Cookie Answers (and Thankful Thursday)
Hello, everyone!
Thanks for playing along with our cookie game yesterday. 🙂 No one got all the answers correct, so I spent a long time poring through the comments this morning trying to figure out who got the closest.
Brooke was the first reader to get only two wrong; she got me and Sonia reversed, but got everything else right!
But then Sara was the first one to get just one wrong; she only missed the Beaker cookie. Good job, Sara! You've been emailed.
Here are the correct matches:
I love that lots of you realized that #2 and #4 were both made by the same person! Lisey must have a style. 😉 Also, you might know that Lisey loves Sesame Street/Muppets, so there was a small clue there about the Beaker cookie.
I usually link to the recipe we use, but I neglected to do that. Whoops. Here's the cut-out sugar cookie and frosting recipe.
Alrighty...on to Thankful Thursday!
This week, I'm thankful:
that Lisey still lives close enough to decorate cookies with us
Once she graduates, she plans to live all over the place...California, Hawaii, Florida, and who knows where else. Next Christmas, she should still be pretty local, but after that, we may have to end the cookie contest due to too few cookie artists. 🙂
that we were able to give our blow-up Santa to our neighbors
Our kids are a little too old to love yard blow-ups, so I gave our Santa to our neighbors across the street. They have three young kids so they're at a perfect stage of life for an obnoxious yard blow-up.
that the shortest day has passed
We are now en route to the longest day of the year. Woohoo!
It's slow going at first (by the end of January, we will only have gained about 30 minutes of daylight), but at least we are headed in a brighter direction.
that Lisey is back home for winter break
I'm so glad to have one of my birdies back in the nest for a few weeks. 🙂
that I don't have travel plans right now
The lines for the free drive-up testing have been unbelievably long every time I've driven by lately, so I'm thankful I'm don't have to try to get a molecular test for travel purposes right now.
I really hate waiting in lines!
(I had to take Sonia for a test there a few months ago, and it took three hours even then. I cannot even IMAGINE how long the wait is now.)
that it's so easy to get a booster
Sonia's got an appointment coming up for a booster, and I was remembering the headache it was to get her initial shots...a long drive to stand in a long line at a mass vax site. Now it's just a quick drive to a local drugstore, which is way, way, way easier.
(again with me not doing great at standing in lines. Ha.)
for medical podcasts
I'm in-between semesters, but I've been binge-listening to Dr. Mike and Dr. Matt's Medical Podcast, partially just for fun, and partially to get a head-start on next semester. They don't publish episodes very often, but they have a pretty big backlog for me to work through, and since they're both A&P professors, the content is pretty much all relevant for me.
The episodes are almost always over an hour, so they do take a while to get through. And since both of the doctors have Aussie accents, I cannot manage to listen to them on double speed (2x is what I do with most podcasts!)
Something funny I realized while listening to Dr. Mike talk...if you say, "an iron ion" with an Australian accent, it just sounds like you are saying, "an ion ion".
for a sunny day yesterday
Tuesday, it was cloudy and rainy, which always makes me feel a little more crabby. But Wednesday, there was lots of sunshine and life felt much more cheerful.
I try to see drizzly days as cozy but man, it just does not work for me. I still end up kind of, "womp-womp" despite my best efforts.
So. Yay for sunshine!!
I am...thankful for snow in the forecast. Though that does mean cloudy days and no biking or golfing, it also means water, which we always need out here...and skiing! Which reminds me I'm also thankful for our excellent little ski resort. It's only 45 minutes away and, during the week, isn't that busy!
I'm thankful for great clients! I've gotten 2 gift baskets this week boy that just makes me feel so loved and blessed, and appreciated!
Thankful my dad is home and recovering after his scary fall last week. Though it'll take time for the laceration on his arm to heal, it could have been much worse. Grateful for good doctors and nurseses too (and future ones, Kristen)!
Thankful that I love what I do (most of the time) so working a little bit today, and maybe even tomorrow, isn't a big deal. It's up to me to do it now or do it this weekend!
Finally, I'm thankful the windows at this dining room table face south/southeast. I'm pretty sure this morning's sunrise is going to be spectacular.
Oooh, is a white Christmas in store for you guys?
@Kristen,
Maybe! Looking more like rain down here in the valley and snow in the mountains...but we'll see!
