Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

Hola! Guttentag! First things first, what is that?!?!?

Any ideas? It's one big, freaky... fruit? flower? I just don't know. Whatever it is, I get the feeling it doesn't want to be touched. And or eaten. All I know is I can't stop singing songs from Little Shop of Horrors. Suddenly Seyyymooooore...

So what a good weekend! I'll have to take pictures to show you what the back seat of a Hyundai looks like when it's jam packed with champagne glasses. It's a sight, believe me. That's what a trip to Ikea gets you! That, and these cool shadow boxes that are really deep, just begging for a little art project. Literally. Begging. I heard them calling me from their shelf. Jaaaaanice! Buy us and take us home!! Well who am I to argue with little shadow boxes? They're Swedish, they've got to know what they're talking about. So I bought them and the champagne glasses, and other assorted stuff that you know you don't need but find yourself saying, "Come on! It's only $1.49!" I love Ikea.

And I managed to get a little sewing done too this weekend, I changed a zipper on my God-daughter's dress, (I know! A zipper! Who knew?!?) and I gave in to the peer pressure and made a few birdies. Now, the pictures I had in mind were just beautiful. Outdoors, natural light, maybe hanging from the camilla, nestled in the beautiful pink blooms. Unfortunately, Mother Nature laughed at my plans, the bitch, and hit us with a little rain storm. Not actually as bad as the weather man said, but positively ARCTIC! FREEZING COLD!! CAN YOU TELL HOW COLD FROM THE CAPITAL LETTERS?!? Cold, is what I'm saying. But my Sweet Baboo has been so good about keeping a fire going for the pup and I. Thank you Baby! 

So instead of those beautiful pictures, here are sad, sad, SAD pictures taken right in front of the monitor. Right here. It's like you're sitting on my lap. Nice! So here's the birds...

And that Cocker Spaniel taped to the monitor came with the computer. Don't know who she is, but I'm sure she's a beauty! I'll take better pictures once the fates allow. And them post them on Etsy so that they can fly free!! 

PS... I decided to bake today, my favorite cookies in the world, Molasses Crinkles. They didn't come out as tall as they should have, until the VERY LAST BATCH, when I finally realized that they needed more flour. Hmph! But hey, they taste good! And that last batch is magazine cover beautiful! Dang it!

Enjoy! 

Molasses Crinkles

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar (packed) 

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 1/4 cup flour

2 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

granulated sugar

Mix shortening, sugar, egg and molasses thoroughly. Sift together all dry ingredients; stir in. Chill.  Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough in 1 1/4 inch balls. Dip tops into sugar. Place balls, sugared side up, 3" apart on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle each with 2 or 3 drops of water. (Hey! I didn't do that! I didn't even read that part! Oops!) Bake 8-10 minutes, or just until set but not hard. Makes four dozen cookies.