Baby Jesus and Baby James

Amy Grant's Home for Christmas, Josh Groban's Noel and the soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas...these are the tunes I'm listening to as I write.  These CDs, along with a few others, are on a loop in our house during the holidays. Especially this year. I had to turn off the news and away from the reports on terrorism and random mass shootings. My heart couldn't take it any more.

I'm kind of a news junkie, but over the past month...the violence has been nonstop, and I became so discouraged by the worst of mankind and the hatred that is rising across the globe. Only God can change the hearts of the brutal, the greedy, and the lost. I can be kind in my own small circle, but I cannot fix much. So, I deliberately turned to setting up our nativity set and remembering a miraculous night an infant King entered a just-as-troubled world in a cold stable surrounded by smelly livestock.
 

There might have been a pine cone or two at the scene as well.

How brave God was to send an innocent child into this filthy world. What an investment He made in His children, who had already failed Him so.

Such is true love. To engage and invest in and commit to something when all past evidence proves the object of affection is untrustworthy.  It's only through this sacrifice that I understand anything. If not for the love of God, I would have no hope in human nature at all. On our own, we are aimless and wasteful, fearful and self-absorbed. We truly are immature children. Once God gets a hold of us, though...we have such potential.

The Christ child reminds me that God still invests in us. With every new life, He says, you're all still worth it.

Which brings me to our 30-week in utero grand baby, James. Here's what he looks like now, via his beautiful mama.

Innocence and wonder hidden in a warm belly, almost ready to emerge into the world in the form of James Daniel; another sweet life that comes from heaven with the message of here you go - more hope, new dreams, vast potential, and likely curly hair. Babies are straight from God, so we get the closest glimpse we can get in the flesh.  I still believe in you, God says. Look at this.

Baby James doesn't yet know how loved he is; how fearfully and wonderfully made he is. I'm going to tell him as soon as I meet him. And I'm going to tell him every time I see him. In this often dark world, it's important he understands that his heavenly Father is bigger than any tragedy he will ever see in his lifetime. I want James to always have hope as he grows and faces life's disappointments.

I will tell him about the baby Jesus and what hope He brought to the world. I will tell him that babies have great power to soften adults and prompt maturity and sacrifice, and how these things can change a family, which in turn can change a community, and then, yes, the world.

Ten more days, baby Jesus; ten more weeks (maybe less), baby James.

No matter what circumstances into which a child is born, he has the potential to change a human heart. That is the miracle of life.

 

A Simple Advent Wreath! If You're Five or 90, This is For You!

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This is What Your Christmas is Missing! (guest post by Stacey Lozano)

Stacey Lozano from STACEY'S DAZE shared her thoughts about my holiday craft/project ebook this week. I had trouble linking her post to facebook, so I transferred her post to my blog to see if the kinks are on my end as well. TESTING!
 
She's giving away a FREE copy of my ebook, so check it out! Winner announced Friday the 20th! To enter the contest, leave your comment on STACEY'S BLOG HERE.

From Stacey...

This is what your Christmas is missing!

It's coming up on Christmas, my friends. And those that are parents are wondering what to do this year. Three gifts, or Santa gifts? Elf on a shelf or one of the many alternatives. And those without children are wondering if there is any magic in the season. Have I got a treat for all of you!

My friend wrote a book sharing a Christmas tradition her family did and she still does. The twist is it's about doing for someone else rather than simply receiving. It's called the "12 Days of Christmas Adventure." 

Marianne and I came to know one another during a Blog from A-Z campaign. On her blog, she writes about "grown-up babies, seasoned parents, chasing wellness, chasing God, and dropping the meatloaf in the dish water." And now she's written an ebook about their own Christmas tradition someone once shared with her family, but they carried on and she still does.

Based on the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, the idea behind the tradition is that you give a daily gift and card to someone for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Each day you give something fun, practical, creative, or crazy that is closely or loosely based on each day of the song.

