Seems I had not made enough Bill's Candy for my Christmas Giving and also for my person eating so I cooked up a batch this morning in my best Holiday baking attire. A Santa Hat and a Christmas tie with Santa in a chorus line with the Rockettes. I had intended to also bake up another batch of Peanut Blossom Cookies but got sidetracked taking pictures of me baking almost in the buff and then sorting, cropping and choosing which pics to post.
I was up sort of early and when looking out of my windows noticed that my reflection in the window with the view behind looked interesting so I took a few pictures. Did a bit of tinkering with the contrast and such and thought they turned out interesting enough to post. So here they are:
This first picture was taken out of my East window before sunrise. There are a pair of evergreen trees that partly blog the view of the apartment buildings. Fortunately there was still bit of snow on the ground. The original picture was rather washed out so I increased the Contrast and depressed the Highlights.
This picture was taken from my other living room window. I found that adjusting the contrast and Highlights brought more definition to both the items outside and the reflections off of the glass.
Diane and I have not been able to get together as often as we would prefer due to misc. appointments and other things that life tosses in our way. However we did manage to get together this last Thursday for a lovely brunch and then a long enjoyable outing. We stoppe at the local Library and picked up a couple of movies on DVD to enjoy that evening. I had never seen 2001 A Space Odyssey so Diane insisted we check that one out and I picked the classic movie Twelve Angry Men as Diane had never seen that on. As I was finally able to stay the night we watched them both. Lordy but felt so good to snuggle close and then to sleep skin to skin. Diane and I will be meeting tomorrow afternoon to go to a special place for her to do Solstice meditation and also to just have some fun. Sounds like the weather will be sunny and temps in the upper 20s F. Sounds like the rest of the week will be warm with temps around 40F for the rest of the week. So it will be a brown Christmas.
As I said at the beginning of my post I made a batch of Bills Candy this morning and took pictures of me in my Holiday baking attire. I have taken a lot of pictures these last few months intending to use in the posts I never seemed to manage to write. Well I am managing to write this post and shall include the pictures I took of myself cooking up that Christmas candy. There are a few of them as I tried to get pictures from start to finish.
Took this picture before just before I started making the candy. I wanted a good shot of my Santa and the Rockettes tie that goes so well with my Santa hat. I do like to dress in a festive manner while doing my Christmas baking etc.
Me just getting the candy mixture started. Sorry that the tie does'nt show but it would look silly hanging down my back.
It took a while and needed to be given a stirring fairly often but it finally made it to the soft ball stage and I am ready to take it off the heat.
Yes, the pot is very hot so I am being quite careful to not let it get too close to any important bits.
All ready to set the pan down and start beating the mix.
The mix it slowly cooling off as the beating mixes a bit of air or something. I am honestly not sure just why beating the mix does but I do know that if it is not done the candy never sets up properly. That spoon can get to feeling mighty heavy after a while.
Finally! Done with the beating and got it settled into the pan. Judging by the gloss on top maybe could have beat it several minutes more. Still, when I marked it it seemed to be firm enough.
I hope you enjoyed my pictures and that I did not overdo the show and tell.
I still have to get that pan full cut up and put away. It was a good thing I made this extra batch as two of the couples I gifted with this candy were asking if I had more. Seems that one of the partners did not leave more than a couple of pieces for the other one. Nice to know the gift went over well.
Sending you all Very Merry Christmas wishes and may you keep in mind that if you do misbehave try to be very, very good and have fun.
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7 comments
Homemade candy sounds divine 😁 Merry Xmas! 🎄
I do love that particular candy recipe. Perhaps because it is such a part of my childhood. It is fun to bake and cook up such treats to give as gifts.
Sending big baking elf attired hugs with the hopes that you had a wonderful Christmas!
Up before dawn making candy! You are much more industrious than I. Hope the solstice went well and that you have a most merry Christmas.
I tried to post a response to your comment yesterday. When I submitted it I received the message that there was an unknown error (Been having that problem every so often of late.) so I am attempting to post again. Hope it uploads this time.
I admit to being up before dawn but did not start making the candy till after sunrise.
The Solstice went by quietly but well. Diane and I went to a Shelter by the lake where she did her usual Solstice meditation of Calling the Directions. It was COLD! We went on to a place we knew served excellent hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. Had a late lunch with the hot chocolate for dessert and had a wonderful long conversation just enjoying being together.
I hope you are more caught up with the Christmas preparations than I am. I will finally be wrapping gifts today and this evening Diane and I are invited to supper with her Sister and sister's partner.
