Ethel's Sugar Cookies

My mom made sure that there were always plenty of Christmas cookies in the house.  She made many different kinds and had many strategic hiding places; there always seemed to be some more cookies in the freezer.  I don't seem to have her energy, but we do manage to  crank out some of "Ethel's Sugar Cookies" every year.  Who is Ethel?  Maybe my mom knows.

 Thirteen years ago I asked her for copies of all of her Christmas cookie recipes.

 Ethel's Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

Mix thoroughly: 3/4 cup soft butter (part shortening if you want--I don't), 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Add: 2 and 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt.

Chill for a short time (my mom and I don't always do this), roll, cut, and put on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Sugar if you want and then  6-10 minutes depending on your oven.  Or, wait until they are baked and frost them.

Thanks, Ethel!

We have a pretty new snowflake cookie cutter from my sweet sister-in-law, Grace.

"Making the World a Better Place" with Cupcakes

 Lillian's Girl Scout Troop finally had their cupcake sale on Wednesday.  There was much, excitement and preparation leading up to the big event.

Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with butter cream frosting--ready to go

 Our cupcake sale took place at Pierre's office.  We took a taxi over to keep the cupcakes pristine.  When I was stressing out about how to get the cupcakes, the girls, and all of the extra stuff to the sale, I never thought about taxing a cab.  Before this, I had only ever taken a cab to the airport--and only when the whole family was traveling.  The taxi saved the day and we arrived in time to have lunch with Pierre in the cafeteria before getting to work.

 Sylvia is holding a bouquet of origami flowers that Lillian made for our HR contact at Pierre's work. 

 We decorated a conference room and talked about answering clients' questions and giving them the right change.

 We had fifty boxes with four cupcakes in each b ox,plus some extras.

The boxes flew off the table and we were left with lots of money to help the homeless.

 These girls worked hard and felt very proud.

Sylvia and a little brother helped, too.

Sylvia and her friend stood in the hall and alerted people to the sale in the conference room.

It was my first time inside Pierre's office and I met a lot of his colleagues.    This weekend we will buy toiletries, sort the bought and donated toiletries, and organize them into individualized bags. 

Bravo!  Well done, Junior Troop 35

(and their fabulous mamas and siblings).

Thanks OECD Delta!

O Christmas Tree!

Love in a Box

 The Girl Scouts of America are tiring me out with all of their holiday do-gooding.  Yesterday, We went to The American Cathedral in Paris and helped with their Love in a Box program.  They distribute 3000 boxes and backpacks full of presents and necessities for needy children.  Pierre was in charge of candy distribution and everyone wanted to help him.  

Classified as a historic monument, the Cathedral's building was consecrated on Thanksgiving Day in 1886, but its roots go back to the 1830's, when American Episcopalians began gathering for formal worship. 

 Individuals bring in boxes that are already filled, following the church's guidelines, but the church also puts together thousands of boxes with donations.  These Girls Scouts worked to put all of the goods into the boxes.  Lillian and Sylvia both chose to fill a box for a girl their age.

 After a quick lunch, we headed across the river to  American Church in Paris.

The ACP is the first American church established outside of the United States. Begun in 1814, its official charter and first sanctuary were established in 1857. We have been located on the quai d’Orsay since 1931.

The AAWE, which is an organization for American woman living long-term in France, was having a Christmas party.  Our girls tried to elicit toiletry donations for their toiletry drive and enjoyed the party.

Wednesday, we are selling cupcakes so that the girls can buy more toiletries for the homeless.  Pierre has been a champion and his co-workers have been donating tons.  The cupcake sale will be at his office buidling.  After Wednesday, I will be ready for a little Christmas vacation from the wonderful Girl Scouts of America.  Lillian's troop of six girls includes girls who are American, French, Canadian, Australian, and British. 

View from the café at Printemps

 The grands magasins are ready for Christmas.  The girls and I need to visit and see how the windows compare to last year's.

Last year, my friend Lori took me out for lunch at the fancy restaurant at Galeries Lafayette.

 This year, another Canadian friend introduced me to the café at the top of Printemps.  There is an amazing view and a large terrace to enjoy during warmer weather. 

Fontainebleau: Family Tour

 We signed up for a family tour.  Our guide held a big bunch of skeleton keys that opened parts of the chateau that are not open to the general public.  The guide told a dramatic story.  We were told that we needed to solve a mystery and to unmask who had injured the little "thorn puller."  We started at the statue of the Petit tireur d'épines (thorn puller).

 The kids had a sheet of paper with the list of suspects.  As they learned more, they were able to cross off more and more suspects.  Here they are working to put together a puzzle and solve a clue.  I was impressed that all of the kids were so well behaved.  Pierre pointed out that it was a somewhat self selected group.

 We were allowed into the lower chapel.  The king and queen would worship in the balconies of the upper chapel.

 As we entered into the older part of the chateau, the keys gave the tour guide some trouble.

 The family tour was offered only in French, and it was wonderful that we could all follow along.

Francois I (1494-1547) is said to have brought the Renaissance to France.  He even brought Leonardo da Vinci to Chateau de Chambord.

After the kids solved the mystery, we had to go and check our answer with the ghost of the chateau.  One of the guards went and spoke with the ghost and then reappeared holding a small metal box.  We were right and we were each allowed to take a large golden coin with a picture of Chateau Fontainebleau on it from the box.

We headed home, and besides an ill advised stop at Ikea (my idea) and a traffic jam getting back into Paris, it was as smooth as silk.

Fontainebleau: Exploring the grounds

Crazy Statues

 Diana fountain

We thought about buying a resin copy of one of the dogs in the gift shop.  It was 2000 Euros, so we decided we would buy some small notebooks instead.

 From the Fontainebleau website:

With its various buildings arranged over four main courtyards and three gardens, the Château de Fontainebleau’s long and varied architectural facades are arrayed against the gardens, the layout of which underwent considerable revision throughout the course of the 19th century. 

 During Medieval and Renaissance times, this golden door was the entrance for important visitors.

After exploring the grounds, we joined a guided family tour.