Happy Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I managed to finish my eyeball dress at literally the eleventh hour Christmas eve. It's Butterick B5603, which seemed easy enough, especially looking at Roisin's dress. BUT when I tried it on, the underbust seam was on top of my bust! The pattern seems to have no allowance for any bust projection whatsoever. I even cut a larger size than normal, and added an inch to both the skirt and bodice - to allow for my height. In the end I had to cut the straps off and re-sew new and different ones.

Max playing with his gift from my father.  - Giving my aunt a "facelift" after Christmas dinner.

Seeing the King Tut exhibit in Seattle. They wouldn't allow pictures inside :(

My grandmother was in hospital Christmas day. I brought in lights, presents, crackers and dessert, but it was still depressing. One night in the bed across from her was a a druggie who had OD'd and talked to himself and Jesus all night. The next day a woman replaced him and then died. Fortunately my grandmother is doing better and I bet will be out by Wednesday or so.

My mum and I went to see the bright nights train ride in Stanley Park on boxing day. It is so corny, yet so wonderful.

Christmas Baking

A happy almost Christmas to you! This is how I spent the weekend, baking, baking... and more baking.  Saturday I baked 15 different kinds of cookies for 10 hours straight. The bags on the right are but three of the 22 bags that my mum and I are are giving or sending. I preprinted the little labels at OfficeMax which helped immensely.Some are Edward Gorey, some are a Scottish Santa with bagpipes.
Sunday I packaged everything and made the babka. I used this recipe, but have changed it quite a bit over the years. The round babka is the result of lending my mum my third loaf pan and her giving it away. Nice. I didn't swear too much when I found that out. If you've never had babka, you need to! It's like a slice of a cinnamon roll with chocolate mixed in. I used to buy it at Canters when I lived in LA. A friend brought back some from Zabars in New York for me, but it was so gross I couldn't even swallow it. My boyfriend thought it tasted like a "hospital".

Cookies baked:

1. chocolate chip shortbread

2. plain shortbread

3. mint chocolate chip

4. chocolate florentines

5. orange chocolate

6. nutella & hazelnut rugelach

7. peanut butter rugelach

8. ginger with lemon icing

9. oatmeal hazelnut chocolate chip

10. peanut butter

11. snickerdoodles

12. chocolate walnut biscotti

13. lemon almond biscotti

14. peppermint cream cheese brownie

15. chocolate hazelnut sliced cookies