Chocolate Pictures!

Some of the crew hard at work!!

Gramma beating the chocolate!!

Maybe half done? Gramma & Grampa's bed loaded with the goods!

Awesome transfer paper for the cherry almond flavor!

Pretty well done, lots of things full of chocolates as well as a table in the living room and the top of the TV stand!

Chocolate making was great! We all had a good time. Gramma made us some fabulous food to keep us going and we enjoyed getting our fingers dirty with chocolate (and licking it off after).  It was a long process, but all worth it! Thanks to all who shared their knowledge and tips on chocolate making.  Thanks Jenny for organizing all of this and working so hard! Thank you Gramma for hosting! Thanks Grampa for being a trooper, you were the only man in the house! We appreciate everything you did (especially switching out trays). 

Near the end there was a lot of "do you think we made to much?" and "whose idea was this anyway?" (all in good spirits of course!) HaHa.  It was a long, fabulous day, and well worth every second to spend it with family and gain some knowledge from those who are wiser and more experienced!! I also learned that Auntie Sylvia is practically a professional dipper. We missed those who couldn't make it!  Hope to see everyone soon!!

Love,
Addie

TWELVE DAYS OF CHOCOLATES

On the first day of chocolates my family gave to me
A grampa switching out trays
On the second day of chocolates my family gave to me
Two pregnant mommies
and a Grampa switching out trays
On the third day of chocolates my family gave to me
Three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the fourth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the fifth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the sixth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the seventh day of chocolates my family gave to me
Seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the eighth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Eight absent children (thank goodness!) seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the ninth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the tenth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the eleventh day of chocolates my family gave to me
Eleven calls from husbands (or hours of dipping), ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Fives tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the TWELFTH day of chocolates my family gave to me
Twelve fondant flavors,
eleven calls from husbands, ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.


O.K. now I better go get ready for church!!!
Addie took pictures and said she would share them.

Love you all,
Gramma & Grampa

A lot of hard work but a great feeling of accomplishment.  Thanks Jenny for once again organizing and getting us going. 

He Hung Up --- Yessss!

This morning I received a phone call from a telephone solicitor.  The conversation went like this:

Me:  Hello --- Hello
C:     Can I speak to the homeowner?
Me:  What are you selling?
C:     I'm with (indiscernable name)  - Do you have a mortgage on your home?
Me:  Where did you get my name and phone number?
C:     Silence - then hung up!!

Yess!  I now know how to deal with these guys.  Don't answer any questions.  Take control of the conversation and come back to them with a question.

Thought I'd share this idea with all of you.  Whatever you do, don't give them any information.

Love,
Gramma

Camilla Finds Her Whiskers

Fondant Making Tips

I made my first batch of fondant today.  It turned out great, but I thought if some of you are planning on doing it at home I should give you a few tips that I realized while I was doing mine and that were missing from the recipe.

*  BE SURE to use a Heavy pot.  (I made a double batch and used my pressure cooker because it is the heaviest pot I own.)

*  Be sure the pot is well buttered before measuring your ingredients into it.

*  STIR CONSTANTLY - only until mixture starts boiling.  I used the medium heat on my stove.  If your heat is too high, your fondant will burn.

*  DO NOT STIR while it is boiling.  Do not be impatient.  This is not a quick process.

*  To check for soft ball stage, dip spoon into boiling mixture (without stirring).  Take a spoonful out and drop mixture into cold water.  Work it with your fingers.  It needs to stay together in a soft ball.  The ball needs to be a fairly firm soft ball, not one that will easily fall apart. 

NOTE:  Even if you are using a candy thermometer, do the cold water check.  Not all candy termometers are accurate.

At the end, you plop the butter into the mixture and without stirring or shaking, allow it to cool to about your body temperature.  I always wash my hands really well and stick my finger straight down the middle of the mixture.  DO NOT STIR IT.  Just put your finger straight down and straight up. 

When it is the right temperature, you can start working it.  Once you start, do not stop before it has turned.  This will take at least 20 minutes.  Keep the mixture moving. If you stop part way through, your fondant will turn sugary and will need to be re-cooked.

I hope the above is helpful.  Every year I need to do a trial run and try to remember all the little tricks. 

Chocolate making together will be fun.

Love to all,
Gramma

Update from Aaron & Chelsey!!

Hello Family!

It's been a while since we blogged, so thought we would give an update. Aaron is FINALLY working in Red Deer! YAY! It's so great to have him home everynight. He is working for a company called DFI, and so far he is enjoying it. He is also going to Red Deer College, taking his 4th class power engineering course, so he has been very busy. Life has been hectic lately with so much going on, but we are so happy with life and blessed for the good things coming our way.

Brooke has started Grade 2 this year. She is doing so well in school and we are very proud. Time sure flys! She is now back living in Fort McMurray.

We spent Thanksgiving camping at Chelsey's Aunty's farm near Boyle.. and we got some fall pics done, so we thought we would share a few..along with some pictures from Brooke's very first concert.. Chelsey took her to......  JUSTIN BIEBER.. she was so excited.

Hope everyone is doing well .....

Aaron & Chelsey
xoxoxoxo

 

We always have to get a goofy picture :)

Brooke rockin' her new T-Shirt!!

Brooke & Keisha patienly waiting for Justin Beiber to show up...

First Snowman of the Season

Yesterday we got our first snow of the season! I couldn't resist taking Camilla out to play, even though it was a little chilly.  We had a great time walking around the yard, pushing snowballs, and making a snow man.  It made me super excited for the Christmas season (it's not too far away!! ).  We are all doing good, and just thought we'd share some pictures from our afternoon out in the snow!