Monday, December 1, 2008

Gingerbread Dreams/SNAGS

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I remember as a little kid, my mother always started baking right after Thanksgiving. I would help with cutting out the sugar cookies and the gingerbread. The house felt cozy and smelled so good.

My mom still bakes quite a bit which amazes me since she just turned 89. I baked quite a bit when my kids were small but I ended up eating far more than I needed to. My three weren't extremely interested in helping and didn't like most of the cookies anyway, so I stopped. The only thing I baked were nut rolls which came from my dad's Slovak heritage. He loved them because somehow I came upon a recipe that was just like his mother's. I haven't baked a nut roll since 1993, the year before my dad died.

Hmmm...I have no idea where I'm going with this post. I woke up this morning with a really sore throat and ears. My head was pounding. I really felt like I was getting the crud. I took the day off and did a few things. I went and got my snow tires put on my car. It's been pretty bad getting down my hill.

I'm supposing the blues are striking because somehow I can't quite grasp the Christmas spirit. I put fewer decorations up each year. Dang, I used to have 3 trees up. I didn't get any lights outside because, once again, I'm so undecided this year. I saw a $300 tree at Sears on Saturday that I loved. It's $200 this week but I refuse to spend that much money on a pre-lit tree. Ugh...I feel like Ebeneezer Scrooge. Plus I'm thinking I'm probably putting on weight...double ugh. Just a bad day :) Tomorrow a few old friends from work and I are doing our annual Christmas luncheon at the Spaghetti Warehouse :) Just what I need, more food. I really need to put those walking shoes on and brave the weather. Anyway, this too shall pass. Dang, this seems like such a downer....HUGGIES Another set of snaggies on the way.


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25 comments:

Jan said...

I do hope you were able to throw off your crud ,never mind it was good to get your chains on the car ,I know just how you feel about decorations ,few is the new more lol ..love Jan xx

Joyce said...

First, love your tags...love your header too...so festive and fits the framing of your blog...love the music...could listen to it forever. Baking...wow, haven't done that in ages...like you...bet your Mom can really bake well. The winter blues are hitting many...me too at times. I do hope you feel better tomorrow...and your throat clears up. This weather is so whacky...tonight it's cold again...this morning was warm...no wonder we all feel bad. Hugs and love to you!!!!!
Joyce

Sugar said...

nice tags!'my mom always baked too. and holidays she out done herself.
i miss that.
hope you feel better.
huggies...

Hollie said...

Oh, I love all the tags. I hope you are able to get into the Christmas Spirit soon. It helps me to listen to Christmas music & watch Christmas shows. Feel better soon...

HUGS:)
Thanks for the tags....

nancy said...

Wow! you are talented like my sister Donna at d's designs.I like to snag a few tags but I want to write in here first. Thanks for stopping at my site..Thanks for the snaggable designs..
Nancy

Terri said...

I have the crud...not real bad yet, but bad enough..stomach, throat, aching all over..UGH! Hope you feel better...

I can't wait to get my decorations out..and set up but just don't have the energy to mess with it yet!

I get the blues too...I think we all do at some time or another during the holidays...

Big hugs!
Terri

Tina of Moon Shine said...

I am the same way about Christmas. I don'tknow why I am like that. I need to shake it off because My kids are so young.
i hoe you feel better soon1
hugs
tina

nancy said...

Hello again just letting you know I snagged the snowflake kisses.Nan

Penny said...

Ooh, baking! I used to bake like crazy, especially in the winter months. Now it's just the two of us (whimper) and I can't get in the mood. Only baking my sister's famous pumkin roll this year . . . it's delicious and good to give as a gift. Double duty! I snagged the goodies ~ thanks so much! We are decorating to the nines . . . I guess trying to avoid the holiday blues. Much love and many blessings, Penny

D said...

love the tags as always!!! Hoping to get some baking done... not like I'm out driving and shopping. Lets hope I can do that.
hugs

Linda Brown said...

loved all your tags and the rudolph is really cute.
Thanks for sharing
Linda
LLBrown247@aol.com

betty said...