Now, you might be thinking. "Stacey, that sounds great. But I'm not that creative, and I don't have that much time." I get it! And so does Marianne! She has given a wealth of ideas in the book for you to use. And she gives you ideas on what the fun cards should say as well. And she gives you alternatives on how you can do the entire tradition. Generally I always say to do what fits you best. She helps you find what fits you best.

Here are some benefits of this book:

1. Your children learn that it truly is better to give than to receive. 
2. Someone feels remembered and loved through the season.
3. Relationships are formed or tightened.
4. You have an activity to do with your children.
5. You don't need children to do this for someone!

You need to go pick this book up. I do not receive anything for suggesting this book to you, nor am I paid for this post. I thought it was a really good idea, and am deciding who should be the recipient for my 12 days as I type. THAT might be he hardest part of this entire thing, as there are always people who are hurting.

You can read what Marianne says about the ebook at her blog. You can purchase "The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure" HERE at Smashwords or HERE at Barnes and Noble (who gives you a sneak peek) right now.

I am SO thrilled to be able to give away one copy of the book to one of my friends here on the blog. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas tradition growing up. How easy, right? I'll draw a name out of the hat and announce the winner this Friday, the 20th, which will leave you plenty of time, as well. The 12 days starts on Dec 13th. Get ready to start what will surely become your favorite Christmas tradition for years to come. 

Stacey

A Great Stocking Stuffer!

A sweet blogger friend of mine has written a book called Shock the Clock: Time Management for Writers and Other Creatives. I whipped through it yesterday and took a page of notes on time-saving tips for writers specifically, but everyone, in general. 

This is my kind of instructional book - short paragraphs, bullet points and a few wacky graphics for fun. This is Jeanette Levellie's third book of tips on how to manage life from a spiritual perspective. There is always a dose of humor tossed in.

Shock the Clock opens up with helping readers recognize themselves based on the four temperaments first defined by Hippocrates: choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic. I was a bit of a mix (as most people are), but dominantly melancholic. Based on your temperament, you can easily see how you best work, what your weaknesses are and how to overcome them. Isn't all of that good to know?

Jeanette then writes about how to remain steadfast in your writing (if you are a writer) and how to de-clutter your life in general, (writer or not) because cleaning out your life gives you more time to do whatever it is you love. There were my favorite tips:

1. "Don't buy clothes that need to be dry-cleaned." Yay! I always avoided anything that had to be dry-cleaned because of the time and money involved. I just didn't want to mess with it. Now, I have confirmation that I'm as smart as I thought I was.

2. "It's OK to do nothing for an hour a day." I loved reading this. I think most of us operate on the premise that if we are busy, we are important. We tend to think we are indispensable in all our activities. But, if we take an hour off, the world really does go on.

3. "If you had two years to live, what would you spend your time on?" Wow. Everyone could benefit from answering this question. I'm still thinking about my answer.

Jeanette offers many suggestions to help writers organize their schedules and stay on task. Writers tend to get side-tracked with social media. We also tend to doze off while reading a great book or studying the writing of a favorite TV show. It's not important how I know this, but Jeannette's tips might help you, if you have this problem. She's got great ideas on time management, in general. When I finished her book, I hopped up and organized my work station. No joke.

Check out Jeanette's website for more info. on this talented writer and speaker:  www.jeanettelevellie.com.

Visit her facebook page here: JEANETTE's FACEBOOK

You can pre-order her gem of a book here: SHOCK THE CLOCK.  (Release date is Dec. 14.) It's a quick, easy read that would make a great Christmas gift. Gain some tips on how to start fresh in the New Year.

Thank you, Jeanette, for sharing your book with me!

About Jeanette Levellie: A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Greater, a popular feature in her local newspaper since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars. She is also a prolific speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life. 

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL, with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies. 

 

I Had Great Plans for Today. Now...What I'm Really Doing.

I just tripped down the stairs and hurt my knee.

