A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

December 21, 2012

A Mason Jar Recipe, a Cool Food Website, and Ramblings

Hi There!
 
You are either up to your eyeballs in alligators still prepping and preening and fretting and fussing to get everything done for Christmas and you'll never see this post, or you are taking a break, or you are calling it quits, game over, good enough, and you're putting your feet up and blog-hopping.  Hello!
 
Food Matters
 
I wrapped the last present yesterday, the cards are sent, and I actually got some baking done for the neighbors!  (Truth be told, I baked several times in the last week, but Mister has eaten all the treats as fast as I can bake them!  Not counting the twenty two I had to eat strictly in the interest of poison prevention science.) 
 
I wanted to find a recipe to make up some cute mason jars and I came across Cranberry Hootycreek Cookies In a Jar.  Here is one of my cute finished quart jars.
 
Since that recipe only makes 18-24 cookies, I went to find a website with a full-size recipe because I flunked math.  Well, girl, I have to share the remarkable website where I found my recipe!  It's called Beth's Favorite Recipes and oh my chowder and crumpets, she is quite the proliftic cook!!  You'll want to visit!
 
So here are my "Cranberry Hootycreek Cookies."
 
Seriously, Hootycreek!  Not named by me, it already existed.  I don't know where it came from, although it probably has some meaning.  If I didn't already want to talk about other things today, you know I would make up an exciting background history!  They are sooo yummo!  You can click on the link above to get the recipe.
 
~~~
 
Help Out If You Can
 
I've been working on cards for children to send to Amber's Damask Love "Drawn Together" love-raiser mentioned in my post here.  Some may feel that sending cards is just a burden to the town, because the cards all have to be surveiled.  The Drawn Together program will amass the cards and Amber will take care of sending them to Newtown in a large package. I was really moved by the underlying idea Amber had when she formulated her Drawn Together program. 

This program is not about sending sympathy cards to the families of the slain children (which, please, can be nothing more than a blessing to them).  This program is about the surviving children of the town~the other elementary school children who went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and survived the massacre, but whose friends were killed.  If there is enough participation, the program will reach out to other impacted children in the surrounding Newtown school districts.  All of these surviving children will live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.  It cannot be a burden to send cards and art kits to these children to help them articulate their feelings and to let them know that they are special, too, and that they are in our thoughts and prayers as they struggle in the months to come.  IMHO.

Here are a couple of the cards I've made so far.  I'm making four of each card.
 

 
I think some little girls like froggies, but I am going to make a few non-froggie ones as well.

~~~
 
Helping Our Package Employees (HOPE)
 
Besides baking, and making cards, and other random acts of kindness, I am starting an international program of HOPE to help our package delivery personnel.  Over the years, I have become more and more aware of a need for a fund-raiser to supply our Postal, UPS, and Fed-Ex workers with sports equipment.  Day-in and night-out, these hardworking people move our packages so that they arrive safely at our homes or places of business.  These workers spend their breaks on loading docks or in windowless rooms in the backs of buildings.  As such, is it any wonder that they recourse to using our packages as sports projectiles as a way to blow off steam and get some exercise?  To wit:
 

 
Whoot can blame them?  Please click on this stink to send money or new or used hard balls, soft balls, soccer balls, footballs, foosballs, and yarn balls.  Your support is appreciated!  Your fragile purchases will henceforth arrive in tacked. 
 
As time and volunteers allow, there are future plans for a subchapter to be formed focusing on "Front Door Accuracy," in the hope that you will no longer have to dive into the nettle bushes to retrieve your packages.  We will be looking for experts in DRT (Doorknob-Recognition Therapy) as evidence is wide-spread that all doors have some kind of doorknob / handle.  It is unclear in the medical community why delivery persons are lacking this normally innate knowledge and eyeball-focus recognition.  I will provide further updates in the new year and, again, thank you for your support.

~~~
 
Madge
 
Our friend Madge never fails to rock the "What It IS, Man" humor!  And I'd like to thank my friend, Sandee, from In The Hills of North Carolina for posting this funny, which I have lifted to share with you in the event you didn't see it at her place:
 
 
Of course, IRL, Christmas is not weird when we pause to remember the true meaning.

~~~
 
Okee-doodle, poodle!  That's quite enough ranting and rambling for today.  I'm going to go finish off my kid cards on this rainy day and be thankful that the Mayans got it wrong!!  They got it so wrong, I just looked out the window to find a faint rainbow arcing from sill to sill.  Awwwwww.
 
I hope you, in whatever level of chaos you are in, will enjoy your day.  No, seriously, enjoy your day!
 
As always, thank you for stopping by to visit. Special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower or leave a comment!

