Christmas

The last few days before we left for Colorado were full of finishing.

I made three double batches of granola and gave out bagsful with all of the Christmas gifts. My recipe is adapted from the one from the America's Test Kitchen cookbook. Each single batch has...
3 c. rolled oats
1 c. walnuts, chopped
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. honey
I use the bottom of a roasting pan at 325F and stir every ten minutes or so for 25-30 minutes. I add a bit of lemon zest on top for the last 5-1o minutes. The granola turns a beautiful golden brown when it's done.

A tradition started last year when I made peanut butter cups for Q's stocking candy. We really really like this recipe. (Q got my traditional stocking candy too - dark chocolate orange, a Toblerone, and assorted English chocolate.)

Four of the gifts were tea towels (mother-in-law, sister-in-law x 2, aunt). Each person got one green and one brown - there were two each of the leaves and squirrels.

We had four days in Colorado that involved lots of food and lots of sweets. We played Catch Phrase, Pictionary and Scrabble and built puzzles. It was very fun.

Christmas Day at my brother and sister-in-law's house

Boxing Day at my parents house

I had to show off my mom's cunning seed saving arrangement. As the label featuring my maiden name shows, these paint jars were once mine, a very long time ago. She keeps a list of what kind of seed is contained under each color of lid. Yay reuse!

Monday was a running about/coming back from Portland day. We got cute cookie cutters (including a hedgehog) and glasses I couldn't resist at Ikea.
We also went to OMSI, where we have a membership. We went to see Samson, the T. Rex skeleton but had forgotten there was also an exhibit about the science of fear (Scream!) in place. It was a really good time.
I used some Christmas money at Portland Nursery to get a rotary cultivator and at Territorial Seed Company for wires and row cover for the front garden bed. We still need to arrange covers for two of the raised beds that are being used for tomatoes. I've got the entire garden plan laid out now. I'll have to post it soon.