Daybook: Tuesday, Dec. 11/18

Outside my window.....it looks cold and overcast with light snow flurries.

I am thinking.....about all the people I know who are sick and frail. When I wake in the mornings, I don't know if I will hear of someone's passing. That sounds very depressing, but it is a fact of life right now.

I am thankful for.....my many blessings, including my own good health.

From the kitchen.....I have been making food gifts for Christmas. I have already made a double batch of doggie biscuits and a double batch of "nuts and bolts". I made one batch of rice krispie squares and wrapped each square separately in saran. Today I am going to attempt my first baked keto recipe for cookies.

I am wearing.....blue jeans, a pink button down long sleeved shirt over a white knit camisole, and gray socks.

I am creating.....the beginning of a birthday gift for my mother. I won't share it yet because I haven't figured out how it will eventually look. I also sent off another homemade "winter" card for her in the mail. Apparently the residents are helping themselves to each other's cards, but not to worry....my mother is also "stealing" theirs. *laugh*

I am going.....nowhere today, I don't think. I haven't made any plans so far. I have started to receive Christmas cards at the Post Office. I went out yesterday to No-Frills to pick up some more missing ingredients for my nuts and bolts mixture. I have everything I need to make a second batch of rice krispie squares and my keto cookies.

I am hoping.....for a good week for my DIL who is finishing up her last week of classes. She has a full week of presentations, assignments due, and finished projects to hand in. Finally she will be able to relax a little bit and prepare for the holidays before the second semester starts after New Year's.

I am hearing.....the sounds of tires on wet pavement outside and the blower on the furnace when it comes on.

Around the house.....I have remnants of materials out from several projects I had on the go last week, on the kitchen counters, on the dining room table, and around my chair near the living room window. I should spend some time today cleaning up those areas.

One of my favourite things.....this week are the little cellophane bags and Xmas tins I already have to package up my treats for gifting.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....include a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon. I have no other plans, but most of my activities lately have been spontaneous.

Here's the picture I am sharing.....

My recipe calls for 7 c. of  cereal, so I use 2 c. of Shreddies, two c.  of Cheerios, 2 c.  of Rice Chex, and 1 c. of Cheez Sticks. Then add  2 c. of pretzels, and 2 c. of peanuts (but I use 1 c. of peanuts and 1 c. of mixed nuts). I like this recipe because you can use what you like as the 7 cups of cereal to suit your own tastes. You can use small crackers or bagel bites as part of your mixture. Chex mix in the States is comprised of a combination of wheat, rice and corn chex, but we don't have all of those in Canada. I LOVE this version; however, had I been able to find Crispix cereal yesterday, I would have used that instead of the rice chex. Melt 1/4 c. of butter (or margarine) with 1 tsp. of onion powder, 1 tsp. of garlic powder, 1/4 tsp of ground cayenne, and 2 tbsp. of Worchestershire. Pour over the top and roast in a slow oven(225 degrees) for 45 minutes stirring the mixture every 15 minutes.  I find that the Worchestershire, salted butter, cheez sticks, pretzels and nuts add enough salt that I do not need to add any to this mixture.  This is a very yummy savoury treat.