14 comments:

Jessi Fogan said...

Definitely taking a break! Cookies and squares and got the tree up today, so my bum needs a chair for a mo.
I actually had one of my children (the weird one) tell me he'd had enough cookies today. This same child will occasionally put half a bowl of ice cream in the freezer for later. We aren't sure where he came from, but he can't be ours.
Personally I love froggies - and every single card you send will be cherished. I know it :)
I am excited to hear more about your postal research, and I hope I can apply it up here in the Great (Green) North as well ;) Merry Christmas, Darnell!

Unknown said...

I'm calling it "taking a break", which translates to "I chucked it all and gave up for the day" in my world!

Your cards are so pretty and fun and I know the kids will love them. What a wonderful way to show your support for these children and their community!


Carol L said...

Two more days of kitchen tasks and I'll be done and putting my feet up too! Your cookie jars look so cute and make such a homey fun gift to give! I love the Madge toonie! She's such a hoot :)
Enjoy your weekend!!

lostinpaper said...

Glad to hear you are all together for Christmas! What a wonderful post it's full of inspiration and has really made me stop and think, which of course is important this time of year. Here's wishing you the most fabulous Christmas and may your cookies eventually make it to your neighbours! ps totally cute frogs too!

Kelly Griglione said...

You are such a riot, Darnell, I always love coming to your blog to see what you have to offer! And you caught me throwing in the towel ... there are many things I SHOULD be doing, but I've had to draw the line. So now I've got my feet up and am having fun catching up on blogs. Your hootycakes look delish (how nice to give them away!) and your frogs are sure to make their recipient smile. That's great of you to get involved with Amber's project!

The-crafty-corner said...

Loving your jars Darnell-lovely gift idea-and the made up cookies look soooo yummy !!

Yes,winding down here too-just the last minute things to finish off then my favourite time when everything is done just waiting for the big day to arrive :) xx

Redanne said...

A very inspirational and heartfelt post today Darnell, we should stop and think from time to time.... will definitely make some cards for the children and send them over.

Wish I could eat one of those gorgeous cookies! Saw that cartoon on Sandee's blog and OH and I had a really good laugh over it.

Please don't go off line too soon, watch out for something from me... now that will keep you guessing. Big hugs to one of my best blog friends ever.... you! Annie xx

Kim S said...

I would have sworn that hooteycreeks were your doing - could it be a more perfect name for you??!!

I would like to add a program to your HOPE program - Reading 101. How is it that a very large can with a carefully spray-painted "Deliver Here" can be totally ignored with packages being tossed over the gate so that a very happy dog can use them as a chew toy??! I've seen the dog happily tossing a box around before the UPS guy can even get back to the truck!

I hope your Christmas plans are happily happening. For the first time in weeks, I have time this morning to sit down and comment. I read you every day and my mood is always lifted.

Merry Christmas to you and Mister!! And to Daniel, Rachel and the boys!!

Linda said...

I'm doing the important stuff first - checking out my blog friends. Mind you, I've not much to do, no Christmas dinner to prepare as the other half has booked a table at a nice restaurant for the 25th. First time I don't have to spend the whole of Christmas morning in the kitchen - whoo hoo!!
Lovely post from you today, the cards are fab and I'm sure the kids will love them.
The cookies look so yummy and how good do those jars look. You are one busy lady.
Have a wonderful Christmas and lots of love and best wishes for 2013. xxxx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Darnell, your 'hootycreek' cookies look yummy. I think it's wonderful what you are doing for the children. Have a wonderful Christmas Season ! Shirleyx

Bobby said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Darnell! Looking forward to see what next year brings from you. :)

Jean said...

Oh so much to comment on ~ I am definitely in the "taking a break" group ~ still tons that I should be doing now. Congrats on being way farther ahead than I am! Those cookies look just scrumptious ~ both baked and in a jar. Thanks again for bringing attention to Amber's drive for Newtown. Love your froggie cards the rainbow one has to be one of my favorite cards of yours ever. How can it not bring a smile to some kid's face? Thanks too for your HOPE program ~ very long overdue ;). Lastly, love Madge humor. (Ha, my comment is longer than most of my posts!)

Kim Heggins said...

I'm not taking a break because all of my baking, shopping, wrapping and decorating are finished and have been for days now so I can finally take some time to peek into the blog world of paper crafters. Your cards are just to sweet and so are you! And those cookies, how fun. I love using canning jars to make gifts. Last year I baked chocolate cake with pink frosting for Valentine's Day for my co-workers. Love your sweet comic too, just too funny!

belldoubleyou said...

There is no question that your posting of that cartoon is helping me enjoy my day!