Kate Collins's Blog, page 73

Happy Holidays!

by Maggie Sefton







I hope everyone is enjoying this Holiday Season.  Whether celebrating with family, friends, with your doggies and kitties, or alone with a good book, Enjoy!  Let's all wish for a wonderful New Year 2018.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

         tMerry Christmas from all of us at the Cozy Chicks!                                                                     

The trouble with truffles

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

 
And so last week I made some chocolate truffles.

NEVER AGAIN.

I looked at a lot of recipes and none of them called for sugar.  What's with that?  Apparently truffles are supposed to be bitter.  So I found a recipe that looked pretty easy and I made up the truffly part and tasted it.

OMG! Can you say "HORRIBLE."  Nope. I was not going to serve my guests that bitter mess. So I started adding some confectioners' sugar a little at a time. Of course, with all this sugar, the batter/filling/whatever got really stiff, so I'd have to add more cream. Then it would be too soupy,  and I'd have to add more sugar.  I went through at least 8 spoons testing these truffles. Dreadful each time.  The heck with that.  I dumped in all that was left in the bag (in all, about half a pound of the stuff).  Finally, with no more sugar I told Mr. L that I was going to let them firm up in the fridge and they were dreadful, I'd dump them in the trash.

Well, he tested one and said was okay.  I was going have one the next day (because of calories) but then my cold went into overdrive and I couldn't taste a thing for five days.

I finally had one yesterday. OMG -- talk about good . But I will NEVER make them again.  And I can't even share the recipe when I don't know exactly how much cream and confectioners' sugar I put in there.

Next year, I'll just buy some truffles and save the headache.


(P.S.  After all that work, I forgot to offer the Truffles to my guests. )

Have you ever made something you had to rescue and then couldn't make it again?

The Legend of why tabby cats are marked with an "M."

by Karen Rose Smith

The holiday season is filled with myths and legends explaining many of the symbols and customs that surround us at this time of the year. Since I am a feline lover, one of my favorite myths is how tabby cats got the "M" that is often so prominent on their foreheads above the eyes. It has been circulating on social media, so I thought I would share it with you, along with pictures of some very special furry babies who would do exactly what the cat in the story did to earn him his unique "M" mark. 

How Did Tabby Cats Receive Their "M"?

All tabbies have an "M" marking on their forehead, and on some this mark is very distinct. The "M" is often referred to as the mark of the true tabby.
There are several legends about how tabby cats got their 'M' marking.
Clyde's M HaloThe most popular of these legends tells us that when the baby Jesus was lying in the manger he started to shiver with the cold. Mary covered the baby with blankets but still he kept shivering. Mary then ask all the animals to move closer to the manger so that their body heat would warm Jesus. The animals stood as close to the manger as they could but the baby Jesus remained cold and shivering. After a time a small cat with tabby markings jumped into the manger and snuggled next to Jesus. Before long the baby had stopped shivering and was sound asleep, contented and warm.
In her gratitude to the tabby, Mary made the mark of her own initialupon the cat's forehead so that tabby cats will forever remind the world of how they saved Jesus from the cold.
We lost London this week. She was 16.


Halo loves the warmth of the bed and would have been the
first to jump in the crib to snuggle with the baby. Her gentle
spirit and wonderful maternal skills would have earned her
Mary's special mark.
Mason, Halo's second-born kitten also sports
the "M" amid his beautiful facial markings. 
My wish for you this holiday season is that you will be touched by the warmth and kindness of those closest to you and that their love will leave an indelible mark on your heart that will last a lifetime.

Bring on the Yummies!

It’s here...well almost here...Christmas. Trees are up,  presents wrapped, stockings hung, parties attended or skipped.
But what about the food? Is there some yummy food that’s only available this time of year that you so look forward to? Love so much you stockpile so you can whip it out in July and think, yippie there’s one more box left?
What about the holiday coffees? Starbucks Christmas blend? I buy several so I have it all winter long.Trader Joes makes great seasonal Christmas yummies. Do you stock up on them?Egg Nog…in or out? You can’t really stock up on it but do you like it? If I add enough bourbon I can take a glass or two.
Fruit cake? In or out? I’m not a big fan but there are some out there not too bad and I have to admit it sure tastes like Christmas.

