You lucky girl!

I've bought one gift so far - from one son to another. We've still got all of the rest of the shopping to get. I went to get a few baking supplies tonight and they were out of icing sugar. There went my ambition to make shortbread tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but I'll have to check a different grocery store. I came home with two bags of colored mini marshmallows and one of my DSs asked if all I was planning on making for Christmas baking was Rice Krispie squares. The funny thing is I have never made Rice Krispie squares at Christmas. Might be a first for everything. LOL

Shauna

Shauna, Rice Krispie squares are too easy, that's cheating! LOL. Sharon, you are so organized and have such willpower. I have already eaten two boxes of truffles that DH hid in the basement. I am cooking dinner for 11 people (mostly DH's family, no problem, they will be impressed if dinner doesn't come out of a red & white bucket). I planned the menu and I've been buying all the food in advance, and have a last minute list of perishibles. Not traditional Christmas fare, but I am making a prime rib roast and a whole salmon. I'm kinda sick of turkey.

I have a stack of gift shopping left to do. And we have a tradition that I don't put up a Christmas tree until my brother gets here. He comes for two weeks every Christmas. I have to say, I have hated Christmas in the past but I'm sorta in the spirit this year.

LOL! Believe me, I don't make RK squares for Christmas baking. Besides, I've never tried it but using colored marshmallows for RK squares gives me a color image in my head that I just don't want to think about.

Generally, I make lots of shortbread, fudge, two types of chocolate squares, meringue cookies and, if I get time, mincemeat tarts. They get done last because I'm the only one that eats them. DH loves butter tarts but I get his sister to make them because I don't like them. As a result, I don't make a good butter tart. Go figure that one out. LOL. Is there anything much easier, other than RK squares, than butter tarts?

I'm getting really scared about not having any shopping done. I've been late for a few things before but not this late with nothing done. I can't do it on my own this year and DH has been so busy with work and after work Christmas mixers. EEK! Oh well, it will get done.

Shauna

At times like this, IÂm so glad to live near a town and not the city. I don't know how you gals can endure the hustle and bustle living in the big city. My girlfriend wanted to know if I wanted to go to the West Edmonton mall last weekend to shop. I said no way!
Our town has everything you need, even cornstarch Shauna. LOL

Since Granny passed away in 1999 and Dad in 2004, I really haven't got into the spirit either Gil, Christmas is just not the same without them.
This year I will, I'm going to make merry with my family!

Sharon

Sharon, you're right that Christmas just isn't the same after you've lost a loved one. DH lost his Dad in 2004 too, and it's hard around the holidays, but it is getting easier.

Two weeks ago I burnt out the gears on my hand mixer making a double batch of icing for my youngest son's birthday cake. It's amazing how little Christmas baking you can do without one! I did manage to find one recipe that I always make that didn't need the hand mixer, so I made that one today. All you do is melt chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips together, then throw in some crushed potato chips and poof, you have cuban lunches. Now making my whipped shortbreads might be a challenge!

I've still got about 3/4 of my shopping left to do yet. But hopefully I'll get most of it done tomorrow. I can't believe there's less than 2 weeks before Christmas. Yikes!

Arrrgh! You guys! Well, i haven't done a smidge of baking. Like Laurie's, there's a tradition here that the mixer will die every couple of years at Christmas, so i figure why tempt fate? :)

Shopping - well, that's mostly done, i think. Some things are on order, and i have to get something for Eddie's girlfriend and one more thing for her son (i'm going to get him one of those big buckets with rope handles for his toys, and just put all his wrapped gifts in that). I'm still trying to get that afghan done, plus some other crocheting and i don't think everything in that department is going to get done.

We're having Christmas Eve dinner this year (turkey, the whole bit), and on Boxing Day, i'm going to Thunder Bay with Eddie and his family to spend a few days with my parents and my sister who will be there from Toronto.

One thing i've barely even thought about is Christmas cards. What a chore! :/ And as far as decorating goes, well, that's at a minimum so far. Dh says he's looking for a real tree, but he has to get it by this weekend or it won't get put up. Doesn't matter to me - i have the emergency back-up fake tree. :)

Do you realize that in two weeks, this will be all over with? LOL

I'm trying hard to finish everything up. I used to be so organized, but that is a thing of the past. I have a few gifts yet to purchase. DH and my oldest sons girfriend.
The tree is up, the house is decorated, a few presents are wrapped, and the lights are up outside. I went for a simpler version this year.
Outside I usually have my light up reindeer and snowman put out before the snow, but we have had an enormous amount of snow this fall. They are saying more snow than we have had in 60 years. Plus someone stole all of my extension cords earlier this year. I had to buy a few to put my lights up on the house. (And some to plug in the vehicles.)
Inside it seemed to be just to much work this year to put up all of my christmas decorations. But I really like this what it looks like. So I think after christmas, I will be giving alot of my stuff to charity or whoever will take it.
The only baking that I have done is cream cheese tarts.
I promised my youngest daughter that we would make gingerbread men this weekend.
And FYI, I do make Rice Krispie Squares for X-mas. The ones that I make have a carmel filling and they are to die for.

My health was playing tricks on me for the last month, but this week things seem to be settling down. It scared the crap out of me and everyone close to me. I know this year that we will all appreciate just spending time with each other a little more.

Shelley

No! LOL

The tree is up and some decorations are out but besides that I really am not ready at all.

My SIL is doing the big family dinner this year so that will give me a nice break. I've been doing it for the last 5-6 years so I am looking forward to this! Yeah, I'll still bring baking and such though.

I usually do the cookie cut outs with the kids. They each make their own plate of cookies and I make a bunch at the same time too. Plus I do some sort of squares at some point and some other easy cookie recipes.

