Air Conditioning in December

While much of the country is suffering thru and trying to recover from some horrible winter weather, here in the deep south we have been enjoying milder than normal temperatures. At least we have in my neck of the woods. The average daily temperature has been about 20 or so degrees above normal for this time of year. We've had several days where the temperature approached 80 degrees. It feels very odd to see everything all decked out for the holidays, and to hear Christmas music playing everywhere but to be running the air conditioning. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'll take this any day over below freezing temperatures and/or ice. I'm also afraid that we'll pay for this mild weather later on in the winter. We may get some really brutal cold temperatures before this winter is over.

We had our company Christmas party tonight. Things went very well. We had enough food to feed three times the number of people, and I think all of us ate more than we needed. I believe everyone had a good time. Everyone that I gave cookies to was thrilled to receive them. I overheard one of my co-workers say it was the best gift she could have gotten. I'm glad they were met with such approval. I was a little apprehensive about giving cookies, because so many of us are trying to watch what we eat. Cookies are not generally considered "dietetic", at least not any that I make! We didn't exchange gifts amongst ourselves, but I wanted to give these people something. Since I didn't have any extra money for store bought gifts, something home made was about my only option. Each person received 5 different types of cookies. There was chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, oatmeal scotchies, peanut butter and chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips.

I think one of the reasons that my co-workers were so thrilled with home made cookies is because so few people bake home made cookies. A home baked item speaks volumes to many people, telling them that you care enough about them to take the time to make them something with your own hands. I know today's world is hustle and bustle and many people don't have the time or the inclination to bake cookies. It is something that I enjoy doing, and I hope I have helped my children to have an appreciation for such things. Both of the kids helped me with several batches of the cookies. I creamed the sugar and butter together, but I would usually have them mix in the dry ingredients. They also took turns putting dough on cookie sheets, supervising the cookies while they were in the oven or transferring cooked cookies from cookie sheet to the rack for cooling. Of course the enticement for this effort is that the end results taste good.

Although I gave away a good amount of cookies, there are still plenty left for us to enjoy. I have had a few, and will be glad when they are all gone. I think the next time I bake cookies, I'll only bake peanut butter cookies. Since I'm not a peanut butter fan I won't have a problem resisting them.