Bits of This & That #9

Happy third advent! I hope you all are healthy and are mostly ready for the holidays! I wasn't going to post anything today, it has honestly just been that kind of a week... but then I thought, heck, this blog is about real life, what I am doing, thinking, planning, so I'll just share the bad with the good.

I was sick yet again this past week, which has really cut into my productivity and energy level. Spent a couple of days throwing up, sleeping, or bundled up in front of the tv. These flu and cold bugs sure are making the rounds and after 3 years of no illnesses, self-distancing and isolating, I think my immune system has some big time catching up to do. Am having a bit of a time getting the house holiday ready and stuff done.

To add to my inability to get the house holiday ready, the renovation is still ongoing. They are now 2 weeks past the original finish line and have, easily, at least another week or two of work to do here. I have decided that I am kicking them out next Friday if they are not done, they can come back in the new year, so that I can clean and bake and ready the house for the Christmas company. I would rather have it unfinished than be stressing about the cleaning and baking at the last moment.

But... here is my funny story about the ice globes! They are super simple to make, you guys! They look so pretty, you really need to try them. According to the one blog I read, she said that 4 hours should be enough for them to be frozen solid enough for a nice globe but not too solid. Well now, that really depends on your temperatures as my globes were still sloshy water after six hours outside at -5°C on a sunny day. So, I had to leave them over-night and hope for the best.

When I checked on them in the morning, I was super worried that they were frozen right through but as I broke the balloon, the water started running out. I chipped a bit of a bigger hole and dumped it all out. It was super easy to make a small hole in the top for air flow and a larger one at the bottom for the tealight/candle. I was pretty happy, I gotta say! Was looking forward to lighting them up in the evening!

However.... because it was a sunny day, when evening came for me to lift them up to pop in the tealight, the globes had frozen solidly to the shelving unit. They would not budge, no matter what I tried. So then I thought, why don't I make the top hole bigger and drop the tealight in from the top instead.... well, you can see how well that went.

I am going to pop in the candle tonight anyway, as I love those frosty bits and think they might still look pretty awesome... but I also have a new set on the go. Today is a colder day, not sunny, so they might actually freeze through enough by evening.

Those are my only sad stories, everything else has been honky dory! I have all my gift shopping done and most all of them are wrapped and ready to go under the tree. I have all the supplies that I need to do my baking so this cold, lazy Sunday seems like the perfect day to get some cookies made.

My son is not able to join us this year for the holidays as they have not been able to find anyone to look after the two dogs, so I am thinking some home baking might be a nice treat in his parcel.

I made some of my yummy Cough and Cold Remedy too, which came in handy while I was under the weather. Now I am drinking it just because it tastes great, and to boost my immune system.

I usually just add hot water to it but sometimes will drop it into my tea, as well. I had someone mention to me last year that her tea was kind of bitter when she added the remedy to it. I have been giving it some thought and think it might be from the peel and pith? Perhaps, if you want to add it to your tea and do not like the taste, peel the lemon and add the chopped segments instead. Let me know how that works out!

Speaking of citrus and segments, make this super simple marmalade for gifting. Buy a nice jar, a Weck jar would be amazing to get as a gift, and fill it with an orange marmalade that takes less than half an hour to make. So simple, fresh, delicious.

Or, to make small batch fruit freezer jams with no pectin for gifting, see the raspberry jam recipe on my old blog HERE! You can also find cherry jam, blueberry, and plum jam by putting jam into the search bar. I like to make small batches, they are fast and easy, perfect for gifting, and do not take a lot of time.

I also got my birdseed wreath made! Am looking forward to watching the birds in the neighbourhood,. checking out who comes to my wreaths here at the new house. This is another great gift idea, simple to make, especially for the seniors in your life. My dad was an avid bird watcher and always had a bird book beside his spot at the table. Holidays are all about the memories you've made in the past, and the new ones you're making now.

I also wanted to show you all how I make my wreath hanger. I put a ribbon around the wreath first, loosely tied, not just to look for festive, but to keep the string from digging into the wreath and possibly cause it to break. I put the string directly on top of the ribbon, tie a knot close to the top of the wreath to hold it in place, and then make a loop for hanging. Tie the ribbon into a bow on top of the knot, ready to go outside.

Recipe from Chase River Vet in Nanaimo.

Here is a recipe for the doggie lovers on your gift list. Yummy and healthy.

Little Lulu thinks the tree is wonderful, her own personal treasure filled toy box.

I have no other links for you today, has been a quiet week of less computer time this past week. If you are still looking for some easy gift ideas, check back on the past few Sunday posts, there are many homemade, easy gifts on those posts. A loaf of rustic artisan bread, or any kind of baking, is always a wonderful idea! May your holiday helpers not break too many of your ornaments!

I will leave you with this wonderful, simple gift wrapping idea from Vibeke Design.

To make some really delicious gingerbread cookies, like you see in the picture, here is my mom's family recipe for Finnish Gingerbread.

Make it into cookies or make it into a house. It tastes like the holidays : )

Happy Sunday, I hope you are all happy and healthy ~ Tanja