A tiny treat.

Sugar, baking powder, peanut butter, and an egg. Four simple ingredients made my day.


After skipping a few yummy desserts (with gluten) during the Christmas celebrations, this easy peanut butter cookies hit the spot.


The Gluten-Free Girl knows the joy these little babies can bring.


Add a cup of tea.

A perfect compliment to the new year. Enjoy!

Delicate Beauty

I woke this morning to fluffy snow, delicately frosted windowboxes and exquisitely etched window panes. A gift from God, for those of us "dreaming of a white Christmas".

Reminescing about childhood and past Christmases is part of our holiday tradition. We love the possibilities of where, the old adage, "Remember when" will take us.

Remember when we were kids and it snowed so much it was deeper than the windowsills ? When we spent hours in the yard building snowforts and snowmen, when we went in to get another pair of dry socks or mittens just so we could play longer and when hot chocolate was waiting for us when we were finally too cold ?

We caught the last hour of "The Wizard of Oz" the other night. Oddly enough, my husband and I were able to recite most of the words and songs. Okay, some eye rolling did occur from our kids and a visiting friend. That just added to our fun. And just as we remembered, the footage is still amazing for its' time, the witch is still really ugly and the flying monkeys remain just as creepy.

And maybe our age has something to do with it, but we just can't seem to get enough of the "feel-good" Christmas Classics. You know the ones, where in the end, everyone realizes that it's people that really matter.

On Christmas Eve some of our family will come to visit and we'll eat lots of yummy treats, each family bringing something to share. We'll remember "old times" and laugh at the same old jokes.

We'll eat the same dishes we eat every year and we'll share the same stories, some we'll know well enough to recite line by line. Some eye rolling may even appear. But no one will mind.

Because in the end we'll be happy just to be together and we'll remember... it's the people that really matter.

Knitting with purpose

Amazing how a cold day can put the importance of warmth and shelter into perspective. I really don't like being cold...and I can bet that most people feel that way.


It is winter in New England so frigid weather is to be expected. While I do enjoy the snow and some winter sports, I have learned the importance of being "dressed for the weather".

And now that I am long past the teen years, wearing a hat does seem like a smart idea.

Such a simple piece of clothing, but with a big purpose. I guess my Aunt Hazel knew this.


Aunt Hazels' fence bordered our elementary school playground and she could see (and hear) us at recess. Remember recess? The carefree fun of tag and hopscotch, snowmen and snow angels.

We were even allowed to sled down the hill (back in those days). Fun times ! One rule applied for the sledding hill...you must have proper attire. Including boots, mittens and HAT.

Most of us had our boots and mittens... but HAT ?

This is where my little Auntie played a pivitol role in our winter happiness. Thankfully, Auntie was an avid knitter of HATS.

She knit them all year long and by the time September came around, she had a huge plastic bag filled with hats of all sizes and colors. And the best part is that she made them available to us at recess.

Remember "a hat on the head, means you can sled".

Imagine the power of that hat. It could take us from watching the sledding fun, to swooshing down the hill. AND it kept us warm.Thanks Aunt Hazel.

I will tell you that my Aunt had many grandchildren, neices and nephews that attended this school, and I'm sure her hat knitting, in the beginning, was intended for us. Somehow it spilled over to our friends and classmates and then to the school.

Just recently I discovered the Save the Children campaign Knit One, Save One. Imagine the simple act of kindness in giving a hat and the impact it can make.

I know it well.