Leftovers?

We hear the weather reports concerning cold and snow from all over. In my corner, we're not experiencing anything beyond the normal, but for all of you who find yourselves in such harsh weather, I offer this. ;D

We have a few candy canes leftover...precious few. Over the holidays, I learned a new way to use them from somewhere. Perhaps this recipe from The Old Painted Cottage will be helpful, but do be warned as it's highly addictive. Here, I'm just using hot cocoa mix and a whipped cream topping with a bit of crushed candy cane mixed in. It's perfect because it's not too sweet, yet there is that subtle peppermint flavor.

How to crush those candy canes without a big mess? I tried a number of methods and wound up using two plastic lids with a nice edge to capture the bits and pieces. Nothing worse than hurtling bits of candy cane all over the place.

Here's what you need...candy canes, lids, and a hammer
On the altar so to speak
Use a dishtowel, if you'd like to protect the lids...I didn't bother and they seem none the worse for wear.


The result
Just three left

And, should you tire of hot drinks, we enjoyed the most delicious peppermint milkshakes last night using this formula:

* 1 cup milk
* as much French vanilla ice cream as you wish (I'm so flexible.)
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 1 crushed candy cane

Wonder what it would be like with chocolate milk and chocolate ice cream...

Stay warm out there!

Thoughts on Doodles

Do you like to draw? Doodle? I love to doodle. I create all sorts of flowers and curlicues. Doodles may say things about us. Last night found me wondering what a doodle drawing done of me says.

It was with some interest that I posed for a drawing my grandmother was working on last evening. Never have seen her pick up a pencil and start drawing that way. It's been a challenge for her to write much of anything lately, though she does stay on top of her crossword puzzles always working in ink and using all caps.



Note the turned-out foot and the way she placed my hand. Find myself wondering if it speaks of my impatience and frustration from time to time. She has made me look like something of a whacked bird, don't ya think? Love the bob that she gave my hair, though.



Looking forward to Thursday morning when we'll take down the tree. It's the morning after Epiphany, which we will celebrate with a Christmas-style dinner and some reading and reflection. We may use the final ceremony of Advent as our take-off place. It was gleaned from Quill Cottage with year before last's Christmas post Serendipity Sunday Week Four. And there may be a final gift of Christmas for John and Nan...we'll see. And it's fun to think that, even though I'm taking the tree down, it'll be right back up before the year ends.

Happy redecorating to us all!

Walking Home Through a Storm

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm. ~Psalm 55:8

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. ~Psalm 32:7

photo used by permission