booandbunny

I keep hearing Mrs. Weasley in my head ... those lines she yells at Ron, Fred and George at the beginning of Chamber of Secrets. The boys are sneaking into the house after their overnight rescue of HarryPotter when she catches them: "Where HAVE you BEEN!"

I wish I could say I've been transformed, but ... as we all know ... that's an ongoing process that can't really be photographed. I can, however, say, I've been transforming. Just look at my dining room! It's not so tidy today as it is serving as the command center for all of the gifts that go out of the house to teachers, preachers and others who serve us every day of the year.

The snowmen boxes are the last to be done. I'll post another picture when they are ready.

I was saying to Hubby this morning as I put the finishing touches on the angel ornament how I would love to be one of those crafters who can work on these things all year long, thus not sprinting across December in a streak of Alene's craft glue on a Mod Podge High, but I just can't. I find some purpose in this business I create for myself, and a certain joy in people's surprise ... you made this?

I've also found great pride in the fact that my daughter, 8, has decided to make her own gift for her teacher this year. It's almost complete, and again, I will post a pic asap. It's funny how your kids tell you that they learn from your example. It's always nice when you see them following your example in a way that doesn't put one of your own bad habits on display ... for me this means cursing in temper or leaving stacks of junk around to be dealt with later!

So the boxes have been lining up and this was the weekend to fill them. They've been trickling out the door this week, as I said, to the bus driver or the karate instructors and then, with all that baking, I always have to send some goodies to my brothers, who are great cooks, but do not bake. I think I counted 15 boxes in all, plus the ornament and the treats. Hubby always teases me about the treats: "Putting Holiday M&Ms into those cookies doesn't make them Christmas cookies." To that I say he is wrong. To that I say it doesn't stop people from eating them and so it goes ... Christmas sprinkles on the greatest peanut butter cookies ever ... on the yummiest butter cookies ever ... homemade caramel corn in Christmas cans ... muffins and some nice teas for the teachers.

Then it was time to round up the artwork for the relatives. You'd think it's impossible to share a year's worth of three kids creativity all at once, but this is the second year I've made a calendar featuring their adventures in many media, as well as a new recipe for each month (mmmm foood my favorite medium for expressing myself!). So this was born during my time away. Stationary has yet to be created for the grandmas ... but it will meet the goodie-stuffed snowmen beneath a tree soon!

And so the time passes and my Sunday Scribbles continue to land on the margins of other things. I took this picture when I was thinking it would be the last hour of my life with this hair. Instead the shop had no power and I had to reschedule. Then I thought about punishment and reward as I listened to a friend recount recent court proceedings involving her victimized family and the man who did it to them. Seeing them healing puts special joy in this particular Christmas. And I went back to this picture when it came time for Anticipation, but alas we've had three different winter illnesses take down three different people in the house ... none of them me yet! I canceled my hair appointment and went to the pediatrician instead. I was unable to reschedule the hair. So, in the last hour, I've created this post and thought a lot about why I create and what I create and I have to say I'm just thankful I can create it. So many people stuff that part of themselves to one side, thinking there's no time, no money it, no point. But the point is in the doing. And, while outwardly I am still not transformed (would you look at this HAIR!) inwardly, another change is made.

Now, how about those peanut butter cookies? You measure out one pound of sugar, one pound of creamy peanut butter and dump in one egg. You mix it up and form the dough into one inch balls. Mash them with a sugar-coated fork and bake them about 10 minutes at 375. Then you watch as people marvel when they eat them ... and you never EVER tell anybody how truly simple they are. I'll be back when the snowmen boxes let go!