~Merry Christmas~

~Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart… filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever.

- Bess Streeter Aldrich ~

~WISHING you all A Merry Christmas. May the Joys of the season fill your heart with goodwill and cheer.

Much love and happiness to all of you.

Hugs, Doreen~

~Packages, Boxes, Bows & Baking~

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale.


Good morning. It is rather dark and gloomy here in Vermont as a nasty wintry mix makes it way into our sleepy little town. I love these cloudy days, everything seems so cozy and lovely. These last couple of months have been a whirlwind for me but I have finally found my way to the bottom of my order pile. I am sooo happy to say....Yesterday, I took the last of my orders to the post office!!!! Gosh what a good feeling that is! Jackie, our postmaster commented, "my God, you've brought more packages in here in the last few weeks than the entire town has."...lol. It has been a busy season to be sure and I have enjoyed every single second of it..but I must say, I am, most definitely, looking forward to hanging up my "On Vacation" Sign. :) ~I do have a little something special I am working on....but more on that tomorrow.


To my utter shock and amazement...I have actually managed to finish all most all of my Christmas shopping (Mark and I will be completely finishing it on Sunday) AND..last weekend we trudged out into the snow and cut our Christmas tree and decorated the outside of the house.


I have ALWAYS...ALWAYS...ALWAYS wanted to have a wreath on all of our front windows and this year we finally did it. I absolutely LOVE the ribbon on these wreaths..I think my sister and I took a half hour pouring over all the ribbons they had (Browns in Castelton, VT) and then I found this one..it's flannel!!!! I LOVE it.


After hanging these wreaths last Saturday morning, Mark and I got to chatting and we have decided to paint the blue trim mossy green!!! How great will that look..especially at Christmas!

I have also been making holiday gifts for our family and friends.


:) This one I made for my sister's Birthday..which was yesterday..I just love that Santa image!


Okay...I must run but before I go..I promised my FB friends that I would share my Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread recipe....they are scrumptious..I am actually eating one at the moment as I just made a fresh batch yesterday.

Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread
(From Better Homes & Gardens Ultimate Cookie Book)

.

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Orange glaze (recipe follows)

*Preheat your oven to 325*

In medium mixing bowl, beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugar and orange peel, until completely combined. Beat in flour until crumbly.

Stir in chocolate chips, pressing the dough together until smooth. If the dough is just too crumbly to pat together, try putting it in the fridge for a few minutes. Pat dough into a rectangle (about 1/4 inch thick) on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 25 - 30 minute until bottom is just beginning to brown and the center of the cookie is set. Cool on wire rack.

Make your glaze;

Orange Glaze

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 tablespoon orange juice

Whisk together powdered sugar, butter, and orange juice. If necessary, stir in extra juice, one teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

Spread glaze over cooled shortbread. Let the glaze stand for about 30 minutes, until set. Cut lengthwise, then crosswise, making 24 rectangles.

Enjoy!


Wishing you a wonderful day. :~)Doreen

~Brown Paper Packages Holiday Booklet & A Yuletide Merriment~

Good day to you. Tis a cold December Monday here in Vermont as I sip my coffee, enjoy a cozy fire and a bit of blog writing..which I am so very far behind with.... I would report what is happening outside my window however, it is still dark, so I've no idea what might be taking place out there in the chilly darkness of the morning. I am hoping the birds are waking and preparing to visit the feeders and the deer are on their way to the apple tree which they have been visiting daily as of late.
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I wanted to share a few things with all of you......

Brown Paper Packages

~A Collection Of Original Short Stories, Patterns, Recipes, Traditions & Thoughts For An Olde Fashioned Holiday~

I am so excited about this booklet.

Inside you will find three original short stories written expressly for the book, two new patterns, three of my favorite holiday recipes and two tutorials. You will also find quotes, musings & traditions as well as simple, heartfelt, homemade gift giving and decorating ideas.

(I was VERY excited about including Miss Winter in the booklet..I have received so MANY request for her pattern and for the finished doll and decided it was time to share her with all of you)

I had SO much fun creating this ..deciding what recipes to share, incorporating the stories with the recipes and patterns so everything blended and it had an overall theme to it. The response to this booklet has been amazing. I am so very grateful to all of you for being interested in my writing and work and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it for all of you.

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~A Yuletide Merriment~
~Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for another amazing web show~ All finished pieces have been sold :)~

~Young Winter Warren~


~Merry Morgan~

~Wondering Wilder~

I had originally set out to make more traditionally colored creations for this show (red, brown & deep green) the moppets however had other plans..It's my own fault...I should have never shown them the box of vintage mercury glass ornaments!!!Well, I've chatted so long that dawn has now arrived..pink skied and cold...oh I do so hope those pink skies mean snow is on the way..I'm growing impatient for it.

I'm off now to try out a new cinnamon bread recipe and then I've booklets and moppets to pack and ship. Wishing you a very lovely and cozy December day.

♥doreen