Since I have been dubbed a "Cookie Princess"....

...and since Kathie "misses [me]" and "SOOOOO misses [my] ginger cookies," here is the recipe. Um, by the way, did anyone else notice the disproportionately placed affection here? ;o)

GINGER CRINKLES

Ingredients:
1 1/3 C Sugar
1 1/3 C Oil
2 Eggs
1/2 C Molasses
4 C Flour
4 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Ginger
1/2 C Sugar for dipping

1. Preheat oven to 350○
2. Mix sugar and oil. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in molasses.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients well. Add to wet ingredients and stir well.
4. Form into balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

TIPS: I mix dough by hand, not in mixer. Don’t overbake! Remove cookies from oven when they are cracked on top, but still look somewhat doughy -- they will continue to bake on the pan. Let cool for approximately 10 minutes before removing from the pan to cool on a rack.

'Flowers from Heaven' feel better than 'Pennies from Heaven'

...at least when they unexpectedly fall and bonk you on the head, as has happened to me twice today. :o)

You have to understand, I basically never get flowers. I don't have a significant other to give the obligatory romantic bouquet on holidays and anniversaries, so except for those rare occasions when a friend buys some on a whim or plucks them from the garden, it's pretty much up to me to buy my own flowers if I feel so compelled.

That said, I showed up at work this morning and found a lovely fall bouquet propped against my door. I helped someone (a manager that I don't normally support) out of a pinch yesterday evening, and she brought flowers as a 'thank you.' Naturally, this brightened my morning significantly. Then, as if that wasn't enough, I took a long lunch for my semi-annual dental cleaning, and came back to find a STUNNING -I kid you not- three and a half foot tall orchid plant on my desk! It's absolutely breathtaking, and appears as if it should be the centerpiece at some formal Japanese banquet. This was a 'thank you' from another wonderful co-worker, and left me postively flabbergasted and glowing more than a little. (insert ridiculously big grin)

People keep peeking into my office as they walk by, with quizzical looks on their faces that suggest they're wondering if they have somehow missed my birthday or some other important event. Of course, that just makes me smile more, and increases the sense of curiosity. Hee.

What started out as a very difficult week has been intersected in a way that basically amounts to little hugs from Jesus wherever I look. Sigh. I love this stuff.