Don't think anything's broken, but I'm now plopped on the sofa with an ice pack. I had many things planned today that probably just got pushed to the weekend (I hope.) Who can ever afford to hurt a knee and then stay off it for an afternoon, or a day? My sister and I talked recently about how sometimes God literally knocks you down (she developed a UTI in the midst of a move) so you just have to sit around and stew about stuff while observing the mess around you, because who ever injures themselves when the house is in perfect order and all the errands are done? UGH.

Excuse me, I think I need a pain pill.

I'm back. Anyhoo...we're refinancing our home, and the appraiser is coming early next week. I wanted to dust all the fans, hose off all the blinds and polish the wooden cabinets today. I debated painting a bathroom and washing the outside windows. But, now I'm just blogging with an ice pack on my knee. I think I'll watch the senate hearing on Benghazi in a few minutes. Or maybe read TIME magazine and fall asleep. You don't realize how useful a knee is until you trip down the stairs and land your full weight on it. I should not have had that cookie last night.

Something sweet did happen early this morning, before the fall. My friend, Christine, from A Fly on Our Chicken Coop Wall (wonderful blog, by the way) wrote a review on my ebook, The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure, and she is giving away a free copy. Check it out here: REVIEW and FREE COPY.

Sample of a pear in a partridge tree. HA!

Christine has a fun life with her husband and six cute kids living on a pig farm in Indiana (go Hoosiers!) Isn't that a funny sentence right there?  Read what she's doing this holiday season with The 12 Days. Really sweet.

OK, I have to stretch out and shift around again, this fat knee is now starting to burn. Hope your day is productive and pain-free. Watch out for stairs that move on you.

C is for Christmas!

Yes, I know it's only April.  But I think about Christmas all year long, because I've written a book called The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure.

It's about giving, and sharing and crafting and sneaking around.  It involves pears and partridges and turtles and golden rings and reindeer and drummers.  And hope.

I hope to have it published by the summer. I'll keep you posted here on the blog.

For now, here's a sneak peek.

 

A Grinchy Christmas

It's January 9!  Where has the year gone!?

Last time I turned round, it was December 24th, and I was at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL (three hours north of us) being evaluated for rheumatoid arthritis.  I was referred up there after some blood work came back high for RA.  My days have been up and down since, and Christmas didn't really happen around here in the usual way.  Expected family didn't come, because I wasn't home in time, and a few gifts were handed out over a week's time.

I didn't prepare a holiday meal, and we didn't have the whole family around for the 25th.  I made a cherry danish for Christmas morning breakfast, something I'd never done, and we watched Miracle on 34th Street, a movie I had never seen from start to finish. We had a meal with my parents in their assisted living facility, and called it a day.

Christmas came anyway. Without a fat turkey, pumpkin pie, or even a Christmas tree. It came without our "grab bag" activity, or trays of sugar cookie cut-outs I usually bake. We didn't even get to church, we were so exhausted from the trip up and back to Mayo.

But, you know what? Christmas came anyway.

Which made think about the first Christmas.  It had no glitz or sparkle either.  A frightened, unwed teenager spilled her blood onto hay and dirt in a cold stable with smelly animals nearby.  Her fiance, Joe, was probably just as terrified.  What did he know about birthing a baby?  And then royalty arrived with some valuable oils that brought healing and restoration to aliments and wounds. They were probably exactly what Mary needed for her cold, labor-weary body.

And that was it. The King had arrived. The angels sang as a divine child entered our filthy world. The world would never be the same. But, then...time to pack up and get back on the donkey for an arduous trip.

The greatest, and simplest, story every told.

As unusual as this Christmas was for us, I loved it.  With my injured foot and extra doc appointments, I didn't have the time or energy for all the regular preparations, and, in the end, it was liberating. I spent more time pondering the Christ child and his humble appearance on Earth than I ever have before.  Without all the hoop-la, Christmas still came.

"It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." 

The Grinch got it right.

 

Paint Nite!

Our daughter and I did the coolest thing this past weekend.  For Christmas, we spent a weekend in Orlando and took a painting class. She took art classes in college; I took pottery classes in college.  She can actually draw and sketch beautifully; I can make lumpy bowls that are too heavy to actually use.

