cookies cookies everywhere......

soft music playing.......the scent of cookies in the air......baking sheets waiting to go in, racks waiting to receive goodies hot out of the oven......sounds very crazy hard, but i use cheater cookies.  the ones in the dairy case, the ones that cost $2.50 for 24.  then i cut them into mini cookies......which produces a boatload of cute little cookies.  96 cookies per package.  i got a sprinkled sugar kit last year after the holidays (75% off), it has six different types of sugars, sprinkles....red & green edible toys!  easy to add, makes the cookie platter look like Christmas FUNNNNNNNNNNN!

family time party......the homemade soups and sandwiches event is at 1 pm, five minutes down the road.  emma's gift ready to go, my outfit hanging from the door, my wet bangs curled every which way but loose from the oven heat........not a great look!  lolllllll.

two sheets of cookies still baking.......almost to the finish line.  but wait there's more.  then i start slicing cheese for the deconstructed sandwiches.  lots of folks are cutting back on or giving up bread lately, so i'm making a platter of salami, pepperoni and sliced cheese.  i have "everything" crackers & "snowflake" crackers thanks to the makers of Ritz, so they can be used in the soups or with the meat/cheese combo if desired.  putting it all on a large red platter covered in evergreen trees with gold loopy thingies! 

at 6 pm at a little white baptist church today is a cantata......ellen w/the owls group invited us all to come to her church and hear the wonder of their holiday choir.  this is what i would like to do if possible.  it is 3-4 minutes from my front door to theirs......so in theory and with mighty prayer maybe?  i plan to put a small roast in a crock pot with red potatoes and baby carrots on slow roast.  that way there will be a wonderful homecoming after today.  picturing myself back in pj's with a grand dinner that electricity made possible while i was out playing in the world.  this gives me added drive...

yesterday while i was sleeping i got a voicemail saying that Ellen suffered a severe stroke, the hospital where she is currently....Ellen is 82, lost her arm (from the elbow down in her twenties due to cancer).....she is some kind of girl, a real character is what my Dad would have dubbed her.  loves to sing, performance solos off key loud and proud, something else she takes me back to memories of my Dad.......he looooved to sing, but oh my word. as pitch perfect as momma was, as clear and bell like, my dad was just loud and wrong, but the twinkle in his eyes was so infectious.....off key in church?  sort of naughty and yet glorious......said the former little girl looking up at Daddy .......Momma had the voice of an angel, it floated, high, clear, ethereal.......they were quite a pair.  beauty and the brawny!  if i'm all over the place well alrighty then.

when i woke up Rio had a LOT to say.  the cat translator was off today but I think it was primarily about me, and not flattering.  the especially high too early for morning piercing meows were hard to take.  i think i pretty much know what was being said....

Rio, "Get up already!!!!"

Me, "blech........ugh, huh?"

Rio, "Quit watching Forensic Files, it's Sunday morning...ye gads lady!"

Me, eyes closed semi listening to Rio.....to the show, "blech.....ugh, huh?"

Rio pacing at the end of the bed, " That's right, just lie there, can't you hear my stomach growling?  For pity's sake GET UP!!!!

....cat muttering overheard by reluctant tired human ears.....(that's right, just lie there ya stupid human, don't get up JUST for ME, i'll die a terrible cat death, i'll be found after giant humans pick my bones clean......oh the inhucanity of it all........?

me, "Inhucatity????"  groggy on bent elbow peering at the loud crying cat.

Rio, " well,  one could say Infelinity of it all......."

me, "infel whaaaat".....why are you stalking me? go away"

Rio, "look if humans can say the inhumanity of it all, why can't we kitties say incatity or  infelity or inkittykitty of it all?

me, O my word......inkittykitty of it all........for the record it is not spring yet and i still maintain that i might truly be a hibernating bear......"

Rio, "of all the humans in all the world why did i get this one..........?????!!! it's unjust, unfair, she won't even send me to can opening kitty camp.......then i could be much more independent, make my own meals......but nooooo, she has to have allllll the control.  i'm taking this to the cat council, filing an official grievance........ohhhhh the inkittykitty of my life! 

me mumbling under my breath, "drama cat.....freaking loud drama kitty.  santa bring me silencing headphones for Christmas......ok, ok, i'm up, i'm up......."

i love Rio and Rio loves me, but mornings are tough on everyone..........

time to wash cookie sheets.....cut the cheese and rinse out the crock pot.

please pray for Ellen......my mommy died of a massive stroke and well oh dear......poor Ellen, and her children....pray for her children.