Changing Tides, Catch Phrase & Cooling Racks

Tides are the rising and falling of Earth's ocean surface caused by the tidal forces of the Moon and the Sun acting on the oceans.

Rainer Maria Rilke in Letter to a Young Poet wrote,

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answers.

Changing tides gradually reflect the ebb and flow of the water's edge like answers to questions that may come 'along some distant day'.

Every year, I try to find a fun gift to give to the whole family. This year, I bought "Catch Phrase". It's actually a game my mother introduced us to a couple of years ago.
We had company over for a post Christmas dinner last night and had a blast playing this game. You play in teams and pass an electronic hand held game that displays a word in a category you choose.
You try to get your team mates to guess your word without you saying it-only by offering clues. My three year old was so funny. She demanded a turn. Although, she can't yet read.
She understood the game entirely though! We'd give her a turn and she'd dramatically jump to the center of the room holding the game. She'd choose a word on her own not prompted by what it said on the screen. One time she chose the word 'wheel' and very cleverly acted it out. We guessed it in time.
When I think about her I realize she definitely lives by Rilke's idea that the point is to live everything. Like the constantly changing tides I remind myself to be patient with her.

As for what I received for Christmas- a whole new array of baking dishes, cookie sheets, three tier cooling racks, mixing bowls... I can't wait to get into the kitchen to start baking again.

Seven Swans-a-Swimming

Merry Christmas!

I took these pictures late this morning from my cell phone camera. So, forgive the quality.
After opening the presents Santa dropped by our tree and having breakfast as a family I got to sneak away to my favorite spot for a long walk. I had to dress warm. I had gloves, a hat, my new long winter coat, two pairs of socks and a sweater over my clothes.

In the little pond on the back side of the walking trail there were actually seven swans swimming in the water. I always catch swans on my walks there-but usually there are two maybe three at most. If you look real close at the picture on the top you can (somewhat) make them out in the distance.

Baked Goodies for a Baker, Time Management & Snickerdoodles

Friends and neighbors have been dropping by this week and offering delicious and beautiful baked goods. Every time I receive one of these treats the giver always says, "Well, I hope you like it. Baking for a baker is so hard"-or something to that affect.

The truth is I really love when people bake for me. I am always amazed at how different each recipe is from the next- a little variation can change an old favorite a lot. I also notice that the way someone bakes can reflect the personality of the person who made them!

I never went to school for baking. I have just over the years sampled, studied and explored all types of baked goods, cookbooks and recipes. Not to mention, with an always hungry family- I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Experience is a great teacher.

As for time management, I thought I was ahead of the curve this year--finally! I'd finished my shopping, cleaned the house, bought and even wrapped my gifts all before Friday! I felt like saying, Ta-Dah! Partly, because this is unheard of for me.

I was looking forward to having a relaxed, stress free weekend. That is, until my older two kids reminded me they needed to buy there gifts. So much for a weekend with a bit of time on the couch, with tea and a good book, a long walk, hanging out with friends. Instead I had to bring them to shop both Saturday and Sunday for Holiday presents that they can give to there family and friends. People really do get a little crazy at this stage of the game and so much for time management.

Remember Snicker doodles? Those yummy sugar cookies with an attitude of cinnamon? They are in my oven and I hear the timer calling me now...

'Hot Cockles' & Holiday Humor

"Hot cockles" was a popular game at Christmas in medieval times. It was a game in which the other players took turns striking the blindfolded player, who had to guess the name of the person delivering each blow. "Hot cockles" was still a Christmas pastime until the Victorian era.

As my three year old might say, 'that's weird!'

As for a little holiday humor, that is if the phrase 'hot cockles' isn't funny enough:

What do you call the fear of getting stuck in a chimney?
Santaclaustrophobia

hee hee ha ha ho ho ho...

Early Christmas Present & Merry Christmas!

A very sweet friend of mine, she is actually a long lost relative that I have recently reconnected with shared this with me a few months back. I love it. Click on the link or paste it into your browser and grab a cup of hot tea, egg-nog or cocoa and enjoy! It is very beautiful. It can best be viewed on a larger screen. I've decided to share it here as an early Christmas present.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUDIoN-_Hxs

Merry Christmas!

True Confessions of a Cookie-a-'Holic', Ice Capades & My Wish-List

The truth is I have been somewhat of a bad girl today. My youngest and I started baking right after the kids left for school. We promised to make sugar cookies for her holiday party tomorrow. I might just be a little delirious from the stress of the holiday but the cookies are calling me by name today.

The house is warm from the oven. There is a buttery sweet scent that fills the air. What I am trying to say is they are very hard to resist. My count today has been: One for the school, One for me! One for the school. One for me! At this rate I can kiss any more cute holiday outfits good bye!

