Easter Parade







It's beginning to look a lot like Easter, despite the snow on the ground and in the weather forecast for tomorrow.  There's nothing more cheerful than pulling out the bright, sunny colors of spring to decorate bunnies, chicks, carrots, and Easter Eggs.

I hope you have an egg-celent Easter.

Chick these out.



Wishing ewe well.

Happy Easter!

. . . and best wishes to two sweet ladies who are leaving Lake Carroll to be closer to family.
We will miss you, Gloria and Hattie!

May the "Fourth" Be With You, Jack!

The oldest grandson has been asking for Angry Bird Star Wars cookies since the beginning of December.  Jack was disappointed with the Christmas cookies, unimpressed with snowmen, and totally grossed out when he saw Valentine Hearts.  

Part of me secretly hoped that he would outgrow this phase before his birthday rolled around and he asked again, but that certainly didn't happen!

He was turning 4, and the theme of the party was Angry Bird Star Wars!

It was time for the cousins to party and definitely time for cookies . . .

Darth was easy enough, but it took Google and hours on the Internet to research who these characters were and what they were suppose to look like.

I was totally overwhelmed, not knowing anything about these creatures but with Cookie Creations by Jill as my guide and a few glasses of wine to calm my nerves, this cookie mission was accomplished!

I included five different characters and added some lasers to the collection. 



Guess which ones disappeared from the plate first?

 

 

Bringing cookies for the grandchildren to share on their birthdays is the greatest joy.

This is why I make cookies . . .

baking memories . . .

one cookie at a time . . .



It's a Surprise/No Surprise . . . Retirement/Non-Retirement Party

Originally, there was a surprise party planned, but the hostess decided to tell the guest of honor why they were having a party, so he could include me in the guest list.  (Awww, how special is that?)

Things got a little more complicated when the retirement only lasted one week.  The company decided they needed him back, so the retiree is now collecting severance AND is employed on a part-time basis.  (Are you confused yet?  He is!!!!)

Regardless, the party MUST go on.  (Who needs a reason to party anyway???)

Gary loves his trips, especially ones that involve surf and sand as well as his family and good friends, so I decided to honor his retirement with a beach theme.

Thanks to My Cookie Friend, Diane, for her inspirational brush-embroidered wave cookies  http://mycookiefriend.blogspot.com/2012/12/merry-beachmas.html.  Diane's design includes beautiful shells, but what the heck . . . I didn't have time to add that detail.  No one, except those who visit Diane's blog, will know that they are missing!

Happy "kind of", "sort of", "short-lived", "pretend" "practice" retirement, Gary! 

After retirement . . . Life's a Beach!

Sunshine & Smiles Bouquet

In the past few months, I have decided not to take cookie orders.  Those who scrapbook, quilt, or knit can understand that cookies are more a labor of love.  I can stay very busy just creating cookies to fill requests by the grandkids for birthdays and holidays.  I also enjoy making cookies for special people or special occasions.

I have not made a cookie bouquet for over a year, but I wanted to pull out the supplies and give it a try for a special gift.






It is for someone who has been very kind and has kept me smiling for the past two weeks.  Of course, the red roses he gave me were my inspiration for his bouquet.

So, here is to sunshine and smiles . . .

3M?  You ask?  Hey, he is My Mystery Man . . .

 



Peace * Joy * Cookies . . .

Choo Choo! Ben's 2!

Little Ben enjoys his trains, so his second birthday party centered around Thomas the Train.

My dearest Cookie Friend had made Thomas cookies for someone at Christmas http://mycookiefriend.blogspot.com/2012/12/holiday-collection-2012.html, so I followed her lead and pieced together the layer cake and a circle to create Ben's Thomas.

He was huge as well as a huge hit.

Big Brother Jack had to eat the cookie with two hands and in two sittings.

Cousins Kylie and Kendra are always the life of the party.  Kendra brought Simon to help celebrate.  The bear was spending the weekend with Kendra, because she was named Student of the Week.  I am sure the bear enjoyed our Thomas Party!

Happy Birthday, Little Ben!  He was so excited, he blew his candles out twice.

Choo Choo!  Ben's 2!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Let it snow . . .

On Dasher, on Dancer . . .

Winter Wonderland

Christmas Gifting



"Pick Your Plum" had clear boxes that package circle cookies perfectly for teacher treats.



Let there be light.

Individual Santa packs make great favors.

