Christmas cookies for Santa

Don't forget to leave Santa Cookies and Milk tonight.  he will appreciate them for all his hard work.
This recipe comes from another Georgia girl,  Paula Deen.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Makes about 7 dozen cookies 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter 2 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 egg white 1/2 cup sour cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups bread flour 1 tablespoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut 2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add brown sugar, beating until creamy. Beat in eggs, egg white, sour cream, and vanilla until combined. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until combined. Add coconut and chocolate morsels, beating until smooth. Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool on pans for 2 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Have a fun Christmas Eve with your family Karen

The First Day Of Winter and the storms of life

It's 4:30 pm outside and it looks like 9pm. This first day of winter has brought temperatures in the 60's and a tornado watch. A far cry from last years snow. Both are unusual for winter in North Georgia.

I have had a rough last couple of months. Without saying too much our children disappoint and hurt us but they are our children and we love and support them. I ask for your prayers for my son, who has made some bad choices regarding drugs and will now face the consequences.

I believe that there are no coincidences, that everything happens for a reason and for our good, and I can only believe that good will come out of this.

I had planned to take a class in Blue Ridge Georgia with JoAnn Antonelli of the MartynHouse

When you have a dream as I have had for a number of years to own my own business, begin to think about and work toward that dream, I believe opportunites come into your life with like minded people. I saw JoAnn's story on Georgia Outdoors when they were visiting her bed and breakfast and outdoor "glamping" tents. Visiting her website I also found that she was a coach, and I knew I was meant to attend one of her classes. I signed up for the first class when all of this occured with my son. I just did not have it in me at the time to attend. I had paid, and instead of my signing up for a future class JoAnn agreed to work with me thru emails and handouts. As I said before, people come into your lives when you need them, and when I saw this on the introduction to the first class, I knew I was going to attend her monthly classes whatever arrangements I had to make.

"When the storms of life come do you sway and hold firm? Or do you swirl in chaos and say why me? Everyday of our lives we should be practicing to ground ourselves so that we are prepared for life’s challenges." JoAnn Antonelli A Day of Exploration Class
If you are in the Atlanta Area, please take a look at JoAnn's site, and sign up for her classes.

We all have life's challenges, but life goes on, and I have decided to ground myself. That for me means returning to my blog, enjoying my grandchildren, planning my dream life, and next years garden.
Karen