Amy Grant singing. A timer beeping. Amy Grant singing. A timer beeping. Amy singing. Timer beeping. Singing. Beeping. And repeat.
That was the oh-so-merry and ever-so-peaceful description of Steve’s and my evening of tree-decorating.
For the first time in (I think) forever, we decorated the tree by ourselves. However, we still wanted to incorporate at least a couple of the family traditions we’ve had over the years, so we put on our Amy Grant Christmas album (which we’ve listened to since the kids were young) and baked some sugar cookies.
I am very particular about the consistency of my sugar cookies; they need to have a slight “bite” but not be too crispy or too doughy. So I broke away from the tree after a few minutes to make sure the cookies weren’t getting too brown.
Much to my consternation, the oven’s readout said, “Door not fully closed; oven turned off.”
What followed was a comedy of errors (and beeps) because even after rearranging the pan so the door would close and restarting the timer, the cookies just were not getting done. I would set the timer for just three more minutes, and then just two more minutes, and then four more minutes, waiting for the cookies to brown. Between the warning one-minute beeps, and the actual beeps, our house was replete with a symphony of beeps, all of them competing with Amy’s voice wafting from the den.
I am sad to report that after many minutes of beeps and rebeeps (rebeep the sounding joy), the cookies had not really browned but were still quite crispy–my worst kind of cookie.
Oh well. I ate three bites of the crispiness, just to keep the family tradition alive.
I was able to accomplish something rare, and that was to nab a photo of Tinker the Thinker. Steve and I cannot figure out why Tinker always runs to the back of the house as soon as we point a phone in his direction. However, on this particular night, he hung out with us quite a while, no doubt compelled by the aroma of the cookies baking. And not only did he hang out, but he also wanted me to put him up on the couch, which means he was more focused on that goal than fleeing from the bad phone.
Is he not so cute?
Here is the finished project. An evening well spent in the company of Amy Grant and the Beeps. (Sounds like a singing group.)
Steve and I went to Nathan and Meagan’s church yesterday morning to hear Nathan play drums there for the first time. We were a couple of minutes late, and as I was walking down the aisle toward our seat, I saw him playing and immediately had tears come to my eyes. It was such a joy to see our son’s hard work paying off as he uses his talents for God.
I have a giveaway for you today. Cue the cheers!
Sheri Hawley, my dear friend (and my son’s children’s mom’s mom), has written a book. She has been so diligent on this project, working for over 10 years to get it done. If you’ve ever read Sheri’s blog, you know she is a wise, funny, very readable writer, and to have a whole book written by her is a joy. (I even had the privilege of doing a little editing on the book.)
If you leave a comment on this post, I will put your name in a random drawing for the book. (If your name isn’t drawn, the book is available for purchase through Amazon. Or if you want an autographed copy sent from Sheri, email me at smithellaneous@yahoo.com for info.)
The drawing will be on Thursday, Dec. 18. If you win, I will let you know by email.
Wishing you a happy week before Christmas; may you be aware God’s joy in your world!
What about you?
Do you like your cookies crisp, soft, or somewhere in between?
What are your family traditions for tree decorating night?
What is your favorite book, and why?
What is the temperature where you live? It was 18 degrees when I went out to the car this morning; a bit nippy for us southern folk.
Cookies – ah, my favorite is not the soft kind, but a little crispy. The picture of the tree up is lovely. This year, because we were going to be gone the first 2 weeks in December, I didn’t wait until Thanksgiving to put decorations up – it was probably the first week in November. Will still get to enjoy them. I always look at the decorations outside and am in awe of the difference and “loveliness” between Halloween and Christmas. There is such an edge and negativeness to Halloween decorations and then the peaceful and positiveness of Christmas. Unfortunately, too many of them still have Santa and this year Grinch decor instead of our Saviour’s birth, but much better than Halloween. Many years ago we would wait until one of the coldest nights to buy a Christmas tree. No more!!!!! Don’t believe I have a favorite book, but do have a couple favorite author’s, secular would be Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew (I know, she’s for young adults) and my favorite Christian author is our niece, Julie Klassen. Just finished her 20th book – she writes in the Jane Eyre style. Tinker, you are so cute!!! Way to go Nathan!
