Being in the hospital twice in less than thirty days tends to mess up one's schedule. I had plans. Most of which will not happen now.
The biggest one? Making Chocolate Covered Cherries. I need one uninterrupted day to do these and the day I chose has come and gone. Add to this, the cost of making them. The chocolate has doubled in price.
I used to be able to buy an 8 oz box of Baker's Chocolate Squares for 2/$5.00 or even less, but Baker's decided to make only 4 oz boxes and charge the same amount. I've boycotted Baker's by the way. They got a letter from me last year concerning this and they, in turn sent me a rather abrupt response. It really is sad, I think I kept them in business around Christmas in the past. I bought large quantities of their chocolate.
I see that other companies have done much the same which is why the Chocolate Covered Cherries will most likely be made in small (very small) batches in the future. I'll never make them again like I used to. In the past the most I made in one day was 1200 pieces.
I learned how to make these from a very dear Aunt. She and I would call one another and brag about how much we made. She usually beat me but she also had help!
My calendar is usually full by now. Plans have been made for luncheons or visits. I have managed to arrange some things though. My good friend will be here on the 14th for coffee and Christmas. She always gets baked goods for Christmas. She loves chocolate! This year she gets brownies, grasshopper brownies, M&M Chocolate cookies, Breakfast Bread (not Chocolate) and Buckeyes.
She works a very hard job and has little time to bake on her own. I've done this for her for about six years now. Even though I do this because she can not, she always tells me the baked goods just never quite make it to Christmas.
This year, since my best friend has moved back to the area we get to have Christmas together! I'm so excited about this too. We've known one another since seventh grade. Forever! They'll come here for lunch on the 20th.
She doesn't know it yet but she's getting a couple of sun catchers for Christmas. It was something we talked about during the summer and these are hand made. I'm hoping they get here in time.
Her husband, who is just as good a friend to me as she is, will get baked goods. He loves my Banana Bread so he'll get a loaf or two of that. He'll also get the Breakfast Bread and a loaf of Chocolate Bread. I'm adding some different type of cookies also, the M&M, Cherry thumbprint, and something that looks more like a candy than cookie; German Chocolate Cups. Still may add something else. He's as thin as a bean pole!
When I lived at the last place, I started a little tradition with three of my friends from there. We had lunch on Christmas Eve. It was so nice and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I continued with it but now that I live elsewhere it seems it may difficult to do.
One is so very busy with work I'm not sure she has time for herself. The other, of course has her own family and will most likely spend it with them. She's still not sure. She says she wants to come.
Then there's my other good friend. She'll be here as long as the weather is good since she has to drive a little ways. We'll enjoy Christmas together this way. She has an idea of what she's getting for Christmas. During the summer she expressed her need/want of a good Dutch Oven. I told her maybe Santa would bring it to her. She's also getting Pajamas (if they ever get here).
With all of this, I am missing another best friend. This is my second Christmas without her. I always baked for her too as she worked full time at Christmas. She passed away last August and sometimes my heart just aches; I miss her so.
Our family Christmas is still up in the air. I've tried to work it so we can gather here but that was a huge bust! Now, I guess I'm waiting to see what the plans are. I've put it all back in my brother's hands to work out. Most likely we'll see one another on Christmas Eve evening in New Bremen.
Yeah, I managed to fill up my Calendar more than I realized. It just seemed I was always baking last year at this time and I've yet to make the first cookie or bread. My heart is full. No doubt. I've got a few health issues but here I am. My family is good. My friends are good. God is good. What more can one ask?
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