You Need To Know - Cookies, Fun Stuff,

~ Stuffed Strawberry Cookies ~

Way back in the dark ages, or maybe the middle ages, in elementary school we gave Valentine cards. Anyone who went to middle school in the 1960's remember those cute little cards? While inexpensive then, I bet those same, now vintage, cards would cost a bundle but the memories are priceless. At least what I can remember is priceless. Last week, I made these cookies and they didn't last very long, they are seriously good! Between folks coming to the farm and me eating them, they are now a distant, pleasant memory.

Cookies:

1 box strawberry cake mix 
2 eggs
1/2 cup plus 4 tablespoons veg oil

P. S. I've made these since and left out the 4 tablespoons of veg oil...turned out just fine. With the extra oil, the cookies were a bit...oily. if can you believe it!

Frosting:

8 ounces strawberry cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar, strawberry flavored if possible

Oven preheated to 350 degrees

Mix together strawberry cake mix, eggs and shortening until forms a stiff batter. 
Roll 1/2 tablespoon dough into small balls of similar size.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for about 8 minutes and then cool.

Mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Depending upon the day's humidity, it may be a little stiff --add a smidge more butter-- or it may be a tad liquid --add more sugar. Spread onto cooled cookies and sandwich together like Oreos.
Depending upon size cookies, you'll get anywhere from a dozen to dozen and half. 

Another recipe for Valentine cookies is found here.

~ Levi, feeling his kibble ~

Between snowstorms, Levi likes to go outside and feel his kibble. There's a calico cat that's coming around, acts like a house cat that's been tossed aside, but s/he won't let me get close enough to rescue. That always bothers me. The barn cats live at the barn and we all know our place but when someone has been tossed aside, disposed of like a sack of garbage, that really disrupts my brain waves.

FOLKSY - Modern British Craft

FOLK Magazine - Live Authentic - 6 issues now $10.00 and their week long chocolate theme begins today...groan...and some Valentine ideas.

Pinterest - Online Pinboard

In the USA, there's a store called Dollar Store and a great place to buy all sorts of things - cleaning supplies, craft supplies, candy, wrapping paper and bags, human and pet food, etc. They have a great website and on their craft website, 101 Valentine Day Treat Ideas...fabulous! Be warned, if you visit the Valentine Day Treat Ideas as you'll get sucked into blog hopping; they are some wonderful ideas to be found.

Low temps, winds and more snow all contrive to make my days full. In the winter, it takes a lot of time to keep body and soul together; between hauling wood for the wood stove, keeping sheep, horses and alpacas fed, watered and sheltered and house animals and human fed and warm, there's not a lot of time left over. I've had frozen water lines that took six hours to thaw, but did thaw thanks be to God, water troughs that need ice broken so the sheep can drink...about the time I get finished in the morning, it's time to get started late afternoon. Like the ole feller said, "no rest for the weary and the righteous don't need none!" Be safe y'all.

"There are only two ways to live life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein ~

Today's Miracles ~ safe travel ~ safety on the tractor ~ light snow ~ clear air ~ cookies ~