The wonders of nature are endless…

Walt Disney

Last week we had that bizarre snow storm. I posted a few pictures from outside this house. Nothing compared to PEI storms but a lot for here.

Other pictures from Gulf Shores/Orange Beach.

I’ve often mentioned The Wharf where I get my favourite ice cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter from Kilwins. (I limit myself to one a month.)

I never really gave much thought to the storm (shame on me) other than making sure we kept all hot and cold faucets on with a small, steady stream so the pipes wouldn’t freeze. And it worked. No frozen pipes.

What didn’t cross my mind was the effect of the storm on nature. I have to be honest. I’m not a person who notices things occurring in nature. Richard is that person. He notices just about everything. Me? My head is usually off in another world, usually singing a song. But this week we’ve been noticing some storm effects. There are numerous dead leaves on plants and shrubs. And here’s an extreme result from the storm. This was astonishing and depressing at the same time.

https://gulfcoastmedia.com/stories/snow-storms-cold-snap-kills-thousands-of-mullet-in-gulf-shores-baldwin-county,249058#//

https://www.outdooralabama.com/non-game-fish/mullet

But someone always enjoys giving you a laugh.

Yesterday brought a change in the weather and out popped this little one to bask in the sun while we were shopping at Tanger Outlet Mall. The wonders of nature.

If you’re ever travelling down this way we’ve always had tasty meals at Baumhowers Victory Grille with reasonable prices.And if you’re a sports fanatic, I am not, you’ll enjoy the numerous TVs displaying various games.

https://www.baumhowers.com/

Nature Boy – Céline Dion

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

Satchel Paige

Isn’t that a fabulous quote.

And so true.

In my mind I don’t feel old. Often feeling like I did when I was a lot younger. It’s only when I look in a mirror that reality hits. Oh the wrinkles. Or when these old hips or knees don’t want to cooperate. Ouch.

So today I completed another year. Got to admit 71 doesn’t bother me like 70 did. But what can you do. Certainly can’t turn back the number. Just enjoy life. And act as young as I feel. 😉

So today.

Started out on such a lovely note: a video of my grandson saying, “Happy Birthday to you , GiGi.” So sweet.

Then birthday wishes from my family and friends. I am blessed.

Next did some of my favs.

Went to Starbucks for a Chai Latte. Especially nice as it was my free birthday drink.

Went to Cobalt, a favourite restaurant for lunch.

https://cobaltrestaurant.net/

Enjoyed a delicious Caesar Salad with Blackened Chicken.

Richard had a Sweet Heat Chicken Sandwich with Fries. He also had Crème Brûlée but I forgot to take a picture.

Then off to The Wharf for my favourite Kilwins’ ice cream, ChocolatePeanut Butter.

https://alwharf.com/?utm_campaign=Attractions&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=things%20to%20do%20orange%20beach&utm_content=3375423-e1-ng-mp-c15735804883-g140221861148-a643830568761-uCjwKCAiAkc28BhB0EiwAM001TR87v7gsJN0YT8ncBh_2W2nmpA2qBltyGx36AiL-maAUpf_Wq1tpTBoCNAIQAvD_BwE-cat10411046-kthings%20to%20do%20orange%20beach-mod&gad_source=1

While out driving we began realizing why places had been closed for so many days. The roads. With no snow equipment they really had to wait for the sun to do the melting. Even today there were spots where the roads were still thickly covered with ice and snow. Why? The tall condos were blocking the sun. Might take a few days for that ice to completely disappear.

Got home in time to spend some time outside on the deck. Only 11 Celsius but the sun was quite warm.

And that was my day.

And what a beautiful day it was.

I’m Still Standing – Elton John

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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“If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy but still the same amount of snow.”

Anonymous

Yes we are having a snowstorm. If I was back home on PEI I’d understand but here in Gulf Shores, Al? Unbelievable.

Now it’s nothing like the storms back home, really no comparison, but as people here aren’t used to them it’s something else.

On Sunday it was announced that schools would be closed Monday (Martin Luther King Day), Tuesday, and Wednesday (impending snow storm). Local government offices, library, recreation centre etc closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Stores closed today for sure.

