Goals for Advent Season

I'm a list maker. In my planner, my journal, the family notebook, anywhere I deem it necessary a list can be formed. Sometimes they are very helpful, other times just a waste of time. However, the day after Thanksgiving I felt a rush of holiday excitement and in the fear of missing some fun opportunities in this Advent season, I made a list!

~Make cookies for us just to eat 3x
~Learn Christmas Piano Music
~Finish 1,000 gifts gratitude journal...counting #938!(aholyexperience.com)
~Work on making Christmas gifts
~Send Christmas packages to people I love
~spend time in the cozy living room
~Read Christmas books with the others

Toward that end...I have made some Christmas cookies. Perhaps they are not typical, but they have become my "trademark" for teachers. The recipe is from Barefoot Contessa. They. are. unbelievable. Because I am giving them to those who don't have dietary restrictions, I can go for the real deal.

1/2 lb. unsalted butter, room temp
1 c. light brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 extra lg. eggs
2/3 c. good cocoa (unsweetened)
2 c. white flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/2 lbs. good chocolate, chopped (why not just use chocolate chips, if you want!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit  Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, eggs, and cocoa. Separately stir together the flour, soda and salt. Combine all mixtures. Spoon dough onto ungreased cookie sheet and flatten spoonfuls with damp hands. Bake for exactly 15 mins. Cool slightly on pan then transfer to a cookie rack.

Enjoy...or not! Maybe package them in plastic wrap or tissue with a cute ribbon and give them to someone you want to bless this Advent season.

For pleasure reading I greatly enjoy these along with the rest of my family.


A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy 
A Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
The Tree of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco
Uncle Vovo's Tree by Patricia Polacco
A Small Miracle by Peter Collington 
A Cowboy Christmas by Audrey Wood
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
The Lion in the Box by Marguerite de Angeli

Enjoy savoring this beautiful Advent season with all of its cozy, yummy potential!

Come, Lord Jesus

Lavendar Sachet

Thanksgiving break...computer problems...Mama gone, me in charge...busy...hectic...crazy...chaotic. To say the least I feel that I haven't been the most "unshod" the past couple days. Forgive the lack of posts. Maybe this month will have more. But the Lord is a companion even when the trying is hard or I give up trying. In all of this mess, I at last found a moment to make something. It is a little lavender sachet for some Christmas package.

2 squares of felted wool sweater 

(How to felt a sweater: http://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/how-to-felt-wool-ze0z10zhir.aspx)

Little scraps of wool or other fabrics

Really, all this takes is a little imagination and a very limited amount of sewing capability. Cut two squares of felted wool in the same size. On one square, applique a small design. Perhaps a Christmas tree, stocking, holly leaf etc. Then place the wrong sides together and stitch along three sides of the square leaving one open to fill with lavender. ( The raw edges will be visible) Fill the sachet with lavender and then zigzag stitch along the raw edge of the sachet making a cute border. Sniff and send to someone you love for a little holiday present!

Come, Lord Jesus.