are you near a mall you can walk around? (indoor mall of course) That's what everyone in Montana did; the malls opened early at 6 a.m. and people would walk laps around it for exercise (and then it seemed like they would get together for coffee/sweet rolls afterwards so not sure how effective that was for weight loss, LOL

(((Chris))) its hard sometimes to get into the spirit of Christmas; we probably won't be home on Christmas with visiting relatives so I don't think I'm even going to decorate much; isn't that awful?

we got a prelit tree at Home Depot a few years back for under $100; maybe watch there or Lowes or whatever your hardware store is

cute tags and memories about your mom baking; my mom made nut rolls, I bet they had to be similar to what you made since she was Polish; my hubby made some last year because we were afraid we wouldn't have them again since my mom is no longer with us and my sister moved out of the country (she would always make some and mail them to us).

hugs to you; hope you feel better soon

betty

Helen said...

I hope you feel a lot better today, Your tags are beautifu. I could never afford the price of those trees you mentioned either. Helen

Joan said...

Sory you are feeling unwell hope it passes soon. Strange how some years you just cannot get into the Christmas spirit I have had years like this and it can be hard to shake off. If you watch a good and I mean a good film like 'It's a Wonderful Life' I found that ususally does the trick. Sorry didn't mean to write a book. LOve Joan.

Yasmin said...

I generally feel the same this time of year, hope you get to feeling better soon and enjoy lunch with your friends.

Take care

Yasmin
xx

lisa said...

I LOVE LOVE Spaghetti Warehouse, The origial one is in Columbus Ohio and it has a caboose..we took Chad there for a bday once. If i was near you, we'd bake together. Rick says after this year--no more big tree. SIGH.
I think it is awesome that your mom still bakes. I am sorry if you are still feeling poorly. I love you!

Debbie said...

Dang girl you got it looking good in here. I tried to read your entry Sunday and your journal wouldn't load for me. I love your slideshow thanks for sharing. Oh, I hope you feel better soon lots of the crud going around. Yeah, something about this time of the year just gives ya the blahs and boohoo's. I know the feeling I can't get in the spirit either.
Your snags are adorable but Terri can't get graphics to work on my journal sigh.
Hugs
Debbie

slj said...

I hope you feel better soon! My Mom used to always make the cut out sugar cookies..As she got older, it became my job..and now,according to my kids and grandkids, it just isn't Christmas without them..lol.
I love your snags. I just don't know how to get them to my blog without losing the animation, so I don't snag them:(
I'll keep trying thought:)
Hugs, Sheri

Jeannette said...

I used to make gingerbread men for my kids, they'd eat them as they came out the oven! I don't cook much now and Christmas as I knew it is a distant memory! Seems like everything nice to eat at Christmas has a squillion calories so we'd better steer clear! I hope you feel better soon, seems like the crud appears and affects everyone at Christmas! Jeannette xx

Joyce said...

Great snags - nice work. I think maybe it's just this time of year that makes some of us sad. I have my moments as well but try to stay happy for the kids and g/kids. It just seems like we've made such a chore out of it when it should be relaxing and fun. Oh well, this too shall pass.
Hugs, Joyce

MammawsDecorativeArt said...

I have had the crud three times in two months. I cannot get rid of it. Today my Dr. called me in some antibiotics a Z-Pac, and I hope that they kick in. I absolutely will finish the entire prescription. I hope you feel better fast and don't have this crud all the way through Christmas. I cannot remember the last time I actually felt good.

Thank you for your comment in the journal. You don't realize how encouraging you are for me.

I didn't go to the set up confrontation.

Lisa said...

Chris, love the gingerbread man tags, hope you feel better soon !!!!!!!, Hugs Lisa

krissy knox said...

Chris, can't remember if I told you or not, I am a follower of you now!

Krissy :)
visit my main blog: Sometimes I Think
Hey Jlanders! Please post your blogs in the Directory of Blogs: from jland to blogger

wildautumn said...

I'm snagging a couple of your beautiful tags! My mom bakes cookies every year too. I can smell the butter and sugar as she mixes it into the batter! Sigh! Feel Better!

Carolina said...

falling off my chair here with all the great tags and pictures!!!! wow!