Thanks jasdip I really was so very touched. I enjoy doing what I do as I know it makes those receiving the cookies happy. Having spent many a Christmas Eve on guard duty or other duty, I know how lonely it can be, so if I bring a smile to someone's face, it's all worth it. By the way, your Better Than Pam stuff is super. I used it again today when I was finishing my baking Aloha Bread. The bread's practically fell out of the pans. Thanks for the recipe. Have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

The snowman I made about 10 years ago it is a straw hat spray painted white with added features I also made a scarecrow to put up in the fall. I'm glad you all like it. the porch is what sold me when buying the house.

I love the Christmas season and all the decorations. Last year I made a big deal about Christmas because my sister had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and wanted to make it special for her so I went all out to make it extra special. We talked that day and she was going to call for a ride then she ended not showing up. I was a little upset to say the least and disappointed. She was not feeling ill at this time, she just decided she was going to stay home and not tell me or answer her phone. I had guests over and held off dinner for as long as I could until another family member contacted her and she said she was just going to stay home without letting me know. So this year, my sister is at my house, missed everything last year and this year now that she is here I can't do anything. No room to do any decorating so I can't make it special for her this year. I am so busy with her and her needs I won't have time to cook a special meal nor do I want to because I am just so exhausted haha and I certainly don't want to do a sink full of dishes and pots and pans from making a turkey dinner. She doesn't have the appetite anyway. And I am still a little peeved about last year. This may be her last Christmas, hopefully not but I just can't be bothered what with all that is going on right now. Here is a picture of how my living room is usually decorated and now which is full to the brim with hospital bed, oxygen tanks and all her medical equipment.

That's wonderful ! *and rare* these days. Can I add my story ? We have a lady that owns a bakery by herself and she is constantly raising money for fallen police officer's families, homeless vets and she even raised enough to buy 2 defibrilators (sp?) for the middle schools football team. There's probably more that I don't know about . She loves baking and helping others. People like her and Sam are saints in my eyes !