I'm thankful for cookie fun and lazy days. I was busy with my Virginia sister that I rarely see yesterday morning and then I was lazy the rest of the day and didn't even take time to do a cookie guess. But the cookies still made me smile!
I'm thankful for a lazy day at my mother-in-law's house. Although since I'm on the same time zone as Kristen, I'm sometimes up before her posts are up and it confuses me! Ha!
I'm sad for the loss of my father-in-law this past spring AND thankful that we can be here for two weeks to support my MIL for Christmas.
I'm thankful for a haircut. It wasn't a coupon. It wasn't frugal. But it was necessary (split ends) and I made it happen. And it feels nice!
I'm thankful for an evening movie AND a good book last night. One is rare enough, but two in one night is def a treat!
I'm thankful for grocery pick up! I planned the week's menu from Colorado and placed the order. MIL picked up the groceries and we have what we need for the week. (Well, except for the random things we ran out of too quickly.... Any one else's children randomly binge on a fruit or vegetable (this week: carrots) they haven't touched in months? Or cease to be hungry for the item (this week: apples) that they been devouring multiple of per day? No? Only my kids? M'kay. :-p )
@Dorinda, I keep seeing a meme on Facebook about the temperamental relationship between children and produce-so definitely NOT only you and yours.
@Dorinda, definitely have the same issue, drives me crazy. I’m not picky though so I usually end up eating any excess at least.
I am thankful we have a few rapid Covid tests and enough to share with our daughter and SIL. I'd hate to take a chance on making them sick.
I am thankful that I am finally sleeping later after Daylight Savings Time ended. I must be so old to take so long to adjust.
I am thankful for a warm house, bed, and clothing since winter is still plenty cold in MD.
I am thankful for the good parts of the internet: email, up to date news, recipes, knitting patterns.
I am thankful for Covid vaccines, boosters, and an abundance of masks.
I am thankful for financial wiggle room. We can afford to stock up a bit (without being hoarders) so we don't have to shop as often. We can afford to pay full price for groceries to minimize trips. We can donate to those in need.
I am thankful for how long many things last. In my kitchen I have measuring cups my mom bought me 40+ years ago, a rolling pin that belonged to my grandmother (born in 1899), and Singer scissors my mom bought me when I was in junior high.
I am thankful for general good health. I have no chronic conditions and take no medications. I may look older but I feels good.
Again, I am thankful for this weekly exercise.
Fun fact: With my Boston accent, "iron" and "ion" also sound exactly the same. The same goes for "scented" and "centered," and I'm sure there are others!
Oh, you're right!
When Mr. FG and I went up to Cape Cod for our honeymoon, we went into a grocery store called Star Market and as we walked through, someone on the loudspeaker said, "Thank you for shopping at Stahhhh." And we were like, "hmmm, we're not at home anymore!" lol
@Karen L, another fun fact: I was born and raised in Tennessee. The one time I ventured up into Maine and tried to ask for something in a grocery store, I almost needed a translator.
@A. Marie,
I had the same experience in Tennessee. I whispered to my sister and asked her what language she was speaking because I could not understand them. She laughed at me and said its English silly. I do watch TV shows from England and our southern states with the closed captioning turned on and it isn’t because I cannot hear. LOL!
@Kristen, we also went to cape cod on our honeymoon in 1994!
@Karen L,
I’m an Aussie so agree with both! I’m now wondering how ion and iron could sound different? Hehe
Oh, that's so funny. I say "eye-urn" for iron, and most people I know do the say. And I say, "eye-on" for ion.
I am thankful for the rain and also thankful to have my cozy house and no need to leave it today in the rain!
I’m very thankful for my husband. I got the idea to make kielbasa from scratch for our Christmas Eve dinner, which was a bit ambitious of me haha It’s his family’s recipe but I’d only made it once 5 years ago with his sister and she was the expert so I didn’t have to do much. He went along with the plan and was so helpful and it turned out to be a lot of fun! He went out and found sausage casings yesterday (after a lot of calling around to find a place that carried them), he figured out how to set up the meat grinder attachment for the kitchen aid (which we’d never used before), he monitored our 3 year old who wanted to “help”, and he cleaned all the equipment after we were done. I just was thinking how much harder it would have been if he didn’t support the idea or was dismissive of it and I’m so excited for this special Christmas Eve dinner now!
Aww, I love that you guys worked together on the kielbasa. It has never occurred to me to try making my own!
@LB,
What a great hubby!
