Happy New Year Dear Friends...

Happy New Year Wish

My Happy New Year wish for you,

Is for your best year yet,

A year where life is peaceful,

And what you want ,you get.

A year in which you cherish

The past year's memories,

And live your life each new day,

Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a holiday

With happiness galore;

And when it's done, I wish you

Happy New Year, and many more.

                     By  Joanna Fuchs

Frosting Fiasco....

Ok,  just so you know I will be looking to take a basic cake decorating class in the near future.  Frosting cookies is obviously not my forte.  But believe me when I tell you that these cookies are delicious. They rise beautifully and are tender and light.

Sugar Cookies
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bake about 8 to 10 minutes.

Ingredients

•  1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract.  I use half vanilla and half almond.
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 4 cups flour 

Cream butter and sugar well.  Add eggs and beat until fluffy and light.  Add extract( vanilla or almond) and dry ingredients.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Roll as thin or as thick as you like.  Cool and decorate.

Winter Has Arrived...

Now this is what I've been waiting for. A true New England Nor'Easter.  The storm started yesterday afternoon and continued  through out the night. I looked out my window to see snow swirling and drifting across my front lawn, the plows with their roaring engines on the roads, and the howling wind whipping the falling snow in all sorts of directions.

 It was quite a sight to see and I couldn't have been happier to finally receive the heavy snow fall that I have been dreaming of this winter.  Its been so cold without any snow for so long that I couldn't wait to run down to the bottom of my driveway and take a picture of this winter wonderland, (to document that we actually got snow this winter!)

The howling wind proved to be stronger than I thought! I brought Bella outside and discovered my snow covered garage.  It almost looks as if someone splattered white paint on a picture.  The extremely strong wind blew the snow so hard that it actually stuck to the side of my garage.  It's beautiful and I hope that it will stay like this for a long time!

Oh how my little girl loves the snow! Jumping, running and playing in the snow, winter has proved to be one of Bella's favorite seasons.  I watched this morning as my oldest son played with Bella in our front yard.  Improvising on fun, he used a snow shovel to hurl snow in the air while Bella jumped straight up off the ground all the while trying to eat the falling snow.  It was hilarious watching her little legs hop through the snow as fast as she could while trying to catch my son.  Quickly snapping this picture of her anticipating my sons next move has become my most favorite picture of Bella!

My Favorite Christmas Cookie...

These little snowy cookies look like they could be a relative to the happy snowman living on this cookie dish.  Please try these buttery Greek Christmas Cookies.  I know you will love them!!

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 18 minutes.

• 1/2 cup confectionery sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 3/4 cup ground walnut
• 2 1/4 cup flour 

Blend butter and sugar well.  Mix in the rest of the ingredients.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.   Roll into 1 inch balls and bake on cookie sheet.  When cookies are cooled, roll in confectionery sugar.

Some Christmas Cheer..

Sip  this delicious cocktail when you get home from Christmas shopping.
Cranberry Christmas Cocktail

• 5 ounces cranberry juice
• 2  ounces vodka
• 2 ounces ginger ale
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

Put all of the above in a cocktail shaker.  Shake until the shaker becomes cold to the touch.  Pour into a glass that has been rimmed in Christmas sugar.  Enjoy!

Where Is The Snow....

Tonight it is freezing out and  there is absolutely no chance of a snowfall, not even one single tiny white flake.   Tomorrow according to the weather reports it is suppose to be forty-five degrees  and on Sunday it will reach fifty-four.   I am becoming desperate for snow.

 My house could really use a soft  blanket of snow, maybe some frosty icicles hanging from the roof.   WE ARE READY!!  The snow shovels are piled neatly in the shed.  The snow blower is all set to go and waiting patiently in our garage. I am in a heighten state of anticipation for anything remotely white falling from the sky.  I will keep you posted on any weather updates.  Please keep your fingers crossed.

Let's Get Cracking....

Ok  I've had a week off and my decorating needs to get kicked up a notch or two.  In other words I need to get the lead out and start decorating.    My collection  of nutcrackers almost always finds a home on top of my corner cabinet.

One of my white pitchers with some peppermint candy canes inside and a winter scene trivet that belonged  to my mother.  These simple decorations will find a place in the kitchen.

The boxwood tree  is slightly decorated.   I think it needs some glittery silver ribbon .  Maybe a bow on top and a couple of bows  intertwined here or there should dress it up.

Our wreaths are hung on all the outside windows.  The spotlight is going in shortly.  Once the ground freezes its just too hard to place.  Next, the tree is coming in, lights are going on and ornaments hung.   I'll do my mantel next.