Secret recipe for Ginger Snaps revealed...

Made with love by Haven

and Violet 

Ginger Snaps

Note the cookie snitch...

 

Tea time

 

Gran and two of my flower girls got together today and hand crafted a batch of cookies.
The recipe is one I have been trying to get from a Mom of one of my students at school for years. This Christmas she shared not only her cookies but also the recipe. They are so delicious!
Bad news...I had to sign a confidentiality document. No passing "the recipe" along.

Busy on the porch...

I am not sure where to start. Life here on the porch has changed. I have never lived in the same town as anyone in my immediate family. I really thought it would never happen. Family and  neighbor. Will wonders never stop? My Traverse City daughter  and family  have bought a house two blocks from me! A nine year old and a five year old can run up on my porch any time they want. This is a dream come true for me.

Now for the busy. Holidays with all the family in this old house. Moving, packing, watching kids, unpacking, cleaning, making suppers and pies and driving kids to school. It has been a whirlwind of activity. I have connected with a younger crowd at school. The last time I saw many of the parents at "pick up" they were the kids being picked up!

So I hope I get back to blogging regularly and my camera. I need to stop smiling all the time...

I see 26 acts of kindness from the porch...

The last week has been so sorrowful. I have three grand girls who are the same ages as these children. Most of the people I know are teachers...So when I heard about Ann Curry's 26 acts of kindness idea I wanted to be a part of it somehow.  I am making a list.

1. This morning I watched from the porch as my husband spent hours with his snowblower and cleaned out all the sidewalks in our block.

2. He even swept off a car for a single mom who needed to get to work. With a smile and a titanium vertebrae in his back...

More listing until I reach 26

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Laugh

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Laugh      Sometimes if I don't laugh at myself I cry. I found the best pair of jeggings on sale the other day.The print black on gray roses. Lots of roses and jeggings. So cute and sophisticated. Paired with a black top I thought I was looking pretty good. I arrived at my great nieces wedding shower to find everyone dressed nicely in dresses or suits. Hmm...I did not get that note. So I adjusted my fascinator (large black rose with pearls) and walked in with a big smile. Later my well dressed great-great niece pulled me aside and told me she loved my outfit. We both laughed. She is seven..

Christmas pageants and the first grade tree...

 

This is on the list of things that make my cry. The first grade tree. Along with the Smucker's commercial where the boys deliver jam and the coffee ad where the brother comes home from Africa for the holidays and his sister puts a bow on him and says he is her present. Family stories about Christmas past do it and
It's a Wonderful Life.
I think I shed a few tears every day in December. Have you ever read The Little Match Girl?
I took my two year old grand flower to see Santa at the mall. She was so excited when she heard his jingle. She walked up to him and said, "Santa, did you come all the way from the North Pole to see me?" Tears!
The Pageant at my daughter's four kids school about killed me. A solo and the bell choir.  La-La's dream came true...she has always wanted long hair. Extensions for the school program. She kept moving  her head to make her beaded hair swing. Big tear. Our Texas family will be here soon. When those grands see our mountains of snow their reaction makes me tear up...

 

I took this picture in Memphis in October. This man was completely painted silver and did not move...

I just can't post without a photo and I found it so interesting that a person could be so still.

Also I forgot to post my SixWordSaturday so I am going to SixWord a Sunday!

Late morning coffee,  reading on couch.

Perfect Sunday activity!

Saturday Snapshot...

 

I love this picture of Papa, grands and dogs running into the blowing snow dragging a Christmas tree!