Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

St. Nicholas Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening (or butter)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons allspice

2 teaspoons nutmeg

2 teaspoons ginger

2 teaspoons cloves (ground)

Cream first three ingredients.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix.  I use a Kitchen Aid mixer or you can use a hand mixer.  Refrigerate dough for 2-3 hours.  Mold dough or cut into desired shapes.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets and cook at 350 degrees for 12 -15 minutes or until golden brown (it all depends on the size of the cookie).  

Home

Today I went into Rutland and got some groceries on a snowy day.  The people I saw had pale skin and bad haircuts.  At a distance they are indifferent, up close they are wary and guarded.  If they are happy people they do not feel obliged to express their happiness with things like smiles and laughter.  Smiles they save for threats and laughter for the expression of scorn.
But they are good and dependable.  You can not count on them having a cheerful greeting for you in the produce aisle.  But if you are desperate on the side of the road you can count on three things: you can count on them stopping, you can count on them having something useful with them, and you can count on them being generous, whether it's a matter of knowledge, muscle or the use of a cell phone.
And I love them.  These are my people, these aloof and weathered masters of the half-smile.  And I might as well love them.  I mean, being fresh from California, I would have to say that I too am pale and have a bad haircut.

California or Bust!

We will soon be reunited with these wonderful folks!

VOTE! Election Day 2010

We endorse Brian Dubie for VT Governor!

NCWC is now airing their sermons online!

http://www.strangelyinformed.blogspot.com/

Verbal Explosion!

Obadiah has been in school now for two and a half weeks and I like the results. He seems happier and his verbal skills are improving. Yesterday, I was buckling him into his carseat and I said, "Obadiah, I love you!" and he looked at me and said VERY clearly, "Momma, I love you too!" That was the first time that I heard those words from his mouth.

This was our conversation at Kamuda's ( a local grocer) yesterday:

We were in the baking aisle.

Obie: "Momma, is this brownie mix?"

Me: "No, that is cake mix."

Obadiah:" Oh. Where is the brownie mix?"

Me: "The brownie mix is up here."

Obie: "Oh, so that is where they keep the brownie mix."

I know to some that this may seem like a typical conversation for a mother with a 4 year old but in actuality, it was one of my first conversations with my son. I was amazed at how complete his sentences were and how clearly spoken they were. Praise God!

Congratulations to John & Lisa!