It’s finally over.  The cooking is done; the leftovers are packed; gifts have been exchanged and 3 days of nonstop food and festivities with family and friends have come to an end.  Here I am, once again, with jammies on, feet up, fire in the fireplace and kittens in my lap, contentedly exhausted!

So many people feel overwhelmed with cooking and shopping and decorating, and the to-do list gets longer and longer.  I love Christmas!  I’ll admit I didn’t get everything done on my list this year either.  No Pizzelles due to an iron malfunction and no Christmas Village due to one little foster kitten.  They are 2 of my favorite Christmas traditions, but I decided to adopt the same philosophy as with the cookies this year – simplicity.  If it was complicated, or if it felt like a chore instead of a pleasure, I was going to just relax and let it go.  Guess what?  The world did not end because people did not receive my Pizzelle (great for my stress level but maybe not so good for my ego!)  No one noticed that the Christmas Village was not in the picture window this year.  I missed it but it gave me an opportunity to showcase the ceramic Christmas tree my mother-in-law gave me many years ago.  It is one of my cherished decorations and it looked beautiful in the living room window instead.

Letting go worked so well for me that my early 2010 Christmas gift to you is the same.  If the thought of having to send cards raises your blood pressure…don’t do it!  I love sending Christmas cards.  My friend Sam makes her own cards.  Isn’t this one beautiful?  Gabe and I usually pick a night to sit down and go through the old address book (yes, a real address book with paper and alphabetical tabs).  I always take a moment to think about each person and the times we have shared.  Unfortunately Christmas cards were something I had to let go this year, so Gabe took on the entire list.  He’s the best!  I also like take a short walk down memory lane whenever I receive a card.  I even like the annual update letters!  I’ll miss your card and I hope you will still take a minute to think of me, but I only want a card next year if it puts a smile on your face when you pick up your pen to send one.

If making me cookies (or cake or bread) gives you hives…don’t do it!  I love making cookies and I love getting cookies.  I enjoy tasting all the different kinds if cookies and exchanging cookie recipes.  I think the nicest compliment someone can give me is to make one of my recipes. I will miss your delicious treat next year but I want you to enjoy making it as much as I enjoy eating it!  You can always bake for me after the holidays.

If the thought of hosting me makes you burst into tears…don’t do it!  I love to cook and to play hostess.  My house is very small so I don’t get to do it often.  I like the menu prep.  I like the shopping.  I love to make the food.  I even like getting the house sparkly clean before guests arrive!  Just spending time with you is enough for me.  We can go out, we can stay in; we can have caviar and crackers, or Cheese Whiz and crackers.  I don’t care if you are in sweat pants or if there’s dust bunnies on the floor.  You, in my life, to whatever degree you feel most comfortable, is truly enough for me.  Let's get together when we can really let loose and have a good time!

I hope you had a holiday full of love and good cheer…and not too much stress!

Somehow my posts have gotten out of order.  I did not discover it until people kept telling me they felt bad for Squirrel because she did not get adopted.  Squirrel did get adopted and went to her new home last week.  Not sure why the stories are not in the right order but "Kitten in a Christmas Tree" should come after "KAT The Results"

K A T - The Results

The results are in and the MSPCA at Nevins Farm was able to adopt 60+ felines, mostly kittens, at the Kitten Adopt-A-Thon.  YEA!!!  It was quite busy and, after 2 long days, I was pooped!  I don’t know how the shelter staff does it every single day, 365 days a year.  I have a new level of respect for them, that’s for sure!

I also have to give a special shout-out to all the volunteers who worked extra shifts to help.  With almost 100 kittens added to the already heavy workload it was wonderful to see so many people step up!  A bigger shout-out to all my fellow CTF members and foster parents.  The day would not have been a success without them!  From stocking shelves, to washing mounds of dishes and laundry (there’s nothing quite like the smell of a dirty, wet litter pan!), to color-coded floor plans and signs, they took on whatever job needed to be done before, during, and after the event.  The biggest shout-out of all goes to the phenomenal staff at the MSPCA!  Weeks of preparation, long hours, and hard work paid off.  They should be so proud!

