"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Thursdays Thoughts

Doesn't this look fun riding with all these Santa's?



A FIRST - MAKING CHOCOLATE

First step was getting recipes collected and then getting the ingredients.   Think I bought enough chocolate - this is where Disco had gotten one of the bars of baker's semi sweet and ate it!




We worked all day on five different recipes.  Now my daughter and grandson helped.  I could not have done it without DD.  And they turned out great.  I did rethink the tissue paper and changed it to parchment paper.  Oh yeah - we decided to make chocolate for his teacher's gifts.  I mean I would have loved it - right?


We made chocolate with pecans, chocolate with almonds, peppermint bark, toffee with nuts and toffee without nuts.  And know what we did without a candy thermometer?  We heated butter and sugar to the CRACKING stage!!!!!!!  And it worked.



The grandson then helped me decorate and label the tins.  Actually plastic.



And here the final gifts and my wonderful GS.  I think he was proud and learned a lot in the process
 (I did).  He stayed in his PJ's all day and so did DD and I.  
Some day when I am gone I hope my DD and GS will remember the good time we had and all the lessons we learned.  
It took all day!


“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
Robert Brault (born 1938);

x_31c37fa

58 comments:

Susannah said...

You are a great Mom and Grandma, Miss Chatty.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

looks like fun with Grandma. i love the ride with all those Santas ... would love to ride allow with them. fun, fun, fun!! ( :

MadSnapper said...

another great memory and I know the teachers will love the inside and the outside of the gifts.

jack69 said...

This GS will remember the GRANDMA always. What a day you describe. He looks so proud.

I know it was fun, making memories, especially if they turn out great, is something special with a Grandma.

Love the entry and pictures. You done WELL!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

The teachers will LOVE them! Who wouldn't?!? ;-)

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What wonderful gifts! I'm sure your daughter and GS will treasure the memories of goodie making with you!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What wonderful gifts! I'm sure your daughter and GS will treasure the memories of goodie making with you!

Liz Mays said...

His memories of that day will be magical! You sure made wonderful treats!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sandie .. thanks so much for stopping by and then commenting too ...

This looks a lovely day - staying in your jim jams AND playing choccy games for a good cause.

They look amazing - I'm sure GS will be chuffed when he gets to school with his goodies ..

Great memory too - especially as you've posted here .. this will be around ..

Cheers Hilary

Jeanie said...

Even with my lack of enthusiasm for things that involve cooking this looks like a fun project...and it looked like everything turned out perfectly, especially the proud look on your grandson's face.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Sorry - the Santa-filled roller coaster does NOT look like fun. I do NOT do roller coasters - not even the kiddy ones. ;-)

How awesome that you spent the day making chocolates with your daughter and grandson. What a precious legacy for your daughter and grandson. Every December, about a week before Christmas, I spend a day with my daughter and grands baking Christmas cookies. We don't need cookies, and a full day of baking can be exhausting (at my age, anyway) - but I do it anyway because I hope that my daughter and grands will remember the good times we had together.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Oh my that is a lot of Chocolate. Great that you did as a family . It will be a great memory keeper.

Unknown said...

A most memorable day for sure!

Jackie said...

Hi Sandie. Oh my another teacher. I love teachers.

That chocolate looks yummy and delicious. Teachers are the best! They work incredible hours for very little pay, always have home work, and, are always doing special projects like your wonderful chocolates!

You guys all amaze me. Pam is bringing all of her final term papers her to grade. And, she is baking 12 dozen sugar cookies today before leaving to come for a visit.

I was so glad you stopped over and I look forward to getting to know you better.

Happy day!:-)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The chocolates with peacns look AMAZING!! Also, the roller coaster witht the santas is one of the most unique pics I've ever seen!

renae said...

oh Sandie! how cute?!! yes sweet memories are made while making sweets.

we charged the camera. we had to. i was so sad and my HM couldn't stand to see me so sad. now he doesn't want me using it until i have a tripod, too. it has a big strap i wear around my neck but no more setting it randomly [like on the fireplace] to take a timed shot!

yay! soooooo excited to use it.

TexWisGirl said...

the sweet tooth kicked in big time! :)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Since all of my kids/grands are long gone from our house---we don't have to make all of those Christmas gifts anymore (thank goodness)... I do NOT miss those days. Part of the reason is that I'm watching my weight ---and don't need all of that sugar...

BUT--having fun with daughter and grandson must be great for you, and brings back memories for me of times past....
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

that was a memory making day for sure! Beautiful gifts, the very best kind!

Tracie Nall said...

I love the fun Christmas-y look, and the falling snow!

Those treats look yummy.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Wow, I am suitably impressed. So many people are in a hurry, it is good to do things right and the old fashioned way!I LOVE your Santa and reindeer taking off across the screen!!!

nancygrayce said...

I love the Santa roller coaster!

Your DD and GS will never forget these days and these things you do together! I still remember my grandma making biscuits and giving me nuggets of wisdom as she did!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Awwwwwwwwww, what a super time you both had. And what a super memory you both made. Lovely!!!!!!!

Now see, would it have been quite as much fun, if you hadn't shared the fun, with your Dear Blogging Friends? Hu???? Hu??? Hu???? If you didn't take pics and blog them? that would have been a wee bit of the fun, missed? Yes? Hmmm?

