melting moments .....

I found this log cabin Santa pattern before Christmas and had to try it out.  You'll find the tutorial here.  The block makes 2 Santas and I made mine smaller than the pattern called for.

Christmas was a quiet one for us this year since our family is scattered far and wide.  However, we still had a Tourtière

 for dinner on the 24th and turkey on Christmas Day; and, of course  Christmas Crackers to pull.   Shortbread and fruitcake are always on hand during the season.  Here is a really easy faux shortbread recipe that I often make year round:

MELTING MOMENTS

2 cups flour

1 cup butter (or margarine)

4 tablespoons icing sugar

Mix well and roll into balls.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet

and flatten with a fork dipped in flour - I used a glass with a design on the bottom for these ones.

Garnish with a nut or cherry if you like.  Bake in a 350 F oven for about 15 minutes.

The edges should be a bit brown but the tops still white.

In our neck of the woods December has been unusually cold and extremely windy but with little snow.  Some days it was even too cold for Little Dog to have a run. But I am pleased to report that it warmed up considerably for Christmas and there was some fresh snow ... here's Little Dog helping move snow.

Before Christmas I did some sewing for myself.  In the fall I'd made a note to self that I needed to make some shorts for this coming summer and so I did.  Using the serger they sewed up really fast and that makes me wonder why I was avoiding making them.

I came across this scarflet at a link party  - I love it and the instructions were excellent. 

 

I couldn't resist making a prim heart from red ticking ....

and the little owl turned out smaller than I expected but he's a nice addition to the wee tree.