Warning: Elves At Work

For nearly 9 years, two elves have joined our family every Christmas . . . for as long as we've lived in Dunwoody. They arrive the Sunday after Thanksgiving and leave Christmas Eve. Lucy comes for AG, and, until two years ago, Bentley came for A. Their needs are simple (fresh water and crackers left out each night plus a sprinkling of snow dust to re-animate them after midnight) and their ways quite mischievous. Through the years, they have:

• toilet-papered the house
  
• scattered Christmas books all over the floor
  
• lined up all of the kids' shoes through the upstairs hall and down the stairs
  
• hidden in some really imaginative spots
  
• stacked all the kitchen chairs on top of the table
  
• tried to hitch a ride in the kids' backpacks to school
• practiced driving in the family van
• cooked up pancakes and made a huge mess with the flour
• helped complete the annual mega-puzzle we all work on
  
• teased Scooter the Wonder Dog by banging on his kennel
• and had pillow fights under the Christmas tree

This may be Lucy's last year with AG. At ten, she's been asking a lot of questions. A didn't look for Bentley last year, but what then-14-year-old male would? For the past few years, he'd just been sharing with his sister.

Ah, well. It's been a lovely tradition. Who knows . . . just because the kids get older doesn't mean Mom has to grow up! Those mischievous elves may still have a willing host for Christmas Future.

It looks like New Year's will be a festive time here in the neighborhood. We have a gathering for New Year's Eve that begins early in the evening and one for New Year's Day, a Southern-flavored open house featuring Hoppin' John. (That's black-eyed peas, rice, and ham plus lots of other yummy ingredients. It's good luck to start the New Year with a bowl-ful!) I think I'll make that Dunwoody Dip for the New Year's Eve party.

I'm still knitting away on the Einstein Coat and trying to finish the newest handbag design. It's so relaxing to have these few days at home. Back to work on Wednesday, but it'll be very quiet at the Nature Center, despite a camp for little ones. I might wander the trails a bit, picking up trash and checking on things.

Tomorrow, I'm hosting the church's continental breakfast. The Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins are ordered, the juice is cooling in the fridge, and now I need to make the Sausage Balls and Deviled Eggs. I love this time of year!

The Dunwoody Dip

It was a weekend of parties. My favorite was the annual St. Luke's Presbyterian Church adult party, each year held in a private home. Despite pouring rain and a rapidly lowering temperature, it was well attended and very enjoyable. Lots of delicious food - guests brought appetizers, desserts, and sides for the ham.

One appetizer caught T's attention. Somehow I've lived in Dunwoody nearly ten years without enjoying or hearing about the Dunwoody Dip. When I got up Sunday morning, he'd Googled the recipe and found a reference in a Colorado patio store flyer, of all places. I'll check among my girl friends, but the ingredients sound like what I tasted.

Dunwoody Dip
1 pound Jimmy Dean hot sausage
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese
2 cans Rotel tomatoes
1 large bag Tostido scoops

Crumble and brown sausage in large fry pan. DO NOT DRAIN.

Add cream cheese and Rotel tomatoes. Stir until blended and creamy. Place in casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until edges are bubbly.

Serve with Tostido scoops.

I found time Saturday and Sunday to work on a few last-minute Christmas gifts. Dishcloths are a favorite. It's fun to create a stack of complementary patterns and colors. For a special volunteer at Dunwoody Nature Center, I worked with two patterns from Mason-Dixon Knitting: the Ballband Dishcloth from their book and the Lobby Dishcloth, "hidden" in an extended version of one of their posts: http://www.masondixonknitting.com/archives/2007_12.html. Since it's so gray outside, I chose a cheery turqoise and yellow combination that turned out really well. Now I want to make some for myself, but that'll wait until all the Christmas knitting is finished.

What a crazy Southern winter. Last week, it was nearly 80 degrees. This morning, it was a frigid 27 degrees F. I didn't see too many critters scurrying about as I drove into the Nature Center and the bees were huddled in a tight ball around their queen in the indoors demonstration hive. I'm wearing many layers to offset the chill. All in all, though, I do appreciate the cold. Too much more warm weather and the plants and trees might have tried a premature bloom that would have ruined the spring for fruits and flowers!

I'm writing the pattern for a modular felted handbag I created this summer. It's a bit complicated, and I don't want to miss any details. But my goal is to post it, with pictures, some time this week. Stay tuned!