Falmouth doesn't have a real Ice Capades. It's my own drive-way and the road directly adjacent to it. It was cold this morning and the kids didn't want to walk down to the bus. The baby hadn't woken up yet-she was safe in her bed with the door closed. We only had a minute to spare. The bus stop is right down the street. We decide to hop in the car and try to make it before she realizes I was gone for even a second. The plan was to drop them off then race back.

As we start to pull away we see her in her bedroom window with the saddest look on her face. Naturally, I couldn't just leave. The clock was ticking. My daughter jumps out practically falls on the ice to wait with her. I peel away on the ice to get my son there before the bus leaves. Since we are trying to hurry- naturally we get stuck on the ice. Somehow, I make it there and back to get my other daughter to her bus and wrap my youngest in a warm blanket. I quickly strap her in the back seat of the car almost falling on the ice again. We manage to get my other daughter to the bus stop just in the nick of time. As I drive back home it occurs to me I am still wearing my PJ's.

My Christmas Wish List:
A busstop that is right outside the front door.
Someone who will shovel the snow as it falls.
Sand and Salt to keep it from getting too slippery. (My husband would be really good at this one.)
A little willpower to stop eating more of my delicious holiday cookies.

Women: Amazing & Beautiful!

Last night I stopped by a friends house because they were having there annual holiday open house. At least 200 people must have stopped by there home throughout the night. The woman's house looked gorgeous. The food, desert and punch were all amazing! This is a woman with four children. I asked her if she did all the baking and she said she did. As a baker, I get how much work it all is. As far as decorating I know she has a passion for it so she took care of that too. Not only did she have a cute outfit on she was available for friendly conversation as well. I felt truly in awe of this woman. Her passion, heart and love for her family and friends were obvious!
I took a Feminism class in College. The class explored remarkable women throughout history. At the time, I was still a girl-not quite fully a 'woman'. Looking back, I have such a better appreciation of there accomplishments now that I know what women in general are expected of.
Women have always worked hard. We just haven't always been recognized for it. John Muir said about beauty that everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. I would say this is especially true for women.
I think women are at there most beautiful when they not only care for others but care for themselves too! The holidays can be challenging for women. We take care of a lot of things that no one else is going to do. Today, in honor of all women I will balance my baking and holiday shopping with not only a steaming hot bubble bath but candles and a cup of hot tea too.

Ultimate Yankee Swap

"Oh...the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful..." --really it is!

The storm we'd been promised has arrived. It was kind enough to pack its punch well after we returned home from a friend's Christmas party last night. They are the kind of friends that make living on the Cape truly worthwhile. They're fun and they are always up for a good time. They have a tradition at there holiday party to host a 'Yankee Swap'. It's a fun game of passed presents to get everyone in the holiday spirit. The best Yankee Swaps have a mix of hot desired gifts and cool 're gifts'.
My husband decided to make a 'First Aid Tree' as his gift. It stood at about six feet tall! Well at least people noticed us when we arrived.
Twenty minutes before we were supposed to head out for the party I hear him in the basement with a drill and a hammer. He bought all kinds of first aid trinkets from band-aids to gauze to rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide and attached them to a tree made out of scrap wood. He also added a hefty 'hand' for holiday 'hangovers' with things like Advil and a cold compress. If it didn't look so outrageous it really was a great gift idea.
What made this swap 'ultimate' is that the girl who chose it in the swap had a deep gash on her finger. I guess she made a crab dip with sliced bread to share as an appetizer and before she left for the party she sliced her finger while cutting the bread. She said they were out of band-aids at her house so she actually had a bit of paper towel held on with a rubber band to protect the gash. She told us after how perfect the gift was for her. That all the items would really come in handy.
Come to think of it, I forgot to ask her if the large 'tree' would even fit in her car.

Best Recipe for Peppermint Bark & Sunshine

Last year I passed these out as holiday gifts. They couldn't be easier-and it really tastes delicious.

What you'll need:

Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate. Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)
Place in decorative bags and tie with ribbon.

The weather forecasts a Nor'easter to arrive after midnight. Right now it is bright and gorgeous and sunny. It's hard to believe we will be hit with another storm before the weekend ends. It looks so pretty right now the way the sun reflects on the snow.

Mourning Doves & Hot Cocoa with White Chocolate

The kids are on their way to school this morning. They were disappointed to hear of no cancellations due to snowy weather. They will have to wait until later to make snowmen, slide down the little hill near the house and invite neighborhood kids over for cocoa.

When we opened the side door so they could more easily make their way across the wintry white yard down to the bus stop three mourning doves immediately took flight from our large evergreen that grows out there. Mourning doves are a medium-sized bird, have a small head and a long pointed tail. It has a light brownish body and the tail has white on the outer edges. There sound is a low mourn. It was fun to be greeted by them.

Later this morning I am venturing out to bring old friends a homemade holiday treat. I promised the kids I would be back in time to have hot cocoa ready for them when they return. We like to make our hot cocoa with milk and drop little bits of white chocolate chips in the bottom of our cups.