Time to get ready for the new year

Am rather liking this calendar found here on etsy. July and October have me. September too for that matter.

Happy Holidays

The smalls are enjoying their gingerbread house (it is being nibbled on hourly with or without permission) even with its wonky upside down roof. Happy coffee sipping moments watching the wee ones play amid airplanes, trains and play dough ice cream  . The Mr. is convinced he has swine flu and is still not better.

Hope you too are able to find some peace and happiness this holiday season.

Getting closer

Finished the last stocking! Here it is and as promised cookie recipe number two.
Hazelnut Crescents  
(this was taken from my mothers much used old Swedish cookbook)
115 grams butter (8 Tbs)
60 grams sugar (1/3 cup)
1 egg yolk
100 grams ground hazelnuts (1/2 cup)
125 grams white plain flour (1 and 1/4 cup) 
3 Tbs vanilla sugar (not common in the us so I never include this but sometimes ad a dash of vanillla essence). 

Cream butter with sugar, add flour and nuts and then make a log with your hands, cut evenly into 1 inch sections and make each into a crescent.
Bake 10 min or until lightly brown at 350 F / 180 C

Once cookies are cool dip into the melted chocolate (heated in a  double boiler above water)
or alternatively dust with powdered sugar.

*as soon as the children recovered from being sick, someone's husband got sick, is it me or are men sometimes a wee bit dramatic when they get sick? It's one thing letting them sleep and dealing with all else and another to make hot tea or a get a cup of cold water ..when they are sitting at the table right there two feet from the Brita. Trying to stay nice and understanding, but I seem to remember a few weeks ago being sick myself and having to carry on, looking after kids, making meals etc. sigh..in sickness and in health.
* * getting closer refers to not only the christmas holiday but after having a wee tif with the before mentioned sick person, we talked and seem to be a little closer again.

Story time

The sledge stopped at last before Poppy's house. Her mother stood at the door and welcomed her."You're back at last". 
And Poppy told her mother about all her adventures and the wonderful things that had happened.


Perhaps, one day , you too can ride on a sleigh to the Snow Kingdom. 

from the book The story of the Snow Children by Sibylle von Olfers.
Nothing like getting lost in a good story at this time of year.