Temperature 0 Celsius (32F) feels like -14 Celsius (8F).

Some info regarding the current storm.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dangerous-rare-winter-storm-gulf-coast-historic-snowfall-texas-georgia-rcna188500

Info about their last snow storm in 2014.

https://www.al.com/news/2024/01/alabama-snowmaggedon-10-years-later-how-it-happened-and-what-we-learned.html#:~:text=It%20was%20Jan.,their%20cars%20in%20freezing%20temperatures.

Many posts about taking precautionary measures.

For the past two days we’ve been having the taps turned on to keep water flowing through the pipes. Don’t want them to freeze. And we’ve been told to keep them running until Thursday.

Went to bed last night with trepidation. Worried about electricity and heat. Figures. Sometime during the night the power and heat went out. The electricity flickered on and off for quite a while but by 6 it finally stayed on. Heat took a bit longer but all is ok now. 🤞🏼

So what to do.

Find the joy in the snow

Be creative

This house has three bedrooms. So……

The front bedroom became our “theatre”.

I had popcorn. Richard had his “storm chips”.

Great way to spend the afternoon.

Then homemade chicken soup for supper. Super glad I made that a couple of days ago. Yummy.

Now fingers crossed that tonight all goes well.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman (from Frozen) – Kristen Bell

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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You don’t stumble upon your heritage. It’s there, just waiting to be explored and shared.

Robbie Robertson

While I was home for Christmas friends invited Richard to a homemade Polish dinner. (One of them has Polish heritage)

Got my brain working. About time, right? 😉

Theme Dinner

So last night, in honour of Richard being British and my British heritage, we invited them to a British dinner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom

Something I especially love is research. Love love love.

I think if I hadn’t been an elementary school music teacher I’d have some sort of job doing research.

Not a lot to research for this menu. Richard has made Coronation Chicken more times than I can remember. Just added a few tweaks. He also wanted to make Toad in the Hole so all I had to research was desserts. So much fun choosing one.

MENU

Appetizer: Coronation Chicken

Entree: Toad in the Hole accompanied by Peas and Carrots

Dessert: Jammie Dodgers and Solid Chocolate Fingers

Coronation chicken or Poulet Reine Elizabeth is an English dish of boneless chicken traditionally seasoned with parsley, thyme, bay leaf, cumin, turmeric, ginger and peppercorns, mixed with cream or mayonnaise, and dried apricots (or sultanas)…Constance Spry, an English food writer and flower arranger, and Rosemary Hume, a chef, both principals of the Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London, are credited with the invention of coronation chicken. Preparing the food for the banquet of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Hume is credited with the recipe of cold chicken, curry cream sauce and dressing that became known as coronation chicken.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_chicken

Note: Usually we serve this as an Entree but this time we created an Appetizer by placing small bites on crackers. We added grapes to our version, plus bits of red pepper and blueberries for colour.

Toad in the Hole is a traditional British dish consisting of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad_in_the_hole

Note: We omitted the gravy and served with HP Sauce. The recipe varies from region to region. Where Richard lived, The Midlands, they favoured brown sauce (HP Sauce) over gravy.

Jammie Dodgers are a popular British biscuit, made from shortcake with a raspberry or strawberry flavoured jam filling… Named after the character Roger the Dodger from The Beano comics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammie_Dodgers

Solid Chocolate Fingers are made by The Cambridge Confectionery Company from Cambridgeshire, UK. I found them at Marshall’s and thought what a perfect addition to our British night.

https://cambridgeconfectionerycompany.co.uk/

Note: I separated the fingers into their squares.

What a success!

All courses were devoured. Everyone had seconds of Toad in the Hole and they even took extra Jammie Dodgers home.

I’m always worried whether the food will taste ok and be enjoyed. Thrilled that this meal was so well received.

Can’t ask for better than that.

Good company. Good food.

Cool Britannia – Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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Life’s supposed to be an adventure, a surprise!

Anton du Beke

I didn’t begin the day with a blog in mind. You never know when life will throw surprises your way.

Starting with this morning.

