Are you beginning to think that maybe we will have to get out our white blankets and take down our white curtains to lay out for a “White Christmas”? I am not missing the white stuff to shovel and drive in, but it sure does cover up all that not so colorful fall look. The snow gives the world a bright, clean and cheerful look but it is not so welcome on roads and sidewalks. If only we could “train” the snow to fall in places that are okay with us.

One of my loyal readers shared with me her joy of going to the post office in her childhood days to mail Christmas presents and cards. It was a special time to get all the cards written out, sealed in envelopes and checking the list to be sure everyone was taken care of. The presents, especially the ones that were going to go any distance, were wrapped in Christmas paper and then over wrapped with mailing paper and string. Then it was time to go off to the BIG PLACE to do the mailing. The big place did not necessary mean that the post office was so huge, as some of the them were in small buildings, but usually they had at least several steps you had to use to enter. It was almost like going up the steps to church but most people did not go to the post office that often. This time was reserved for a few special Christmas trips. After going up the steps and pushing the big heavy doors open you came to an area that usually had a high ceiling, lots of wood counters with glass and it had a smell all its own. If you came at the right time you did not have to wait in line long before it was your turn to put all of your mailing things on the well worn counter. It usually was hard for just one person to bring in all the items to be mailed and that is why the kids were often allowed to come with and do some carrying and make themselves useful. (Maybe a sweet treat was being offered as a reward?) The adults asked and answered questions during the checking in process while the young ones spent time looking around to take in the lay of the land. Lots of posters and notices were on the walls and there was never enough time to take them all in. Where were all the boxes and cards going to go once they got checked in? Who is going to do the sorting? Are they going to go off to the places in big trucks or maybe even one of those planes that takes things far, far away? How long will it take before they get to where they are addressed? Soon it is time to go back to the big doors and go down the steps and maybe it’s time for a treat. What a big job done, Mom or Dad usually said. Maybe another trip was needed to finish for this year but most likely it will be next year before we get to see and smell the magic post office.

Fast forward to 2020! The year of record breaking online sales! Not much in person shopping and mailing. A totally whole new ballgame has developed in a short period of time. For some of us it has been years since we needed to make a post office mailing trip. UPS, Fed EX, Amazon, and Cbyer Monday are the current words dancing in our brains. Speaking of Fed EX, I just got a delivery of 200 Lindt chocolate truffles handed over directly by the driver. Now I do not have to stress that they will come and Sitka will start his own party with them. Heaven is here!

One new major project for Christmas this year is making Hot Chocolate Bombs. The bombs are made by using circle molds and brushing melted chocolate in them. Once the shells are set and popped out, half of them are filled with things that would be good in hot chocolate including chocolate mix, dried mini marshmallows or crushed peppermints. For the remaining halves, the edges are quickly softened and pressed onto the filled halves. If the seal is not perfect, melted chocolate can be painted on and rolled in sprinkles, etc. Milk is heated to almost boiling, put in a big mug and it’s bombs away! A ball is popped in and it dances around for a bit and once the seal is broken, the “filling” pops out! Wonderful taste and fun to watch! Yummy all the way.