Getting Awfully Close to Christmas

Too close and too busy; I’m feeling worn out. Three days of baking over several days is too much. I helped two friends bake. Sharing the costs and the workload is a great option, but it does wear a person down. They were two of the three who shared the harvest canning season with me. One of the ladies has painfuGetting Awfully Close to Christmas
Too close and too busy; I’m feeling worn out. Three days of baking over several days is too much. I helped two friends bake. Sharing the costs and the workload is a great option, but it does wear a person down. They were two of the three who shared the harvest canning season with me. One of the ladies has painful arthritis and like a snowbird flies south for the winter. As a matter of fact, her 2023 calendar has the pages missing until April. We use her house to can and to bake because it has a larger kitchen and is centrally located. Other than the work load, the most difficult situation is it isn’t heated in the winter. It’s mostly underground and rarely goes below 40 degrees, so it is chilly until we get a coal fire going in her cook stove. By the times we’re nearly finished and ready to leave, the house is warm.
The baking list included fruit filled cookies, pineapple, cherry, and blueberry. We baked peanut butter blossoms with kisses and some with Reese’s cup miniatures. Rows of chocolate chip cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate peanut clusters covered the cooling table. We baked several nut rolls and several poppy seed rolls. Having some dough left over, we decided to use caramel apple pie filling in the dough that was left over. The flavor was great, but the roll was lumpy and out of shape. If we ever try to do that again, we’ll need to chop the apples much finer.
I’m almost able to claim my bed fully. It’s been the “Santa’s workshop” for several weeks. Initially it was only the repository for already purchased gifts, then it’s slowly evolved onto a wrapping station. The gifts are staked on my dresser waiting for me to haul them downstairs and be placed under the Christmas tree. I placed many items in gift bags. It’s much easier for me. These presents are small things for them to unwrap and open. I found it’s easier for me to give them money. Let them figure out if it’s something they want or need.
I put up the Christmas tree myself this year. I got the artificial tree put together and the lights and garland on. Suddenly it dawned on me as I started to hang the bulbs on the tree, “In two weeks, I’ll have to tear it down and remove all of these bulbs.” I ended up putting on about one third of the ornaments before I called it quits. Oh my word, I am becoming a Grinch. I’m just keeping the Christmas spirit, “Bah humbug.”
l arthritis and like a snowbird flies south for the winter. As a matter of fact, her 2023 calendar has the pages missing until April. We use her house to can and to bake because it has a larger kitchen and is centrally located. Other than the work load, the most difficult situation is it isn’t heated in the winter. It’s mostly underground and rarely goes below 40 degrees, so it is chilly until we get a coal fire going in her cook stove. By the times we’re nearly finished and ready to leave, the house is warm.

The baking list included fruit filled cookies, pineapple, cherry, and blueberry. We baked peanut butter blossoms with kisses and some with Reese’s cup miniatures. Rows of chocolate chip cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate peanut clusters covered the cooling table. We baked several nut rolls and several poppy seed rolls. Having some dough left over, we decided to use caramel apple pie filling in the dough that was left over. The flavor was great, but the roll was lumpy and out of shape. If we ever try to do that again, we’ll need to chop the apples much finer.

I’m almost able to claim my bed fully. It’s been the “Santa’s workshop” for several weeks. Initially it was only the repository for already purchased gifts, then it’s slowly evolved onto a wrapping station. The gifts are staked on my dresser waiting for me to haul them downstairs and be placed under the Christmas tree. I placed many items in gift bags. It’s much easier for me. These presents are small things for them to unwrap and open. I found it’s easier for me to give them money. Let them figure out if it’s something they want or need.

I put up the Christmas tree myself this year. I got the artificial tree put together and the lights and garland on. Suddenly it dawned on me as I started to hang the bulbs on the tree, “In two weeks, I’ll have to tear it down and remove all of these bulbs.” I ended up putting on about one third of the ornaments before I called it quits. Oh my word, I am becoming a Grinch. I’m just keeping the Christmas spirit, “Bah humbug.”