HO Ho HO! and chocolate bobka

Chocolate Bobka from Maleks Bakery......I will be enjoying this delicious chocolate swirl inside, with chocolate frosting on top, bread/cake for breakfast tomorrow along with a steaming hot cup of pumpkin spice coffee...then Russian Tea cake after that, with another cup of coffee......

Cookies...

I made cookies yesterday but was disappointed with the outcome.....The weather was giving me a sinus headache and I was tired because the dogs were up 4 times in the night. My heart just wasn't in it. My list of cookie recipients is much smaller then in the past which added to a lack of enthusiasm for baking.

Usually I make 18 different kinds of cookies and bake for 12 hours a day for 3 days. Not this time. I made 4 different cookies. There would have been 5 but I burned the nut wedges and ended up tossing them in the garbage.

Today I get to go out in the snow....which I really don't mind I love the snow......and deliver my measly meager offering of cookies to a few friends. I should be happy, at least I baked cookies. No one else, friend or family, has had the time, and some do not have the money for this luxury. Unfortunately I will not be sending cookies across the country as in the past, overnight delivery costs are to much this year. Plus I do not have enough cookie inventory to do so. How embarrassing.

Baking cookies for the holidays is something I have been doing and have loved to do for 20 years Not to have the heart for it this year is really bothering me. To some this will be the smallest of minor problems and maybe people will shake their heads and wonder why such a big fuss over cookies. There are much bigger problems and issues to worry about. My answer.... the fuss is because baking cookies is something I love to do at the holidays and this year I just don't have the heart for it. That's it. ( maybe it's the hormones that are out of control that are partly to blame)

Whats new in the land of Cheer

My adult children are in Israel for 2 weeks they left yesterday.

The plumber just left after replacing our worn out hot water heater. We are $685.00 poorer.

My car is in the shop....hopefully all the stuff that is wrong with it is under warranty.

Gasoline is $1.89 here.

We are trying to buy a house in Naples Florida....what a funny state to do real estate transactions in......the house is in foreclosure and is a short sale which will cause a 45 day delay of notification if our offer is accepted or rejected........the real estate agent said he does not believe in global warming and has an NRA sticker in the back window of his car, his wife uses the phrase "top drawer" often and they do not do business after 5pm....

I haven't made any Christmas cookies as yet

I am still in my bathrobe sipping pumpkin spice coffee.....life is good

I learned something new......sometimes it's the simple things that make life interesting

While in the Bahamas I wandered into an art gallery and spoke with a young gentleman about some of the the photographs displayed on the walls and handmade Christmas ornaments on the tree.

The ornaments and a few of the photographs were of the same thing. Sea grape trees. I had never heard of or knew anything about sea grapes. Apparently the sea grape tree is a native to the Bahamas and helps prevent soil erosion and is a natural wind shield. Due to over development of the area and some palm greasing (according to the art gallery guy) the protected sea grape tree is a rarity on Paradise Island. ( This is the Island that the Atlantis Resort in on ) For some reason, probably because I had nothing better to do, I made finding a sea grape tree a mission.

It took a few hours but I did find a grove of the trees on the resort property. I assume 3 trees together is a grove. The excellent part of my mission is that one of the tree actually had bunches of the sea grapes. The birds, critters and Bahamians did not eat the grapes from this tree. Most likely because the grapes were not ripe. I was fascinated.

When G man and I arrived in Florida I asked my sister in law if she had ever seen the grapes on the sea grape tree. Her answer was no, she did not know that the tree produced the grapes. We found many trees at the beach and one had a few bunches of the grapes.

Sister in law was as fascinated I was. She has lived in Florida for 35 years and never knew about the grapes. The trees are protected in Florida and are being planted along the coast in great numbers.

Of course I had my camera with me and snapped pictures of the grapes. I hope you enjoy them. Please do not eat them as the grapes are not ripe.

Here I go again

Last night I packed for the Bahamas....the suit case weighs 38.6 lbs....so I am good to go at the airport. I have my camera bag ready, batteries are all charged, Ipod and head phones in one of the pockets, two books in the front flap, charger for cell phone and Ipod. My handbag is packed with passport, two pair of sunglasses, lipstick, hand cream, cell phone, aleve, small jewelry case, reading glasses and wallet.

Good thing I am writing this I need to pack underwear, an extra disk thing for the camera, and money. How could I forget these. Hopefully the ATM still has some cash in it or else G man and I go with no money.

Read you all when I get back.

PS: in case of an emergency I will be at the Atlantis Resort

The kitchen Sink

Yesterday while G man was washing the Thanksgiving pots and pans he heard a sucking sound. The kitchen sink gave way and fell from under the counter with the water and a pan still in the well of the sink.

We had the sink installed in 2004 along with granite counter tops. This morning I called the company that did the work. They are closed due to the holiday. So I have mega dirty dishes, pots and pans, and am leaving for the Bahamas on Sunday. G man is on his way to Home Depot to talk to the "experts" there to get information as to how to re-install the sink.

Needless to say he and I argued about him re-installing the sink. But what do I know, he fancies himself a Mr. Fix it and that is that. My concern is he will crack the granite while drilling holes for the clips. He says he won't if he has the correct tools. Exactly. The correct tools are needed.

Oh well. If one does not take chances in life how will one know what one is capable of. Good Luck G man. I 'll be upstairs in the office kitchen washing the dishes.

Thanksgiving

This year G man's cousins are not coming for dinner. They decided to stay home with the baby and cook for their family. This will be Cousin Laura's first Thanksgiving dinner to cook by herself. I know she will do well and have alot of fun. Our table will be a little quieter and dinner a little smaller, the cousins will be missed.

My two brothers and their families, my mom, Veggass, and my cousin Andrea will be here. Jenny G and I have invited a few of her friends to come over. Some of them have families out of town and some of them just like to be here. I am not sure how many will show up, but the more the merry. I really love having people over for the holiday.

Becasue I am not working outside the house my time to plan and prepare for the day is my own. Having this time is fabulous, a luxury. Almost frivolous. For years I worked and could not get the time to plan and prepare. Then when I stopped working to stay at home with the kids my time was theirs not mine. But now I am free of work and kids activities. I never knew having time to myself could be so luxurious.

This freedom feels like selfishness. Sometimes I look around and hope the kids or G man will ask me to do something for them just so I don't feel so selfish. They do once in awhile but for the most part the novelty of me being able to run errands, make lunch, or switch loads of laundry for them has worn off. ( When I closed the store everyone wanted me to do for them, not so much now)

So now I am able to do what I want. My list of 2009 New Year resolutions could become a list with many check marks to indicate.......finished that.

At the Thanksgiving dinner table I will be able to say I am thankful for time and all that time allows me to do. Time is truly a luxury and one I will not squander.

FYI

I'm making cranberry mustard and pumpkin butter for Thanksgiving.
Just thought you would like to know what I am doing.

2009 New Year resoultions

1. Doctor visit...complete physical

2. Brush dogs at least once a week....now they are lucky if it is once a month.....

3. Volunteer on a regular basis

4. Have my camera with me at all times....well at least when feasible

5. organize all my recipes, cookbooks, and cooking magazines

6. get more archival storage boxes for my photos

7. photograph and document all my family heirlooms......( I have half of this done all ready)

8. frame my favorite photos

9. steal all the pictures and pedestal cakes plate I can from my mother.....ok I'll ask if I can have a few of them, if she says no I will steal them for safe keeping

10. start to declutter my house

I have to make the list now so I can prepare for the tasks and goals ( resolutions) I have decided upon.

Does anyone else have a list yet?

Images of my part of the Erie Canal