Phew time flies...where have i been?

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays....Bless this New Year for us all. Love





What have I been doing?

I have been tidying up the house...



Visiting with Grampy and Grandma Di


Doing some artwork...


Hanging with Isabela...
Baking some Christmas cookies....Moose and Whales? Hedgehogs and Squirrels...they were cute! And tasty.


Making a doll house and fort for Isabela...


Singing in this church for Christmas Eve church...acapella...and it was great!



Watching Isabela Develop. Blocks....buckles...what's next nuclear physics?

Beeswax

I love candles. I love the lighting they create, the smell, the feeling you get when one is burning, all of it. I especially like beeswax. I worked for a time at a great little shop here in New Mexico that makes and sells some wonderful candles. There is not a fragrance to them other than the beeswax itself which has become so comforting to me. I miss walking into work everyday and being hit with that amazing smell. I learned the benefits of beeswax and burning it as opposed to paraffin making it quite difficult to burn anything else. You can go to santafecandle.com to get yours. I highly recommend it if you like candles and especially if you are sensitive to the smells of most of what you find out there

Cookies!

I have been a baking fool...trying out new recipes, adding lavender to cookies. phew...
today I am baking cookies with honey. I use a raw local variety...wildflower. They are delicious!


1 1/4c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 stick butter (1/2 c)
1/4 c sugar
1/2 cup honey
60z choc chips

preheat to 300 degrees. in a small bowl combine flour, soda, and salt. mix and set aside. in med bowl, cream butter, sugar, and honey. beat until light and fluffy making sure to scrape bowl to blend well. add flour mixture until blended. fold in choc chips.
drop by rounded tsp onto ungreased cookie sheet. bake 15-18 min
immediately transfer cookies to cool flat surface

Homemade Teething Biscuits

Found a great recipe online for some teething biscuits for the baby. Gave em a shot and...she loves them! Wanted to share.

I used vegetable shortening and as many organic ingredients as I could. The cereal was Earth's Best rice. And I cut the sugar in half...babies don't need all that sweet!

2 Tbsp. Shortening
1/2cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp water
1 1/2cup rice baby cereal

heat oven to 300 degrees. cream shortening and sugar. add eggs, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and water. mix until well blended. gradually stir in cereal. knead until smooth. pat into rectangle. cut into 12 1" bars, smooth edges so they are not sharp. place on ungreased cookie sheet. bake 20-30 min or until dry. store overnight in uncovered container. says they freeze well.

Love of my Life

Isabela's First Christmas!

Well...this year was Isabela's first christmas! She of course thought it was just another day, but there were a few gifts and some pancakes to mark it as special. This past year has been a bit of a challenge for our little family but we ended it with a nice and special holiday season. Quiet times with family and the telling of the story of Jesus. Very nice. We even got the Veggie Tales movie about the story of St. Nicholas. I did not want her getting too many gifts because Christmas is not about gettting things, but she managed to get some books, a few new outfits, some much needed bibs, and some great learning toys. I was blessed to receive gifts from family and friends out of state as well. Cute clothes, blankets, a few other toys, and even some cash to help us with diapers and cereal! Isabela and I feel very blessed and lucky to have such wonderful family and to have our needs met so easily. When life gives you lemons...you know what to do!
She is now about 17 lbs and is eating rice cereal! She is getting good at rolling over and she plays with all her toys intently and intelligently. She loves her books so much and we read everyday.



************************Love to you all and Happy New year!