Gazing out the patio doors I spied a lot of pelicans. Now a friend had previously mentioned that often means there are also dolphins. So true. There, right in front of me, was a beautiful dolphin pod. Maybe 15- 20, swimming, jumping, playing, and I’m assuming eating. Some very close. Others further out. What a joy!

Off to a new breakfast spot, Duck’s Diner.

Great little spot. Very popular. We arrived at 8:10 and shortly after that the place was hopping with families, couples, and a large men’s group who made me think of how at home some gather at Tim’s, McDonald’s etc.

Comfortable seating, clean, friendly servers, and good food.

Love that they give you options: either fruit, hash browns, hash browns casserole, grits, or yogurt, plus either biscuit, toast,or English muffin.

My only complaint, as you can see from the picture, is my biscuit was very, very well done. I have to admit this was my first experience having a crusty, crunchy biscuit.

Not a fancy place. Plastic plates but much better than paper plates. And they don’t create garbage and they don’t break. I’m ok with that. Not a place where you’d sit and linger a long time. But good food at a good price and we were needing to be finished quickly to be off to our next place.

Foley Snowbird’s Coffee Event

Long line to get it. Should have arrived earlier. Richard’s shouldering the blame. I wanted to leave home earlier but he said we had lots of time.

But while in the line I took this photo for my grandson.

Hmmm. Not nearly as good as last year’s. Fewer displays and gifts. I should be more appreciative. After all there was no cost. We passed on the coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Best part by far.

The man in front of us was wearing this cap.

I nudged Richard wanting him to ask where he was from.

SURPRISE

Prince Edward Island.

What?

Yes yes yes

Imagine that.

Then imagine their surprise when we said us too.

The man told Richard he was from Abram’s Village but the woman told me Wellington. Close enough I guess.

They winter in Florida. Have been since 2010. They stay for four months. Lucky them.

But really. How bizarre to meet others from little old PEI.

That made my day.

On a side note Richard talked to a couple yesterday at the gym from Thunder Bay, Ontario and today we were driving behind a car with a Quebec license plate.

Small world.

Small World – Huey Lewis & The News

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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I continue to be interested in new things that seem old and old things that seem new.

Jaquelin T. Robertson

It’s been cold here. No snow. Whew. But cold.

This isn’t the post I planned for today but sometimes you need to be open to readjusting and trying something new.

We started today with our regular Monday routine: 3 minute plank, post office, yoga, gym workout, and library.

We were also going to do our Monday visit to Happy Pappys but this is where we took a detour and decided to try something new.

In December when we arrived here we saw this brochure on our fridge and said, “Maybe we’ll try it someday.”

Today was that day.

https://www.parlordoughnuts.com/about

Totally new place to us.

What’s special about Parlor’s FAMOUS Layered DoughnutS™?

“Parlor offers their Famous Layered Doughnut, which sets them apart from the traditional cake or yeast style… proprietary product with layers of buttery dough fried to be crisp on the outside and light/fluffy on the inside.  A wide range of toppings are available.  Small batches are made fresh all day!”

Guess these were a case of old things that seem new.

Nothing ventured nothing gained so off we went.

Inside the shop.

You can see from the menu that they in addition to doughnuts they offer breakfast sandwiches.

So sandwiches for lunch.

Richard: black coffee. and a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.

Me: Chai Latte, and a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.

Some errors we made.

Richard didn’t realize there was a choice of bread for the sandwich so he ended up with his on an unglazed doughnut.

I asked about bread choices and chose ciabatta. She didn’t offer me the gluten free option. Oops. My mistake. I should have asked.

Many doughnut choices.

Our doughnuts.

Even though they didn’t have a Turtle doughnut in their display case she said they could have one ready for me in a couple of minutes. They must have the basic doughnuts made and then add the different toppings when requested.

Today was definitely a ‘cheat day’. We made that decision on our way there.

Nice packaging. But if they served the eat in orders on plates they’d have less garbage.

Have a closer look at the cup. Cute idea. Shows pics and names of their various locations.

Verdict?

Coffee? Not great

Latte? Not great. Lukewarm.

Sandwiches? Tasty. My ciabatta bun was very fresh. Richard’s was a bit gooier as it was on a doughnut.

