Getting into the spirit of Christmas, cookies!

Well I certainly didn't meet all my goals for the week but what can you do. I haven't started my daughter's doll yet but will start that this weekend. I have been too busy packaging up items for my shop and sending them off before Christmas. I feel like Santa when I stumble into the post office with my bag of boxes!

On Tuesday my friend stopped by and "kidnapped" me on a trip to look for vintage ornaments at the local antique stores. I did feel a little guilty but picked up a few inexpensive ornaments that I love. These tiny colorful glass balls in their original packaging will be treasured at our house.



I also managed to make a batch of cookies for my children's writers group meeting and cookie swap.



Cardamom Almond Stamped Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 lb.) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamom seed
2 cups all purpose flour

Cream butter then add sugar and continue beating for another 2 minutes. Stir in the flavorings and salt. Add the flour and blend well.
Refrigerate the dough for 30-90 minutes in a covered container.
Form into 1" balls with your hands and place on lightly greased cookie sheets about 2" apart.
Oil and lightly flour a cookie stamp, press lightly into the dough to make the design. I didn't have a stamp so I used the bottom of a flat glass dipped in white sugar.
Bake cookies at 325°F for 9-12 minutes. They should be firm but not browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes then transfer them to wire cooling racks.

They came out well and were very easy to make. I am going to look for a cookie stamp or ask my husband to carve one for me. I love the cardamom and almond combination. The recipe is from Scandinavian Cooking.

Most of my flag garlands are hung on the tree and I have a photo to share too!


And last afternoon/night we enjoyed a wonderful snow storm. The girls will be sure to be out this afternoon playing in it after school.

Getting into the spirit of Christmas, decorating the tree!

My husband always sets up the tree in the stand and wrestles with the tree lights (not an enviable job). Then we girls set about adding the decorations. The tree was tall enough that we needed to use a step ladder. We also secured the tree to the wall (with eye hooks on the window trim and fishing line) to avoid last year's Christmas catastrophe!


This year I am adding more flag garlands like the one hanging on this door.



Many years ago I inherited a small strand of very old paper American flags and have enjoyed setting them up at Christmas every year. Several years ago we made flags from around the world with cut paper. It was time consuming but we enjoyed these colorful garlands on our tree and draped on our lights and windows. But then I had the idea to scan the flags (into my computer) and make a few more. And that is what I am busy doing this year. I have set up the pages in photoshop so I can get many flags on each sheet of paper. I have printed them such that you fold them in the middle, glue and then have a two sided flag. The edges are not lined up perfectly (though close) -- I'm not a perfectionist.



Once I cut out the flags I fold each flag in the middle. I use thread but a thin ribbon would work well too and would be less likely to tangle. With a little white glue on one inside of the flag I then press the sides together with the thread (ribbon) inside at the fold. I try to space the flags evenly and just use a folded piece of paper as my "ruler".



These are the flag sheets that I made up in photoshop. Feel free to use this for your own garlands (but please do not sell them though) if you like them.























Our family happens to be American, Norwegian, Swedish, Italian, and a little Irish, and one of my daughter's is Chinese so I usually print more of these flags. Many of our family Christmas traditions are Norwegian since much of my family was from Norway. There are so many flags I certainly hope that no one feels left out if I didn't include their flag.

During dinner we lit our second advent candle and shared a few family thoughts -- some more thoughtful than others. But holding hands around the table in the quiet candlelight is a sweet moment.