Ok, I pooped out much too quickly and wasn't getting anything done and the sod cookie mystery got me so here is what I think happened. They didn't have self rising flour back then so could it be soda and they forgot to write the a ? I found this recipe but doubt its the same as yours but the only one that had anything like sod in it, lol. It does say on most they can be made up to a month early and are better with age as Lucy said. I ate nearly my whole bag of candy and the orange last night, lol. Thanks again. Here is the recipe I found. Sounds yummy. 8 ounces candied citron 4 ounces candied orange peel 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon aniseeds 5 eggs, separated 2 tablespoons butter (at room temperature) 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons milk Additional confectioners sugar Coarsely grind citron and orange peel with grinder fitted with coarse blade; set aside. Sift flour with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and pepper. sprinkle anise seeds over flour mixture. Set aside. In large mixing bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat egg yolks with butter and lemon peel until smooth. Reduce speed to low and beat in granulated sugar. Set aside. Beat egg whites in clean mixer bowl with electric mixer or by hand until stiff peaks form. On low speed of electric mixer, gently fold reserved egg yolk mixture into beaten egg whites. Blend in reserved flour mixture, using your hands. Blend in reserved coarsely ground candied citron and orange peel. Shape dough into balls the size of a small walnut; place balls, 1 inch apart, on ungreased baking sheets. Let stand, uncovered, 8 hours, or overnight. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes or until double in size and lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets and let cool to room temperature. Mix confectioners' sugar with enough milk to form thin glaze; drizzle glaze over cookies. If desired, after glaze has hardened, shake cookies gently in paper bag containing additional confectioners sugar.

We went with the black. I thought our front door was original but on closer inspection its a veneer over particleboard. I really like the 3 windows over 2 or 3 panel windows, maybe in a black finish on exterior. I'd like to strip the paint on the front stairs, maybe. Or yes, paint them something else. The blue must go. Thanks for your thoughts, all. They were very helpful. I think we always kinda liked the idea of black even though we traditionally liked white. We were afraid it'd look bad or be too risky. Obviously some think so, and I guess it could, but we decided to go for it! I think it's the right choice. Hopefully by making things right bit by bit we can eventually get back to something of its former self. Adam

Lov_mykitchen, I KNOW!!! Was supposed to get above zero every day for the past week. Get 15 miles south of us and water is running everywhere, but here?!! Today was the first day it actually got above 0, and that was to plus 1C. I could live with that if the sun shone, but it has been overcast the whole time as well, making everything look like it is in black and white. I hate it when the sun doesn't shine. I feel like calling the weather man up and saying "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!" LOL

I'm a day late with these and was only going to post the first two. Then I saw everyone else had posted pics of their beautiful fur babies getting cosy, so thought I'd add a couple more. Justerrilyn, so sad to hear about your darling boy. Hugs to you guys :( Our snug - some might consider it cluttered, but we think it's cosy - taken just now....... Raffi doesn't really stay still long enough to relax, but I did find a photo from a couple of years back when she decided to chillax on her old puppy bed.....for five seconds! Rossetti is much more laid back, lol!