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Post by Karen W on Dec 11, 2010 0:04:27 GMT -5
So how is everyone doing. Shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning and of course decorating!
I have all my shopping done, except for two small gifts. And I pick them up Tuesday. Yeah that will be it for shopping.
I started my baking, this will be my project for the next ten days. Another batch of shortbread cookies, lemon bars, sugar cookies (a first for me), cherry pound cake, pumpkin loaf and brownies. And then for good measure, Pat would like Susan's Easy Peasie Lemon Pleasie pie.
Karen
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Post by AnnaMatrix on Dec 11, 2010 8:20:57 GMT -5
Boy, Karen, your baked goods sound wonderful! My shopping is pretty much done, wrapping about half done. My job this weekend is to send out about 40 home made cards (already made) to family and friends, and stamp and seal about 400 cards to patients from my office. Gonna put a Christmas movie on TV, settle down with a cup of Pumpkin Spice Coffee, and get to work... Maybe do some laundry while I'm working. Don't do much baking - DH is the baker in the family, and he tries to avoid creating too many temptations for us!  Tomorrow DH and I set up the decorations at my office, and we'll trim our tree tomorrow night. Hopefully the cats won't have it undecorated by Monday! ;D What's everyone else up to?? Gail |
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Post by Basketlady on Dec 11, 2010 8:46:29 GMT -5
Today is tree decorating day. The lights have been on since Sunday, but there just hasn't been any time this week to finish the job. One of us has had something going every night this week. After that's done, I'm going to get some elves busy cleaning and then maybe sneak off this afternoon to do some wrapping downstairs.
Tomorrow DD and I are working with her scout troop and are doing a clothing drive at the Scout House for a local shelter. And we have the Youth Mass tomorrow night.
I think I'm mostly done with the shopping. And I'm putting off the baking as long as possible. Although I need to make something for the band concert reception Wednesday night.
Michelle
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Post by pixie on Dec 11, 2010 10:04:42 GMT -5
Two trees up and decorate, Christmas present 50% purchased, Christmas cards done but not yet mailed, hand-made present 50% completed, today's Christmas party at the house 75% under control.  Merry Christmas everyone.  Barb |
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Post by pixie on Dec 11, 2010 10:06:10 GMT -5
ooh, I would like the easy peasie lemonie pleasie pie receipe! please, please.  Barb |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2010 10:36:16 GMT -5
One tree is up...way up on a table, just in case our 9-month-old grandson is here. But I'm looking for a spot for the taller tree, because this little one doesn't quite scream "Christmas" as much.
The nativity scenes are out, the wreaths are on the door, the stuffed Santas are on the entryway bench, the stockings will be hung by the end of the day,and there are a few gifts yet to buy.
Then the wrapping and the groceries, and we should be ready...by Christmas Eve!
Merry days-of-the-Christmas-season, everyone!
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Post by crazy4pink on Dec 11, 2010 12:59:57 GMT -5
Trees have been up since before Thanksgiving  Gifts 95% done- just a few more for Husband left. We had our first party of the season last night-- I received QK's of course-- I got the Special Delivery Set   I am saving my baking until the week before Christmas- School is out that week and so I will have helpers. Merry Christmas everyone! Cindy |
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Post by vicki7 on Dec 11, 2010 15:11:55 GMT -5
bwah, ha, ha, gotta laugh or I'd start crying. Nothing at all done here, okay, well I got a few teeny tiny gifts but no decorations up, nothing. For some reason I cannot get into the spirit yet and I am tired of being the one that has to do everything! Okay, maybe it's my turn to be a Scrooge this year, lol. Glad everyone else has gotten so much done. Anyone wanna come down to Florida and help me out  Vicki |
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Post by Basketlady on Dec 11, 2010 18:36:11 GMT -5
Vicki--hang in there. It all gets done somehow. And remember, it's Advent now. Technically Christmas doesn't start for another two weeks! The tree is up and the house is clean. It's pretty rare that the majority of the house is clean all at once anymore! I'm guessing that there may be a Mythbusters on tap for tonight. The kids love that show! Michelle |
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Post by joselle on Dec 11, 2010 21:41:39 GMT -5
Vicky don't worry because you're not allone..........I'm in the same situation!!!!LOL
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Post by Karen W on Dec 11, 2010 23:11:49 GMT -5
Not to worry Vicki it will all come together and the things that matter will be great,
Barb, I think the Lemon pie is in the recipe section, but I have to check.