Tis the season for presents.

Star Light, Star Bright

When my husband passed away last August, my very dear friend surprised me with a jar full of star cookies and a beautiful card.  http://mycookiefriend.blogspot.com/2012/09/special-stars-for-special-friend.html  The Eskimo proverb has been a source of comfort for the past four months, so I decided to "pay-it-forward."

I created favor bags for others who lost loved ones during the past year.  The stars were cut in two different sizes and then spattered with gold luster following Sweet Sugar Belle's tutorial.

As I sat at the Memorial Tree Lighting Service hosted by Hospice, I began to think, "There is no way my husband would be sitting here doing this for me."  Rather than hanging a special ornament in his memory, I should have gone to his local watering hole and raised a beer or two. 

Regardless, those attending seemed to appreciate the cookie gesture.  One woman who lost her husband asked if she could take a second favor for her daughter.  She told me, "She has battled cancer for ten years.  It is close."  So much love in that room.  So many of us holding on to the past,  trying to navigate the present.  I can only hope that some will find comfort as they look to the stars.

May Peace, Love,  & Comfort embrace you this holiday season.

Pass the Turkey for a Touchdown!



My mom is having Thanksgiving dinner for my brother's family and was asking what time they would like dinner served.  I reminded her that the Bears will be playing on Thanksgiving Day, so she could check the TV schedule to know what time it would be SAFE to have dinner. 

There are many ways to celebrate Thanksgiving and football. 
 I prefer NOT putting one of these on my lawn: 

I also do not want to wear this to our Thanksgiving dinner.(www.spreadshirt.com if you do)

So, instead, I made cookies.  Before you think that I am creative and came up with this idea all by myself, I will be honest and admit that these cookies are the result of a very good friend visiting me with some very good wine.  You can see Diane's version here:  http://mycookiefriend.blogspot.com/2012/11/its-turkey-time.html  As you can see, Diane is very good at sharing.  That is why we call her My Cookie Friend.

I know the Bears wear navy, but that just isn't a good cookie color (what were they thinking???), so I took the liberty of dressing the turkeys in more seasonal tones of the Bear blue and orange.

Thanksgiving and football . . . goes together like mashed potatoes and gravy.

Remember all your blessings this Thanksgiving and take time for hugs (even if you do it during halftime). 

Home is Where the Heart Is

My granddaughters' Meemo and Papa are moving into a new home this weekend.  I am sure the girls will be excited to see all the space the new house provides, including several bathrooms.  Up until now, whenever all the married children and their families came home for holidays, they shared one bathroom.  Did I mention that the new house also has a pool?  Kendra and Kylie are part fish, so I am sure they will want to spend many summer days!

My Cookie Friend turned me on to cookies in a jar when she sent me stars with a beautiful card. http://mycookiefriend.blogspot.com/2012/09/special-stars-for-special-friend.html   It was so simple and so striking and meant so much that I decided I wanted to warm a few hearts as Diane had done for me.

I made mini cookies of houses, hearts and trees in Sweet Sugar Belle's fall colors http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2012/10/pretty-autumn-color-palette/.  I piped "Home, Sweet, Home" on several of the hearts.  Then I began assembling my jar.  It is much more difficult than it looks to try and keep the cookies peeking outside the jar and right-side up!  It is also surprising to see how many of those itsy cookies it takes to fill a jar.  I may need to cheat with Easter grass for the next jar!

I shipped the package to the granddaughters with a note that they could give the cookies to their Meemo and Papa when they help them move.  I hope it makes for a pleasant housewarming . . . after all . . .

Home, Sweet Home . . .

Thanks Gifting for Gregg's Birthday

My sweet husband's birthday is October 30.  Rather than be sad and just sit at home, I decided to use the day to thank those who were kind to him in his last days.  Using Sweet Sugarbelle's pretty Autumn color palette (http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2012/10/pretty-autumn-color-palette/), I created a  Fall collection of leaves, pumpkins and acorns.  What better way to say "thanks" than to use Thanksgiving colors? 

The elongated pumpkin with a curly stem (tucked into the very top row) is a new cutter from our son's family.  I believe Kendra picked it out especially in remembrance of her Grandpa's garden and the magnificent pumpkins he grew.