They had a gingerbread house competition at school last week so that was fun for them! They all made one and were holding them so carefully on the way there.... but on the way home it was destruction time! LOL

Presents wise I have barely started! Yikes. We exchange gifts with BIL & SIL the their kids and I'll get something for my nephew who's in Edmonton for this Christmas too. So it's not really all that bad. Plus our kids yet too, but the DD's are mega easy to buy for and I leave DS's gift up to DH to buy!

My health was playing tricks on me for the last month, but this week things seem to be settling down. It scared the crap out of me and everyone close to me.

Oh dear Shelley, I hope you're ok?

Sharon

Yes Shelley I hope everything's ok too! And of course RK squares are good Christmas food, they even make red & green Krispies, as if we need more additives in our food LOL.

Does anyone have a good gingerbread recipe that makes reasonably tender cookies? I made it once years ago and it was hard as a rock. I'm usually more of a cook than a baker.

I'm doing fine. I went into the doctor after a couple months of feeling very fatigued, constant headaches,shortness of breath , light headed spells -up to the point that I thought I would faint, memory confusion,and bleeding gums. (I was having trouble working a 40 hour work week) When I was younger, they told me that I would probably be diabetic by the time I hit 40, so I assumed that it was possibly that. I insisted on blood work. Then the clinic phoned me 2 times the that week to come in to see my doctor. Then they phoned back and tried to book me in for a complete medical. (I'm starting to panic a bit). But with my doctors schedule and mine I didn't go in until a week after I had the blood work taken. I found out that my WBC had sky rocketed. I had no symtoms of any infection, so my doctor starts to get frustrated and she was showing panic. She was checking my lympnodes.(I'm starting to stress and PANIC) She did put me on antbiotics. I then developed a tenderness in my left lower abdomen. Then the doctor said that they should maybe send me to a blood specialist.(MORE STRESS) I then tried a different antibiotic and the WBC started to lower.

If you check out symptons of Leukemia, you'll see why I was getting scared. I'm feeling much better now and I hope it stays that way. I have no idea what actually was wrong. Just a glitch in my body possibly telling me to slow down a bit.

Shelley

Shelley, I do hope you continue to feel better!!

Are we ready for Christmas....amazingly enough, pretty much! I say amazing enough because we've been doing some pretty serious renovations to our house over most of November. Serious, meaning hardwood flooring in LR & DR, essentially ripped out the main bathroom, replaced some other flooring and updated all the lighting. Fortunately we had someone do it for us; nevertheless, it was somewhat disruptive. Don't know how people go through huge building/remodelling projects.
Anyway, I digress...actually did most of our shopping online this year. Rather wonderful to come home and find the packages you ordered waiting for you.
Baking still has to be done. Have cut back alot, but with three 'kids' (youngest is 26) coming home for Christmas, there had better be food in the pantry, fridge and freezer..LOL!
Hope everyone has a great Christmas and that the 'jolly elf' is kind to all.
Margaret

Shelley, thank goodness you're feeling good. That must of been worrisome for you and your family. Take care of yourself girl!

Oh boy Margaret, your renovations sound splendid, lucky you!

Waiting for DH to come home from work and we're off for Christmas.

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you all and all the very best in 2007!

I'll see you in a week ;)

My Christmas Wish For You
by Ruth Kephart

My Christmas wish for you, my friend
Is not a simple one
For I wish you hope and joy and peace
Days filled with warmth and sun

I wish you love and friendship too
Throughout the coming year
Lots of laughter and happiness
To fill your world with cheer

May you count your blessings, one by one
And when totaled by the lot
May you find all you've been given
To be more than what you sought

May your journeys be short, your burdens light
May your spirit never grow old
May all your clouds have silver linings
And your rainbows pots of gold

I wish this all and so much more
May all your dreams come true
May you have a Merry Christmas friend
And a happy New Year, too

Hugs,
Sharon

I'm finally ready for Christmas. I just finished on Thursday making the last of our christmas presents for our daughters and grandaughter. My wife put some stencils on the gifts to dress them up a bit and finished wrapping them yesterday. Here are a few pics.
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This is a recipe box that I made for my granddaughter. My wife stenciled the rose on it and I think that it really dresses it up.

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Some butterflies that I made for my middle daughter.

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A keepsake box for my youngest daughter.

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A wall sconce for my oldest daughter.

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I also made 4 of these trays, 1 for each of my daughters with the 4th going to a friend of my middle daughter, whose parents are in Florida and I am always doing odd jobs for. We call her our fourth daughter. Hope you like!!!

Cheers Al

Al, can you adopt me? :) Your daughters will be proud to recieve those gifts - beautiful as always!

Hey I think I have an Uncle Al in Alberta... I'm pretty sure he's a gardener and a woodworker too... It must be you Al, I will be waiting for my butterflies for Christmas next year. ;0) (Just kidding)

I'm ready for Christmas now too, DH just took his Mom & sister out to do some last minute shopping and I used the "having to make meatballs" excuse to stay home. Guess I'd better go make the meatballs... sigh.

Yup, DH did the same. I used the excuse that I had to make up one more batch of shortbread. Guess I'd better go do that. DH and I just realized this morning that we still had a couple of major gifts to buy - not sure how we forgot about them. But, off he went to battle the crowds.

We are leaving for his sister's place in Athabasca in a couple of hours. Will be back on Boxing Day evening.

Just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and my warmest wishes for health and happiness to each and every one of you. May Santa be good to you all. Talk to everyone next week.

Shauna

It has come and gone, and i was pretty much ready. Didn't finish Allison's afghan, though, but i can get that done this week.