Continue all the good work everyone, the big guy in the red suit will be here in 2 weeks!
Karen
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Post by Karen W on Dec 11, 2010 23:14:05 GMT -5
Barb, just checked and it's not there, I will try and add it tomorrow. It is so yummy!
Karen
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Post by Cat on Dec 12, 2010 0:00:20 GMT -5
Most of the shopping is done. We pool our money so gift buying is a joint effort. Wrapping is a joint effort too.
We have the tree up....cranberry colored wooden beads with white snowflakes the size of silver dollars decorating it. Nativity scene is up. Evergreen swags over doorways. Snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. Stockings are hung....
and I'm wishing everyone a safe and a Merry Christmas.
Hugs & Prayers
Cat
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Post by Karen W on Dec 12, 2010 11:33:33 GMT -5
Cat the decorations on the tree sound terrific! Snowflakes from the ceiling - wow!
Karen
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Post by Cat on Dec 12, 2010 16:18:58 GMT -5
Yes Karen, our living room/family room ends up looking like a wooded winter wonderland. It started with some beauiful 12" glass icicles I found when the kids were small. We hung them from the pine swags in the door ways. ( we wire cinnamon scented pinecones in pine swags too) Then beauiful 4" snowflakes were added to the doorway swags. Then came the ceiling.....silver dollar sized to 4" sized snowflakes hanging from a clear fishing element and little T pins. The snowflakes are covered in a clear glitter stuff that catch the smallest amount of light. Cat |
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Post by jenn on Dec 12, 2010 17:19:35 GMT -5
I tried to make sugar cookies today... it was my dad's receipe that I could not quite rememeber and after messing up three batches of cookie dough over three days, I gave up. Since he is no longer around to ask, this is one tradition that has ended.  Jenn |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2010 20:06:37 GMT -5
Jenn, I have my mom's sugar cookie recipe, and they make wonderful, cookie-cutter-able, frost-able cookies. They're not too sweet (until you load them up with frosting), and yet sweet enough. I'll try to get it posted in the next couple of days... and I'd love to think that maybe it will be a lot like your dad's recipe.
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Post by jenn on Dec 12, 2010 20:28:53 GMT -5
That is so thoughtful of you. Thank you. Jenn |
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Post by vicki7 on Dec 12, 2010 21:31:25 GMT -5
still nothing more done here  but I did enjoy a great day with my youngest son and son in law. We went to the football game and cheered on our Jaguars, they won a hard fought game against the Raiders. So those are great memories so I don't feel too bad, lol, but no excuses tomorrow, I have got to get stuff done!!! Vicki |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2010 22:06:16 GMT -5
Here's the sugar cookie recipe...it didn't take as long to find it as I thought it might, and DH is watching a football game, so I went on a search! ***Note that the "wet" and "dry" ingredients are grouped separately. Also, depending on the size of your cookie cutters, this recipe can make up to 6 dozen cookies! SUGAR COOKIES 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla Cream the butter; add sugar gradually; cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla. 3 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp. cream of tartar 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt Mix these dry ingredients; gradually add to butter/sugar mixture. Roll into a ball; cover with plastic wrap, and chill in refrigerator for 3-4 hours ( thoroughly chilled). Roll out to 1/8"-1/4" thickness; cut in shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Cool slightly; remove to rack. When completely cooled, frost and decorate as desired. Happy baking!  |
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Post by Karen W on Dec 12, 2010 23:58:56 GMT -5
Diane thanks for the recipe! Jenny hope they turn out for you. Do you put the cookies back in the fridge after you cut them out. I had read that they hold there shape better when cooking.
Cat please post a picture.
Vicki, sounds to me like a wonderful day.
