Merry Christmas to All

As Christmas winds down I am reflecting on the holiday season. After dinner yesterday with family we decided Christmas day would be a quiet ride down the coast. There is nothing like the sound and smell of the ocean to make me feel good. Chinese take out eaten while sitting by the shore is not a typical Christmas dinner but hubby and I really enjoyed it.

The pic is my nephew's Rudolph display. He is 15 but still pulls out Rudolph and his friends every Christmas.

Tweaking Website

I found a little time to work on my website. I have learned a little html code so I decided to rework some of the pages. Last time I changed my site I changed the whole thing at once and then had trouble publishing it. This time I decided to do a page or two at a time.

Basically, using the same color scheme the home page has a new background, new photo and is now centered. The links page has been redone also, using the same new background. I have some room for some more links so if anyone is interested email me .

Next, I am going to redo the about me page - maybe add some of the nice comments I have gotten from collectors.

Check out my new pages here .

Look what I got in the mail!

Well, I had started a post about having a creative block and feeling low the last couple of days when the doorbell rang. It was the mailman bringing me a package.

One of the forums I frequent, Teddy Talk , had an ornament exchange. Teddy Bear Artists from all over the world joined in. It was organized by artist Tami Eveslage. I made a little dark red Christmas bear that went to Wendy Ching of Matilda Huggington Beare in W Australia.

Today I received my ornament from Melissa Kemp of Happy Little Souls also from Australia. Little Cupid the Reinbear really made my day-HECK! -my week.

He is so wonderful, I cried when I opened the box. He arrived in a little box with his pic on it. He is just 2 3/4" tall, not including his antlers. He has a really great little tag too -saying he is one of a kind, made specially for me.

Relax til Christmas

The tree is up and decorated. Shopping is done. Packages are just about ready to ship. I have to make some more fudge and cookies but then it's just relax and enjoy the holidays.

I have a list in my head of things that need to be done after New Years. I want to redo my website, now that I have a little html knowledge. I would also like to redo the look of my blog(might need some help with that). I have a couple of ideas for critters knocking around in my head too. Of course then there are the dreaded taxes! I have managed to keep up with receipts(sort of), so it shouldn't take as long as last.

I hope you all are having a relaxing holiday too!

Cookie Roundup

To start at the beginning of the Cookie Round up click here .

This was my favorite of the cookies my mom made when I was growing up.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 350

Ingrediants:

2/3 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter(1 stick)

1 1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp Vanilla

2 1/2 cup rolled oats

Sift together flour, cocoa, and baking powder. In a separate bowl cream butter and sugar then add evaporated milk and vanilla. Add dry ingrediants a little at time. Blend in rolled oats. Drop by the spoonful on to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Next recipe: CLICK HERE

I'm also posting my fudge recipe. I tried several different ones until I settled on this one and I have been making this fudge every Christmas for about 20yrs.

Marshmellow Fudge
2 1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)

3/4 cup evaporated milk

5 oz mini marshmellows

6 oz semi sweet choc chips(1/2 12oz bag)

1 tsp vanilla (try different extracts-I like to use almond)
In a large saucepan mix sugar, butter,evap milk, and marshmellow. Bring to a boil over med heat. Boil for a TIMED 5 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add chocolate and vanilla. Stir to blend. Pour into a greased 9" x 9" pan. Chill then cut into squares.

One of the photos is of the cardboard fireplace that we hung our stockings on when I was a kid. The other is my dad opening a Christmas present as my mom and brother look on.

Christmas shopping

I have pared my list down quite a bit this year. Actually I love shopping and I start thinking about what to get for those on my list several months before it's time to start shopping. So this year it is small gifts paired with gift cards. Did you know you can get your own photo put on a gift card at WalMart? I had some made with the pic above. My grandaughter, nieces & nephews love them.

Now it's time to make my fudge, wrap the gifts and ship them off.

Reminder: This Friday is the Cookie Recipe Roundup.