Carisa’s family has a yearly tradition where they get together to bake Christmas cookies, which are then handed out to family members come the Christmas get-together at the grandparents’ place.  This weekend has been designated cookie-baking weekend, and I’m along for the ride, watching but not daring to participate in the well-oiled machine that is this cooking baking operation.

There are pre-assigned tasks that have been practiced and refined over many many years of baking.  Linda makes and rolls out the dough.  Lana cuts out the shapes and places them on baking sheets.  Carisa decorates.  Linda bakes the cookies.  Then the whole process repeats until we have stacks upon stacks of cookies ready to go into Christmas tins.

As for me, I provide emotional support to the cookie makers, as well as convenient disposal of cookies accidentally broken on the assembly line.  I often wish that the bakers weren’t as careful as they are.  I also appreciate having the downtime to get caught up on random odds and ends, do some pleasure reading, and maybe even blog a little.  (Yes, it has been a while.  A long while.  I didn’t forget you.)