Before we got started.  Don't we look artistic?

The event we attended was called "Paint Night."  At the online "Paint Night" site, we chose a picture we wanted to learn to paint.  At the event on Saturday night, that picture was on display in a beautiful room adjacent a trendy bar.  We sat down at a long table (with other attendees) in front of our own canvases and easels and paper plates filled with five different colors of paint blobs the size of a slider hamburgers.  We were given aprons, which were clearly reusable.

We each had a plastic cup 1/4 full of water and three different types of brushes. Some people ordered drinks from the bar before we started; my girl and I had iced tea and soda.  I've never painted before in my life (other than interior walls and paint-by-number kits when I was ten), and I was pretty sure alcohol was not going to enhance my lack of skill.

Step by step, the instructor directed us to first draw a sky, and then a horizon, a pathway, and some trees.  That's all there was to the picture.  It was a very basic, primary colors, kind of painting.

It took us two hours.  Oh my gosh, I concentrated so hard. I felt like I was five, learning to write in cursive.  My brain was really cranking.  Sitting this close to my project, I couldn't tell how the completed thing would look.  Painting is done in small pieces (who knew?) and while I was doing the parts, it didn't look like anything.  My daughter was great, so encouraging and unafraid.  I found myself following her instruction as much as listening to the teacher.

We laughed and made mistakes and covered them up with white (which really does hide pretty much anything.)  We tried not to confuse our paint water cup with our drinking cups, and I tried not to splatter her canvas (when I tapped off my brush) more than twice. The whole thing was so much fun, and we came away with not half-bad masterpieces.

I'm so glad I don't have a copy of the original picture, because then you'll never know how close we got (or failed to get.)  We didn't understand why there was red and yellow on the pathway, but that's what the sample picture had, so we added it.  My daughter originally thought the pathway was a river.  I understood it was a path, but thought maybe it had bloodstains on it from a recent crime. One student added two snowmen on this pathway.  Art is so subjective, isn't it?

My girl and I are giving our own picture to each other for Christmas.   I might have her fix mine before I wrap it.

ThanksgivingMas

Hello, little blog.  It's been awhile.  Have you missed me?  You're a good friend, just hanging around until I check in.  Kind of like a loyal puppy.  Only, no peeing on the carpet, for which I'm grateful.

I could start off by saying it's been busy around here, but isn't everybody's life busy?  Especially now that commerce has decided Christmas preparations should begin before Halloween.  It's nutty.  I'm trying not to succumb, but I have to admit I purchased a couple holiday dish towels last week.  I'm making a few gifts from dish towels and potholders.

I saw this idea at a craft fair a few years ago.  With a basting stitch, I gathered the center of the towel to fit the width of the potholder.  Front sides together, I sewed the center of the towel to the center of the potholder. You can then sew a button onto the top edge of the potholder (non-loop side) and latch the towel on your oven door.  

Or, whip stitch the potholder closed at the top and hang it on a pantry door.

 















This pantry door is close to my sink, so this is a good location to hang my towel.  I have several of these I swap out when one is in the laundry.  I get a kick out of simple, practical items like this. 

There's your Martha Stewart craft of the day.  It's a good thing.

In other news, two weeks ago, my husband went to get into his car and the door handle came off in his hand.  He came inside and said, "I think I need a new car."

So, we purchased this.

It's a silver Hyundai.  Other than that, I know nothing about it, except, it has door handles that don't come off.  This is important.  Merry Christmas, honey.

In all fairness, my husband's old car had seen better days.  It was probably time to retire it anyway, but just a warning for all cars - if your handles come off, you're on your way to the trade-in lot.

Thanksgiving is next week, and I have to backtrack in my head, because, as you can see, I've been sucked into the Christmas wormhole.  I'm excited about  Thanksgiving this year because a friend is bringing a roasted-outside-all-night turkey, stuffing, and a pumpkin cream pie.  And I'm catering in three side dishes, because of this.

I'm making a cranberry Jello salad.  I think I can manage it.  I might plan an injury pre-holiday season next year.  Or, maybe I'll still be in this boot.  AUGH!

In the spirit of giving thanks, here is my grateful list for 2014:

1.  I'm so thankful for good doctors.   From Parkinson's to chronic UTIs to torn tissues, we have a slew of nice docs that keep us moving.

2.  I'm grateful my husband has a good job.  We have more than we need.  I feel guilty about this sometimes.  I share and donate to try to compensate.

3.  I'm grateful for the hard workers at my folks' ALF.  They don't get enough kudos, so I bake goodies for them once in a while.  They have difficult jobs, which I could never do.

4.  We had a door replaced in our home, and my folks got new carpet in their suite. These are material things that I know, in the long run, don't matter, but in the short run, they're very nice.

5.  I had a wonderful vacation at the beach this fall with my sister and her sisters-in-law.  I always forget how nice it is to do nothing for a while.

6,  The new show Madam Secretary.  I look forward to it.  The writing is very good. By Sunday night, I need to plop.

7.  My new gym, which has a pool.  I need to swim for exercise and for ankle therapy.  I'm not great at it, but I'm working on it.  Oh, to bring back those 1920 swimsuits that covered all the blobbiness.

8.  For Fuji apples dipped in soft caramel.  The taste of Fall.

9.  For my Kitchen Aid mixer, my Sonic toothbrush, the supplement MSM, my clothesline, the Christmas music of Josh Groban, and all my blogging friends. 

10.  For good friends who bring roasted turkeys, and for the love of family.  And for Jesus, who enables us to love one another, because some days...

Thanks for popping in!  Have a blessed week!

C is for Christmas....and more Christmas

Yes, it's early, but I've been thinking about Christmas steadily for four years, because I'm writing a book about a Christmas giving project for families.  When it's 98 degrees here in Florida, I'm writing about Christmas.  When we're celebrating Mother's Day, I'm writing about Christmas. 

Here's a picture from the book.

It's a pear in a partridge tree - a zany gift idea.

More zany gifts to come.  Over 400 gift ideas in the book. 

I hope to have the book finished by this coming Christmas.  If not, come Valentine's Day....I'll be writing about Christmas.

(P.S.  If you're interested, link up to my ADVENTURES facebook page to stay updated on the book.  I'll be giving away free copies at some point.  How's that for an early Christmas gift?)  

It's Slump Day

Happy the-few-days-after-Christmas slump! 

It's inevitable.  We can spend money and eat sugar cookies for only so long (usually until the money and the cookies run out.)  I'm spending my 48-hours-post-Christmas doing laundry.  A lot of it.  You can read about that HERE, where I also share the real reason I love Christmas.  I was in the MMW dugout this morning.

My other after-Christmas slump arrived in the form of a head cold.  It's noon and I'm still in my PJs.  I'm on my second box of Puffs, and I keep eating whole wheat rolls to absorb all the mucus I'm swallowing.  That was probably too much information. 

I'll end on a happy note, so you can scoot over to the MMW blog and see my stack of laundry.  It's higher than my washer. 

We had a wonderful Christmas day with most of our family here. 

Every year, I think this might be the last Christmas with my parents, 93 and 90, so I'm adamant now about getting a family photo.   We took several.  Even the dogs were patient.

Hope your day is filled with something other than laundry.

Come Shine with Me!

It's December!!  It's snowing cats and dogs in some parts of the country, and shoppers have trounced one another all weekend to grab the best deals!

I hunkered down over the weekend and helped a friend organize some things in her home.  Then, I made cookies with my daughter.  We discovered that if you don't have a rolling pin, a bottle of wine (full or empty) works just fine.  Who knew.   

 

That first batch of cookie cut-outs always gets me in the mood for Christmas.  There's just something about a snowman with a chocolate chip face that makes me want to share the love.

So, I decided on my facebook page, I would post a daily thought (until Christmas) that would encourage all of us to shine this holiday.  Shine in a way that lights up somebody's life, gives them hope, takes a burden, garners a smile.   I'm calling it "Shine Your Christmas."

