Clicking for babies . . . . .

Playing 'catch up' with this post.  Here's what happens when you download pictures and then forget about them . . . .

This is such a wonderful (and much needed) program: http://clickforbabies.org/get_started.php

Back in October, I saw the article linked below.  Digging in my stash. I found one purple baby hat almost completed and purple yarn to knit more.  Then, four more hats were finished and mailed.   

http://newsok.com/cute-purple-caps-serve-serious-purpose-for-oklahoma-infants/article/3714354

My contribution for 2012 - tiny baby hats in shades of purple (guidelines are on the main website).  Knitting purple baby hats will be my 'traveling' knitting projects for 2013.  

Now to see what other pictures / projects have been forgotten !!!

Merry morning . . . .

 

Christmas morning started with a dusting of snow - 

which gave me an excuse to try out my new camera.

 

 

Inside it was warm in the glow of the tree - -

 

 

 

there was knitting (and coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer) - -

 

 

 

and, a bit of playing with my new toy - - -

 

Merry times indeed !!

 

Note: first post using my laptop - definitely a learning curve  - but I'm having so much fun!

Merry Christmas

I will honour Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year.

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

May we all strive to make (and keep) this pledge through the coming year. 

Pecan Pie + Brownies = Sugar High

It all started with me reading some of my fav blogs - and seeing a recipe, for Pecan Pie-Brownies, follow this link to get the recipe ( http://cookiesandcups.com/pecan-pie-brownies/  ).  Brownies with pieces of pecan pie all through the batter - yes please. 

I printed off the recipe and made a batch last night -- the picture below is what my kitchen looked like after the brownies were in the oven.  Please notice that chocolate is everywhere - even on the handle of the saucepan.  And, let me tell you that cutting an entire pecan pie into bite size pieces is not an easy task -- bits of pie crust flew in every direction. But, I'm here to tell you,  it was very well worth the effort  - - -   

- - just feast your eyes on all these yummy looking brownies!  I filled 2 tins and this large container - in fact, the recipe makes so much batter that I baked it in one 9x13-inch pan and an 8-inch pan and I still had nice thick brownies.  These brownies are chewy and chocolatey with bits of rich pecan pie in every bite - a very decadent dessert just perfect for the holidays. 

Tonight - I'm making gingerbread cookies and Kahlua Balls.  I'm on a roll (and a 'sugar high') !!

Now is the time

I was going to title this post 'Not enough words in the world. . . .'  and there are truly not enough words in the world to describe what happened this past Friday.

But then I realized that now is the time for words -- many words.
Words, like  'mental illness'   'broken health care system'   and: yes - even  'gun control'

Now is the time to use those words to begin talking -- and then to make those words into laws that protect us all equally. 



  

More December verbs . . . . .

Smiling  . . .  can't help it, every time I use my snowman scissors I have to smile.  He seems to be so darn happy to help with all the gift wrapping and he is very good at his job, you know.  He was a gift years ago from my daughter - thank you again, Jessika.

Gifting . . . is that a verb - or even a word?!  Whatever the case may be - it fits the picture.  Lap quilts for my KC Girls, all neatly folded in big gift bags - ready for some pretty tissue paper, ribbons and then they will go under the tree.  I've loved working on these over the past 6 months -- from the fabric choices to piecing and finally the hand-stitched binding.  It's been such fun and I can't wait to see the quilts matched up to my beautiful grand-daughters.  BTW - guess which one goes to a 15 year old.

December verbs . . . . . .

Unwrapping the Nativity Scene - with two helpers.  Each figure was carefully placed in the stable as we talked about why we celebrate Christmas.  Of course, the little curly red-head thought Mary's robe should have been pink and that Baby Jesus needed a blankie that was more colorful -- because, don't you know, even a Messiah and His Mother should be fashionable.

Tasting the double chocolate cookie dough - they both helped with the mixing, measuring, and; their favorite - breaking the eggs.  According to these two, the cookie dough taste much better when eaten directly from the beaters. 

Sorting out the Christmas cookie cutters - this took a long time as the merits of sugar stars vs gingerbread men was discussed at length.  The gingerbread men won the vote (along with gingerbread stars, mittens, snowflakes, trees, etc. . . . .)   These two love gingerbread cookies.

Enjoying all the verbs in my December . . . . .