Doughnuts? Very tasty. The texture of the dough reminded me of my mother’s cinnamon buns when she made them from extra bread dough. Delicious.

Price? A lot for what we had. $34

A Return Performance? Probably not.

Worth it? In terms of trying something new – yes. It was worth taking the chance even if we ended up not liking everything. The server was lovely. Very friendly. No customers were there when we arrived and only two takeouts after us so I think she was pleased to have us there. In terms of calories ingested? Nope. But we did venture out of our routine so that’s a good thing. Good to have new experiences.

Salad for supper.

The Donut Song – Burl Ives

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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“Old age is second childhood.”

Aristophanes

Now I realize it’s cold in a lot of places. Cold enough here last night that we had to keep the taps dripping all night so the pipes wouldn’t freeze.

Reading on Facebook this is why.

Yippee. No frozen pipes this morning. Just people. Figuratively not literally. To us it was cold but to the locals it was freezing.

Some morning comparisons.

Morning. Yoga and Happy Pappys.

Their washroom always has creative displays.

Then we went to the Introduction to Mobile Fair.

Lots of booths with information about Mobile and Dauphin Island.

Do you consider seniors and old age to be one and the same? I am a senior but most of the time I don’t feel ‘old’. So is age just a number? We’re often discussing how many years we’ll be able to come down here in the winter due to aging. But as we looked around at today’s clientele my friend Care commented that apparently we have lots of years left. Good to know.

Aristophanes was right though regarding second childhoods. Everyone here displayed childlike enthusiasm while visiting the booths and getting their ‘freebies’. Me included. Discount coupons, pencils, pens, note pads plus entries for gift prizes. On top of things for Richard and myself I also picked up a few interesting items for my grandson. Score.

Such a senior.

By the afternoon we were able to sit on the deck. Still only 8C but no wind so it felt warmer. Richard was fine with it. I wrapped myself in a blanket. 🥶

I’m Still Here – Stephen Sondheim, performed by Elaine Stritch

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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Drinking water is like washing out your insides. The water will cleanse the system, fill you up, decrease your caloric load and improve the function of all your tissues.

Kevin R. Stone

Now this may seem a strange topic for today’s blog but since it was new to me I thought maybe it might be to you too.

Jet Belly? I’d never heard of it. But since my flights returning to Gulf Shores let’s just say I’ve had “constitutional issues” This has never happened to me after any other flights. Not even after my flight to England. But then again my England flight was Signature Service ( I think that’s what it’s called). Very posh.

I assumed my current issue was a reoccurrence of diverticulitis which I’ve had a couple of times.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulitis

But maybe not.

I did some online research to see if flying might have caused my “issues”. Amazing what information the internet holds.

Could it be jet belly?

What causes jet belly ? What are the symptoms?

From take-off to landing, your body is constantly adjusting to changes experienced while flying. One significant change is the shift in atmospheric pressure. As the plane ascends and descends, the air pressure inside the main cabin increases or decreases accordingly. You’ve likely felt your ears pop during take-off and landing due to the air within your ear canal adjusting to match the cabin’s air pressure. Similarly, this pressure adjustment occurs within your digestive system, contributing to travel bloat. Common jet belly symptoms include bloating, gas, stomach discomfort and constipation.

https://uk.biogaia.com/blogs/articles/avoid-travellers-diarrhoea#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20this%20pressure%20adjustment%20occurs,gas%2C%20stomach%20discomfort%20and%20constipation.

Who knew there was such a thing. And that it actually had a name.

Everyday I drink a lot of water. It’s something I’ve done for quite a long time. Except when travelling. I know that’s when I really should be consuming lots of water but I detest getting up and going to the washroom multiple times.

Two reasons:

1. At my age I now have to go more frequently.

2. With multiple flight connections I sit as close to the front of the plane as possible for a quick exit. When I used to take many non-stop flights to Toronto I would opt for a seat at the back, close to the washrooms. No problems then.

One good thing is that the ways to relieve the symptoms of diverticulitis and jet belly are similar.

So…

I’m drinking copious amounts of liquid: mostly water, and herbal tea. Carefully watching what I eat. Taking psyllium every morning.