Even though it was so busy we all had a great time.  Hanging out with other fosters sharing stories about our kittens is always fun.  We are like a bunch of proud parents talking about how cute and smart and funny our “kids” are!  The kids in the foster family especially like to tell you all about the kittens they helped raise.  There can sometimes be a few tears when it’s time for kitten and kid to separate (who am I kidding -  some of the grown ups cry too!).  The tears don’t last for long though because another kitten will soon need their help.

Foster families don’t often have the chance to meet their kitten’s new family so it’s nice to be able to chat with the adopters.  Some have very specific requirements: boy or girl, long hair or short, feisty or mellow.  Some have no requirements at all. They just figure they will know the right kitten when they see it.  The children like to tell you all about what they will name the kitten, and where it will sleep.  They also love to tell everything about the other animals they have at home!  It warms my heart knowing my foster kittens will go to such nice people.

I am sad to report that my foster kitten Squirrel did not find a new, loving family.  She spent the entire weekend curled up in her litter box with her back to the crowd.  She slept (or pretended to) most of the time.  I did explain to Squirrel that, if it was her secret plan to not get adopted so she could come home with me, she was going to be disappointed.  She just pouted and turned away.  Since she did not get adopted over the weekend she will be added to the cat adoption room once space becomes available.  Hopefully she will find a home soon!

Late-Breaking Cookie News

Unfortunately the Pizzelle iron is still on the fritz.  I did not discover the problem until I made a batch of dough, which includes 6 eggs!  Now the iron heats up and then keeps getting hotter and hotter and hotter.  Gabe says the regulator must have fried too.  He assures me if he can find the part he can fix the iron.  I have every confidence that he can fix it, but not in time for the holidays.  Sadly, that means no Pizzelle for Christmas this year.

In The Cookie Zone

I’m in the cookie zone!  Butter cookies (sugary tickle on your tongue), Mexican Chocolate cookies (rich chocolate bliss), Chocolate Chip of course (I, along with every other baker on the planet, think I make the best chocolate chip cookies.), Peanut Butter Chunk (mini Reese’s PB Cups and cookie dough – really, how bad could it be?), and don’t forget Pizzelle (like sugary clouds in your mouth).

The criteria for cookie selection this year was simplicity.  The ingredients had to be things readily on hand.  No complicated preparation was allowed.  I didn’t even want to deal with refrigerating dough.  No rolling; no cutting; no decorations.  Mix up stuff in a bowl, slap it on a cookie sheet, and toss it in the oven.  Done!  Oh boy – these are some good cookies!!!

The butter cookies are the easiest thing in the world.  3 c. flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 c. butter, 1 1/2 c. sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp.vanilla – that’s it!  Mix the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla; add the flour and baking soda; roll the dough into little balls (bigger than a concord grape; smaller than a brussel sprout) then roll the balls in decorator sugar.  Put them in a 400 degree oven and you have cookies in 10 minutes!

The Pizzelle are the sentimental favorite and they are amazingly delicious.  My grandmother used to make them when we were kids.  They were so light, sweet and crispy.  I remember they fit perfectly in a coffee can.  Nana usually had one in the pantry closet full of the crispy treats.  Other families had cookie jars. We had an old Maxwell House coffee tin!  You could say my Nana “passed the torch” when she gave me her Pizzelle iron.  I have no idea how old it is (it does plug into an electrical outlet ;-) but it looks well-used.  In my eyes that means well-loved!

There was a near disaster this year.  I was all set to make Pizzelle – I had Christmas carols playing; I had all the ingredients and baking tools ready to go.  I took out the Pizzelle iron, plugged it in and…nothing happened.  So I unplugged it and plugged it into a different outlet.  That didn’t work either so I unplugged it and plugged it back into the original outlet.  I did this about 6 times, like all of a sudden it would just miraculously work.  Well, I needed a miracle!  I burst into tears (the iron has much sentimental value and it makes fabulous cookies), and called hubby, the mechanical genius.  Once again Gabe came to my rescue!  He took the iron apart and rewired the thing.  It’s as good as new.  My hero!

