Labors of Love

There is only slightly less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, sights and sounds of the season abound.  Our community hosted it's annual arts and crafts fair.  Much like that at the Sprague Senior Center, this show profits the exhibitors.  Mr. Bill sold some beautiful potted flowers including some pressed flowers that were absolutely one of a kind.  People from all over our community continually drive by our home admiring Mr. Bill's yard.  It is, much as the flowers of Fred's New were, a labor of love.  For a different look this year, I took some of the photos of the Flowers of Fred's News, prominently displaying them  for many shoppers to enjoy.  What a great conversation piece, there beauty breathtaking.  Although our immediate neighbors enjoy stories of the little restaurant, it's reputation, place in Sprague's history and former owners, are much more well known to the citizens of eastern Connecticut,  Yes, people from all over the world visited Fred's, taking memories and full stomachs with them, but the treasured stories complete with characters, flowers, and even recipes took top billing today. 

One of the tables at the fair....Christmas Cookie samples.  All one had to do was place an order, you can pick them up two weeks prior to the holiday.  That sounded so familiar.  Now Mr. Bill and I make our own Christmas cookies, still shipping them north to old friends.  That process will begin soon.  Mr. Bill thinks we should introduce the community to our pork pies, possibly next season!  But it is the Christmas cookies that were most fun during our years at Fred's.  They too were strictly a labor of love.  Many asked if we would sell them, mostly they were presents for our patrons, our way  of saying welcome to our home, our life, thanks for being part of the Fred's News Family.  Son Mark, has perfected the art of baking Christmas Cookies.  There isn't one that he hasn't tried, there is no such thing as too involved.  His craft has been honed, for over ten years, he and friends gather laboring to produce the tasty morsels.  Mark has written down every recipe, neatly stored in his "cookie file."  All one has to do is ask, the recipe presented as part of the gift.  Great idea..that's our boy!!!   I will admit, he has far more patience than I, producing those mouth watering  bits of sweetness..."tis the season...no calories please!  Being quite the traditionalist,  Mr. Bill's favorite...the chocolate chip, no matter what the season.  He feels he has consumed enough of those sweet bites, he is now a connoisseur.  Mark's, by a vote from his palate, are top notch..the best.  Actually anything that vaguely looks, smells or tastes of chocolate, fall into that "yummy tummy favorite" category.  Brother, Chef Matthew admits, Mark's cookies...mmmmm good. Cookie making at our home began as soon as the boys were old enough to understand.  I can remember Matthew pulling his high chair into the kitchen, climbing aboard, helping to add all the ingredients, asking numerous questions and frequently tasting cookie dough,yes, all those memories tucked into "that special place."  The Christmas Cookie tradition will live on!