Finally!! Mid-morning, it started snowing. Actually, it was more of a graupel, but it changed to fine snow and finally to big, thick flakes.
And then it cleared and got colder and colder.
As I write this, 6:30 p.m., it is 11F (-11C). It is supposed to be below 0F overnight.
We will be sticking close together !!
***Oscar is getting a drink of water while Emmett has his supper. Oscar has been a good water drinker as well as eating a combination of wet and dry food, i.e. he is well hydrated which is great! It is a concern with cats and especially male cats. I don’t know … maybe it is the water at this house, but Bob and Auggie were good water drinkers also. And Mr. Emmett – he has never been a “resource guarder”. At the breeders, the pups all had to sit before a food trough was put down and it never looked like they fought over a spot. I continued the “sit” and the food bowl, treats and toys have always been shared well. Good thing, as Oscar often sticks his head over Emmett’s food … just to see what’s there I think – he has never tried to eat any of it. And last night, Emmett had one of his favorite filled bones at bedtime … he had no issue with Oscar taking a sniff. Funny, because Emmett hides the bones during the day ????
Ha … I don’t know that Oscar or Emmett had any idea that it was a holiday other than if they picked up on my excitement.
But, Christmas is special to me and I have little things that I do to make Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fun, memorable and meaningful to me.
No presents. A lot of great food! Beautiful Christmas music!
What was special about Oscar’s First Christmas is that in 5 weeks with Emmett and me, how well he has adapted and how well he and Emmett are getting along. They play: chase and hide and seek, wrestle … kind of a footsie wrestle and generally have a great time. It is about equal who starts the games! I so hoped that they would play like this. It is great for both of them physically and mentally. The games exercise their brains and their bodies. I felt this was missing when it was just Emmett and me.
I love having a dog and a cat. The relationships with me are unique and special.
So this Christmas, Oscar’s First Christmas, was special in its celebration of our new family of three.
I always hope to be able to snowshoe on Christmas Day … it looked like it might happen and I was prepared!
Christmas Eve Day was a bit ugly snow-wise, but it seemed to be getting colder and there were occasional flurries, so I had high hopes.
Afternoon nap above and then it was Christmas Eve with a cozy fire …
And all settled down.
I had a supper treat of homemade shrimp egg rolls … first time making them. They were wonderful and just perfect to eat in the quiet house with outside lights on so I could see if it started snowing.
After an early evening nap, Emmett and I took a moonlight walk at midnight … no new snow and it was still 30F.
Before nighttime walks, I always think I don’t want to go out, but after I get all the stuff on and get outside in the fresh air, I love it and last night we took an extra loop to stay out a bit longer.
It is especially nice when there is at least a little snow and moonlight.
Christmas morning belly rub for Emmett … play time for Oscar. It was a lucky “over the head” shot to get them both. Christmas Eve Day, I gave it a go for a posed photo, but had no luck getting all of us, so this has to do :)
No new snow, but a beautiful morning …
After walk treats!
My treat: Christmas breakfast … extra bacon!! Emmett and Oscar near and Christmas music streaming.
Still no new snow, but Emmett and I had a nice long walk on the state land … in sunshine!
Christmas afternoon nap time … on the office computer streaming music is playing with a fire visual :)
For the last 2-3 weeks … since Thanksgiving weekend … I have had 2 Christmas Cookies on my “to do” list: Pannetone Cookies and Molasses Crinkles.
The Pannetone cookies are a Food52 recipe that is a kind of fruitcake shortbread cookie – YUM! The Molasses Crinkles are a long time Betty Crocker based favorite of mine.
So.
I LOVE shortbread, but between the butter and sugar … YIKES. Same with the molasses crinkles. AND, one of the challenges of “cookies” … for me … is the batch for 8-12 minutes and repeat which is a bit labor intensive …
VS
Biscotti!
I love biscotti for the subtle sweet, crunchy-crisp texture and easy to get in the oven as well as the long double bake … no batches!
