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Hi Ellen!

Boxing Day is meant to observe the day after Christmas when British well-to-do “boxed” and delivered gifts for their servants…but having to drag my sorry behind out of bed and into work today made me feel like it was more about having survived a number of rounds in the ring! At least I came in with some wonderful memories from the last few days. We did have a great holiday — lots of the stuff you’re supposed to have…togetherness, love, appreciation, personal and spiritual reflection. Our bunch ranges along the Christian line from believer to agnostic, but we’re all well invested in being part of a better world by “being the change we wish to see in the world”. (Oh, wait a minute, that was on the paperweight we put in Marie’s stocking.) As my lovely amaryllis from my lovely sister bloomed on Christmas morning, I’ve gotta stick with believer.

The cookie and candy making crossed three days of the holiday and we delivered collections of springerle, dream bars, cranberry bars, rice krispy treats, sour milk rollouts, lemon squares, peanut butter and chocolate fudge, light and dark peppermint bark and buttercream mints to 9 recipient families/groups. We still have quite a stock of leftovers — even after Heidi and Marie took another boxful home with them.

My favorite cookies were all of our self-portraits. I don’t know if Marie had read your post for inspiration, but she decreed that we would all have to create them. And all did. I’m particularly tickled by Dale’s conversion of the santa into an astronaut. Allen’s detail on his Sailor was amazing too. And I love that Marie chose to do a burlesque costume and Tina went for evening dress. Heidi said she was going to wear what she was comfortable in — a buttoned down shirt and slacks — and that’s why she’s smiling so broadly. All got their personalities well captured!When I got out of the kitchen and to the decorating table, I had a little problem in that none of the ginger ladies or ginger men were left. I settled for using an angel. Allen points out that I am anything but an angel…I point out that not all angels are nice and she does have knitting in hand. And possibly most remarkable are the Max and Ruby cookies…what a surprise given that they don’t have opposable thumbs.

Christmas morning brought many happy rippings of wrapping paper and lots of ooh’s, ah’s, and exclamations of “I love it!” Stockings were well stuffed and everyone got more than they deserved was blessed with many lovely gifts. We rounded out the day by rounding ourselves out by mass consumption of the traditional steak and baked potato dinner, more cookies and candies, adult beverages and more cookies and candies. Heavy activity ensued — card playing and puzzle making.

And of course, knitting — but EASY knitting…a simple chemo cap pattern for a friend with ovarian cancer. I am very pleased with the feel of the fabric, but am ready to rip and restart as I’ve decided I designed for too much negative ease. It will go on the head, but I think to be comfortable for longer periods needs to have an extra inch or two. Dale, Allen and Tina encouraged me to keep going on it last night (they each wedged it on tried it on last night), but you know how it is when you just aren’t happy with the way something is turning out? You just know where you have to go, so on to the frog pond for me.

Despite the missteps on the cap, I would be lying if I intimated that we all were anything but happy and content…and at least I still am!

Love, Jan