For my friend, who dropped off two Covid test kits for me yesterday--everywhere here is sold out and the testing places have long lines. Both my kids have Covid. My daughter is pretty ill, but my son isn't that bad. If he hadn't gotten tested, he would have gone ahead with his plans to visit my mom in the nursing home and partying with friends two hours away and possibly spread the virus even more. I'm lucky to have wonderful friends both near and far.
This year hasn't gone at all as planned, but I'm sitting in a warm house with a beagle on my lap. My kids are upstairs warm and safe and I have piles of gifts to give away. (Gifts being my love language.) There's plenty of food in the fridge and no real worries right now. Christmas turns this old curmudgeon into Tiny Freaking Tim. Merry Christmas!
Big hugs to you. I'm so sorry they both are sick now, but I'm glad they get to be home with you at least.
Kristen, @scrapermovin from Insta here. See I knew I would get the cookies incorrect. I only got Mr. FG correct. And I loved Zoe's cookie, but I would have thought you did it. LOL
I am thankful for the season. Hopefully everyone will enjoy the holidays the way they are meant to be shared with family. We are staying home and missing all our loved ones, but that is OK. They are healthy and will enjoy their Christmas too!
Haha, well, if it makes you feel better, my own mom often gets them all wrong. lol
I'm thankful that I've spent another year without getting seriously ill. I had a little bit of a cough earlier this week but nothing serious (mostly just post nasal drip due to the seasons not able to decide how cold it should be. I think I had one head cold this year and that too was mild and a stomach bug or two (though that could've been mild food poisoning but who knows for sure?) But no Covid, no flu, nothing to take me out of work except my normal pre-existing conditions.
I'm thankful that I've had the week off. Next week I am remote one day and then on-site the rest of the week. I should be there with an empty office, though so basically I'm just there to make sure the place doesn't figuratively burn down.
I'm thankful that while Christmas dinner will be spent with only those in my household that we have a good meal planned. I can't let family drama ruin everything.
1. That's is raining here (So Cal).
2. That I have a husband who is crazy about me.
3. That I have a small house that I love.
4. That I have two cats I adore.
5. That we discovered the "fireplace" channel.
Woohoo for some California rain!
I came up with a whole list of things to be thankful for about my morning walks this morning: the quiet, the stunning colors of the sunrise that are so visible thanks to the uninterrupted plain to the east, the more-muted but no less spectacular layers of colors to the west with the moon shining in it like a beacon . . . It makes me very grateful for this place that I live challenging as it is at times.
For the little grocery/convenience store that opened a couple of months ago in the village ten miles from us. They just started carrying LETTUCE! Granted, just romaine, but still. Especially appreciated since my husband forgot to get lettuce at the store in the big town yesterday and I really wanted it for the tamales I'm making tomorrow.
He did remember avocados though, which makes me happy, as those are definitely not available near us and I also wanted those for the tamale toppings.
For the cinnamon rolls I made yesterday that we ate this morning. I found a better recipe for long-fermented sourdough ones (so my husband can eat them) that has the benefit of being made entirely except for baking the night before. I have no interest in rolling out and finishing cinnamon rolls at 6:30 a.m. They were hands-down the best cinnamon rolls I've ever made. Or eaten. I used this recipe, but with all white flour, and I think next time I would use a full two teaspoons of cinnamon:https://flavorrd.com/2020/12/sourdough-overnight-cinnamon-rolls/
Merry Christmas Eve-Eve!
Heck, Romaine is a pretty good option. I was thinking they would only carry iceberg. Ha.
@kristin @ going country, I love romaine lettuce. My favorite thing is to trim out the rib in each leaf and then use them as dippers for hummus. We had a big spinach and romaine salad for supper and I was happily slicing out ribs and looking forward to a snack later.
1. A family member called off a big holiday get together, not wise given the way this new variant is racing through our region right now. We weren't going to go there anyway but I was worried about the others, however common sense prevailed.
2. I have the next week off starting tomorrow and won't have to commute again until Jan 2nd.
3. I didn't gain pandemic weight so far, was worried with all the sitting while remote working, but being careful paid off.
4. The cookies you make for the game each year. Decorated Christmas cookies bring back fond memories and make me smile!
5. It will be a quiet, slow paced holiday for us. Only one family member, (who is boosted and as cautious as us), and a simple meal.
