With scarves of red tied 'round their throats

I sat on my front porch this morning in the cold air and the warm sunshine and counted all of my blessings while I drank my morning coffee. Do you know that at this time of year, the sun comes up just to the right of that big tree there and it sets not much further to the right? That means that at this time of year, my little front porch is in the sunlight for nearly the entire day. And starting yesterday, the arch of the sun gets longer and longer.

It’s only like this in the wintertime. And I love it.

I can’t believe another year is coming to an end. Can you?

 

And I can’t believe how wonderful it is just to see and feel the sun again, after several days of gray and gloomy weather.

 

George is glad, too.

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It’s wonderful having our two sons under our roof again, and all seems right with the world again. Well, for the most part anyway.

 

Went to see Silver Linings Playbook tonight with my one son. Loved it. Jennifer Lawrence is, hands down, my favorite actress at the moment. And Bradley Cooper along with Jennifer Lawrence and a little De Niro thrown in is just magical. In a crazy kinda way.

Which is what it’s all about.

Well, that and the Eagles.

 

I think this is my family’s favorite Christmas cookie.

You need to add these to your repertoire. They are light and lovely, and they speak of Christmas softly. They are Orange-Iced Cranberry Cookies. And when everything’s right and they are cooked to perfection, the outsides are golden crispy, the insides are like cake, and the orange frosting is well . . . it’s icing on the cake.

I always use extra orange rind.

• ORANGE ICED CRANBERRRY COOKIES
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• Combine sugars, butter, sour cream, vanilla, and eggs.
• Add flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Gently stir in cranberries and nuts. Don’t overmix.
• Spoon by tablespoon 2” apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes until golden brown.
• Let cool, then frost with icing (below).

ORANGE ICING

• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 1 tsp. melted butter
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 2-3 tbsp. orange juice

Combine all to spreading consistency.

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So, please do tell what’s going on in your world . . . inquiring minds want to know.

Another holiday tune for you. This one a bit off the beaten track. It’s Fleet Foxes’ White Winter Hymnal and I think it’s kinda cool.