-giggles-



I know. I am soooooooo *bad*!!! -chuckle-

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Sandie. I so agree with that final quote. What a fun day you all had! i'm sure your grandson will remember this day and that his teachers will be very pleased with their gifts. Lovely to see the photo of your grandson and i hope he is still enjoying school.

andy said...

Wow everything looks great !!!!!!

Melanie said...

Mmm...looks yummy! That was quite an undertaking! GS looks so happy! I love that quote...one of my favorites! So true!

Wanda's Wings said...

Building memories is what it is all about!

Ms. A said...

"CHOCOLATE!" I'd be Two Ton Tess, for sure!

He WILL remember, you can count on it.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Wow, I'm impressed! The teachers are going to love them. How do those chocolates taste, I've seen them at Michael's on sale and almost bought some.

Miss Debbie said...

What fun! My daughter and I spent last Fri working o something for the women I work with. We've sone this for several years....and we have a great time!

Paula said...

Lovin' all your Christmasy "stuff" here.

chow and chatter said...

oh this is such a sweet thing to do with your grandson love it

Nikki (Sarah) said...

what a fun thing to do with Andy.....and yep...would love riding the rollar coaster with all those santas.....
Your feel good blog always makes me smile.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I loved this! Absolutely loved it! And the little things are indeed the big things in life, Sandie!

Do you know that Cecelia still talks about the day I had her all day long and made Christmas cookies and ornaments and played and danced and sang and fixed us mac and cheese (she says no one can fix it like me, and it was from the freezer section, LOL), and I gave her my undivided attention. It meant the world to her. I may give her gifts that she loves, and I may take her places she loves, but that one day was worth all the others put together.

You better believe that your grandson and daughter cherish that fun day with you. It's the best time ever. I still cherish my time making party mix with my mother. And the times I got to lick the bowl with Granny. She always had something good cooking. But it was that one on one that is precious.

XO,

Sheila

Nonnie said...

Making some great memories there with DD and GS. What a wonderful thing to do and I know the teachers will love it. I love it! (Glad Disco made it through the chocolate episode. I would have wrestled him for it. )

Jackie said...

Love the roller coaster photo...
I LOVE coasters. Love to ride them, and this one is terrific!!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

What fun! My mother, grandmother, and I spent time baking every Christmas.

You made some special memories with your DD and grandson. :)

Angela said...

Way to go Sandie! I knew you could do it! You made a lot of chocolate! I bought some chocolate and white chocolate to make some peppermint bark with the white and pretzels with the chocolate. Haven't had time to do it yet.

betty said...

I think I could ride that roller coaster with all the Santas!! Usually I don't like roller coasters, but I think it would be jolly with them all on it!

Oh my gosh, Sandie! A labor of love making all that candy! I know the teachers will enjoy that; who wouldn't?? Lots of hard work indeed! Glad everyone pitched in so to speak and that it went well!!

betty

Dee said...

I am sure they will remember...and I bet your house still smells yummy :)

Linda said...

Absolutely true!!!
You have one of the MOST encouraging blogs around!!!

Elizabeth said...

I hope one of those tins is for me!

Saw the flash mob video you posted the other day, have you seen this one? It'll make you cry . . . with joy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg

Tweedles -- that's me said...

I don't know where you get all the energy that you have!
I love your ideas of how you celebrate Christmas.
love
tweedles

Grandma Bonnie said...

Sounds like lots of great fun. I know the teachers will love the chocolate.

Anonymous said...

You have me wanting some chocolate! Lovely post!
Those santas are really cute!
Have a good week-end.
Pat

ocmist said...

Sounds like a fun day with a lot of "sweet" memories... One way or another! :)

I'm thinking I need to make cookies or candy this year, too. Hopefully it will help stretch our short dollars. :)

Cheryl @ TFD said...

You are making some wonderful memories with your family...that is one of the best gifts you can give them. I just know the teachers will love getting these beautiful and tasty gifts! Love the photos, I'm glad you had such fun!

Sharon said...

Oh my goodness - this looks delicious! And yes, it does look like fun riding with those Santas. However, I might save the chocolate treats for AFTER the ride...

GS looks adorable as usual! Getting SO big...

xo

LL Cool Joe said...

You are such a great homemaker. I admire people like you. :)

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Delicious.

Vee said...

You made me laugh...many times! Your grandson is so cute. He looks like a great Santa's helper!

Marie said...

Wish I had been with you to bake and make all of these goodies. :) My son and I have always enjoyed making treats together and sharing with friends and always teachers. He still thinks about it every year and I bet your GS will always remember all these special traditions
his grandma started. :)
hugs!
Marie

Linda @ A La Carte said...

As a lucky recipient of some of that chocolate candy I can tell everyone it was wonderful (oh yes it's all gone!!) I agree making memories together is so important! Big hugs to you and you daughter and GS. Linda

Ann said...

Love that picture of all the Santa's on the roller coaster.
That's a lot of chocolates that you made. They look great and I'm sure the recipients will love them

Mevely317 said...

Superwoman/mom/g’ma, you are!
A day guaranteed to remain in your grand’s memories.... and who knows if he won’t someday repeat this ritual with his own kids? :)

Suzan said...

Your Grandson is the greatest!! He is so helpful and it's such a wonderful experience for him to help you like he does. I remember baking cookies and fudge for Christmas!! Such special times that he'll remember for ever as well! You're such a great Grandma!!

Kerrie said...

Chocolate making... sounds fun!

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Aren't grand kids the best. Also what an awesome grandma.