Sharyn,
I just did a little reading on your niece; it sounds like she is an accomplished and talented woman. I know you are so proud of her!
I love Christmas decorations, too. They make you happy just looking at them.
When you mentioned Nancy Drew, I had to smile. I used to love reading those as a kid/teen. Thanks for the memory!
Tinker is so stinkin’ cute! 🙂
We don’t have any tree decorating traditions – we never have! And now I feel left out! haha. I put up the tree(s) whenever the urge hits me. This year we have our foster-fail cat (still kind of a kitten at 18 months), so our tree is sparsely decorated with unbreakable ornaments. So far, so good – the tree is still standing and only a couple of ornaments have been knocked off. 🙂
Cookies: it depends on the specific cookie as to whether I prefer them soft or crunchy/crispy. My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe is my mom’s, and it makes small, thin, crunchy cookies. I also like crunchy oatmeal, pecan crescent, and gingerbread cookies. Soft cookies: snickerdoodles and lemon bars. And in-between for sugar cookies (iced or not!).
My favorite book is Ken Follett’s “Pillars of the Earth” – and I truly enjoy re-reading it every couple of years.
It’s been super cold here – we were in Seattle late last week where it was in the 50s (and the rains/flooding there have been devastating) and got off the plane into 4°F temps! Today it’s almost 60, and they’re saying we’ll have a warm Christmas this year. 🙂
Stefanie,
I learn so many things from my readers! I had to look up foster-fail cat and saw that it has a very happy definition. Love it.
Wow–you are very precise in your cookie crispness/softness scale! As I was reading your list it occurred to me that there are a few cookies that are better with a little bit of crunch to them.
It’s so cool that you have a particular book you read every couple of years. I have heard that rereading books is good because every time we reread something, we are a different person than we were the last time we read. Makes sense!
I love your tree. Your room looks so cozy and inviting.
Phil does not like soft cookies. I think mainly because he is a dunker into his coffee, so crunchy gives you more time to do that!
We have an artificial tree. Phil gets it up from the basement. The decorating is up to me. No traditions here. We did put it in front of our living room window this year. A new place for it! The main reason is because we didn’t get time to decorate outside at all. First time since living here.
We just got through 3 very cold days with wind temps 20 to 30 below zero. One day the temperature reached -1 degree.Today it was 40, but still so windy. We don’t usually get this much snow or be this cold in December. We’ve had around a foot all together. This is what mid January weather is like. Not fun!
Glad Nathan got to play drums in church. How awesome.
Merry Christmas!!
Carol
Carol,
I guess it makes sense that a crispy cookie is better for coffee-dunking. But since I don’t drink coffee, I’m not an expert on that subject.
Our tree is artificial too, with the built-in lights. I admire people who go out and chop their own tree, but this is just too easy. I always think a tree in front of a window is so cheery.
I know I grew up in WI so these temps should not surprise me but, somehow, they still do. That is COLD! Think spring!
Your Christmas tree is beautiful and Tinker is sooo cute. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and an amazing new year 😘
Nancy,
Happiest wishes back to you, as well!
Your tree is beautiful! And I’m glad Tinker stayed to experience the cookie beeping with Amy accompanying. He is very cute in the pics. He and Belle are generally adorable!
Loved seeing Nathan on the drums! He is so talented and what a wonderful thing that you guys could go support him on his first Sunday to play.
It’s so exciting that Sheri’s book is available! I always really enjoyed her writing on her blog so I know her book will be incredible.
I’ve been making a version of low carb cut out sugar cookies this Christmas season. I use a sugar free sweetener for the dough and frosting but use regular flour. They’re not too bad! I’ve been scarfing them down anyway. Today I’m going to make a regular sugar and flour batch so I can share some non-weird ones with the neighbors. And I want to try an almond flour and sugar free version for us. So we’ll see how all that goes. I don’t like mine real crispy either. Moderately soft is good!
