Making A List, Checking It At Least Twice!

I forgot to mention, in my last post, that I'm also managing the Advent calendar by myself this year.  Usually, we take turns adding ornaments, but it's just too much hassle each day trying to get everyone to appreciate the holiday spirit and be part of the festivities for 25 days straight.  Works better when I can offer holiday "spirits," to get chores done, and that just doesn't seem right at 8:00 a.m.

We have an advent calendar that my mother made for the boys when they were little.  It's sort of like the one pictured here, but a little worn and some of the ornaments have broken a bit.  And, each ornament has a safety pin that holds it to the tree.  In an attempt to make it look "clean," I pin from the back.  A nicer look, but as of day 20, today, I have pricked my finger at least 20 times trying to get the darned things attached to the calendar.  "Sigh," it's tradition. I would have taken a picture of ours, but the camera batteries died after it was left on all night.  I went to use the battery charger.  That had burnt out, due to whatever short has taken place in the outside lights.

Speaking of the outside lights, I did manage to take the whole light unit apart only to find that it's just fine...must be something with one of the strings.  I was able to put a red light bulb in the unit, so at least we have some light at the entrance and left the strings unplugged, until I can get time to check them out.  I had forgotten the reference of a red light at the entrance to some.  I find that a number of cars slow down as they go by the house; several police vehicles included, who seem to peer diligently as they pass.

Anyway, here's what the house looks like now, on the left (sort of).  Festive, right?  Hopefully, we'll have some bright, multi-colored, lights going again soon.

The Christmas cards, you ask!

Yes, we did a marathon writing and signing, trying to personalize each card, and then addressed, stuffed with our annual newsletter, licked shut, stamped, and sticking a seasonal seal on the back.  Several cards had to be reopened, as by the time we got around to doing some of the "extra" work with each card, we forgot who to address them to.

But here they are, ready to be mailed.  The wife loves mail!

Hmmmm...guess I forgot that step...oh well, there's always tomorrow.  Does anyone know if the Post Office is guaranteeing next day delivery for regular mail?

Tomorrow is an important day.  First day of winter, Mayan collapse day, shortest day of the year, and the day I take cookies to work.  That marathon "wrapping of the cookies" took place last night.  Last Sunday, I made the cookie dough.  Monday, I rolled it all out and using my Christmas cookie cutters, I cut and baked 97 dozen cookies.  Yep, 1164 cookies that made it to the oven...probably lost another dozen in process, but it is a family Christmas record.  Took a breather for a couple of days to go to work (to pay for all of this and more) and then last night started the decorating process.

All of the cookies get laid out on tables, I mix the icing, bag it, squeeze it, try to make some sort of lines on each that looks like something.  Using red and green frosting helps...solves about 90% of the holiday guessing.  Is that a Christmas cookie?  It's red and green...must be.  I work off the abstract method of icing; sort of follow the lines, squiggle here and there...makes for a quick event...got them all done inside of four hours.


Here are some pictures of that event.

Tonight, I wrapped cookies by the dozen in baggies and tied with string to take to work as gifts.  I will sit in front of each recipient and make sure they eat them.

After all of the hard work I put into them, I want to be sure they enjoy them, as I stare at them intently and keep asking them if they like them!

It's really not a holiday without some pressure, you know.

Four days before the eve and I'm trying to think what else needs to be done.  If I get those cards out and fix those lights...oh yeah, the tree!  We got it up off the street and into the house and it's standing up!!!  I have an hour or so before bedtime tonight, maybe I can get some lights on it (if I can find them and they still work!).

We are actually planning on decorating it by week's end.  We have to plan to do it, or come Tuesday why bother?  I could just drag it out on the deck, at that point, and hang bird seed bells from it and let nature take it's course...there's a thought.

Still, something missing.

Shopping!!!  I guess there are folks here who are expecting gifts.  Bummer.

You see, that's one thing that's wrong with Christmas.  People expect me to buy them gifts.  Isn't it better to give than receive?  I am ready, willing and able to receive to make the holiday more meaningful for others who want to give and who will benefit from that process.

Okay, guess the stores will be open 24/7, for the next few days, and I do have one day off between now and the holiday.  I'm sure I can find that one perfect gift for each person inside of eight hours.  Haven't failed yet (or at least I haven't been told that I have) over all the years.

Guess I should go attend to something on what is now a long list of need to do!  Might have two of those checked off???

 I'll let you know how things work out in a few days.

Merry Christmas!

Who's a Christmas Sugar Cookie Monster?

Update....the cookies are done!  Started early this a.m. and managed to get all ninety dozen decorated and packed away by 3:00 p.m., EST.  You might say it's a monstrous chore, but it's a happy and good tasting one!

The process starts with taking all of the holiday decorations off the tables in the dining room and kitchen, moving all of the chairs out of each room, and clearing off the counters to make room for frosting creation and utensil disarray (it gets messy).  Basically, un-decorating these rooms after we spent time getting them ready for the holidays!

We put everything back after the frosting extravaganza, but it's worth it.
 

My wife took care of moving all of the aforementioned hardware.  I secured all of the secret ingredients (I told you before I wasn't sharing that), and started laying out the baked cookies on the empty table space.  The dining room table gets all three leaves installed, so it's about ten feet long, and the kitchen table gets covered too.

Here, on the right and just below, are what some of them look like pre-decoration.  With so many to fix up for the holidays, these first two table fulls have to be frosted and left to dry.  Then we pack these up and do the process all over again with the balance of the cookies.

A very crucial part of the whole process is quality control and inventory.  We end up losing a dozen or so to on-going taste testing...we do have some "cookie monsters" in the house, and I do understand that the product is checked so that they are good from start to finish.

It's a tough job, but, well you know.

Now, I will admit that I do like the things myself, but I try to control myself...it's the season of giving and I attempt to keep as many as possible for gifting and sharing over the holidays.

This year, as I have in each year past, I keep a tally of the frosted cookies as I put them away for safekeeping.


I always prepare and use the green frosting first, and start with the trees. Apart from the fact that they are my favorite design (each shape tastes different...really!), I make sure all of the trees get some green frosting and then move on to the red.  With extra green frosting, and I seemed to have more of it than usual, I hit the bells, stars and reindeer.

The red gets applied to the boots and Santas, and then as added decoration to the trees, stars and bells.

Then it's on to white!  Santas and boots need it for trim, and then the extra goes to, yes, the bells, stars and reindeer.

When all is said and done, these two shots represent what the cookies look like:

 

My wife was keeping track of my "handling" of the cookies and as I was putting away the last cookies and cleaning up wondered out loud, "Just how many of those things did you eat?"

"Why," I asked?

"Well," she said, "Let me take your picture and see if you can figure it out!"

Here I am after this day's work:

OOPS!!!  Snagged..guess I'm a Christmas Sugar Cookie monster.  Sort of look like one, too!

What kind of cookie are you?  They have quizzes to figure that out...here's one, while you're waiting for your cookie fix!

What Kind of Cookie are You

Find the perfect sugar cookie recipe at popularcookierecipes.com.