December 1

Today I woke the littlest elf up from a nap.  It kills me to do that but we had to pick up the other elves from school.  Once everyone was awake and gathered and fed and pottied, off we went.

First stop: Carlton Greenhouse.  The whole place is full of pink and red and purple and speckled poinsettias.  Beautiful.  Even for someone who really doesn’t love nature or flowers that much.

Maren thought the resident dog’s barking was a little loud.  Once they started petting her she was happy as a lark.

We delivered a pink poinsettia to our neighbor.  She goes to our church and is a waitress at the local restaurant.  The kids like bringing her things on their bikes in the summer because she always has Schwan’s Ice Cream treats.  Mike also climbed up on her roof and brushed off her internet receiver.  She gave us candy. 

Then we delivered brownie pops and rolls to a friend who just had surgery.

I just found this recipe in a collection of old family recipes.  They were good and not too hard.  But I had to call my Grandma to find out who on earth Arnold Trote was.  He was my great grandparents neighbor.  And apparently quite the bread maker.

Arnold Trote’s 2 Hour Buns

2 packages dry yeast, soak in,

1 cup lukewarm water

Cream: 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup shortening

3 tsp. salt

Add two eggs, beaten

Add: 1 cup boiling water

Add: Yeast water

Add: 6 cups flour.  Mix and knead.  Let rise one hour.  Shape into rolls and let rise another hour.  Bake 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees.  Makes 3 dozen buns.

I cheated and used my kitchen aid mixer.

We delivered more brownie pops.  This is how the trees looked while I was waiting for the elves.

We made one more stop but they weren’t home.  So hopefully tomorrow will involve delivering this:

And whatever brownie pops didn’t get eaten by hungry elves tonight.