Blitz Iz On

Irish music is filling the air here at my computer desk while the electric heater is warming my legs on this cold, clear last day of November in North Idaho.  

Already, the buZYness of the Christmas season is upon us.  In our case, this year’s “to do” list will get checked off with more speed than usual, as Bill and I will be joining Annie for a week in Hawaii in just a few days.

Nothing like the promise of some time in Paradise to add a dose of efficiency to the daily schedule.  So, the cards, the cookies and the cleaning (for the farm-sitter) are off to a good start.  

Hurrying and scurrying clicked into a higher mode, starting yesterday, which essentially ended our Thanksgiving celebration with Annie heading back to Seattle.  

Before she and her dad left (early because of a planned stop at Cabela's), she tested the gingersnap cookie dough from the bowl where I was whipping up the first batch of Christmas cookies.

I warned her that gingersnap dough does not offer the same delight as a scoopful of brownie mix or chocolate chip cookie dough.

Still, she tried the mixture, which hadn't even included the flour yet. Soon she let out an "eeeeyou" condemnation, citing the molasses as the bad-taste culprit. 

I reminded her that those ginger cookies she brought home from the grocery store for her Thanksgiving dessert contained molasses.  

I think she approved of the finished product as did I.  Not a bad batch for the Christmas cookie starters. 

The gingersnaps are now stacked away in a box, and I need to go to town to purchase more flour and sugar and caloric goodies for upcoming cookies.  And, yes, Cherry of Plano, those gingersnaps and my sweet potatoes have been enhanced with the wonderful chopped pecans you sent. 

That reminds me that I have to pick up the stuff for the to-die-for praline, creamed-cheese-bar recipe you sent. 

After cookie baking, it was off to town yesterday afternoon to pick up Christmas cards and copy paper for the annual letter.  Then, on to a crafts sale at VFW.  Then, back to do the assembly-line envelopes for cards.  All that pretty much took up the day besides getting extra wood for the cold night ahead. 

This week will be spent finishing the cards, baking more cookies, preparing the place for our farm-sitter, Elisabeth and packing the suitcases as efficiently as possible to allow room for whatever Christmas shopping we do on our trip. 

Tis the season, they say, and for the time being ours is a bit on overload----with a nice reward coming soon on a faraway island. 

Not a bad reason to put in a few extra hours. 

Happy Sunday.