Karen
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Post by Cat on Dec 13, 2010 0:48:55 GMT -5
Karen, I'll try to get a picture to post. Jenn, do you remember anything about your Dad's sugar cookie recipe. I have several old cook books I could look through, if you could remember any details. For example my grandmother's sugar cookie recipe came off a baking soda box and you pressed them out with a sugar coated drinking glass bottom. (doesn't work well with shaped cookie cutters) To help keep a tradition alive I'll even look through allllll of my Mom's cookbook collection. She has a large collection of old and new cookbooks. Cat |
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Post by pixie on Dec 13, 2010 7:43:00 GMT -5
I love the thought of snowflakes from the ceiling. I hung gerber daisies from the ceiling for our wedding receiption. Wow, the wedding party still teases me about all the work that project took. Thanks for the easy peasie lemonie pie receipe if you find it Karen. Merry Christmas, Barbara |
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Post by AnnaMatrix on Dec 13, 2010 9:56:21 GMT -5
The cookies and snowflakes sound amazing! I'm really in the Christmas mood right now - snow (!) is coming down outside my office window, most patients have canceled due to the weather, Christmas carols are playing on my computer, and my Cypress candle is lit... Beautiful time of year! This is the second snow we've had this month. I'm hoping we may have a White Christmas for the first time since we moved here 13 years ago! Gail |
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Post by Basketlady on Dec 13, 2010 10:56:26 GMT -5
Be careful what yo wish for, Gail! Did you get all that snow that DC got last February? I had several friends who hadn't left their house in 10 days!  One friend had snow 6 feet high alongside her driveway. She said they couldn't throw it any higher. I can't imagine. Her driveway was about 100 feet long and twisty. I hated driving up there in the dark! But we are heading for Minneapolis next week. It will be a white Christmas and I'm praying the weather will be clear for flying! Michelle |
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Post by jenn on Dec 13, 2010 20:34:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the receipe Diane. I will try again soon. Cat... you are so thoughtful.. I thought it was a tupperware receipe that the company printed when they cme out with cookie cutters. I googled it... but there were several versions of the receipe online and none of them looked right. the receipe.. 1/2 cup butter, cream together with 1 cup sugar, add one large egg... vanilla extract (not sure how much) Then mix 2 cups of flour, baking powder and salt (not sure of the amounts chill 2 hours Bake at 375? for 8 minutes The dough was flaky, dry and did not hold it shape and the cookies burned. Jenn |
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Post by Basketlady on Dec 13, 2010 20:49:06 GMT -5
Jenn, my recipe is similar, but the quantites are a bit different. I wonder if mine just makes a bigger batch. But it was my mom's recipe, so it's an older recipe (if that counts for anything!)
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and add to the wet ingredients. Chill for a few hours and then roll out on a lightly floured surface. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes, just until golden brown around the edges.
Michelle
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Post by cheerfulmom on Dec 14, 2010 0:05:09 GMT -5
Hey Vicki,
I'm right there with you!! Got some decorating done (today). The tree is up and lit but no ornaments yet. Still tons and tons of presents to buy. UGH! I'm not a big shopper and usually make things for my husbands family (the adults, the kids we usually buy something for) but this year I am stumped as to what to make and it is just getting too late. My hubby is one of 14 so there's a lot of presents and then there are the nieces and nephews and then their children. I think I'm just going to cut way back this year because they keep having more and more kids and at last count my gift list was at a little over 40 just for my hubby's family.
Phyllis
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Post by vicki7 on Dec 14, 2010 2:26:46 GMT -5
I was going to put the tree up tonight but after hurting my hand putting the Fall decorations away, I gave up. Hubby had to teach tonight so the tree will have to wait until he's off work tomorrow. Struggling trying to get MIL's present finished, I'm almost sunk Vicki |
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Post by Basketlady on Dec 14, 2010 7:07:33 GMT -5
Phyllis, you seriously need to pull names! That is just crazy! Vicki, hang in there. Christmas will be here soon and then you will have to be done! Michelle |
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but I did enjoy a great day with my youngest son and son in law. We went to the football game and cheered on our Jaguars, they won a hard fought game against the Raiders. So those are great memories so I don't feel too bad, lol, but no excuses tomorrow, I have got to get stuff done!!!
One friend had snow 6 feet high alongside her driveway. She said they couldn't throw it any higher. I can't imagine. Her driveway was about 100 feet long and twisty. I hated driving up there in the dark!