So.
With kitten and work schedule, I opted to go for Christmas Biscotti.
My first round was an almond fruitcake blend with white chocolate. SUCCESS! Yum and then some.
I bought the King Arthur Baking Fruitcake blend of dried fruits thinking of the Pannetone cookie recipe as well as British fruit cakes (NOT to be confused with holiday DENSE fruit cake).
I have used the mix in a sourdough whole grain (spelt, rye, wheat and white flours) bread bread, with walnuts and apple…
A little hard to see, but the Fruitcake blend is in there. It makes for slightly sweet, fruity-nutty loaf that toasts wonderfully, makes excellent chicken, turkey or grilled cheese sandwiches.
Back to the cookies.
The “Fruitcake Biscotti” done … on to Gingerbread.
I had looked at many Gingerbread biscotti recipes.
… I needed inspiration as I did not have the “normal” spices: dried ginger and dried cloves. I DID have crystallized ginger and candied orange peel, though …
So.
They (Emmett and Oscar) have the entire house… BUT choose to play under my footstool as I try to research and decide on a gingerbread biscotti recipe…
Despite distractions, I make a plan and Gingerbread Biscotti with Candied Orange and Crystallized Ginger gets underway (also walnuts!).
Delicious success!
Thankfully, Biscotti keep for a long time as I have a good supply as well as some other ideas… Chocolate Chip Raspberry is one!
Meanwhile, the kitchen kitten plays …
The ball with fleece worm is a favorite!
And so ends the weekend. Christmas Biscotti jar is full and we look to Christmas Week … a week of fun and joy and good times in anticipation of a Joy filled holiday … the BEST week of the year as far as I am concerned.
I have been taking photos and videos and planning!!! to blog or edit or something … every single day/night, but here we are a week later.
I have also had two Christmas cookie recipes on my list …
AND, work and house chores and walks and belly rubs, oh my!!
Well, work and walks and belly rubs happened. And a modified cookie … more on that this weekend … I hope.
Meanwhile…
To the accompaniment of the above fire (with sound) and music, the halls got minimally decked:
And stockings hung.
So far, kitten and dog have left the minimal deco as it was – hurrah!
A few nights, a very few nights have been clear enough to see the moon.
But sunshine and a bit of clearing today … maybe a view of tomorrow’s full moon. Even if not, even with overcast, our nighttime walks with moonlight through the clouds and snow on the ground … my favorite!
Inside, all is hilarious!
Nap by/on the computer…
Nap on and by me…
Naps all together – evening quiet time.
… after I got up.
On a different subject … the “smart” coffee maker after its update. Well, yes!
l love Christmas Eve day almost more than Christmas Day … it is the anticipation. And even though I no longer do gifts, it is still a lovely, lovely day of remembering the joys of childhood Christmases.
But today, end of the work week … but probably a working weekend so that I CAN enjoy Christmas time … this Friday, two weeks before Christmas Eve day, started with beautiful sunshine…
Above is a just before sunrise walk on my property … below is the start of a long walk on the state land. We have not walked on the state land since late Spring … first it was high vegetation and spring bears and then hunting season this fall, but now … it is our season to be out there!
Today, Friday, is actually our 2nd walk out there and we added a loop to our first walk. I am the weak link having not done longer walks over hill and dale since late Spring,
Gorgeous!!
Almost home.
A good outing! As recorded, .66 miles, 24.51 minutes of activity, heart rate at the finish = 112 , speed 1.9 … hope to improve THAT!
A stick … always bring home a stick.
It is a good thing that we made the most of the morning sunshine. By afternoon, when Emmett and I walked down the driveway to collect the mail … back to gray skies.
Time for a fire …
And naps all around!
The herbs … the herb grow lights are working well … hard to see, but all of the herbs are currently thriving – YEA!
Happy, Happy Friday this two weeks before Christmas Eve.
