We had my annual cookie swap last night. It didn’t look like it was going to happen. We’ve had the biggest dump of snow – EVER – here in Abbotsford….well in the whole Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Apparently, we don’t believe in snow plows out here, ’cause the roads are horrific, and the highways are even worse. But, once you get to Aldergrove, the roads were perfect!

The cookie swap was unravelling in my hands, but my sister pulled the whole thing together. She called around, and organized rides for those who wouldn’t drive, and ……well……I’m jut so thankful! I wasn’t sure how we’d be able to get it done another night! It’s hard enough to pull everyone together for one thing, but change the date at the last minute, and you’re sure to loose a whole bunch of people!

When all was said and done, the only people who couldn’t make it were my Aunt and my 2 cousins! I was so sad that they couldn’t make it, but they were snowed in, and not moving!

Better to be safer than sorrier…….like I almost was last night!

My grandma and I headed out last night about 5:45pm. It usually takes about 30 minutes on a good day to get (from door to door) to my parents house. Last night it took almost an hour! We headed out and the roads in Abbotsford were snowy, but okay! When we hit the highway it got a little scarey! I’m not generally a scarey to drive in snow person! I took my drivers test on December 12th on a snowy day in North Vancouer on the hills in Lonsdale. I passed with flying colors! So snow doesn’t bother me, usually!

Last night we entered the highway, and things were going okay! Before we even hit the next exit, I started to fish tail! I was in the left hand lane, and swung hard to the right. I counter turned my steering wheel, and then fish tailed towards the left. I swung again to the right!. I really thought that we’d be ending up in the ditch soon. Fortunately, no one was anywhere close to us, and we were able to slow down enough and get ourselves going straight again! I have to admit, that I thought about just going home at the next exit. But, I was already out, and I had a mission. I had to get to the cookie swap! I couldn’t let anyone down, and God, please keep us safe and help us to get there safely.

We did make it there safely! No more skid outs or sliding or anything, but honestly, we must have passed close to a dozen cars and vans and SUV’s and even trucks in the ditches. It was unreal!

Backing up a little, I had made the 12 dozen shortbread, the night before! It went pretty quickly. I made 3 batches of cookie dough, and each batch made roughly 60 cookies (5 dozen). I had tons. Jon helped me to wrap them up into dozens. I was so thankful. Especially when he stayed up past midnight to cut up the little red and green candied cherries into little tiny pieces to put into my braided loaf.

Yup! I started to make the bread on Sunday night as well. I made a HUGE double batch of bread, and it made all 12 loaves of breaided bread! I was thrilled that I was able to get it done, but it meant staying up to let them all rise and then bake. It made the next day easier when I spent the entire day in my bathrobe making Christmas Cards for everyone at the party.

I was able to get everything done in time, but it was as the expense of my kids and my house! That sucks! Now my House is a disaster, but I’m finished! I have a good variety of what “smells like” delicious cookies (I’m not allowed to eat any of them – nice, eh?)

It was lots of fun! We did have some new people there. My friend Holly came, as well as Debbie’s friends Roz and Joan, and her Mother-in-law, Cheryl! Everyone had a good time, I think…….! Grandma was able to catch up with Joan who she hadn’t seen in a while. It’s always fun when you get an opportunity like that. We gave away presents, and there was enough for everyone to go home with something. I even sold a purse! Earlier in the day, I had been wracking my brain trying to figure out what crafty stuff I could show this year. I took my purses to show what I’d been doing this year in my down time. I knit while I’m watching TV. Hey! It’s productive downtime! Bonus for me! One of the ladies liked one of the purses, and asked if I was selling them. Sweet! You bet I sure am!

And, the only down side to it all would be the people that were missing!

I’m so sorry that you weren’t able to make it. I’ll make sure next year will be even better than this one was!