Sending you big elf attired hugs and may you enjoy a delightful Christmas!
Your tie and hat are so festive!!!
I have no idea why but growing up we called it Aunt Bill's candy. There might have been a story there but nobody shared.
Thank you for sharing the glorious nakedness. I just love looking
Merry Christmas!!!
Thank You so very much for thinking the hat and tie are festive and more so for saying you enjoy seeing me being naked. I do enjoy the freedom of nudity after my many years going to a nude beach I have come to view nudity as just being comfortable in ones body.
So I take it that you are familiar with the recipe for Bill's Candy. 3 cups of sugar, 1/2 cup of dark Karo Syrup and 1 and a half cup of milk. Boil till it forms a soft ball, add butter, size of walnut, teaspoon of Vanilla and nuts if desired. Beat till stiff and pour into a well buttered pan.
Not sure why you heard of it as Aunt Bill's candy but I find the similar tale interesting. Mom never knew where her Uncle Bill got the recipe.
I tend to get a bit depressed this time of year. I suspect the combo of lack of light and expectations are a big reason. Wearing the Santa Hat and when out and about my red or green "elf" tights (usually but not always with a thong) and a green or red top raises my spirits.
The fact that seeing me in such a festive outfit often puts a smile on peoples faces and sometimes even a cheery comment is a big plus.
I don't think I have posted a picture of my in my full going out and about Elf outfit this year. Question is whether to do the picture commando or with a thong to be a tad more discreet or a sample shot both ways. Of course, my favorite is just wearing the Santa hat and Christmas tie and maybe a thong to help keep the "ornaments" warmer.
Sending you big Santa Hatted Elf hugs just because you are such a beautifully delightful person
Nice pics. I especially like the ones reflected in the window.
I decided not to make candy or cookies this year and yet ... I had to teach my daughter how to make Challah, my grand-nephew wanted chocolate chip cookies for his basketball game and somehow, I volunteered to bake cut-out cookies for the kids Cookie Decorating Party. All in the past week!
What the heck is Bill's Candy?
Thank you! I especially like the pictures taken showing the reflections in the window. I thought the blending of the outside view and the reflections from inside made for an interesting blend.
Bill's Candy is a sort of blond fudge made with white sugar, Karo Syrup and whole milk. I have come to use evaporate milk instead. Add a bit of vanilla and nuts for extra flavor.
I am happy to say I asked my Mom why it was called Bill's Candy and she said it was because her mother got the recipe from her uncle Bill. That is the candy shown in the pictures.
My mother used to bake at least five or six kinds of cookies for the Holiday season and also at least 4 or five different kinds of candy. Bill's Candy being one or them. She really needed a lot of goodies as twas the season for all the local relatives to make the rounds of sharing a meal or just stopping by to visit and see what everyone got from Santa. If I remember correctly that translated into about 8 sets of Aunts or Uncle and spouse plus the kids averaging at least 4 a set. Mom needed a lot of goodies as there were 7 of us kids. and Dad tended to raid the cookie and candy pantry and we kids followed him so we would get a treat too without getting into trouble. (It was Dad who got into trouble.)
Sounds like you have had and still have plenty to keep you busy though I do hope not completely out doing some misbehavior.
Sending you big Holiday hugs and may your December be a joyful one.
@justskin1 I have a family recipe known simply as Grandma cookies. I know which grandma. My cousins know which grandma but eventually there will be a generation that doesn't know. Hopefully, it will still be passed along by then.
You should write who Bill is on the recipe card.
@superbjversion2 You are correct that after a while the history of some of our most cherished recipes gets lost or forgotten. That is a sad thing to have happen so I shall take your advice and note the names origin on the recipe card.
Hmmm, my now adult with grandkids nephews would call my Mom's sugar cookies Grandma cookies. I do not know if they have ever made them but if so I hope they note why they are named so.
Sending you big Elven Christmas hugs along with a Big Thank you for the advice about noting the name's history as I have come to know it.
I've not seen 2001: A Space Odyssey but I hear it's a very good film.
Diane thought is was sort of remarkable that I had never seen that movie as she knows I was a huge space buff and am still into reading Science Fiction. I did read the novel way back when the movie came out.
I found the movie to be on the slow and boring side though it certainly deserves its reputation for being ground breaking. I suspect that ground breaking aspect is one reason it is still hailed today. No CGI back then so the special effects were all done with models and awesome camera work. I did consider it to be worth watching.
No doubt a big reason for its success was the world was totally space happy.