Christmas Eve

Sometime during my six-day stretch of work, I managed to bake a small batch of cookies. It just doesn't feel right with Christmas without making spritz cookies using my antique cookie press. I found out though I'm not much of a cookie decorator.
At last, I got everything I needed to complete at work done on this Christmas Eve, racing with time after a UPS drop off. So that's how an elf feels on every Christmas Eve! But within an hour of me getting off work, Joe had our special shrimp and steak dinner ready with a special bottle of wine. 

 It was also worth having whipped up homemade tiramisu yesterday morning as special dessert. Everything tasted so good that we didn't mind doing the dishes. Now it's time to sit and relax and watch "A Christmas Story." Merry Christmas to all!

It's Cold Outside!

It has snowed on and off since last post, but nothing major. Under 6" at a time, mostly an inch or two. Still, the temperatures have stayed cold enough that our massive snow banks are staying impressive. When it's REALLY cold, like today's high temp was 7 degrees, a hearty venison stew dinner with homemade dumplings feels just right.
This month of December is disappearing fast. I managed to rush to print our holiday cards the other day... but ink is still drying! 

Asides from finishing up the greeting cards to be mailed out, I am all done with my holiday gift giving preparation. I am hoping to make some cookies, but today was my last day off before Christmas. I hope to survive the next 6 days of work. Oh Boy. Wish me luck.

Yet Another Snow Storm

I survived another Black Friday weekend at work. When you work in retail, you have no desire to participate in such events. The only purchase we made over this weekend was a brand new snow blower. After 10 plus years of heavy use, it was time to replace ours before it died completely, and definitely before this winter storm started last night.

As they predicted we received another foot and half of snow over night. Simply impressive. (Disclaimer: the picture below was taken this morning, not recycled from the other day)

Thank goodness, I had this Sunday off from work. We had a lazy morning, letting it snow (the storm continued). Except I had picked out a new faucet for our kitchen for my birthday and patiently been waiting for Joe the plumber. Cooped up inside the house on this snowy morning, I couldn't wait anymore. Joe had to install it for me, and I tried my best assisting him. I love my new kitchen faucet to fit our retro (more accurately "just plain old") sink!

And guess what? It's still SNOWING!!