Making Christmas Cookies

Once again Brent, Emily, Mack and Griffy came to make Christmas cookies. Griffy was more interested in showing off his newly acquired skill - walking.

This year Mack was ready to roll out dough, play in the flour, and of course sample everything. He had to have an apron - it was denim blue when he began!

It was a fun evening - although, a little messy!

Mack likes to cut!

The other day grandson Mack came and we made a small gift for his parents for Christmas. He had to do a little painting which he loved! He used every available color - even black. I'm glad we protected his clothes! He really got into the wrapping - especially cutting the paper with one of those wrapping paper cutters. He cut LOTS of paper. Now I wonder if he can keep the secret... 

No pictures of his gift - his parents read this blog sometimes!

Our next order of business was to made a new kind of cookies - Bumps on a Log. I found the recipe in one of my kids cookbooks. He loved rolling the dough into logs,

 

cutting it (especially cutting!),

and putting on the candy bumps. He especially likes green so there are lots of green bumps. 

It was a great time - wish our other grandkids lived close enough to spend such a rewarding afternoon.

Pain and Patience - part 3

Next update. I had two epidural cortisone injections last Tuesday followed by drama. Yup, another vasovagal response. This one wasn't as bad as the first one but lasted longer and really left me feeling quite ill. Then the 1-3 days for extra pain after the injections became most of 3 days.  At least that is all over now! I think these injections have helped a tiny bit. My understanding is this was the last try for injections. So in January, we'll begin a new chapter. Patience...

A free night

We need to be in Madison early tomorrow morning so we came today, traveling some snow packed and slushy roads. Using rewards points, we have a free night at the Residence Inn. It is very nice! There is a complimentary dinner Monday through Wednesday. Tonight it was baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese, chicken chili with a number of toppings, nacho chips with salsa, pita bread with hummus, a garden salad and chocolate waffles with ice cream and lots of toppings. They also had lemonade, beer and wine. It was buffet style so you can eat all you want!  Our free night is really a free night!!!

Wonder what breakfast will be?

Doll Clothes

Granddaughter Grace said her doll needed clothes for Christmas! So what is a Grandma to do? I began sewing! Here are the clothes that I made but don't show Grace! They are wrapped for Christmas and in the mail.

First is a silver lame' top - rather ritzy!

The red skirt - organza glittery fabric over a satin fabric should be perfect for Christmas parties.

Red 'leather' pants with the matching purse will be great for New Year's Eve.

Here's the new jammies.

And a little dress that can be worn with  a long sleeve shirt and/or leggings which she already has.

 

Sure hope Grace likes everything!

Pain and Patience part 2

I really don't like posting about my health but I agreed to so here goes.

I was at the Advanced Pain Management Clinic again yesterday and I am now learning that this is not going to be a short process. There are methods that need to be followed - procedures will be done and by a process of elimination, I hope to have less back pain some day. Surgery may be in the future but there is no guarantee that will work either. Anyway, I never know what is going to happen next because the doctor decides based upon all of the data that his office collects from me between appointments.

Silly me, I just though yesterday would be another cortisone shot and I'd feel good! Well, based on the success  of the cortisone shot for the sciatic nerve pain, I received 6 bilateral injections to freeze the nerves in my lower back for about 6 hours. The shots were painful - all were right at the nerve endings but, thank goodness, there was no real drama! The next procedure (one week from now) depends on the success of this one. I was far from pain free during those 6 hours, so I have no idea what to expect next.

Last month I was told to listen to my body and stop when there was pain. The good news now is that I can resume some of my life and try to work through the pain. Most things will not cause more damage. I can also stand straight again so most people can't tell anything is wrong.

Wheat Pasta - Take Two

A while back I attempted to make wheat pasta but somehow oat bran was in the wheat flour jar - it was a disaster! Well, today I tried again.

After making sure I was really using whole wheat flour,

I added the eggs.

Then I let my KitchenAid mixer to do the mixing

 

and the kneading

It looks good!

 

All we have to do now is wait for it to dry!