TODDLER LOCK!

I mentioned yesterday on Twitter how I was disgruntled that Jules kept saying “Michael!” but not Michelle. Needless to say, my brother needed to taunt me:

Memo

She did eventually say Michelle, but it came out “Shell,” which is better than nothing.

I love being an auntie.

I love this picture of Jules and her Grandpop.

We played with Baby Stella and the rubber duckies and frogs.

She’s at the age where she knows what she wants, and knows she can’t express it, so instead she would grab my hand/finger and pull me towards whatever it was she wanted. In this case, it was to go and see if the cats were at the front door.

I have no idea who got her this shirt, but I LOVE it.

The recipe is fairly simple:

Krusties
1/2 tsp baking powder
6 whole eggs
6 egg yolks
2 sticks butter
6 cups flour
1 shot whiskey/rum
pinch cardamom

1 large can crisco, for frying

Mix together all the ingredients in a mixer. Wrap in waxed paper or place in a plastic bag, and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to make, heat solid fat (Crisco or lard) in large frying pan. You’ll need an inch or two of hot oil.

You’ll also want to line most of your work areas with newspaper, or used wrapping paper, or anything else that absorbs oil and sugar, and makes clean up easier.

Find aprons for everyone–this can get messy! We rolled out our batches of dough on floured waxed paper.

Roll out dough very thin, in reasonable batches. If you have more participants than you have rolling pins, the dough can be smooshed flat with your hands before rolling.

Cut the dough into small strips, then cut a slice in the middle of the strip. Twist one side of the dough through the hole.

Once the oil is hot, in small batches, fry the cookies. You’ll need to add more shortening to the pan as you fry the cookies.

Fry in small batches, otherwise the oil will cool down too much, and you’ll end up with greasy cookies.

Drain the cookies on newspaper or the backside of Christmas wrapping paper or anything else that absorbs grease.

Let the cookies cool, then sprinkle with powdered sugar

Enjoy!

Look at the camera!

Hug for Auntie Michelle! Awww!

Today I am going to eat apple pie (her favorite) and emulate her, by being kind to everyone, especially when I don’t want to.

I miss you Grandmom.

Did I instigate any of this silliness?

Maybe. But not all of it. Some happened all on its own.

I, of course, took a ridiculous number of pictures of Jules. I also learned a lesson, which is make sure you haven’t accidentally bumped your camera and changed a setting. What I thought were going to be some of my favorite pictures didn’t turn out.

But I can’t complain, because I did get some pictures I like very much.

CHICKEN DANCE!

Yeah. I’m a geek. And an easily amused one at that.

UPDATED! Now with more charred goodness!

I found these melted to the asphalt bits fascinating.

You’re welcome.

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I have a set on Flick with a LOT more pictures of who she was, and what she meant to us.

The hardest part of the entire week were her comments about how she was tired of living and didn’t understand why she was still around. After this week, I understand her exhaustion with life, but hearing that still pains me.

So I hope you’ll forgive me my absence, but I’m fully aware this may happen again.

I wish this would have turned out better–the cat was batting at Jules’ hands through the glass.