Gingerbread cookies? That always really tastes like Christmas to me. Do you make extra so you can dunk all winter long?
Here’s wishing you a wonderful Christmas and if that’s not you gig then a terrific Holiday Season. This is the time of year to celebrate life and the good things we have. Everyone needs to celebrate so when the bad stuff happens we have the great memories to hold on to.
Hugs and much love,
Duffy Brown

Holiday Prep Time

by Maggie Sefton




I bet most all of you Cozy Chicks Blog readers and fans are deep into holiday preparations like I am. I finally started shopping for family this weekend.  Family shopping has changed so much over the years.  Now,  many family members want gift cards to some of their favorite stores and even Amazon.  :)   At least I can still go shopping for 10-year old granddaughter Ana Sofia.   I always like to pick out books and some clothing.  Of course, she's growing faster than that proverbial weed, so I have to keep updated on the sizes.

And this year I have some more "grandchildren" to buy for, since Maria's groom-to-be John has young children from a former marriage.  So, I've got twelve year old going on thirteen Johnny, Seven  year old Emma, and five year old Allie (who's bouncing off the walls in holiday excitement, I hear).

I will be staying with my childhood friends Diane and Les who live in Vienna, VA in Northern VA outside Washington DC.  You folks have heard me talk about them  and Diane's sister Nancy and husband Tom for years on this blog.  Old friends are the dearest friends, I've found.  And we always have a great time whenever we're together.  Diane/Les will be having a large Christmas day dinner  with family and friends who'll be in town.  And Nancy and Tom are having their fun Christmas Eve get-together for friends which always involves "fun" gifts.

Unlike the above picture, my homemade pecan pie has my homemade flaky real butter pie crust. 

And----believe it or not, I got a late start with my Chocolate Mint Fudge making.  So, I'm still at the fudge pot today.  One batch of two pans this morning and another batch tonight.  Everything has to be in the mail tomorrow at the latest. Whew!  This year has been jam-packed and crazy.  I'll still be recuperating in January, I bet.  :)   Enjoy the "Prep Time" Everyone.

FIVE "THINK-OUTSIDE-THE BOX" CHRISTMAS GIFTS

By Mary Kennedy                                     

Okay, in an ideal world,  you've probably already bought all your Christmas gifts for this year. But I have some great ideas for a few last-minute presents that are "outside the box."
1. Everybody has a "senior" on their list.  Have you thought about giving them a lifetime pass to our National Parks? It's a wonderful idea and everyone over 62 can use it. They'll think of you every time they visit one of our terrific national parks. It's $80.00 but it literally "lasts a lifetime."                                                                         
2. Buy someone a plane ticket using your air miles. You can book a ticket in the gift recipient's name for a specific flight using your mileage account. Think how excited they will be to get a plane ticket to a fabulous destination!  And if you book the flight in their name, you can get around the transfer fees.                                                                                                          
3. Give the gift of time. Make their life easier! There are loads of possibilities. Give someone free lawn service for the summer or snow removal for the winter.                                                                               
4. A home-made gift is always welcome.  Someone was kind enough to give me a lovely jar of home-made Swedish pecans and she even included the recipe.  The time and energy she put into it really made it special and they were delish.
                                                                          
                                                                           5. Here's one that will take a bit of planning, but you can start working on it now for next year. Ask your recipient to send you 12 jpgs of their pets, their friends, their party photos--anything. You can send the 12 jpgs (with captions) to a company that will make them into a calendar for about $20.00. I have done this with friends who love animals and they are so happy to see their beloved pet in a treasured calendar.                                                                                            
Hope you try one of these fun gift ideas!! 
Mary Kennedy

Is this a story we want children to see?