December 1st (yesterday), on my facebook page, I suggested we all bake cookies and give some to a grumpy neighbor or coworker.   Or teenager.  Or husband.  Whoever is the grumpy pants in your life.  People can't be grumpy when they're eating a cookie somebody gave them.   Especially if it's a snowman with a chocolate chip face. 

Join me on facebook as I move through the month with reflections on how we can all shine a little brighter this holiday season.  I know when the craziness really starts, I want to just keep plugging along, doing simple things that will shine through the chaos.  It would be fun to do it together.  Maybe we could change the world.

Here's my facebook link:  Adventures in the Ballpark - Mare Ball.  Check in and click the "like" button right under the cover photo of all the pies - you'll then get the daily posts on your facebook page, and we'll be buds!  And down the road, I might be giving away a Cadillac.  You'd hate to miss that.  

Scoot over there now and see the things I'm posting this month to make my Christmas more shiny.  Easy things we can do together.  I promise you, they do not require stringing up lights, or dragging a Douglas fir into the house.


Happy December!!!

A Simple Advent Wreath! If You're Five or 90, This is For You!

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Snippets from the Dugout. And Donuts.

I've been in the dugout for a few weeks.  Writing, reading, and more writing.  I'm taking a marketing/publishing class, which is excellent, but time consuming.  I'm realizing how little I know.

 

In the meantime, my dad has been in the hospital for a bad UTI, then rehab.  He's doing very well at the moment and will be home Thursday.  I thought we might have a glitch in that plan when he fell in the restroom of a large medical facility a few days ago.  I suspected there was a problem when he was in the restroom for fifteen minutes.

I finally asked a man going in the restroom to check on Dad.  I heard Dad's voice the minute the man opened the door.  Together, the stranger and I spotted Dad's shoes poking out from under a stall door.  He was OK, just sitting on the floor after slipping in his transfer from toilet to wheel chair.  "I can't reach the door to unlock it," he said, and I had to smile.  He was just waiting for someone to come in and find him.

I went to the information desk for help and within minutes, nurses came.  Somebody slid under the stall door, freed Dad and settled him back in his wheel chair.  He wheeled out looking a little sheepish.  I was reluctant to let him go behind all those closed doors by himself (he's supposed to have assistance with EVERY transfer), but he insisted he could handle it.

We both learned something.  I decided, when he's with me, he's not going in the bathroom alone again; he decided when he's alone in the bathroom in the future, he won't lock the door.   It's clear we're not on the same page. 

Parents.  They have a mind of their own.

The government partially shut down today, and so far, my life feels the same.  I know there are organizations that are not open today and that affects people who work in those places.  I hope the Hatfields and McCoys start working together soon, because it's not fair to all of us who pay their salaries.  Maybe it's just me, but I don't like paying for things that don't work like they're supposed to.

Has anybody seen the new show Hostages?  Oh my word, I can't write or fold clothes or even munch on chocolate chips while I'm watching it.   It's full of suspense and twists and cute Dylan McDermot.  Although, he's a bad guy.  I think.  As we learn about his past, it's getting murkier.  Check it out, Monday nights on CBS.  Be there or be square.

I'm thinking about Christmas already, because I'm writing a book about Christmas.  And giving.  And partridges and hens and pipers and drummers.  It's very noisy in my head.  Is Christmas on your radar yet?

If not, here's a picture to get you in the mood. 

What Christmas carol item is this?   Hmmmm....

Twelve Days of Goodies

On the first day of holiday prep, I made some chocolate acorns.

Saw these on Pinterest and immediately put mini Nutter-butters on my grocery list.   Assembly is easy-peasy:  Melt chocolate chips and use them as the 'glue' to stick a Hershey's kiss onto a Nutter-butter.  Use another dab of 'glue' to stick a chocolate chip to the opposite side.   Edible acorns!

On the second day of holiday baking, I made an overnight cheese bread.  So different, so easy, so delish.  It serves 6-8, but I know I could eat the whole thing by myself.  