Lesson learned. I will still opt for a seat close to the front but no matter what I will make sure I drink plenty of water and accept the fact I will have to get up and visit their facilities. The added bonus is that it will get me up walking which is also beneficial while flying.

Some articles I found if you’re interested.

https://flightfud.com/blogs/travel/jet-belly-bloating-after-flying#:~:text=You%20may%20feel%20discomfort%20and,and%20by%20taking%20natural%20supplements.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-airplane-flights-cause-digestive-problems1/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CDehydration%20due%20to%20low%20humidity,that’s%20gentle%20on%20the%20stomach.

Glad to read it shouldn’t last longer than a week.

So who knows if it’s diverticulitis, jet belly, or something else?

But I am on the mend.

Has anyone experienced this while flying? Let me know. Especially how long it took to return to normal.

Here’s your laugh for the day.

Envision this.

This morning.

9:00 am.

10 C

Richard and I on the deck reading.

Richard? In his tank top and shorts.

Me? In my tank top, athletic jacket, leggings, homemade wool socks (thanks Lynn), and wrapped in a blanket.

Sing The Water Song – This song was written by Irene Wawatie Jerome

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

I invite you to click Follow or Subscribe to receive timely updates, Like to show your love and support, Share my post on your social media site, and /or Comment here.

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Helen Keller

Christmas was wonderful. I loved spending time with family and friends, baking for everyone, Christmas breakfast, Christmas dinner, watching movies/TV shows with family, and enjoying time with my grandson. I love singing with him. I introduced him to “Three Little Monkeys”. I used to do it with my kindergarten and grade one music classes. We had so much fun. Like most kids he caught on really quickly and loved when I used a loud, high pitched voice for the monkeys and a soft voice for the crocodile. I first heard it by Sharon, Lois, and Bram. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon,_Lois_%26_Bram.

If you don’t know it, here’s Sharon, Lois, and Bram performing it.

We always decorate the basement family room with numerous multi coloured mini lights. Children are so honest with their emotions. His comment? “The lights make me happy.” How sweet is that. Love it. And him. Even got to babysit him for a few hours. Simply wonderful.

After a fabulous Christmas I headed back to Gulf Shores.

Thankful for wonderful family.

One of my sons drove me to Charlottetown on Monday. I stayed overnight with my brother and sister-in-law. Great visit. The early and I mean EARLY (3:10) Tuesday morning he took me to the airport. I was worried about checking in as I had tried to do online check-in on Monday but it failed. I was instructed to check-in at the airport.

A few hiccups.

Charlottetown Airport

Glad I was early. She had issues with swiping my passport. Just like in Pensacola. Why? Why? Why? After numerous attempts it finally worked and boarding passes received. Whew 😥

30 minutes late leaving but the flight attendant assured me I’d make my connection in Toronto. And I did.

Toronto Pearson Airport

Luckily not many going through security. Not compared to past experiences. Two things that increase your speed and ease when flying to the US are using the mobile app MPC to electronically submit your document info and responses, and having a Nexus card.

My flight to Houston was delayed by about an hour. That didn’t affect me as I would have an 8 hour wait in Houston for my Pensacola flight. But it significantly affected others. A pleasant surprise was meeting up with another retired PEI teacher. So nice to connect and chat. Sadly she and her husband were two of those affected by this delay. They missed their next connection but their flight was rescheduled for today. 🤞🏼

One slightly bothersome aspect of that flight. Not being allowed to use the business class bathroom. Now I do understand. They pay the big bucks for their seats and therefore get their private bathroom. I was three rows back from them. On previous flights I was allowed to use it. But not on this one. The attendant told me to use the one at the back. Ok. I get it. What I don’t get is that I saw at least a half dozen people from the economy seat section go there and they were allowed. Or maybe they watched to see he was gone and snuck in. Ha ha.

Houston Airport

Ok. My plan was to make the best of my long wait. Get in lots of walking. Visit the shops. Have supper. Enjoy a Starbucks latte.

