic knot work. I have done knotwork appliqued quilts, loomed beads, needlepointed them, cross stitched them, appliqued an I-Cord knot on a felted bag, put designs on wearables, stamped them on papers and painted them on boxes and signs, and stitched them onto banners for Scottish and other Celtic related events.