You guys now qualify to be northerners with your 18 degrees–wow! So much for coming south to warm up.🥶🙂
Sending Christmas love!
Deb
Deb,
Nice you found a verson of low carb/sugar cookies tha you like. Sounds like you have a regular kitchen laboratory going on there with three different varieties you’re experimenting on. Sounds like fun! You can put me in charge of the timer. 🙂
Yes, we are very proud of Nathan and the way he has worked on his playing through the years. You drummer people amaze me that you can put all those hand/leg movements together–plus YOU sing! Too much for me to comprehend.
Enjoy your week of coziness and pretty lights and decor.
Howdy from Mt. Airy, NC. I don’t have a tree up because I don’t have one.. I have a tiny one that is already lighted and decorated but I have not put it out and may not. Noone is coming to our house for Christmas because we will be going yonder. I haven’t made any cookies or fudge. Can’t get in the spirit of Christmas now. Still missing my mama that passed away in June. It just seems… empty. My heart hurts. I hope you and yours have a very, very merry Christmas. I love your family and would know them if I met them on the street because I have followed you since Sarah was first sick. I feel old. Have a blessed day!!
Kaye,
It is sometimes hard to get into the Christmas spirit, isn’t it? But just remember that there isn’t a certain way we have to feel on Christmas: we just let our emotoins be what they are and continue to trust in God’s peace and strength.
I think it’s fun to think that you would recognize us if you saw on the street, That would be a happy meeting, wouldn’t it? 💖
Merry Christmas to you and your
family. I enjoy your writing.
Mona,
Thanks so much for the encouragement about my writing; that means so much!
Merry Christmas to you, as well.
I love her blog ….and I’m sure the book is wonderful!
Patricia,
I leafed through the book last night after it arrived from Amazon. So much good stuff in there!
What a beautiful tree.
I like my cookies soft and have a hard time getting them done and still soft. It can take only a minute to make them too crisp!
I had no traditions for tree decorating at my house. My husband always put it up the day after Thanksgiving. We do it whenever we get a chance now.
I don’t think I really have a favorite book. Hadn’t really thought about it.
We have been COLD and the snow is staying on the ground and still some in the trees. It is 17 at 5pm. It was below freezing a couple days ago. It is unusual for it to stay so cold for so long.
Patti,
You are so right about it only taking a minute to make cookies too crisp. I don’t think I’ll ever get the exact technique down; it’s usually a matter of luck when I get them just right.
This cold weather is making me lonely for spring. At least after Dec. 21, the days will start getting longer. That always gives me hope!
It was 23 when I went out to work in Mount Airy, about 2 hours North of you in Charlotte. We keep the temperature in our house around 57 so I am somewhat used to colder weather. But the wind blowing along with the lower temperature is just brutal.
We don’t really have any Christmas traditions, especially since our son moved out. We will have a nice quiet dinner and open our presents on Christmas afternoon. It feels somewhat lonely but glad we no longer have to run to so many different homes on Christmas Eve and Christmas day!
Your tree is so lovely!! I hope you and your family have a very, Merry Christmas!!
Donna,
57 in your house??!! I don’t think I would make it; I am one of those people who is always cold, even when it’s 72 inside!
I agree. Having a quiet Christmas Eve and/or Christmas morning has its own joy.
Merry Christmas to you, Steve, and your entire family – and best wishes for a wonderful new year!
Thank you, Fred and Lucy. Merriest Christmas to the two of you wonderful people!
This morning we’re having a heat wave in north Iowa. After being below zero all weekend it’s 12 above with 10mph wind making it actually feel like -1. The sun is slowly rising and predicted to warm to a balmy 26 today.
Thank you for the news about Sheri’s book. I read her blog and when she stopped missed her words of wisdom. Knew she was busy and found out she wanted to devote time to writing. I’m looking forward to reading her book.
Karen,
I hope you enjoy our “balmy” 26 degrees up there in my home state! We are hitting 53 today, which I am thrilled about.
Yes, you will definitely want to read Sheri’s book; it’s like her blog multiplied a hundred times over.
Merry Christmas!!
Catherine,
Merry greetings to you and your family!