Tonite's post will not make any mention of the coming Holiday--or the man in the Red Suit----or make you think you need to buy the latest gadget. We are going to step away from the madness and take a cleansing breath. I am sharing with you some very peaceful photos I took last summer and together we'll forget about all the things we need to do. Why do we do that to ourselves anyway? I think I am the worst offender---when I get caught up, I assign myself another task. So, enjoy the pictures and forget about all the things you have to do. There--doesn't that feel better already?

Isn't she sweet

This is my very favorite Christmas ornament--and has been my entire life. She came to live at our house this year----packed in a box with a handwritten notation on the lid in my Mom's handwriting. "This was the first ornament I bought when I was first married. 1942" When we were little, Mom would carefully lift her from her box and spray her with white flocking to look like snow. As the years went by, some Christmas's she never made it out of the box, in favor of newer fancier ornaments. But I never forgot her and and am thrilled she has a place of honor in my house. Check out her adorable face. I am not going to spray her with snow however---I want to preserve her and hand her down to my sons. She brings a smile to my face, every time I look at her! I don't think I will pack her away either-she may stay out all year round.

Here is a picture of me Christmas shopping---online. No crowds, no waste of gas, no driving from store to store to find the right size. And I even order online from local stores too. The price of shipping is worth it to me in time saved. And instead of fighting the crowds, my only aggravation is when my furry friend plops his tired head on my laptop.

This was going to start out as a kind of "warm and fuzzy" post. Picture of our fire glowing in the fireplace to warm and cheer you. BUT---then I let the dog out and he took off like a bat out of hell--into the street and zigzagged through the neighbors yards. I was watching from the door in my bare feet and when he took off, so did I---zigzagging through the neighbors yards and streets in my BARE FEET. Did I mention we are having a mild ice storm. So, what you don't see in the picture are my numb, reddened, painful feet. And the dog--he is asleep in the chair without a care in the world.

Okay--I am feeling proud. I made a batch of Irene's Hungarian Pastries and they turned out well. They are packaged and in the freezer awaiting Christmas. I gave Dan a sample and he said "where's the powdered sugar" which made me laugh because he remembered how Mom had dusting them with powdered sugar down to a science. Friday I went on a "field trip" with Dan and some classes from Toledo Public Schools. We took a chartered bus to Cleveland to see Lebron James and the Cavaliers. Fun time and they handed out these great wigs. This is a pic of "Grossie" and one of his students. That is what his students call him which was also his high school nickname. Oh--and I frosted my Dobos Torte and that is in the freezer too!!!!!!!! So you can see---I really am proud------and Hungarian.

I did it! I made another batch of frosting for my Hungarian Dobos Torte cake and I was a success. Patience has never been my virtue and after consulting fellow Hungarian cooks, it was my cousin Kim who told me you had to be patient while stirring the melted chocolate, cream and yolks. It is in my refrigerator waiting for the weekend. Because-----I felt so proud of myself that I made a batch of Hungarian pastry dough. I plan on baking all weekend and freezing the results till Christmas.

Oh the weather outside was frightful----but the soup inside was Potato Soup. You can find the recipe here on Jonelle's blog. This is her Mom's recipe and since I like to name my recipes after the people who created them, I am naming this DELICOUS soup Joan's Potato Soup. Try it and you will like it too.