Every year Elicia would prepare for and launch into a epic baking marathon into the week before Christmas, which started a month or so of collection newspaper clipping, reading and buy Christmas cookie books and magazines (which is why I have at least of dozen of them!) and buying ingredients (i still remember the year there was a butter shortage a month before Christmas), and didn’t finish until (usually) christmas eve last minute decorating and bundling and distribution.
Me? I was doing last minutes shopping, being some help in the mixing, cleaning what remained in the bowl (yum), trying to get more frosting on the cookies them me (not completely successfully their) and delivering the results.
Over on flickr these are 66 images of cookies from 2007 till 2017 : Xmas Cookies and Baking
However, last year Elicia was already too weak to spend the hours of standing that was required, so no cookies. double 🙁
Talking to a friend about Christmas traditions, I mentioned the cookies and thought about how happy they make Elicia and me to share them. So I pulled out the recipes, found the equipment and started trying to figure out what I could do. Also a lot of hyperventilating, procrastination and tears.
Sadly, I think this is the worst icing job I’ve ever done but i was running out of steam by them. Happily they were very we received and I hope I can do more and better in the years to come.
So below I present the gingerbread folk and hazelnut cookies in tribute to my dear Elicia.
I landed here via a story about Yak Shaving from Seth Godin… sipping my coffee and starting my day your post made me warm and introduced me to your Elicia. I think she and I would possibly have made an excellent friendship.
I too have the cookie thing. It’s been a part of me since the early 80’s 🙂 This year, I attempted to put it away. My blood sugar is high, no one but me in the house, and my daughter gives me her Christmas so we can have a day together crafting and eating a home cooked meal. My budget doesn’t stretch for real meals, and when it’s just me there is no reason.
So, I thought I would just do a single recipe.. but it did snowball into a full day of baking. I gave most to my ex sister in law when I sat-in on Christmas Eve at her home. They often invite me and it makes my heart smile seeing my nieces, nephews, and their families- actually the only one I consider ex- is the ex husband. It’s so wonderful they still include me.
Your story of your cookie bake is so real, so touching. Those are the finest cookies I’ve seen done by anyone but me.. lol. I am sure your Elicia had a moment of joy and love in her soul .. and still smiles about it from her vantage point as she watches over you. Thank you for sharing.