What’s your favorite Christmas cookie?

A Kitten in a Christmas Tree…

We have had a revolving door of foster kittens lately.  I have been keeping an eye on things and told Mom I should dictate the story this time to make sure she got it right.  She said she really did not need my assistance but I insisted.  I’m helpful like that.

Squirrel is still at the shelter.  She is in a quieter section with some other kittens her same age.  Squirrel has an adoption application pending so let’s hope everything works out for her!

Darryl, Sookie, Alex, and Jane are still here.  They are getting big and will be available for adoption next weekend.  Darryl is a lucky little guy – he already has a new home to go to.  The family came to visit the other day.  The girls were being a little shy but Darryl turned into Fred Astaire!  He was dancing and spinning all over the floor.  When the man picked him up Darryl kissed the guy all over and then fell sound asleep in the lady’s arms.  That sold them completely!  In addition to a mom and a dad the family has a girl and a dog and a cat.  Sounds like a great place!  Wouldn’t it be great if everyone found a home for the holidays?

Mom brought home an orange tabby named Otis.  He’s not much older than Darryl and company.  Otis came from a shelter in Brocton.  Unfortunately he came down with a cold and couldn’t participate in the Adopt-A-Thon with the rest of his group.    He likes to run around and wrestle with me so I guess he’s OK.

Mom and dad brought the Christmas tree in the other night.  I really didn’t care but the babies were all over it!  They were batting the branches and biting the needles.  The only one brave enough to try climbing it was Alex.  It’s a pretty dense tree and Alex doesn’t have any tree climbing experience, so she didn’t get far.  She thought she was hot stuff though!  Wisely, mom and dad have decided to delay decorating the tree or put the presents under it until something else draws the kitten’s attention away.  Looks like the ceramic village won’t be going up any time soon either!

K A T

This weekend is the MSPCA at Nevins Farm annual Kitten Adopt-A-Thon, fondly referred to as KAT.  There will be over 70 kittens hoping to find families for Christmas.  There are lots and lots of adult cats with that same holiday wish!
www.mspca.org/adoption/methuen-nevins

In preparation for KAT all the kittens have to be spayed and neutered.  It’s quite a project to get that many kittens in from their foster homes, spayed and neutered, back to their foster homes to recover, then back to the shelter on adoption day so I took a day off to help out.  Yes, I know it’s a little strange to take a vacation day to go to work, but I had a blast!
 
I spent the day in surgery with a few other volunteers.  Susan and Claire are just as crazy about their foster kittens as I am so we got along famously!  We worked like a well oiled machine, moving effortlessly from check-in, to pre-op, to surgery, through recovery and discharge.  Our super surgery team consisted of vets Rachael and Meg, and Sara the vet tech.  Diane, another volunteer, washed and sterilized all the instruments (with 20+ surgeries there were lots of instruments!) and kept all the surgical supplies well stocked.  We had the radio on, we chattered away like a clucking brood of hens, we lavished love and attention on all our foster friends, and we made a small dent in the pet population.  You’re welcome Bob Barker!

I am embarrassed to say Squirrel behaved quite badly!  Squirrel does not like dogs, cats, loud noises or crowds of people.  Other than that she is a very sweet, cuddly girl!  Squirrel is going to participate in KAT so she had to be spayed.  She’s not crazy about the shelter so she was a little cranky when we arrived.  Her surgery went without a hitch and then…she woke up!  And she woke up swinging!  She was snarling and swatting.  Fortunately she was also not coordinated enough to do any damage.  When we got home she hissed at everyone, both 4-legged and 2, and bolted for the basement.  She was feeling much better by breakfast the next morning and has now made a complete recovery.  As you can tell, Squirrel is a little high strung and should probably go to a quiet home.  I hope we can find her the perfect match!

P.S.  The youngest fosters finally have names.  They were named after the 4 main characters from The Witches of Eastwick.  They are Jane and Darryl, and Alexandra and Sookie.  They need another week or 2 in foster.  Then they will be looking for forever families too!