I am thankful for the haircut I am getting today. I was sick last month and had to cancel and now I am really shaggy. I'm so glad that she was able to fit me in her schedule.
I am thankful that we were able to put an offer on a house.
I am thankful for rain coming today. We need it desperately.
I am thankful that my husband gets the afternoon off and he can cook our Christmas dinner. (Tonight is our Christmas.) Because of my home office, I'll be able to "hang out" with him even though I'm working this afternoon.
I am thankful for my sister's healthy new baby!
@Rebekah in SoCal,
Oh! New babies are just a bit of heaven! Congrats to your sister and also to you for a new little love.
If you say “ rise up lights” it sounds just like you’re saying “razor blades” with a decent Australian accent.
I’m grateful for little boys who learn nifty little things like the item above in 2015 and demonstrate them over and over and over again with such joy and enthusiasm that you will never forget them and get to use them in 2021!
I’m thankful that our house purchase may have moved a step forward *cross fingers
I don’t have to be back at work until 4 Jan.
House is fully stocked food and drink wise.
After reading the comments, that covid tests are free here.
I love listening to This Podcast Will Kill You. They cover a different illness/poison/infection each time. Sometimes gruesome, often upsetting given the horrible ways the medical community treated people at times, but fascinating.
I am thankful to be on winter break from my job. Yesterday I enjoyed not competing with anyone for shower time and using the washer. Grocery shopping at mid-day on a Wednesday is practically fun. I caught up on some personal stuff that had been languishing for months. Today I caught up on my sleep. That's five mini thankful wrapped in one!
I’m British and we say ‘iron ion’ like ‘ion ion’ too! I have an American friend and she pokes fun at herself for the difficulty she has with the word ‘mirror’ which kind of comes out like ‘mere’!
The Doctor’s Kitchen podcast is really worth a listen. He interviews so many interesting people. Give it a try.
Merry Christmas!
Trying to figure how else one would say it. Maybe Kristen says eye-ron.
In my experience, Americans usually say, "Eye-urn". 🙂
I am thankful for the lovely short break my husband and I had together. It is so good to be just spouse for a few days in a row and not being mother, housekeeper, pet owner (pet servant..) and employee! I had a hard time mentally letting go of the home front though!
For having the crispest cold weather when we were away, with lots of sunshine on those fewest hours of light on the shortest days!
For daylight slowly increasing as of now.
For having planned our shopping well ahead and only having to collect at the baker and the butcher tomorrow. We drove past the shops and it was insanely busy.
This week I'm thankful...
* for time with my family! My in-laws are here and we're having a ton of fun. We will see my parents and brother tomorrow.
* for my MIL being so willing to help. Laundry never goes away and I struggle to keep up with cleaning and my MIL has been awesome about baking with the kids and doing other fun things with them while I wrap presents or do laundry.
* that my in-laws were able to help get a present I missed for my oldest daughter! I was going through all of the gifts on Sunday and wondering why I only had small stuff for her when I realized that I didn't actually buy her main gift weeks ago like I thought I had! The Wal-Mart in our town was out, but we ordered one to be ready for pick-up in Ohio and my in-laws picked it up for us on their way to Michigan. Such a big help!!
* that I'll be fully vaccinated by the time my big family Christmas gathering rolls around. I know, we're late to the game on this. It was months upon months of going back and forth, having discussions, and being unsure, but I'm thankful that my husband and I finally landed on "yes, let's do this" and that we did it in time for me to be comfortable attending my upcoming family gathering.
I am thankful that I am loved and needed. And that I love and need others as well.
@MB in MN, I second yours. I am more grateful for my neighborhood community this particular holiday season than I can say. As Lindsey remarked in the latest FFT, my Bestest Neighbors are gems--and so are 15-20 or so of the other neighbors. I have been reaching out and getting a lot of reach-out in return. Blessings on the whole kit and kaboodle of us for 2022.
@A. Marie, I always enjoy hearing about you and your neighbors!
Congrats to Sara! Please thank your family for continuing to participate in creating fun cookies!
I am thankful all my children are home for Christmas. That’s nearly more joy than my heart can take.
Wishing everyone the love and peace of the Christmas season.
Thankful:
1. You Tube exists so that every Christmas I can watch this delightful version of the Hallelujah Chorus put on by our small village of Quinhagak. Even the dog team participated! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyviyF-N23A&t=6s It never fails to cheer me up.
