|
Join Our List
|
|
|
|
Holiday Hours:
Mon. through Thurs.: 10-8+ (building closes at 8, but we will stay 'til 9p.m. to accommodate shoppers)
Fri. & Sat:10 - 9 p.m.
Sun.:10 - 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: 10 - 5
Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
************************************************************************
We've just celebrated Thanksgiving - can Christmas and Hannukah be far behind?
As you contemplate your shopping list, remember to use our website for ideas and orders, and come into the store for a great selection! We have received just about all of our orders - our cupboards are full to burstin'! And those of you who shop with us regularly know that because we buy from small artist producers, much of our inventory is very limited and a lot is one-of-a-kind, so choosing early ensures that you have the widest selection. I'll also remind you of our Lay Away program. You can put 25% down on the items you want, and pick them up later. We will even have them all wrapped for you. You avail yourself of the best selection, but don't have your money tied up, or accruing credit card interest!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
Help us Ring in the Holidays at Wallingford Center on SaturdayDecember 6 from 5 to 9 p.m..! We will be throwing a party to benefit the Wallingford Senior Center complete with food, music, art and a raffle for some amazing gift baskets! All the stores will be decked out in their holiday finery, music will fill the air from the Dickens Carolers (5:30 - 6:30) to the Peter Cramer Jazz group (7 - 9), harp music to classical guitar. There is an exhibit of local artists with a silent auction, festive food throughout the Center, a coat and bag check, and discounted drinks at Chutney's bar for those wearing raffle beads. It should be a great party to kick off the holidays - hope you can make it!
And if you'd like to see a sample of the gift baskets being raffled off, stop by 4 Your Eyes Only Optical where one will be on display. And you can buy your raffle tickets early as well!
|
The Joys of the Season
|
|
St Nicholas Day Memories
When my son was little, we would acknowledge St. Nicholas Day by setting out his shoes before bedtime to be filled with small gifts and candy. St. Nicholas Day occurs early in December and was also about the same time we would be writing a letter to Santa. Since I was casual, and sometimes forgetful, of the actual date of St. Nicholas Day, we began to celebrate it on the first Saturday of December. This helped to ensure that we would remember to set out the shoes, and also have time the following morning to appreciate the little things that were left in his shoes. One season, when the Power Ranger action figures were sure to be a hit for Christmas, I took advantage of a great sale, and bought a few very early in November. By the time my son was composing his letter to Santa, the Power Ranger guys were not even on his list. Of course, I tried to gently suggest that he may have forgotten them, but no, they were not the object of his desires any longer. Luckily, they were on the list of a boy across the street, and I was able to pass on my great deal to his mother who was very grateful since, by that time they were hard to find! So that year we began a new tradition: When we put his shoes out for St, Nicholas, my son would tuck his letter to Santa inside. St. Nicholas would then do double duty - leave some treats, and deliver a letter to Santa! But there was method to my madness, you see - since the letter was sent, there could be no last minute changes to his list of desires. And I was free to get my shopping taken care of!
Let Crackerjack help you take care of your holiday shopping this year. Remember we can gift box and wrap your gifts, and you can even put them on Lay Away until you need them!
I hope you enjoy a peaceful and joyful Holiday, and that you find the time to do some of the things with your loved ones that memories are made of. One of my memories from childhood is the fun my sisters and I had decorating sugar cookies. My mom would make a simple icing from powdered sugar and milk which we'd color with food coloring, but I discovered that if I frosted my cookie with white icing and let it dry a bit, I could draw on it with a toothpick dipped into the food coloring and get a finer line than I could get with the colored icing. One of my favorite shapes to decorate was that of a camel. I would draw all the reins, and fringed blankets with designs on them, and the tail and the eyes. Needless to say, I didn't get a lot of cookies decorated, and the ones I did, I didn't want anyone to eat! I've included the recipe below, one we received from a neighbor and which is now the only sugar cookie any of us will make. They're also good rolled very thin and without icing - they stay nice and crispy that way - and you're not consuming anyone's artwork!
Enjoy!
|
|
NEXT MONTH: New Year's Resolutions!
|
Thank you all for shopping with us during the holidays and throughout the year. I wish each of you a peaceful, joyful, blessed holiday season, and the happiest of New Years!
Kathleen Koch
Crackerjack Contemporary Crafts
|
Favorite Cut Out Cookies
|
|
1 Cup Butter
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
3 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 Tablespoons Milk
4 1/2 - 5 Cups Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Add milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup flour with other dry ingredients, and then add to wet ingredients. Continue to add flour, mixing well, until you have a dough that will hold together and roll out well. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight. Break off a section, roll out to about 1/8 inch on floured board. Cut out shapes, transfer to cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes, or until very lightly browned. Remove to cooling racks. Cool completely and decorate as you want!
|
|
|
