2nd Annual Ornament and Cookie Exchange

December has arrived once again and that means the Ornament and Cookie Exchange is right around the corner.  I think that means I should start the preparations.  I spotted a really cute snowman ornament in Quiltmaker magazine this year and decided to make that our little project.  It doesn't require a sewing machine and the supplies are pretty easy to gather.  (I picked up the scarf fabric while in Houston at the International Quilt Festival last month but everything else was in the studio waiting for a place to be used.)

Now to make the sample.  Oh, he's just so dang cute and since I have the decorations up, onto his little tree he goes.  Perfect.

A House Full of Christmas Spirit

Christmas is running throughout the house once again.  I do so love this time of year and with a party the first Saturday this month, I really needed to kick it in gear and get started.

Mister obliges and hauls all the totes down from the attic and now the unpacking begins.

Cream Wafers - Swedish butter Cookies

Way back in the early 70's, I discovered these cookies and they are just simply delightful.  My children loved eating them, but the making of them took a lot of time so "instant gratification" didn't happen, making them less-inclined to participate in the construction.  That simply made them more of a treat, because they didn't get made each year.  I decided that for my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange party, these would be the ones for 2018.  Today is the day and here we go.

Mix thoroughly 1 cup soft butter, 1/3 cup whipping cream (I used heavy), and 2 cups of flour.

Sunday Busyness - So Much Done.

Every now and then days are just plum full.  Today is one of those.

Mister has found a new coffee shop to start our day with.  It's always fun to explore our own area and this one is just right down the road a bit.  Called Houndstooth Coffee, I am eager to give it a try.  Sitting off to the side of a large complex, it comprises two buildings.

Fall Color in the Neighborhood

Just bask ---

Neighborhood Walking

My eyes are having such a great time on this walk today.  Come along.

Red Gap Brewing

On the way home from Abilene, Mister made a stop in Cisco, TX so that I could check out a local quilt shop. If you're even remotely interested in that, here's the LINK to the separate post.  At any rate, the shop is wonderful and we also spent some time walking down the main street to see all that it has to offer.  We even discovered the first Hilton Hotel is here and still standing.  Pretty cool although it is not any longer a hotel.