Dear Santa~

Apparently we have had a few green Christmases..how quickly we forget!
In QC..in December..the skies are grey if it's not cold and snowy..and the days are bleak..which means taking photos is a pretty bleak affair also...so pardon the newly found TV setting on my camera..that creates a heck of a lot of noise..but hey..the shutter clicks;)

Marie reminded me there are now 5 days left until Christmas.

I am ready..I am..I need one gift certificate..and the Xmas eve and day fare..
but Santa has wrapped the gifts..baked the sweets..

I've been keeping busy otherwise too.
I know I said  was done baking..but..I received a very cute package in the post  and  saying those words..
well.. they were not engraved in stone after all..

The fun gift..a snowglobe cookie cutter:)+
 A complete surprise to me..that night I went to bed w/ visions of not sugarplums in my head but snowglobe cookies..

I had recently painted in watercolor ,a small Christmas vignette that I saw.
I don't think there is a law that you cannot try and paint something you have seen..as I have seen a lot of Masterpieces recreated)
So I knew I liked practicing this figure..and applied it w/ food colors on a flooded cookie.
FUN.Fun .fun.
The others I used my crazy royal icing(follow the recipes..don't wing it:)..and practiced.
I am happy with them.
Regular sugar cookies..and I modified a royal icing because I want less..I digresssed and it showed.

I also enjoyed stitching a few gift bags together..
I used some of my rubber stamps and scanned them..then added them to text..added vintage tones..printed on Iron-On transfer paper..placed on cotton and then stitched up like a pouch..added charms.
They are just right for gift cards..ornaments..$$..
NYE sleepover is now Dec 27th..and Christmas eve concert may be  off..Max has told me he has stage fright..in other words;)
At least they know the song.
I would have stage fright too.

Last year around Christmastime..Caroline and I stopped at a very cute coffee shop here in town..we each ordered a coffee and a shortbread..the coffee came w/ a candy cane in it..I loved the added touch~Don't hesitate to serve a nice cup of coffee w/out sugar and add a cane..cute..minty and delish..I like froth on mine:)

While we were in Florida..I had the opportunity to go to Trader Joe's twice♥
I bought the candy cane tea there and the boys liked it at night while we watched movies after dinner in Fl..
I brought some home and have added candy canes for the boys..they love it♥

I enjoyed packaging up some some shortbreads for my neighbor..in this super cute gift box..
packaging helps so much ..it almost makes food taste better don't you think?


Hahaha..I see I am not the only one who favored bow ties at one point..that's Lucas..:)  And Max has that great smile:) A bit like a little old soul no?
So Caro..would have put the bow tie on L:)

and Giulianna and Adamo who are now 13 and 16 are in the background..they were adorable..and now they are handsome and beautiful.
flew by..all those years..

I used to put place cards ..to make pretty tablesettings..now for Christmas morning..I still do them..but Jacques places them..he knows who sits best beside who now..talking Littles here:)

Merry Christmas.

My niece sent me a hand drawn card..w/ her words in it..this is what she wished us..I kid you not..so I am sending the wishes along to you as I could never compose such a straight from the heart over the top greeting.:)I know there are some grammatical errors both in French and in the translation..but believe me..this girls writes better than many university grads I know~So I am leaving it as is.And translating..as is.

Her words in French:
" Chère tante Monique,oncle Jacques,Mylène,Caroline et toute la famille..je vous souhaite  a tous un Noël  féérique avec gigantesque affection,surprises,jouissance,prospérité,gaité et que le soleil rayonne autour de vous tous."
I wish you all a magical Christmas with gigantic affection, surprises,pleasure,prosperity,delights and may the sun shine around you all.

I just want to add health~

 above...via zsa zsa bellagio

I'll be back in the new year..and way before.. on your blogs..seeing what you are up to before that..
from now..till then..
I just cannot seem to keep quiet..I guess I am not a mouse;)

Not a creature was stirring..not even une souris~