Candied pretzels and other holiday projects

Though it surely places me in the annoying water cooler chatter category along with people who say things like "hump day" and "it's another Manic Monday" I'm left with little choice but to say, "Where the hell has the year gone?"

Wasn't June a month ago? Weren't we wiping August sweat from our collective brows just last week. 'Twas only yesterday when ... okay, honestly, it was freakin' cold here yesterday ... there was no doubt about the month.

Anyhow, what all of this brings me to is an apology, and a hope: I apologize that I won't be around much for the next few weeks and I hope you'll be here when I am ... or at least when I get back to a regular blog "schedule."

I've been surprised and grateful for the people who stop by now and then, read my yammering and give me input. It's like having a whole world of friends! This post is for you, my friends, because I wish to make sure you know how important all of you are to me.

Surely you don't need to be told how much we enjoy the holidays at our house. After all, it's the season of joy and lights and giving and the warm embrace of kith and kin (did anyone else hear Clark Griswold?).

It means fun and happiness and sharing and caring! Yay!

It also means tree decorating and end of year work projects and, hopefully, lots of evenings spent sipping hot toddies while watching Mother Nature's wintertime show.

This week particularly it means lots of candied pretzels and a first attempt at homemade gingerbread houses.

So, if you don't see me as much as usual, don't worry. I'll be back, I promise, and I'll be thinking of you while I'm gone.