Do you participate in Cookie Exchanges? I did years ago, I packaged up twelve dozen wonderful Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies. I came home with broken cookies, burned cookies, cookies my girls wouldn't eat. It was a total waste of time. One time was enough for me after that I would let the children chose one or two kinds of cookies that they liked and we would bake before Christmas. Jen liked Rosettes so I bought an iron and made them a few years. Trica liked Fudge and we invariably would try a recipe and it would turn out to be spoon fudge..which was acceptable to her. They both liked Star Cookies a peanut butter cookie with a chocolate star on top. I always had to hide the chocolate stars in the deep freeze or they would be all gone when it was time to bake. I have not baked any cookies this year..the girls will bring some of their baked treasures along..I heard that one of them made caramels, mints, and Star Cookies, she is my over achiever. Hopefully I will get some pumpkin bread made..the grands all love it.
Jen called one day last week..she said she was going to a cookie exchange.. I said "Great, I hope some of them are edible." She said.."Well Mother, times have changed and the women that don't bake just get gourmet packaged cookies at ten dollars a dozen..they can afford to have someone bake for them." I thought..what a waste..good for the cookie baker..but ten dollars a dozen?? I hope they were edible..and not burned or broken.
I participated in an exchange this year! I signed up for an ornament exchange. I got two cute little ornaments from a gal in Florida..they look great on my tree! I sent off one of my handmade loons and a tin spoon with a painted Santa on it that said "Ho. Ho Ho" down the handle. I was pleased with this kind of exchange..it was a whole lot better than cookies.
Far Guy and I drug ourselves to a local shopping establishment last night armed with our "list".. we were confused. Play Station Ones and Twos..DS... Wii..I pod.. all these thingys that we have absolutely no idea..what they do. I approached one of the ASSistant Managers with my list, he said can't help you with your list..music isn't in our computer.. I asked him if the movies are? "Yup" the ASSistant said. I said "WELL could you look up -------?" OK he could..but the phone rang..so he had to talk to his friend on the STORE phone while I waited. ( Picture me standing by the counter, clicking my fingernails on the counter to the tune of some death march) Nope, no luck, they did not have that movie. Luckily we ran into a group of teenagers who knew where everything was..and then a store employee that actually knew something helped us to find almost everything on our list. I remembered to get gift receipts..because I am positive we messed up on something ..so exchanges will have to be made. We headed home.. I have one final list..and IF I cannot find something..they are getting socks or mittens. I have really had it with this shopping crap. I don't like it, I hate that Christmas is a commercial holiday. So far I have enjoyed this holiday..zero..and I am sure that when all the cooking starts next week I am really going to be happy..nothing like spending a day or two in the kitchen to perk me up.
Far Guy is working on the Christmas Letter..the envelopes, paper and stamps stand at the ready..I usually do them on a stormy day..haven't had one of those yet in December so the greetings remain undone. I do have all that wrapping paper to use up..that part I don't hate..I find it rather freeing to slice into paper with a sharp instrument:)