Hmmmm. While checking the board for my gate number I noticed there were two earlier flights to Pensacola. I went to the desk person at the gate (I’m sure there’s a correct title for him but I don’t know it.) and asked if there were any available seats. Nope. Full up. On both flights. Although he wasn’t the most pleasant of people he did suggest I could try flying standby. Never having previously done this I wasn’t sure but I thought why not. Worth a shot. Wasn’t wasting any of my time as my flight wasn’t leaving until 8:22 pm. anyways. He assured me that my original booking would still be valid if I didn’t get on as a standby. Flight was called. I went to the gate. Lovely, pleasant person explained how it worked and she’d let me know if a seat was available. She and another person had some readjusting of luggage done and at the very last minute I was on the flight. Unbelievable. It meant a great deal to me. Instead of landing at 10 pm I landed at 3:15 pm. Yippee. Richard was thrilled. Well about as thrilled as you can be when having to drive an hour and 16 minutes to the airport. But no driving in the dark. That was the thrilling part.

Arrived home to the beach house exhausted but happy.

As tired as I was I decided to start the year on the right foot and do the beach walk with Richard this morning. It was cool but refreshing.

Happy New Year everyone. 🎉 Wishing you all good heath and happiness.

Happiness – Ken Dodd

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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The things that make me different are the things that make me.

Winnie The Pooh

This week has been mostly a baking week. Carrying on traditions.

My Grandmother

The one thing I remember she always made at Christmas was Vanilla Fudge. (Not to be confused with Divinity Fudge-my mother made that.) I loved it. Sadly I can’t make it. How I wish I had her recipe. And none of my relatives have it. I doubt she even had it written down. All in her head. Pity.

My Late Husband’s Grandmother

An outstanding baker. I remember her telling me that she taught cooking for a while at a school for the deaf in Ontario (her words). She especially made scrumptious pies. One of my sons loved to put his fingers in them. Maybe that’s where his love of pie originated.

My Late Husband’s Mother

She made lots of sweets. Different ones than what my mother made: Mocha Cakes, (the ones my children called “Mocho Cakes”) Hello Dollies, Cherry Balls, Date Balls, Rum Balls, and Peanut Butter Balls, (apparently she must have liked balls) just to name a few. She also made The World’s Best Cookies to which, after eating one, my pie loving son responded, “You’ve got to be kidding Grammie.”

My Mother

Every Christmas she baked a ton. Enough for my family, my brother’s family, and her. One year she even baked for my best friend’s family. That was her. Always looking after others. And that’s the baking that we all remember. Every fall she’d have me sit with her and pour over cookbooks/store recipe booklets looking for a few new ones to add. Then after Christmas she’d decide if any new ones were ‘a keeper’. A few that she made were Scotch Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms (my daughter’s favourite), Peanut Butter Balls (one son’s favourite), Marshmallow Squares – Confetti Squares (other son’s favourite), Spider Cookies, and Butter Tarts. So many more. Too many to name.

So that’s been my week.

A bit of nostalgia, remembrance, tradition, honouring my past, and creating future memories, especially for my grandson. As I age the importance of these grows.

Yesterday was a great day for baking. There’s something special about a snow storm day. Knowing you can’t go anywhere and feeling snug and warm inside. Perfect baking conditions.

Now here’s what’s weird.

This week I suddenly realized what the first thing is that I always do when I start baking. Even before getting out the ingredients, mixing bowls, pans, utensils, etc. I ready the sink with detergent and hot water. Weird? Maybe. I never really thought about it before. Just occurred to me this week that it’s something I always do. And it makes sense to me. In go the dirty dishes as I use them. Then while items are baking I wash the dishes readying them for what comes next.

What about you? Do you have a specific baking routine?

In Mom’s memory I tried a new recipe, Almond Joy Cookies. Oh my. She’d call these ‘a keeper’. They taste like Hello Dollies without the graham cracker crumb crust. Simple to make. Yummy to eat.

Thus ends this year’s Christmas Baking. Eleven recipes completed.

Today’s song selection is for my grandson (and you). He was singing Jingle Bells when I visited this past week. And since we all love The Muppets this is perfect.

Jingle Bells – Andrea Bocelli and The Muppets

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

I invite you to click Follow or Subscribe to receive timely updates, Like to show your love and support, Share my post on your social media site, and /or Comment here.