Christmas Past

While my daughters remember Christmases past with much the same fondness as I, being alone for two days while they shopped in the insane traffic left me with baking and decorating. This was my time to experiment with things like pate and shortbread. This year we had neither from my kitchen. They didn't mention this in their memoires. I miss the poker games too, and enjoyed the reintroduction this year with Mark bringing his set to Victoria. I have kept mine in my car for 2 yrs now, just in case.
Janice and Rien didn't make it to Victoria after all for the fun and food, I hope next year will provide us with better weather. They missed a wonderful time with the boys and relatives. The highlight of my day yesterday was when Jack scolded Cameron not to touch something that he has been warned many times not to touch but has been fingering all week. He was so timely with his advice.
After eating yet another fine meal at Gord and Trudy's I 'slid' my car down their driveway, giving me a jolt to my blood pressure that was just fun. I managed to miss the two cars parked across the street and headed for the ferry to make my way home to laundry, cleaning out the freezer, and catching up with friends.
I have been filled again with the mystery of Christmas and will attempt to translate the inspiration through the new year. Rick has celebrated another Christmas in heaven with our Father who has given us the real reason for the season.

Endless Roll.

It is always frustrating to buy a roll of wrapping paper and find that it will only wrap 3 or 4 small packages. It is more amazing that the roll I bought 3 yrs ago is still not close to running out. After purchasing it rom Costco 3 Decembers ago, along with one other, I proceeded to wrap every other gift with this paper. It's heavy duty, and very pretty in blues with silver snowflakes. Hopefully no one on my list will recognize it in the middle of the crumpled paper on Christmas day. I'm fairly certain that I did not spend more than $8. on it, and highly doubt I will ever trip over such a bargain again. After a few of the adult version of my rum balls I don't mind using last seasons paper either.

Wheat-free rum balls!!!

According to my friend who owned a bakery for many years, the main ingredient in rum balls is cake crumbs. Which I thought was a pretty thrifty use of something a bakery always has plenty of. I found a wheat free cake mix that works well. Your own recipe for cake or brownies will work fine.
Take the day old cake and pulverize it in a large bowl. Hand mixing works best, but a food processor works well if you have a new manicure. The ball will be more fudgey if processed. Add enough cocoa, butter and powdered sugar and rum or any 'preferred liquer,' if there are not going to be children to share it with. They are just as tasty without liquer. Blend the mixture into a wad. You can use honey or agave if you desire and margarine and peanut butter or any nut butter will improve the fudgey texture. Once the wad is consistant throughout, use a small cookie scoop, and place on a baking sheet to freeze.
Freeze them at least 6 hrs.
Melt in a small container, chocolate chips. 1- 1/2 bags will coat up to 20 -1 oz balls. Roll them immediately in med grated, unsweetened coconut, or crushed nuts. Sprinkles will look great, and chocolate sprinkles are traditional.
Let chocolate set before returning them to your favourite storage container. I don't know how long they will keep in the freezer. I've never had them on hand for longer than a week. This may seem a little irregular as a recipe, but it will give each person a chance to add or alter the desired taste. A great deal of it depends on how much cake crumbs you need to dispose of. Almost any flavour of cake will do as a base. Be creative!

It May keep Us Distracted.

The ballots are still being counted, and in some states they will likely be recounted. The outcome is clear to any thinking being, but the media isn't finished chewing the last bit of fat out of the bones. It is wonderful that race is not an issue any longer. Maybe the minorities will finally believe it, and concentrate on more crucial world issues.
My real concerns are late-term abortion, and assisted suicide, in close quarters with universal health care. I wonder how long the media can keep us distracted from those issues.

Late Thanksgiving.

It's always better to be greatful even if the celebration is late. This year I chose to spend Thanksgiving alone. It may not have been the best weekend ever, but I learned a lot. I have friends I can really count on when I need to, and I can be quite happy alone.
While I listen to friends recount the "classic Thanksgiving fiasco", and I do know it is a form of bragging. They will have a story to rival any. This year I wasn't going to miss out on turkey, so at the last minute I zipped across the border where you can buy a turkey breast that is absolutely succulent. The power was out last weekend for nearly 3 1/2 hrs. and again on Monday when many people were roasting their big birds, the power was out another 6. When did I finally roast that puny thing? Well that would be on Wed. Why not have leftovers in the fridge all week just like every one else? Yesterday the power was again off for 3 hrs, so the leftover turkey came in handy.
I have been out for lunch with the girls twice this week and am headed out again in a couple hours. I am thankful to God for giving me the best bunch of fun, kookie friends in the world. Two more of them will meet each other next week for the first time. That leaves only Carolyn to haul her butt out here from Ontario to get in on the fun.
Ecc 9:7 Go eat you food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that the Lord favours what you do. When Carolyn does get here we may have to roast a turkey!

Write It Down Somewhere!

My most lucid thoughts seam to arrive when I'm winding down from the day. It's not that my days are harried or stressful. But I keep as busy as I can. Lately I've finally started walking almost every day. This is why we bought at the beach in the first place.
Anyway as I'm reading in the late hours, I find I'm torn between blogging while the thoughts are fresh. It's not a good habit for me to acquire in the wee hrs. So I've decided to just write it down. It may be weeks before I find it under the bed, but at least I know I can read it eventually and decide if it is worth publishing.
I'm still reading Proverbs, and likely will for a while, although I am studying a couple of other books. Prov.14:33-34 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning, and even among fools she lets herself be known. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
I 'love' that wisdom is depicted as female. Don't take me wrong, I am the furthest thing from a feminist. With the ability that woman has to lead man into dangerous territory, it is encouraging to know that she is also capable of leading him into righteous behavior. " I'm not talking here about the classic abusive jerk", just the average guy who wants to be happy, and still seem acceptable.
A wise woman will not hen peck her husband into submission, because then she could not respect him. She will encourage him to be wise and discerning in all his affairs. When his self respect grows, he will bring blessings to his family and employer. Ladies it's a win-win situation.

Just Wondering.

I read a little story of what was encouraging in the end, but the account of Joseph in the Old Testament again warned of pride going before a fall. Definitely a warning worth heeding, but I have never seen Joseph as prideful. He was much younger than the 12 brothers he was inflicted with. If you were raised in a disfunctional family, and I'm sure many of you can relate, he likely was distant from them as much as possible. Most accounts have Joseph named as a dreamer. We and they eventually discovered that his dreams were not his own but from God. God certainly used his humility to raise him up in the end, and rescue his undeserving family. There are much better accounts of prideful people tripping over their ego's, I can't help wondering why the average Christian writer continues to use this "example". Surely the fancy coat didn't turn Joseph into a tyrant, and by all accounts Joseph never fell into any sin. Did I miss something?