2. For the two friends who gave us cookies for a gift. No clutter and this year I did not make cookies so these are very, very welcome.
3. That my husband is so easygoing about food and celebrations. This year I don't feel like cooking so we spent a hideous amount on several kinds of cold cuts, fancy-pants bread, and sliced cheeses from the deli and are going to have sandwiches for our Christmas dinner, while binge watching a Britbox series.
4. For our teenaged helper who came at no notice to dig us out of 15 inch snowfall. Other areas od town had 12 inches but we lucked out with 15. This kid is such a help to us. We pay him well but he works hard and leaves his cellphone inside while working outdoors "so I won't be tempted." And he goes out of his way to run over and take over if he sees my 73-thinks-he-is 45-years-old husband trying to lift something he should not.
5. For flannel.
Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate, people.
@Lindsey, That Hallelujah Chorus is fabulous!! It's hard to pick a favorite but I loved the twirling girls doing "Forever" and the school bus with the door flinging open (also the kids kicking open the cabinet doors... oh too many to pick). Thanks for sharing that; made my day : )
@Lindsey, thanks again for listing that link. I have seen it before and love it. I emailed it to my sister in Belgium, in case she hasn't seen it.
@Lindsey, Thanks for sharing the youtube link. How delightful!
I have so many things to be thankful for that it was hard to not write a ton more!
Dentist fitting me in for a broken tooth and not needing a crown or root canal.
Bluegrass show with closed captions stating “upbeat twangy music”, which made me giggle.
Electric blanket on my bed and turning down the heat in my room.
Starting a new job this week and everyone is kind and helpful! I am going to enjoy this new season in my life of only working part-time from home. Plus added benefits of being considered a regular, part time employee so I will be receiving holiday, vacation, and sick pay, an end of year bonus, and 401k eligibility after one month! WOOT, huge blessing and answer to prayer!!! I have been working for the past 7 years for just an hourly wage.
Extra thankful for being able to support myself at this late season of my life, and thankful to my Heavenly Father who provides for me over and above my needs so I can share His goodness with others.
Finally, I can honestly say I am thankful for the smiles of many strangers which lifts my spirits and shows me the inherent goodness in my fellow humans. I include everyone on this blog from Kristen down to all of the followers . . . The humor, love, knowledge, and acceptance here is phenomenal and truly a blessing to me. Thank you all!
oh snap!! I worked 2 hectic night shifts in a row and missed the contest!!
lucky re boosters. Here is Canada it is survival of the craftiest....i.e. who is best at finding an appointment. Lucky for me, I have an in as a HCW. Also have an in for testing....impossible to find here as our numbers are skyrocketing!!
love to all over the holidays!!
Thankful
Darkest day is OVER
Son is off his submarine and can spend holidays with his darling wife
Other son is home for a few weeks due to college break
That I have a break to rest and recharge too
Oooh, I only mixed up Sonia and Zoe! Cool!
Grateful for veterinarians. My puppy had to go in for sedated x-rays today and they were so kind to both of us. The industry is a mess right now but vets are still going above and beyond.
Also grateful to my friend who walked with me and spent most of the day talking so I wouldn't spend the entire day worrying while waiting for news. It was so, so helpful.
And finally, grateful that although we still don't know what's causing her persistent limp, we did learn that it's unlikely to be an orthopedic issue, which is a relief. Now I can enjoy a long weekend without the appointment hanging over me!
Kristen, thank you for your great blog. Wishing you and your a very happy Christmas and holiday.
1. I’m glad I was able to have a turkey dinner tonight. Tomorrow, my kids voted for steak and potatoes, and Christmas we will have tamales.
2. My sister is in town and we will get to see her and my niece for Christmas Eve lunch tomorrow.
3. My youngest is getting some much needed support with a great therapist. I think it will make a big difference in their life and happiness going forward.
4. The presents are largely wrapped. I got some super things for my husband who is a hard working person who asks for very little and never buys anything for himself. I think the kids will be delighted too.
5. I was able to see cousins and my aunt yesterday. I am so lucky to have some great family members.
A few medical podcasts you might enjoy!
* Sawbones - husband (non-MD) and wife (MD) dive into medical stuff
* Healthful Woman - maternal fetal medicine doc talks about female-specific medical issues, most often dealing with pregnancy
Oh yes, I love Sawbones! So hilarious.
And I will check out the Healthful Woman podcast. Thank you!