BOOKS, GOODIES and A STORY...for you!

I have a bunch of Christmas books...these are some of our favorites, The Christmas Dress for Ellen is a true story and written about my 2nd cousin's family. I love to have them sitting out in a big Christmas basket for all to read.
I love it when a grand child brings me a book and says; "Grandma, will you read this to me?" These have been read over and over to our children through the years.

I have been busy this week making candy and goodies for our family to eat at Christmas time..."O Henry Bars..."Bliss Bars"(thank you Kasey at Lola B's)..."White Chocolate Crunch"..."Cashew Caramels"...and "English Toffee"

Here is the recipe for the Caramels...it is the easiest and the best recipe I have ever used...I hope you'll enjoy it!

MICROWAVE CARAMELS

Butter a 9x9" pan, set aside
In a large microwave-safe bowl combine;
1 Cup Butter
2 1/2 Cups Packed Brown Sugar
1 Cup Light-colored Corn Syrup
1 (14oz.) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
Cover loosely with waxed paper. Microwave on 100% power for 4 minutes...or until Butter starts to melt. Whisk to combine mixture. Microwave again 4 min. more. Whisk well. Microwave an additional 4 min. Whisk gently.
Add...1 TSP. Vanilla...add 1 Cup of broken Cashews...mix together. Pour Caramel Mixture into the prepared pan.
Chill for 1 hour or til just firm. Use buttered knife to cut into 1" squares. Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper...store at room temp. for 2 weeks. (Makes 81 pieces)

Another favorite at our house....English Toffee

It was just a few days until Christmas in San Francisco, and the shopping downtown was starting to get to us. Crowds of people were waiting impatiently for slow moving buses and streetcars on those little cement islands in the middle of the street. Most of us were loaded down packages and it looked like many of us were beginning to wonder if all those countless friends and relatives actually deserved so many gifts in the first place. This was not the Christmas spirit I'd been raised with! I found myself shoved up the steps of a jammed streetcar, the idea of standing packed in like sardines the whole way home was almost more than I could take. I stood in an exhausted daze, as people gradually got off, it took me while to notice that there was room to breathe again. Then I saw something out of the corner of my eye.
A small boy...he couldn't have been more than 5 or 6...tugged on a woman's sleeve and asked, "would you like a seat?" He quietly lead her to the nearest free seat he could find, and then he set out to find another tired person. As soon as each rare new seat became available, he would quickly move through the crowd in search of another burdened woman who desperately needed to rest her feet. When I felt his tug on my sleeve, I was absolutely dazzled by the beauty in this little boys eyes. He took my hand, saying; "Come with me," and I think I'll remember that smile as long as I live. As I happily placed my heavy load of packages on the floor, the little Emissary of Love immediately turned to help his next subject.
The people on the streetcar, as usual, had been studiously avoiding each other's eyes, but now they began to exchange shy glances and smiles. A businessman offered a section of a newspaper to the stranger next to him...three people stooped to return a gift that had tumbled to the floor...and now people were speaking to one another. The little boy had tangibly changed something...we all relaxed into a subtle feeling of warmth and actually enjoyed the trip through the final stops along the route.
I didn't notice when the child got off, I looked up at one point and he was gone. When I reached my stop I practically floated off that streetcar, wishing the driver a Happy Holiday, noticing the sparkling Christmas lights on my street in a fresh, new way, or maybe I was seeing them in an old way, with the same wonder I felt when I was 5 or 6. I thought. "So that's what they mean by...AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM."
~~~~~

May I add these words....I think it says it the way I want to say it...

Christmas is a glorious time, simple in origin and deep in meaning.It is rich in memories, charitable in spirit, and beautiful in tradition and custom. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn.
At this season of the year, we remember that our Heavenly Father gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. We also remember that His precious Son gave us His life, the Atonement, and the victory over the grave.
Therefore, let us give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. During His mortal ministry, He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will fill our hearts.
Thomas S Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Sending all of you all of my love....Have a warm and wonderful Christmas"

This will most likely be my last post til after Christmas...wishing all of my dear friends a a very Merry Christmas!