Cookie Nostalgia

Today I'm baking springerles for the men in my life at the LCKlopfenstein family Christmas. I always feel as if both my grandmothers would smile knowing I was carrying on their baking tradition for Lynny-Boy and Mark as well as Mike, Joey, and Andrew who never got to eat their wonderful springerles.

I tend to get rather nostalgic when it comes to Christmas baking.

Two years ago this weekend I was in Washington, IL learning how to make these cookies better than I ever had before with Betty Schumacher, my mom's long-time friend and maid of honor. From her I learned a few tips most importantly of which was I NEEDED a KitchenAid mixer. I actually got one in the process of losing my job a year ago. These are the cookies I made with her.

And this is my KitchenAid mixer. I like red.

One year ago I made springerles with my dear Mary Lee. She laughed at my quirks about cookie and especially springerle cookie baking. That's ok--I bake a lot of love into my cookies.

In 1986 my sister Mary came to visit me in IL just before Christmas. We were in a small kitchen store on the square in Washington and saw a springerle rolling pin. We knew Mom really wanted one, but the $17 or $18 price seemed pretty high for two pretty poor recent college grads. However, we splurged to give it to her. Just a few weeks later we were shopping in Boaz, AL and found springerle rolling pins at a kitchen outlet for $2.97!

For the next few years I would make the springerles with Mom's help always trying to recreate the springerles we remembered-mostly misses with an occasional hit.

In 1988 I moved into an apartment in Morton, IL. In another building of that complex my grandmother's first cousin lived. Anna Freidinger was also a springerle extraordinaire who taught me not to roll the dough too thin. She also taught me that it was much better to use a rolling pin that was three cookies wide instead of six.

About 2006 I read an article in the GR Press about a recently released book that told the story of springerle cookies. Many, many years ago a minister in Germany wanted his illiterate parishioners to have the story of the birth of Jesus in front of them. He and his family carefully carved various nativity scenes in blocks of wood and cut out cookies that told the Christmas story. My dear friend Jayne from Handbells saw my blog post about the book and the next year she had a very special gift for me.

Day 2 of Being Iced In

Well since I'm now on Day 2 of being iced in, I have time to post although rather late.

A few thoughts from my Thanksgiving trip:
1. The morning news on the day left said that I would be 1 of 39 million people who were travelling more than 50 miles from home for the holiday. Well they didn't say "I" would be, but they gave that statistic.
2. At times it seemed as if most of those 39 million were driving between Dallas and Little Rock.
3. I am much more brand aware of Motel 6. I drove the same route in July and never noticed that there is a Motel 6 at almost every exit between Dallas and Memphis apparently.
4. It was interesting driving through Memphis while listening to the new John Grisham book on CD since he focuses many of his stories in north Mississippi with many references to people from or going to Memphis.
5. It was incredible to see so many stars in the late evening sky on the drive.
6. It was strange driving through Decatur when that had been my destination for 40+ years.

What's happened to Thanksgiving

It’s a travesty—so many people working on Thanksgiving Day. They can’t be with their families. They don’t get a holiday. Why do we Americans think they should work for our pleasure and enjoyment?

Oh wait, it’s the NFL so that’s ok. It’s after all “tradition” to go watch the Lions or the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. I’m all for football, and yes, I will probably watch at least parts of the game playing tomorrow. In a few weeks there will be several movie releases on Christmas Day. How many theatre workers have to miss family plans because they have to work on Christmas?

While many are complaining about retailers opening on Thanksgiving, maybe there should be complaints against the NFL and theaters as well.

Thankful Thursday 11/14/13

1. I liked every time I wrote the date on Tuesday. It was fun!  11/12/13.

2. I get to keep the two weekly communications at work. I thought it was an interim project until a couple of positions were filled, but although one position has been filled I get to keep this work.

3. Today I got home from work before it was dark. I think it was the first time I've even left work before it was dark since almost since the time change.

4. The mother of dear friends in MI passed away this week. Thankful to hear how her life touched so many. She would call family and/or friends when there was a beautiful sunset with the words "Sky alert!" She would remind her children and grandchildren "My God made that."

5. I got to talk to Jayne Monday evening and get to talk to Nancy tomorrow. Love it!

6. A childhood friend may be moving to Texas. She and her husband would be 6 hours away, but there is still something fun about the thought of her being in Texas. This state may not be big enough for the both of us!

Thankful Thursday 11/07/13

1. Last Thursday I possibly needed a check cut but AP said the month was closed and they couldn't cut a check until the next day. It reminded how thankful I am to be in a learning department and not working around an accounting month cycle.

2. I've been assigned to dig deeper about a topic at work. Yesterday I gave a preliminary overview of the topic and now I get to go do more research and look for other resources on the topic. Love doing this type of thing and am thankful that my manager knows how much I do.

3. Fall has arrived and I'm finally getting to see some yellow, red, and orange leaves. However, I do like eating out on the patio in November!

4. Got a new picture over the fireplace. I like it!

5. My aunt's post on facebook made me hungry for stroganoff. I made it for dinner Monday night. I like it!

6. Really enjoying the study of Matthew in BSF this year.

Thankful Thursday 10/24/13

1. A friend from my Friday morning prayer group of unemployed people started a contract job this week.
2. A wonderful 3 days with my sister Mary visiting. I had to work on Monday and Tuesday, but we made the most of the time I wasn't.
3. Renae switched cords on my tv and the buzz that has been there since we got Dish Network is gone, but I don't have HD. A tech is coming to check it out.
4. We get to go the Mavs final pre-season game tomorrow night.
5. On a day I kept seeing on facebook that friends in IL, MI, and OH were seeing the first snowflakes of the year, we ate dinner on the patio when it was a lovely 78 degrees with sun and a very gentle breeze. Loving me some Texas!

Thankful Thursday 10/17/13

1. Lots and lots of birthday cards with some still arriving this week!
2. It's good to be an hourly employee when you have 30 hours on the timecard in the first 3 days of the week.
3. Great two weeks of training at work, but it's made for some long days.
4. Mary comes on Saturday!!!!!!!!!
5. It appears fall is here as the temps are 70s in the day and 50s at night, but somehow I think we may still see 90s some day.