Since the cookies are for the nurses at the hospital where my husband spent eight days, I added scrubs to the collection.  The same cookies will be going to Hospice for responding to his needs so quickly and supporting me in those final hours.  The wonderful team of nurses in both locations could do very little medically, but they treated Gregg with compassion, eased his pain, and even made him smile.  For that, I will be forever grateful.

I wish Gregg were here to blow out his candles and hear the little ones sing. Instead, this year we look to the stars and reminisce about his birthdays past. 

In the end, it is not the number of years in your life, but the life in your years that matters.
Happy Birthday, Big Guy . . .  Love and Miss You.

Off to a Baby Shower

These little elephants are ready to make an appearance at a baby shower.  Can you guess the sex of the baby?  Ok, even if you didn't read the "It's a girl" cookie!

Gathering Grandpa's Pumpkins



Yes, this is a blog about cookies, but those of us who craft these sweet creations know it is really not that elementary.  It is more about the people behind the cookies.  The key ingredients are love, support, friendship, and memories rather than sugar and flour. We create them to welcome babies, celebrate birthdays, honor accomplishments, and sometimes . . . to ease pain or sadness.   I've been out of the kitchen for a few months following the loss of my husband to cancer.  I just couldn't make cookies until now.

Gregg had a huge garden and loved to drive the grandchildren out there with his lawn tractor and trailer.  Kendra, Kylie, Jack and Ben would fight for a position on Grandpa's lap or snuggle together in the trailer.  The grandkids didn't eat the tomatoes or onions but were so proud when they appeared on the dinner table.

Gregg also planted pumpkins each June and watched them grow in anticipation of Columbus Day weekend when our son and daughter would bring their families out to the lake to harvest the pumpkins.  The little ones would select the pumpkin they wanted for themselves and which ones they thought their parents should have.  It was surprising that no one argued or fought over pumpkins.  Once one was claimed, they would simply search for another.  We loaded them into the trailer, hauled them to the house, and made a big production of washing and lining them up.  It was our favorite Kodak moment, capturing beautiful fall colors and the joyous interaction between cousins in cherished photos. 

At the end of this special weekend, each family would drive away with their four pumpkins. . . tall, chubby, squatty, and monstrous.  Later in October, we would get pictures of everyone carving them at home and the final jack-o-lanterns staged on front porches.

Unfortunately, this is our last Fall Harvest of Grandpa's treasures.  He left us 14 huge pumpkins and 9 buckets of the funkiest gourds, but we had to collect them without Grandpa.

Here is what the girls did with their pumpkins this year.  Anna always tries to match the costumes that the girls will be wearing.  Quite creative, wouldn't you agree?  It's Belle and a butterfly fairy.





Kendra and Kylie helped decorate a few of the pumpkin cookies earlier in the month.



Aren't they the cutest assistants?



Little Kylie refers to me as "Cookie Grandma."  How could I not return to the kitchen and live up to my name?  I decided to make pumpkin cookies for the Women's Club bake sale to honor our fall family tradition of Gathering Grandpa's Pumpkins.  I kept it simple.  My only requirement was that they had to have happy faces . . . to remind me of all the blessings I gathered with Gregg.

Peace, Joy, Cookies . . . and Memories of Gregg

One Sweet Gesture





A sweet gift from my very special Cookie Friend
www.facebook.com/mycookiefriend
mycookiefriend.blogspot.com

Let me begin by saying these are NOT my cookies.  Well, they ARE my cookies, but I did not MAKE them.  They were a surprise gift from Diane, My Cookie Friend, and they arrived at a perfect time.

My husband has been cancer-free for twelve years.  He has faced a plethora of medical conditions and aftereffects of chemo and radiation.  He has also watched both our son and daughter marry wonderful individuals, buy their first homes, build admirable careers as coaches and teachers, and begin families of their own.  He held those babies and watched them grow to become the entertaining and exhausting toddlers they are today.

Gregg's greatest joy is being Grandpa to Kendra, Kylie, Jack and Ben.

Three weeks ago a mass was found on his CT.  Three weeks ago our world turned upside down.  His cancer has returned, meaner than ever before.

Cookies cannot cure cancer, but that package from Diane reminded me why we make cookies.  Those cute little shapes, the cheerful colors, the soft bite into the cookie, and the dissolving of icing let me escape from life-changing challenges and remember the peace and joy which has blessed our lives.

The greatest gift, Diane, is your friendship. Thank you for the beautiful cookies.  They touched my heart beyond words.

Peace, Joy, Cookies.

Spread the love.