If you haven’t been following the drama of #windstorm2018 via my Facebook or Twitter feed, the short version is that we are now on day five of a massive power outage and the holidays don’t even remotely resemble our regular traditions – absolutely no baking has been done!! We will attempt to make seafood chowder and garlic bread on the wood stove tonight. And it looks like – barring a Christmas miracle – that we will also be roasting the turkey on the barbecue tomorrow. Michael wants our Christmas morning blueberry cinnamon buns despite the lack of a mixmaster and the need to bake on the BBQ. We shall see.
So! Normally to celebrate the season I would have shared a new recipe, a holiday favourite, on my blog, but I will have to make do with a short list of recipes shared from other years:
- from December 2015 – Rustic Butter Tarts
- from March 2017 (mentioning this because I’m going to make some for Michael on the wood stove this afternoon. Well … fingers crossed.) – White Chocolate Bark
- from December 2017 – Naniamo Bars
- and, of course, the recently released Blitzen in a Cup
What are your favourite holiday baked goods?
Since I’m not in the position to be shopping/wrapping gifts/baking/hosting a holiday party (we had to cancel ours) this year I decided to top up our charitable contributions with a couple of our favourite organizations and one new one. We tithe monthly to the Covenant House and Make A Wish Foundation (BC chapter), as well as a few others through the year, but I just made extra donations to the SPCA (BC chapter) and Knitters Against Malaria.
Even on day five of a power outage with a rather large tree blocking our front door, a second tree threatening to fall on my tiny office shed, and wires down all over the street, we are still lucky enough to have each other and a roof over our heads. Many are much less fortunate than us this holidays season. So a few donations always makes me feel a bit better about being so blessed.
Thank you so much for spending time with me in 2018 – reading my books, as well as chatting on the blog or in the fan group or on social media. January 2019 is going to be packed full of goodies – including Amplifier 0, a fun book bundle, a BIG sale on the first Dowser trilogy, etc. It all starts on my blog on January 8th! I hope to see you here!!
Happy Holidays!!
Hope you get power back soon and the second tree doesn’t fall!
Me too!!
Meghan, Merry Christmas to you Michael and the entire family. So sorry you’re going to gave a very, very old fashioned Christmas cooking on a wood stove, but with your skills I have no doubt it will be delicious and charming. May you have a Blessed New Year filled with health, love and fun! Hugs, Johanna 🎄🎄🎄
Thank you, Johanna! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you as well!!
This will be a Christmas to remember🎄🎄🎄
It will!! 😊
I’ve made cinnamon rolls over the fire and on the grill before! I used a cast iron pan and placed that directly on the grill grates over indirect heat.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas, even without power! And hope that second tree stays upright!
I might be more exuberant if I wasn’t also fighting a cold. Poor Michael. But I got his bark made.
I’m hoping that your electric will soon be up and running. Tell Michael if you can’t do them now, he’ll have to take a rain check 😉
I also hope you stay as lucky as you have been with the trees.
I like to make sugar cookies, I’m not American, but found a recipe on Pinterest and we love it. Also make ginger biscuits and sticky ginger cake.
But haven’t done any this year 😮 just not in the mood lol.
Have a safe Christmas and fabulous New Year!!!!!
PS can’t wait for the new books 😉 😀
Mmmm, ginger biscuits! Yum.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday, and a fantastic New Year! Pretend you are camping for the holidays, which means more cuddles in the dark 🙂
Ha, yes. Unfortunately we are also both sick. But once we beat these colds!!
Merry Christmas to you, Meghan and Michael. I’m so happy to see that despite the lack of necessities, you’re keeping your spirits up!!
Merry Christmas to you, Melissa!
Thank you for sharing your stories with us and so many yummy recipes!!! Be safe and I hope the power will be restored soon! Merry Christmas!🎄
Merry Christmas to you!!
Hoping you get power back soon. What memories you are making!
Ha, true.
Merry Christmas! We too have been dealing with the wind storm and while we have been lucky enough to maintain power, we had a tree fall on the house while I was home with the animals! Luckily it wasn’t very large and while it caused 2 holes and has significant structural damage, it was able to be temporarily patched once the tree was removed and we have stayed in the house. This happened 2 weeks after my husband was seriously rearended and our only vehicle was damaged so much that they have written it off. My poor hubby is very sore but must still work b/c it’s a new job (his long time employer abruptly shut down after 15 yrs of employment) and he is still in the probationary period which means they could fire him for any reason, including medical. And he doesn’t have any benefits yet so we couldn’t handle the lost income. We are not having a good Christmas and really haven’t found the holiday spirit this year. I hope you get your power back soon but have great fun cooking on the bbq in the meantime!
I guess 2018 decided to leave with a bang! I hope your power is restored soon. And hoping that tree doesn’t fall on your shed! Wishing you a happy new year!
You too!