Cowboy Christmas

Long ago and far away a couple of kids got the ultimate little cowboy outfits and their six-shooters!

Now, class, let's point out what is inappropriate about this picture.

Talk about politically incorrect:

Guns!

Stereotypical role models!

Children near a wood burning fireplace - DANGER!

Flammable fabrics!

Lead based tinsel!

Non-recyclable plastic skirt fringe!

How did we survive it all?

A Christmas Day in March

This Christmas Day is to feature the blue end of the mantle and this neat card I got from my cousin Ann and her husband Steve. They live in Memphis, and thanks to Facebook we reconnected after many years.

The last time I saw Ann was in ... 1991? After mom died, dad wanted to take a trip in the big red van to visit his sister, Ann's mom. It was a great reunion for them both and I was so happy to have been part of it. Seeing Ann and Karen, all grown up and married was great fun, too. It doesn't really seem like almost 20 years ago.

It was quite an adventure--I drove the Great River Road all the way to New Orleans with a guy who was getting started on the path to alzheimers. We spent a couple days there poking around, it was in March and well after Mardi Gras so it was pretty calm. The Great River Road was interesting--it went right through the industrial areas of most cities, didn't follow the river exactly, but we sure saw lots of country. Following the route out on the flats of some Illinois farm trail--now that was memorable. As we traveled farther south we met up with spring! The flowering azaleas and magnolia blossoms were beautiful and such a treat after having left snow and ice up in Wisconsin. Bud got to see his old home on Union Street in Memphis and Bourbon Street once we got to NO.

Today, a rainy Christmas, looks just like March.

All things bright

Christmas preparations are continuing at Catfish Corner. I made more cookies this week--sunbuckles, rosettes, cream wafers and then tackled the swedish meatballs. Next on the list are the fun quick things---chocolate covered pretzels and peanut brittle and the tom & jerry batter!

It's good to take a little break and read the christmas cards and letters that have been arriving and sampling a few of those baked yummies.

Friends children and grandchildren are growing up so fast! It's so great to be remembered with the gift of cards and photos. Thanks so much!

Everyone has clam shells as Christmas decorations, don't they?

Tasty treats for the holidays!

The sunbuckles, the pecan puffs, and savory appetizers rolled out of the oven this week. More to do, but needed to get started and into the swing of making a batch or two every day.

We were happy to have the Ormson's stay with us for an overnighter while they journeyed back and forth to Rochester for Al's medical tests. So it was good to have holiday snacks on hand.

Today I'm making a new one for me - Swedish Kringle Cookies. I have had the regular kringle but as a cookie will be interesting. You can't go wrong with a pound of butter and a cup of cream so I'm thinking they should be good!