Merry Christmas!

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I must show you this picture of our pug, Phoebe. Coming home from shopping one day last week, we thought we had locked our pug outside by accident. We looked in all of her special spots and she wasn't to be found. My husband just happened to look down at the tree and there was Phoebe! Hiding in amongst the bears, she just yawned and stretched and went right back to her long winter's snooze. ( We don't have presents under our tree because of the grand kids.)

Some Green And Baby Blues

What a great friend a balloon can be to a toddler!

Pardon the drool, just posting some baby blues!

I am having some fun with the grandkids before Christmas! Hope your all having fun too!

Candy Cane Cookies

Joining Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam at:

Joining the cookie exchange at:

I have been making Candy Cane Cookies since I was about 5 years old. They are a family favorite. I hope you enjoy this simple recipe! You can frost in a hurry and they still look okay!

recipe:

1 cup butter or margarine

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

2 Tbsp. water

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

Beat butter and vanilla until creamy. Add confectioners sugar gradually. Beat until fluffy. Add water. Sift together flour and salt. Add to the creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly. Stir in oats until blended. Dough will be quite stiff. Shape dough into canes. ( I take about a 1 1/2 inch ball and roll by hand.)

Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 min. The bottom of cane should be lightly browned. Let cool thoroughly. Then frost with a confectioners frosting. You can dip the canes in white frosting then let dry before you stripe them with red frosting. Let them dry on a bakers rack with foil underneath to catch the drips of frosting.

It will make about 2 dozen cookies depending on the size you make the canes.

Special Times

Time with grandkids and my kids.

I think she gave out on us at the zoo.

These two we caught being still for a brief moment!

Walking in the sand.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! All of our children were able to be with us this year. We ate, played games, visited the zoo, went to the park, took pictures, sorted pictures, and went to a state park near our home.

The sand dune may have made you think of the ocean, but this is the only water near it. It is a lovely, quiet little spot.

So much fun over the Thanksgiving holiday! I really hated to see it end and everyone go home!

I hope we can do it all again one day!