Just a note to let you all know that I am shutting down until after Christmas.  I'm taking the next week off in order to spend time with my family during this special time of year.  I'll be wrapping gifts which is something I enjoy doing every year alone in my bedroom.  I shut the door and lock it and get out all the gifts I've bought for the family and one by one wrap them up In pretty paper.

I'll be baking and making candy with my daughter, Gypsy.  I've had a few specific requests, so I'll be making pecan pie, butter mint candies, and white bread dressing (isn't that a Yankee dish?).  I also have a new fruit cake recipe that I want to try out.  I know, I know.  A lot of you are saying yuck.  But it's not a fruitcake like you're thinking about. 

The piece de resistance of the desserts will be The Twin Towers cake.  This decadent cake recipe was reportedly developed by the chef at the New York City Twin Towers.  I'll try to remember to post a pic before we dig into it.  But let's just say it's a three-tier chocolate cake covered with chocolate ganache. Mmmmmm.  And maybe I'll post the recipe in the AR Recipes Group.

And last, but not least, I'll be taking this time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new.  I'll be evaluating my real estate business plan, my real estate investments, and my other endeavors.  And I'll be reflecting on the great God in charge of us all, and how to manifest the goodness of His Son to everyone I come in contact with beginning with my husband of 26 years, RenRed, my sweet, sweet searching daughter, Gypsy, and my angst ridden, I-hate-high-school-drama son who always makes me laugh, Fiddler.

I'm imagining family movie time by the fire with hot chocolate and popcorn, but it happens to be about 75 degrees outside right now!  And I'm looking forward to our family tradition of taking in a movie at the theater Christmas afternoon.  A weekend in Dallas will wrap things up, and I'll be posting once again.

I'm sure I won't be able to stay away completely, but I've got other priorities right now, so comments will be few and far between and new posts will just have to wait.

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all.  May it be a joyous time for you and yours as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and the arrival of Santa.  If you aren't celebrating one, I'm sure you're celebrating the other!