Sometimes...

I quite often find myself hanging out with other over-achievers...

who at the busiest time of the year decide to make nearly 90 hand appliqued wool needle cases.

And as if that wasn't enough over-achieveing...we created a flock of funky folksy birds in all colors and designs,

to hang from centerpieces at a quilt guild party.

So let's here it for all the over-achievers in the world!

And today I think I'll start my Christmas shopping.

Finding Danny

There are several theories as to the origin of the Christmas tree. Some say it began in Germany almost 1000 years ago when St Boniface (who converted the German people to Christianity) was said to have come across a group of pagans worshiping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface allegedly cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time. 

The Garlick Press has one of those mish-mash trees...you know, the polar opposite of the perfect evergreen trees shown glowing from a Pottery Barn catalog. As it is...the only thing our ornaments have in common...is the fact that they have nothing in common.

Several times throughout the years, I've been tempted to throw out the hodge-podge and opt for a more traditional tree with matching ornaments and coordinating garland and bows.

This Rockettes ornament came from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Of course I have an ornament of my favorite beverage.

The hand made treasures kiddos brought home from school projects are still adorable.

Seemingly ages ago, the Teenager made this one in preschool...astonishingly it made the trip home in a little guy's backpack and has been hanging on the tree ever since.

I easily recall the story each ornament has to tell. Yearly as we decorate the tree, I'll quiz the family as to the origins...almost willing them to remember year after year. 

There are ornaments that represent memories. This ridiculous Bart Simpson ornament came from Orlando...reminding us of the year we took a page from the John Grisham novel and "Skipped Christmas!" It was the first year without our Jocie. Christmas Day was celebrated on The Simpson Ride in warm sunny Florida. 

This gorgeous one is made of crystal and glass. We picked it up in the Czech Republic.

And this guy came from Moscow Russia.

One by one...the tree soon becomes an evergreen journal filled with magical moments.

 The Garlick Press is especially fond of Santa on a string of garlic...clever!


The official White House ornament from a few years ago.

Pink Ballet shoes...the year Lawyer Girl began dancing on Pointe. Although she most likely hates to admit to her dancing days...it's a part of her story none the less.

This one speaks for itself!

Right up to the angel sitting on top, which we purchased from the most enchanting year-round Christmas store in historic Ellicott City Maryland so long ago. The back wall of the Christmas store was the mountain side...it had the coolest smell in there.

But perhaps my most cherished ornaments are the ones with the funny childhood faces. We tease and giggle about them year after year. Like this one of baby Cassandra just 6 weeks old

Or this one of Jocie wearing one of her many signature hats she loved.

And this one of Little Man Chet...just four years old when this was taken. 

And last but not least, the one of Dione as a baby dressed in a holiday outfit with a bow-tie. She claims she looks like a little boy in the photo;  we have been referring to it as the Danny ornament for as long as I can remember. It is not Dione's favorite photo...to say the least.

But alas...WHERE IS DANNY you might ask? 

Well, here is the deal. While Lawyer Girl was visiting over Thanksgiving break...Danny came up missing....hidden somewhere in the boughs of the Evergreen. This is Dione's game which she plays every year. It makes the rest of the family crazy...spending hours playing hide and seek with Danny among the thousands of lights and hundreds of ornaments. 

So...I'm going to outsmart that clever, tricky, slightly devious second daughter of mine. Two can play at this game.

I'm hereby issuing a reward! 

Anyone who can locate Danny gets one of my fresh homemade pies...you pick the flavor! And hurry...because Lawyer Girl is due to arrive home for the holidays very soon!

Pie Night...Another One

"The most wonderful night of the year" according to a friend who attended Garlick Family Pie Night this past weekend! Fifteen scrumptious deserts made the holiday lineup this year.

Did you know it takes 44 eggs, 5 pounds of butter, and over 25 cups of sugar to turn these empty pie tins...

into this...

and this...all in one day! 

Incidentally, while measuring ingredients for the final pie, a Lemon Meringue...I'm one egg short of the 4 the recipe required. All afternoon...willing those chickens in the backyard coop to lay one more egg. Dean go squeeze a chicken or something!

Cream...lots and lots of cream...

almost an entire gallon.

Two complete bottles of red food coloring for the Red Velvet Cake.

8 bricks of cream cheese, and pounds of pecans, bananas, apples, peaches, coconut, lemons, key limes,

Big thanks to Joni...for taking most of these photos while I served pie

and flour...a TON of flour. But don't worry, I take all the fat and calories out...just in case you are worried!


There is always a flurry of last minute tasks (like wiping flour from my face and sugar off the floor) before everyone arrives. Once the doorbell rings, anxious pie eaters converge on the delectable sweet spread of yummy goodness, trying their best to decide which slice or slices to taste. Mother and daughter, Susie and Meghan came all the way up from the big city.

As friends and neighbors gather in my home,


I can't help but reflect on each of them and the perfect and poignant role they play in my life. I love Michelle's look...this being her first pie night, she seems eager to jump right in.

A friend of The Teenager's samples German Chocolate Pie...the latest addition to the pie lineup.

Olivia learning to use a fork ends up wearing most of her attempt.

Over the years, the guest list has grown, and so has my love for all of them.

Another couple of rookies to pie night this year...I was completely surprised when Karen and hubby Mark peeked around the corner.


Posing with Joni, I am reminded of my infamous college years spent giggling and eating late night Lucky Charms instead of studying. These girls have known me even longer than Dean. Collectively we've experienced years of ups and downs, remaining close to cheer each other on through it all.


It seems The Teenager has been charming the ladies.

To some people it may seem a tremendous amount of work...spending an entire day baking pies preparing for a big party. But the tradition of pie night is as important to The Garlick Press as decorating our Christmas tree.

And now that Pie Night is over for another year...I can really relax and enjoy the holidays ahead! Just don't ask me to make another pie crust for quite a while.

Adorable November

Today being the last day of November, here are just a few things I found adorable during this month of gratitude.

Lately, Henry has been going by the nickname Hammyburger...and now we know why. A toy hamburger patty has become his new favorite thing at Nana's house. Not sure why...I guess he just loves meat!

Olivia finding a comfy place to sit. This is what happens when Nana is tending.

Henry...adorable, sweet baby Henry. The back story on this photo...digging through storage boxes of old toys, we came across this hat. Dean bought one for each of the girls during one of his many trips to Russia. Cass, Dione and Jocie wore these hats for years.

Scrunchy nose face!

Shooting photos with the babies is always adventuresome and adorable. Add freezing cold temps, fresh wet snow, a snowman whose Oreo eyes were eaten by the dog, and then throw in a live chicken just to really create mayhem!

You know those babies must think we are NUTS!

And that 's the end of the photo shoot! Sorry Henry...but even your pout is adorable! By the way, the cards turned out great...I can't wait to find one in my mailbox!

Ah...sweet tender moments of Olivia and Papa snuggling on the sofa...love her adorable little belly!

A birthday cupcake surprise from Jocie's friends...Autumn, Sid, and Lindsay. They spent hours making them...aren't they gorgeous? Love you girls...truly, madly, deeply I do!

Getting ready to send out a few orders of jiggysticks...adore...adore...adore! A big thank you to everyone who has supported our adventure so far. Dean continues to send me a text every time he receives one of your orders...he adores it completely!

The latest jiggystick flavor...Raspberry Vanilla. I love how this label turned out!

Taken with the iphone 4s...not bad.

And finally...The Teenager on the first day of the ski season Saturday. As he stepped into those new Line skis and headed down the mountain, I couldn't help but sense Jocie skiing right along with him; smiling and proud of her totally legit baby brother!