I am always so surprised how time gets away from me. I think I have all this time and I don’t. There is so much going on in my life that I am always looking for just a couple more hours. Time to knit… time to write… time to bake… time to spend with RJ…

     Today RJ and I spent a good portion of the day out and about. I do not have the shop gene. I start out okay, but lose interest quickly. The stores feel too crowded. No one seems happy to be there. The traffic is crazy. All those people going no where fast. I saw an accident today. It looks like someone was driving too fast and decided that the car that was changing lanes just wasn’t doing it fast enough and decided to redesign the front fender and side quarter panel.  Both cars were a mess with glass and metal all over the road. Merry Christmas to you!

     We stopped at Barnes and Nobel searching for the “perfect” gift.  Is there really such a thing as a “perfect” gift? We spend a lot of time and money buying things that we think our friends and family want or need. I’m more excited about my family coming over on Sunday for dinner. We should have about 28 people over. Now that will be a good time. Tomorrow I’ll start baking and preparing.  I only baked 12 dozen cookies and that won’t last. So it’s time to do the Christmas cookie thing. I have a couple of new recipes and several tried and true that will round out the sweets. Yesterday I baked another Blueberry Muffin Bread for the weekend and tomorrow are the Cranberry Nut Breads. I bake extra for gifts for a couple of my neighbors; Sarah, my postmistress; Jason, my trash guy; and John, my UPS guy. J, J, and N will be arriving on Sunday. I can’t wait to see my kids. I know it hasn’t been that long, but at the wedding, everyone was so busy and the trip was so short, that I felt as though I never got a chance to visit with anyone. So this week will give my time to spend with my family.  The time goes by so fast and before I know it, they will be returning to their lives and I to mine.

     I do have guests coming in on Friday and Saturday along with some family that will be staying over.  The Inn is totally decorated and looks beautiful. RJ bought a timer for the outside lights, so now we don’t have to go up to the Inn to turn off the lights manually. I don’t know why we didn’t do that last year… or the year before… or the year before that.  Sometimes bright ideas come after time, I guess.

     Here is another one of my recipes for tried and true cookies. Make sure you use a good chocolate like Ghirardelli chocolate. It makes all the different in the world!

Preheat oven to 375º F. Cream butter and sugars until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Beat until smooth. Add flour. Stir in shaved chocolate. Drop by teaspoonful on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on rack. Store in an airtight container.