Happy New Year!

May you have all that is good in the coming months.

This holiday also had a trip to VA, where my all of my cousins were in for Christmas. At the instigation of Ben, we made the Lithuanian cookie Krusties (pronounced, at least by my family, christies)

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.

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I had a nice Christmas, especially since I was unexpectedly able to spend part of it with Jules.

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Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes:
Venite, venite in Bethlehem:
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
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These are some things for which I am thankful for this year:

My aunt
Michael
My niece
My Kindle
Being employed
Living in West Virginia

To those who have served, past and present, thank you.

Happy Birthday Canada!

Happy Birthday Kathy!

Happy Birthday Phiala!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEE!

For those who have served this country, past and present, thank you for your service.

Happy New Year!

No resolutions for me, just hopes this year is less painful than last, for everyone.

That’s how much we’ve traveled since the 24th. I am very glad to NOT be on the Interstate today.

I took a lot of pictures today.

Like 700.

Out of that there were 50 I thought were pretty good that I uploaded to Flickr.

These are some of my favorites of those:

CHICKEN DANCE! (Yes, Jules loves the Chicken Dance.)

Jules and Holly. Holly is an extremely anti-social husky, however, she seems to have completely taken to Jules (notice that Brian still doesn’t trust Holly 100% yet.)

Angry Baby is Angry.

Got camera loot for Christmas: flash, wireless shutter release, wired shutter release–all kinds of excitement.

Here are a couple of pictures from today: