COOKIN’, now we have started SHELLIN’ for therapy!  Forget the stress and get to SHELLIN’.  I have even got Collins and Carson interested in this activity.  They love it.  You will see some of the creations that have been finished.  I now know why these pieces in stores are so expensive.  The hours that it takes from start to finish and the amount of $$$ in purchasing shells is amazing.  Next time you see a shell mirror or box with a steep price tag, do not put it down with a ridiculous look on your face. Admire it! Because believe me it is worth every dollar that it has been priced.  Paula got all of us hooked last visit to Savannah and it has become a fabulous therapy for stress. 

“Hey! Bubbles, I have got to make bread for a school project.  It is due on Monday (and of course today is Saturday).  Would you stop SHELLIN’ and help me?” Carson calls on the phone to ask me.  Collins is ready to make our Valentine house and I WANT TO SHELL!  My grandkids come first, so I will burn the midnight oil to finish the SHELLIN’ project that I am working on. Carson and I will make bread. Collins will put together the Candy Cottage that we used for the Gingerbread House at Christmas so that she can decorate it for Valentine’s Day. Actually, decorating the Candy Cottage for other occasions is so much fun. Order yours today so that you will be ready for the next holiday.  Call 229-883-8585, Place on the Pointe, and ask for Honey or Elise.  Just tell them that Bubbles sent you!

I want to make some delicious Cherry Cookies, using Paula’s Cousin Don’s recipe, for the girls to take to a party and to share with my neighbors.  How many hours are there in a day? Not enough, I can certainly tell you! I get up at 5:30 every morning and still go to bed with my list unfinished.  Gee!  I am not getting any younger and at my AGE it is time to supposedly slow down – not SPEED up! 
Ding Dong!  Doorbell is ringing.  Bread maker and house decorator are here.  Get up Bubbles and get your second wind and do your Grandmotherly duties!
Oh, I forgot to mention they have basketball practice and required reading to do while they are here at my house.  Making bread?  Decorating a Valentine Day house? Here we go, ice the house, mix up the bread dough for the first rising, run one to basketball practice, leave one to read, return, punch down the dough and get out the candy for the house, time to pick up from basketball practice, punch down dough, finish the house and WHERE IS THEIR MOM? All kidding aside, I love being with Collins and Carson. After all, what are Grandparents for!
SHELLIN’, COOKIN’, CARPOOLIN’, HOLIDAY HOUSES, and lots of PATIENCE has been what my day was like! Just wish that precious Kiran had been here to add an activity to my day!  Hope your Saturday has been just as much fun as ours has been!

Love and Hugs!
Bubbles

RECIPE FOR SHELLIN

Find what you want for your base.  It can be anything that will hold the weight of the shells.  You can purchase shells at craft stores or order them on line.  If there is a trip to the seashore in the future, plan to collect your own shells.  You can also buy beads and jewels to add to your original creation.  You must use adhesive caulking to secure the shells to the base.  I would suggest that you wear plastic gloves while using the caulking.  Use the CLEAR caulking for the lighter weight shells and use LIQUID NAILS for the heavier shells.  Just start affixing the shells and fill in the cracks so that the base does not show.  Before long the HOURS will fly by and you will have a beautiful creation to show for your non-stressed time!

VALENTINE HOUSE

Get out the naked Gingerbread House that you used for Christmas.  Remember it was the Candy Cottage that I told you about!  Assemble the house and put icing all over the structure.  Use a multitude of candy hearts and other Valentine candy to decorate the VALENTINE HOUSE.  When I taught school during the month of February, I would pass out the candy hearts for treats.  It was always fun to see if the children could read the message on the heart.  There are so many types of Valentine candies now on the market.  Open your wallet and go shopping.  The kids have a ball doing this.  After Valentine‘s Day just wash the candy off and store the naked house for the next holiday.  I think we will skip St. Patrick’s Day and wait for Easter.  But who knows, a Leprechaun House might be fun!

ITALIAN CHERRY COOKIES

1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup Crisco
½ cup cherry juice from maraschino cherry jar
1 egg
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups plain flour
¼ teaspoon almond extract
½ cup chopped cherries from jar
½ cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Mix first three ingredients, bled well, add egg, blend well again. Add remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoon or roll into small balls and place on sprayed cookie sheet or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8 to 9 minutes. Cool and then frost.

FROSTING

Use canned or use the following recipe.

1 teaspoon Crisco
¾ pound confectioner’s sugar
½ teaspoon almond extract
Dash of milk
Dash of red food coloring for a pink tent

Mix all ingredients well.

Store the cookies in zip lock bags. These will be gone before you know it! Be sure to buy enough ingredients to have on hand to make a second batch.