Finals

One thing that every college student must handle before the holidays get truly underway is finals. I am ready to get those done! Only half of my knitting projects are on the needles, nothing is finished, none of my baking has been done... and I haven't even begun shopping! This holiday season, I am slacking. My holly has not been cut, there has been no tree shopping. My holiday CD's are still in the attic. Yes, I still have CD's. And video cassette tapes! Also vinyl and a record player. My dad never throws music away .
My finals are coming and keeping me busy and away from the things I love most about this time of year, but I need to keep in mind that when the finals are over, I'm done! No school for 6 weeks!

Because it is already Christmas in CVS...

On November 1, CVS did what I consider to be too early... they broke out the Christmas candy. Of course, all major chain stores did. This I just dislike. Skipping over the contemplative  thoughtful thankful days of veterans day and thanksgiving, and skipping right to a busted gut full of sugar. On the other hand, the annoyance is a helpful reminder when one is in the habit of giving homemade gifts.
However, my sister has her birthday in a few days, so I've already made her a set. That means I either make double for her or purchase her a gift...

Ginger Cookies

The semester is finished!!! Finals are done, grades are in,  my GPA is still 4.0 and my sister is home from Florida!!! She took a major road trip... Up the coast in 2 days!!! Can you tell I'm excited? Unfortunately, she's only home for  a week! She has decided to go work on Block Island this summer with her friend. Tonight is a get together with our neighbors, who miss her almost as much as we do. Easy-peasy take out for dinner and chips and dip for apps means... Homemade cookies for dessert!!!  Ginger cookies is the name of the game. Get out your aprons...

This first photo is your dries. Flour, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, salt, baking soda. Stir.

Butter and sugar, baby.

The recipe can be found in a previous post here.

Holiday Season, 2014!

This year, the holidays started out slow. Left a bowl of candy on the step and went to a bar on Halloween, and saw the parade on Veteran's Day. But, as we all know, things are picking up speed! Next week is Thanksgiving. We moved our traditional pre- Thanksgiving potluck to a post-Thanksgiving leftovers feast! Much better, in my opinion. Today is Sunday, and it is the calm before the storm. I am gearing up for the holidays and for finals. The balancing act begins!
Next Wednesday is Baking Day. My mother recently had corrective carpal-tunnel surgery, so this year all baking will be done by me! As well as some of her chores. She will not sit still, and wanted to go to kickboxing the day after surgery! Silly mom.
So, let me break it down for you; Four pies. Four different crusts. Four fillings, and a meringue. Normally, this work is split between three women, and we make five desserts: three pies, a cake, and a mousse. This year, my spring/summer specialty blueberry pie will be making an appearance at the Thanksgiving table, thanks to a promise from mom. I will also be making the three traditional pies as well: apple, pumpkin, and lemon meringue.
We have a birthday that sometimes coincides with the holiday, and at times we may bring a four layer triple chocolate cake. Last year, we brought a pumpkin angel food cake. Sometimes, we break tradition and bring a pecan pie. One year, we brought a trifle.
Our special tradition is to bring a chocolate mousse. This year, I'm not sure I see that happening, because I just do not have the skill to create a meringue and a mousse on the same day. I will not be bringing two-day old desserts to my aunt's house. No sir! Not happening. My aunt lives in New Hampshire, so there is no time to bake in the morning, and she has a standard kitchen with one oven, so there wouldn't be space to bake there anyway. My sister's flight is coming in at 10:30 pm on Wednesday, and if she has her friends bring her home, she probably will get in the door at 1:30 or 2:00 am. This leaves me with one baker, myself, on baking day. So sadly, the mousse may fall by the wayside.

Holidays are beginning again!

Welcome Holiday season 2013! I am ready and eager to explore this holiday season! First holiday I celebrate: Halloween! But I'm not really over-zealous about it, I really like a quiet night at home passing out candy. My neighborhood does not get frequented very often, in fact the largest number of kids we've ever had was just over a dozen. Now, it's really just my little cousins that come to visit and maybe a neighbor- not two. I had a little halloween get together with friends who go to school out of state, and then went to a party last saturday as well. My costume du annee? A witch. In honor of my two adorable new kittens, Camille and Koda! They are about 14 weeks, black, and trouble-makers! But really, I can't wait to curl up and knit after giving my adorable little cousins some Almond Joys ( because my daddy loves them!)
Next holiday on the chopping block? Veteran's Day! I love going to the parade, if only to reminisce on those cold days as a Brownie Girl Scout that my sister would complain about going out in the cold on her birthday. Yep, that is my sister's birthday! Now, don't get me wrong, I love our troops and always stay for the ceremony after the parade where a bunch of local government like to make thank you speeches honoring our warriors. Mostly, because my best friend always played taps in high school and I got in the habit of waiting for the cannons and singing Amazing Grace before leaving! But I do enjoy staying, not just out of the habit. Though the best part of the day really is seeing my sister open presents and blow out her candles. Besides, we always have Memorial Day! Now, my sister is getting a knit FO from me for her birthday. She wants a hat. Stay tuned for knitting fiascos!

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

This silly carol has always made me giggle. That's why its the Carol of the Day! I mean seriously, a hippo? Really? A Hippo? You don't want anything else... anything at all? Okay, crazycakes. Its your neck...

Carol of the Day:

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Only a hippopotamus will do

Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy

I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?

He won't have to use our dirty chimney flue

Just bring him through the front door, that's the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning, creeping down the stairs

Oh what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes

To see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Only a hippopotamus will do

No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses

I only like hippopotamuses

And hippopotamuses like me too

Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then

Teacher says a hippo is a vegeterian

There's lots of room for him in our two-car garage

I'd feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning, creeping down the stairs

Oh what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes

To see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Only a hippopotamus will do

No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses

I only like hippopotamuseses

And hippopotamuses like me too!

Mumford & Sons

Normally, I don't take any breaks from my holiday music and listen obsessively, as this the only time of year that holiday music is abundant and appropriate. however, I will always make an exception for the always loved Mumford & Sons... Today I'm listening to a playlist on YouTube on repeat. Those UK gods stole my heart more than Robert Pattinson did when he was Cedric Diggory... of course, they've held onto it better than he has... Anyhoo, the point is that I love Mumford & Sons and that is the music of the day!