To Heal

When violence comes next door to your doorstep, even if your not home, you have to take the time to heal.  To try return to normal.  You gather in a circle. You smudge the space with sage.  You reclaim the space.  You plant flowers.  You have a potluck on a windy, biting cold night.  Huddled around the picnic table we brought what we had.  Soup, cereal, popcorn, salad.   You paint a lot.  You make cookies and eat them and send some home.  You listen to the kids that were there, when they want to talk.  The kids that are safe.  You thank the teachers.  You say the words loudly:  I never want to hear the words: school. shooting. violence. children. in the same sentence ever, ever again.    

St. Valentines

Our valentines went across the country this year and up to the city.  Takes a little planing when they have to travel distances. I also bought wooden hearts for the day care this year.  They hung them up with satin ribbon.  I think the biggest hit though was the sugar cookies we made and decorated.  Such sweetness!  I made sure everybody saved at least a few to take home. 

Native Animal Rescue Project

 

 For his homework project Eli made a batch of cookies here and a batch at his friend's house.  Then I took them door to door to sell the cookies.  It was a cold, cold night.  The moon was bright and I had left my camera at home.  But how cute they were carrying the basket of cookies between them and politely asking for donations to the local Native Animal Rescue.  Almost every house gave them something and they ended up with about $84.00.  Such a good organization to donate money to.  We have brought rescued squirrels there and it is a small organization run in the garage of their house.  Better than sending the money off to some large program.  We will hand deliver it and see what animals they currently have.       

Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses.  Part of the perks of the craft fair for me are the leftover gingerbread houses and cookies.  Though it would have been great to sell them all it always delights the kids here to decorate their own house and take it home.  We also had lots of leftover cookies which I froze and decorated with students at school and then sold at a bake sale fundraiser.  The kids at school were stoked to get to do that during lunch and to sample a bit also. 

Surely Sweetness

Eli wanted to make his own sugar cookies to bring in to his class for his birthday.  I offered to help him but once again he was determined to do it himself.  "No, Mom.  I don't need your help.  I can do it myself.  I learned from my mistake." So he measured and stirred.  I had a meeting that night and when I came in the door there he was again.  Pan on the floor cutting out cookies.  Circles this time, from a canning lid.  The first batch was plain white.  I reminded him of the vibrant colored sprinkles we have.  So then he generously adorned the rest of the cookies.  The class loved them!  

Salty Sweetness

Happy Valentine's Day!  Eli exchanged valentines at school and made some for everybody in his class.  Emily made some for a select few.  We had all day daycare yesterday and I painted some more hearts to adorn our door.  It was a rainy day and I got to do my own project in between snacks and stories.  If you can't beat em join em.

Today Eli was really excited to make a batch of sugar cookies for dessert.  He insisted on making them himself and wanted no help.  He got out all the ingredients and mixed, stirred and measured himself.   I glanced at the batter and told him it might be good to stir in the clumps of butter.  To no avail.  We just had to make sure we didn't step on the cookie sheet on the floor.

We don't have a working mixer so everything is mixed by hand which takes a bit of work.  When he started to roll it out, it looked quite sticky.  I suggested he might want to chill it.  When I came back into the kitchen it was sitting on the counter with a towel over it.  Like brother like brother.  But this wasn't bread so I reiterated "chill" and carefully put it in the refrigerator.

Then he proudly rolled the cookies out and decorated them with sprinkles before they went in the oven.  When he had his beautiful plate arranged I poured the chamomile tea.  He took a bite of a cookie.  "Huh, these cookies are a little salty."  I took a bite.  "Huh, they sure are."  Then he looked on the counter where he made them.  Sitting next to the bowl was a 1/4 cup measuring cup sparkling with grains of salt.  "Ahhhhh.  The recipe said a 1/4 teaspoon."

Treats Galore

Today a friend came over and we baked and baked. So there would be enough for gifts for teachers and cousins.  We made my traditional gingerbread.  I usually use the recipe from Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett but couldn't seem to find it so this year I used the recipe from maya*made.  I also decorate these with the daycare so they have some to take home.  I made Nate's favorite nut bars from my mom's recipe so there would be a fresh batch when Nate comes home tomorrow.  We also made alfajores with this delicious dulce de leche in the middle.  The tassies on the bottom are just that ..... tassies.  Delicious with a flour and cream cheese crust.  I also made a chocolate variety. 
Yum, yum.