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Every year Mr. L and I watch a DVD of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. I've seen it every year since I was 9. I can recite almost all the dialogue. And you know what? It's NOT a heartwarming tale. Not at all.

No sooner had Rudolph been born when his own father body shamed him. Even Santa put in his two cents, and that wouldn't be the first time. The body (or nose) shaming went on at the Reindeer Games. When they found out about Rudolph's "non-conformity," not only did the other yearlings laugh and tease Rudolph, but the adult coach (Comet) was the one to proclaim that "We won't let Rudolph play in any reindeer games." Even Santa gets in the act, telling Donner "You should be ashamed!" Ashamed because his son has a (so-called) birth defect?  Santa of all people???

Thinking he's found a friend in Clarice,  Rudolph is verbally accosted by her father, who says, "No doe of mine is going to be seen with a red-nosed reindeer." (I told you I knew all the dialogue.)

Nor is Rudolph the only character to be bullied. Hermie (or Herbie ... it seems like he's called both names) is mocked for aspiring to be a dentist, and is threatened with his job. ("Finish the job, or you're FIRED.")

Poor Rudolph and Hermie weren't even good enough for the Island of Misfit Toys.

The one redeeming character is Yukon Cornelius ("Ta-da! In person!") Although a bit of a blow-hard, he only has Rudolph's and Hermie's welfare at heart.

It isn't until Santa needs Rudolph to light the way on a stormy Christmas Eve that the residents of Christmastown decide to accept Rudolph for who he is. And the head elf decides he will allow Hermie to practice dentistry. (I hope Hermie pulled all that elf's teeth, too.) Of course, maybe Santa is so grumpy because Mrs. Claus feeds him such unappealing food.  (Even gray apples???)

Is this the kind of story children should be watching?

And don't get me started on the song "Baby It's Cold Outside," where the loutish host isn't listening when his woman guest tells him (more than once) "The answer is No!"

Despite the terrible story line, Mr. L and I did indeed watch Rudolph this week. But this time we watched it a la MST3K (Mystery Science Fiction Theater 3000). We made sarcastic remarks about the characters and how mean they were and found new joy in Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.  I highly recommend it.


What other holiday specials cause you to cringe?

Enhancing Decor with Christmas Decorations

by Karen Rose Smith


When you decorate for Christmas, do you put your usual table and shelf decorations away? Or do you incorporate Christmas cheer into your regular decor?



Since we have six inside cats, I keep their antics in mind when I decorate for the holidays.  No strings, no ribbon, no live plants, nothing that they could eat that would hurt them. We have two kittens who chew!










We only were pet parents to two cats when we found our "wall" tree.  It's half a tree!  It lights up and we can use our favorite ornaments.  But it is high enough off the floor that kitties can't climb it.













Both our living room and my office have a Southwestern theme.  I like to use brightly colored balls, crystal vases, and flameless candles for much of my decorating.  They coordinate with everything. The candles are on timers so I don't even have to remember to turn them on!












I pretty much leave wall decorations alone.  If I can replace one easily with something Christmassy, I do that.  Our son created this card holder for us and it brightens up the space.  I usually let the kitty Christmas cards peek over the top of the pockets.  For some reason, friends mostly send those!















I'd love to hear about how you decorate for the holidays.  Do you go all out?  Or do you subtly include holiday expressions into your existing decor? One of our kittens, Freya, wanted to be in the middle of decorating, adding a challenge and fun to the process.

Fun With Words!

Got these from a dear friend.  (our kids are married so I think that makes us co-parent inlays) Elaine Lakso 
Had to share!

Paraprosdokians are figures of speech in which the latter part of a phrase is unexpected (Winston Churchill loved them.)These are so much fun and for sure finding a way into my books! I can just see Auntie KiKi or Evie spouting such things.
1. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.... but it's still on my list.
3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up.... we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right, only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
9. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
10. In filling out an application, where it says, "In case of emergency, notify...." I answered, "a doctor."
11. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
12. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
13. I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.
14. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
15. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
16. You're never too old to learn something stupid.
17. I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.