Happy Holidays 2018

This 50-foot fir tree fell perfectly between our little cabin and our Jeep last Thursday afternoon. Michael was signing Christmas cards and watched it fall.

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.

Thankfully the tree missed the chicken run/coop as well!!

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:

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!!