You hand-stir the dough, then let it rest overnight.  Next morning, knead in some cheese.  Plop it in a hot, covered casserole dish and bake it (no peeking.)  This bread is on my holiday menu from here on.  Here's the recipe:  LAZY WHOLE WHEAT CHEESE BREAD.

On the third day of holiday prep...Christmas trees.

We're on our third year of not putting up a Christmas tree.  We decorate the piano.  (For that story, CLICK HERE.)  In lieu of a live evergreen, we have sugar cookie evergreens.  Except they're not always green, as you can plainly see.  And they don't last forever, because we're pigs when it comes to grandma's sugar cookie recipe.

We also have sugar cookie bells, which I made on the fourth day of prepping. 

Can't you just hear Carol of the Bells?  (CLICK HERE and you will.)

On the fifth day....golden rings with lingonberry jelly (or whatever jelly I have.  The cookie doesn't care.)  

For every M&M I placed....I ate one.  I had to get that off my chest.

On the sixth day of baking, I made a mess with oatmeal and coconut and puffed rice and chocolate mint.

                     

These are Meemaw's Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies from Paula Deen - with my own variations.  For this recipe CLICK HERE.  My three variations:

1.  I used mint chocolate chips instead of toffee bits.
2.  I used green buttercream frosting, instead of white chocolate.  And I drizzled the frosting instead of dipping the cookies in frosting or chocolate.  We try to watch our sugar intake around here.  Not.
3.  I eliminated the crushed candy canes, because I used them in another treat.

On the seventh day of baking, I made swans-a-swimming dressed in white buttercream feathers.

                       

This sparkly one posed for a picture.  Shortly after the picture, her head was snapped off and eaten. 

On the eighth day of baking...pretzel buttons.

These little gems are everywhere on Pinterest.  Little waffle pretzels topped with Hershey's kisses or Rolos.  Melt a few minutes in the oven, then top with a nut or M&M.  Recipe here: PRETZEL BUTTONS.  A perfect salty/sweet treat.  I've gained five pounds since I've joined Pinterest.  I've also learned how to make a pencil holder from a cheese grater and hang a picture using a soda pop top, so I'm expanding my mind as well as my behind. 

On the ninth day of maniacal baking, a three-year old helped me.  We made peanut-butter reindeer.


Somebody got carried away with the red-hots.   A couple cyclopses ended up on the cookie sheet as well.  Everyone is welcome here in the Ballpark kitchen.  For these body-less creatures, make balls of dough using any peanut-butter cookie recipe.  Press mini-pretzels into the dough for antlers, and use chocolate chips and red-hots for facial features.   Add as many noses as you want.

 On the tenth day of baking...snowy candy canes.  

Living in the Sunshine state, I've not really seen snow in twenty years.  I'm pretty much OK with it, because I never want to drive on ice again.  But, snow dots are pretty on cookies, so there ya' go.

On the eleventh day of baking, I lit up the place with old fashioned tree lights.

I love this cookie cutter because it's small, and, unfrosted, these little lights are for those who just want a tad of something sweet.  If you want more, you can eat ten of 'em.  It's not important how I know this.

On the twelfth day of baking...dreamy, creamy Oreo cookie/peppermint bark. 

Chunk up 1/2 - 3/4 bag of mint Oreos.  Spread them out on greased cookie sheet, using only half the pan.  Crush 4-6 candy canes in a blender/food processor until desired consistency (we like ours fine.)  Gently melt 2 bags of white chocolate chips.  (I melt mine in the microwave, using the "auto defrost" button, stirring every 30 seconds.)

As soon as the chocolate is very smooth and pourable, drizzle it over the cookies.  Gently fold a bit as needed to coat the cookies well.  Smooth out the mixture to desired thickness.  Sprinkle the candy crumbs over the top, and place the sheet pan in the refrigerator. 

When the chocolate is set, break the bark into chunks and share with everyone you know.  If you eat it all yourself, it will put you in a coma until Easter. 

I am so going on a diet come January. 

What are you gaining weight on this holiday season?