Snow

Saturday the weather forecast was for a big snow storm.  I had to go to the store for regular grocery items and pick up my photo card. I had to go back to the dairy section for eggnog and heavy cream and found this.   The milk was cleared out except for the 2% but who drinks that anyway!  

We did get some snow by morning but not what we were expecting.  At 8:30 we were out of butter and because the roads were cleared we bundled up to head out to the store again.   Not all of my photo cards had been printed so we went back to the same place.  As the car was heating and Baylor was shoveling I heard the fire engine with Santa coming up the street.  I never know what day he is coming but was always luck out and are around.  

Santa stayed in the truck and an elf handed out the candy canes.  

The girls were at home in the jammies.  I have no idea how the snow got on the photo but I love the effect.  

Baylor loved throwing the snow, and I was ok with it until he hit me from behind. Snow went down my back and I freaked!  We are friends again but it was cold!  

Again the totally cool snow effect?  Who knows how it happened.  

The store was pretty much restocked in the morning but the whole milk was a bit thin.  

Back at the house I worked on Christmas cookies.  I made these for Baylor's Christmas party at school.  They were a hit I believe because only two of the whole batch came home.  

Being snowed in we got to do an experiment I have wanted to do for a while.  Microwaving Ivory soap!  

It was amazing!  

Baylor played with it in the tub and it melted away pretty quickly.  

I also worked on and finished my brother's gift.  I embroidered the state of VT with a little heart at Burlington, Sugar maple leaves (state tree) and red clover (state flower).  I went to the thrift store on 50% day and bought two mens flannel shirts (my brother wears them a lot according to my sister in law).  

When I got them home and was ironing them I noticed one was a name brand.  Not bad for $1.00.  I used the front of the shirt as the opening to put the pillow inside.  It is nice and washable and the pillow insert was made in the USA.  I am sure he will appreciate it and I enjoyed being creative!  

Christkindl Market, Mifflinburg

My friend Steph has been going to this market for years and I was never able to go a long.  This year it was my December goal to make it so I worked a few deals with my coworkers so I could be off on Friday.  Baylor went to school as usual and her kids went to school so it was a child free shopping day.  And it was a good thing because it was FREEZING, like in the 20s cold.  At least the sun was out but my toes were very cold.  Baylor would have been done within minutes!  I was happy knowing he was warm and having fun at school.  This market is more of an authentic German market with vendors in 'stall's and sheds along the sides of the street.  There were many German vendors with accents in the shops.  Because they sheds were small and packed with wares, there were never more than a few people in them at a time.  But it was also hard to browse because of all the other people trying to get in and out at the same time.  

Belsnickle was walking about ready for a photo op at all times.  

All over the market were wooden cut outs with a bit of history about the character and I really loved the prune person.  I had wanted to get a new prune person as mine lost his life years ago.  I could not decide which one I wanted and when I went back to look it was crowded and I was too cold to wait my turn. 

This man was making wooden trees.  I think he was building inventory while entertaining the crowd.  

At one end of the market was the children's garden with little houses all decorated inside.  

Of course I had to check out the gingerbread house!  

A whole family of gingers apparently lived in here and looked like they were having a lot of fun together.  

A town crier walked about giving news and up coming events. 

I bought a few items like a wooden toaster tongs (Baylor likes waffles heated in the toaster and I hate him using the rubber tiped tongs), some scented wax melts, fresh roasted peanuts and a cheese strudel and cinnamon sticks for Baylor. 

He loved the cinnamon sticks too.  When I gave him the bag he said he was loving them up!  

I cannot wait to go next year!  

Christmas Photo Shoot

I needed to get my photos organized for the Christmas card and Lori helped me out this year.  Baylor played the part of Santa and was just a joy to watch him listen to his friends Christmas wishes and have their photos taken with Santa.  Eddy was a good sport about the whole thing also.  

Our tree is very simple this year.  Baylor pronouced it done with all the lights, a few gold bead strands, candy canes and a new gold star for the top like on Polar Express.  

As usual I monkeyed around trying out different cards online and ended up getting five different styles and six cards because one had the same back ground with a different photo.  He is so darn cute that it is hard to not get all the cards because I hate to delete them!