Spice of Life

Thanks again for your conversations! I do love the feedback, but regret I'm not always able to respond to them all in kind, but I do try.  And just in case anyone has had trouble leaving comments here, or any other TypePad blog, please know that there was an internal error (read about it here). I wasn't even really aware of it until this morning, so if your comments weren't showing up for some reason, that might explain it.  (For the record, I only block pesky nonsense spewing troll-bots and their cousin mischief-makers from crashing my party.) 

Gosh, so, here it is Friday again, and the final countdown weekend until Christmas.   I think I'm ready.  Every once in awhile another detail I've forgotten pops into my head and I'm off and running again before time runs out.  Speaking of time, tomorrow is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.   I think we have something like only 8 hours and 32 minutes of daylight here in the northwest.  I just want to stay inside and hunker down with a blanket and an old-fashioned holiday movie. It's already getting dark around four o'clock.  Rather than blazing all the lights in the house, we have small-wattage lamps and electric candles sprinkled here and there to cast a glow throughout the rooms and to cut down on electricity usage.   It makes the place feel nice and cozy too even when it's barely above freezing outside and icy cold.  Baking yummy things is good for that too.  Grace got her groove going with the gingerbread cookies yesterday.  She's getting pretty good with that pastry bag, I tell ya.  The Hagel Slag was a gift from our friend John.  You have to love the Dutch for their inventive ways with chocolate, especially first thing in the morning.  These little chocolate sprinkles are for shaking on your toast.  Grace used them on her cookies, but I just ate them straight from that crazy-cute box.  My mouth was so happy!  Oh, that reminds me, better get back to the business at hand. 

Hmmm...decisions, decisions.

Comments

[hensteeth]

I wanted to tell you I have enjoyed your creative blog for many months, and to thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes too.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas.

[mijk]

On behalf of my country: You are welcome. I stronly encourage trying "vlokken" too..

[Judy]

I have only recently found your blog, and I enjoy it very much. You are very creative.
I love it when the days start getting longer, that means spring is coming. Have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.

[toni]

your blog is just darling, and I love coming to it a couple of times a week, (or more,:-) ) to see what chraming things you and your daughters are up too !

[Alicia McElrath]

The gingerbread cookies are so cute! She did a good job! I wanted to come over to your blog and say hello! I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!!

[naturegirl]

May the spirit of Christmas leave its rich blessings in the hearts of you and yours! NG

[Carol]

Hi Vicki, I wanted to stop in and wish you a Merry Christmas.

[cindy]

i see someone else has a taste of home subscription too! ;] hope you have a wonderful holiday season vicki!

[Laura]

Merry Christmas!!

God Jul!!

Laura

[jessi nagy]

have a very merry christmas!
Jessi Nagy

[sabine]

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the beautiful pictures and inspiration you give with your blog!

[mia]

happy holidays!!!

[polish]

Wishing you Peace Love and Joy for the coming year.