Every year at work we have a patient party and a staff party. We are asked to bring desserts for each of these events. Last year I did the easy thing and bought one of the boxed mixes. It's quick and pretty tasty. But this year I really wanted to make something from scratch, something that we used to make when we were kids. For many years my sister, Mom and I would bake loads of cookies. We made several types of cookies and they were all delicious!

I asked my Mom for one of the recipes. For some reason I never asked for this particular recipe before (but I have several of the others already).

Grandma's molasses cut out cookies!

I can't believe I have missed out on these cookies the past several years. The recipe makes 6 dozen, which seems like a lot. But really, you can never have too many cookies at Christmas. I couldn't stop myself from snacking on the dough and eating a couple cookies when they were done. Ya know, just to be sure they taste OK.

There's something mysteriously wonderful about family traditions. The familiar smell and taste of these cookies brought back some strong and happy feelings. Just sitting in my kitchen I felt peaceful and whole.

And also a little too full of cookie dough.

Home for the Holidays

After a successful "Champsgiving" with some friends P and I are headed to Ohio for Thanksgiving. It has been 8 years since I've gone home for Thanksgiving. In fact I've only gone to Ohio for one holiday since I moved to Boston.

P has never been to my parents for Thanksgiving. When we were dating we would visit each other's families the day after a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Once we were both living in Boston we went to Rochester because we could drive there, and as I'm sure I've mentioned before I can only take time off around one holiday. (And as I've also said before, I really love working at a hospital, so it's OK). Once my parents met us in Rochester for the great turkey. That was a lot of fun.

This year we're going home so P can experience a Bodle Thanksgiving. I'm really excited to be there and hang out with the fam and our extended turkey day fam. Hurray!

Disclaimer to all the Ohio folks: We're going to try to maximize our time with family so don't be offended if we don't get a chance to visit. We'll have a gathering next time we're in town!

Pics from Columbus Day

Columbus Day in Rochester:
We went on this great canal trip and a walking tour of Mount Hope Cemetery. My dad with two cameras of course !



We got to see Susan B Anthony's gravesite. If you're ever in Rochester check our her house--they have a really cool tour. Hurray women's suffrage. Mount Hope is gorgeous too--Frederick Douglas is also buried there. Neat history, beautiful landscape and some cool old monuments. It's so different than the cemeteries in Boston--no skull and cross bones on the stones.

We had a lot of fun-too much food and lots of great conversation.

This is our second Columbus Day trip to Rochester to meet up with my parents and I think we're going to make it an annual event.

Driving

I have never really loved driving. But I could drive myself from home to college and to P's family's house. I moved to Boston (it is crazy to drive here!) and drove to work an hour to and an hour from everyday. Then P and I moved in together and he needed the car for work, and I could take public transportation to work. I much preferred the bus or getting rides from people anyway.

My fear of driving has steadily increased over the last few years. To the point where I might have a panic attack just thinking about it. Yikes!

So I'm working on a self-imposed intervention that I must drive whenever we go on long trips.

Today I had a very successful six hours driving back from Rochester with only a couple minor stresses.

Hurray!

Summer moves on

So it is officially fall. It's time to wear jackets to work in the morning, and I have to throw a nice light scarf on too. I get really cold and will be wearing gloves at the bus stop in no time. The leaves are starting to change and the foliage watchers will be showing up to New England in droves. It reminds me of college, of a rebirth of sorts. Starting fresh.

The dying and dropping leaves. They have to fall so new leaves can take their place next spring. It is beautiful in its own way. Cuddling up on the couch with a blanket and cup of tea, a bowl of hot soup.

If only I could hold it there and move straight in to spring. Skip the need for snow boots and calf length downy coats and Snow Emergency parking bans.

Oh fall, come and stay a while. Pumpkin beer and apple cider. Delicious and lovely.

Today we wandered around Walden Pond, I watched P and others swim in the "warm" water. (Who are they kidding, as soon as you get out you're freezing). We went EARLY so we could beat the crowds and I'm so glad we did. By the time we left the parking lot was packed, the beach was crowded and the trails were busy.

It's nice to be out of city but not too far away. A bit of quiet, sunshine and wilderness.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

A couple favorite pics from California

Just what you want to think of in the bathroom!
A fun pic of the two of us. Lucky that P has such long arms.
I don't know why, I just love this picture!