Run away, Gingerbread Man!

 "Run Run as fast as you can. You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!" -classic 1875 folk tale

 Once upon a time. Early one morning, it was time to make gingerbread men.

 Bo and Poe wanted to help.  They were most attentive.

 The recipe was a classic. From long ago. Gingerbread men would SNAP  from being so crisp.

 It was a dark and stormy day , when the gingerbread was made.

 There would be scared gingerbread.....

 And grumpy gingerbread , by days end.

 And the rains would not stop. It would be difficult to catch so many gingerbread men when they all ran away.

 The forest would not sleep.....it knew  it was an important day in the lives of the gingerbread men.

 Gingerbread that SNAP have been popular with  children for generations. This is a wonderful recipe. One that  From the Regina Souvenir Cookbook in the 1950's.My mother thought this one worked the best . It has a touch of vinegar in the dough.

 COMBINE: 4 1/2 to 5 cups flour, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1 tsp ginger, 2 tsps b soda,

 COMBINE in SAUCEPAN: 1 cup butter, 1 cup br sugar, 1 cup molasses, 1 tblsp vinegar. Heat until butter is melted and all ingredients blend. Remove from heat and cool.

 WHEN COOL: ADD 1 LARGE EGG to saucepan. Beat.

 ADD: FLOUR MIXTURE, until a nice dough is formed and will roll out.

 ROLL DOUGH on  a lightly floured breadboard.

 CUT into Gingerbread Man shapes,or any other shapes you wish. But I like the Gingerbread man.

 Place on veggie sprayed cookie sheet, or silpat  liners. BAKE in 350 oven about 10 minutes. These bear close watching as recipes using molasses cause baking to scorch easily. Cool and Decorate. Be sure to be careful when opening oven door, in case any LEAP out and escape. Trust me. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE! 

 "The old woman added sugar icing for his hair,mouth and clothes. She used candy chips for buttons and eyes. She put him in the oven to bake. When he was done he jumped up out of the pan and ran as fast as he could........" -classic 1875 folk tale.

Advent means "coming".....

 "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas....perhaps....means a little bit more." - Dr. Seuss

 Advent means "coming". It's the simple things I like the best. Allowing Bo ( this is her 16th Christmas!) to lick frosting off the gingerbread men. Then trying to figure out which ones she licked....

 Watching the snow pile up on Mt. Washington. Wondering how in the world is Father Christmas going to find snow tires for his sled......

 Seeing Poe see his first Christmas. Seeing Poe yank ribbons off the Christmas trees....Trying to connect with all the people who mean so much to me. Even if they're a million miles away.  And in the meantime, being patient. Waiting.

 First Advent on the Horizon. Hope. Waiting for the Light of the World.

 "Advent is a time to wait, listen, and ponder the awesome Wonder that is Him...." -Jean Wise (author , speaker, retreat leader)

 To stand on the edge of the ocean........

 And Want to Wait.

 There is enough running around. Enough scurrying. Enough of everything.

 Now it is time to stand still. 

 Advent means "coming"....... I can feel it.

 "This is Christmas: Not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols. It is the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous Gift...." -Frank McKibben

 We all want the dark places to shine with that hope.

 Evergreens, Christmas trees, boughs are all a symbol of new life.

Hope is like the lights on the trees.

 With everything being so crazy in the world lately, we need advent.

 We need this peace. 

 We all need to walk in the light. Advent means "coming". And that gives me hope.

 "Love came down at Christmas. Love all lovely, love divine. Love was born at Christmas. Stars and angels gave the sign." 
                                                 -Christina Rossetti (1830-1894, English poet)