I'm Back for 2021!

 Hello out there!!

Looking back, it's been a while since I posted - what a year.... <sigh>. I know 2020 was a challenging year for everyone!! For me, gee whiz! My children started around Thanksgiving, 2019. My daughter was sick, tested positive for flu type A. She got over it and was sick again. My son got sick, got over it, but a couple of weeks later sick again. He tested positive for flu type C. Hubby got sick in January and went to urgent care. He was told just that it was a virus. Funny enough, he got tested in June and was positive for COVID antibodies. So, now not sure what the other illnesses the children had. For me, I went without any illness as far as viruses went. However, during our camping vacation, started out thinking I had a bug bite on my right lower shoulder. Got a little more itchy and had hubby use his phone so I could see it. Greeeaaaat. Got an appointment with my most terrific, awesome PCP and she confirmed my suspicion that it was shingles! Okay, let me say this. I have two children, RA, osteoarthritis, TBIs, fractures, and all, BUT NEVER have I had anything more painful than shingles!!! End of August, I was finally able to start getting the vaccines. Please, please PLEASE! If you are 50 and older GET THE VAX!! People who have had chicken pox can easily get it but shingles can be spread. Even with the vaccine, it's not 100% guarantee you won't get shingles again if you've already had them. Here we are, heading towards the end of January, about 8 months after the diagnosis and I still am going through the aftermath. I have brown splotches, scars all over my body from rogue shingles sore, numbness under the splotches and still have nerve pain, which they call Postherpetic Neuralgia - PHN. Thanks for listening to my little PSA regarding the vax!

So, I'm back. -Ish. Still crafting and spending time with my folks. Also still trying to get my daughter's sweater finished. Just putting on the turtleneck then it will be finishing with tucking yarn ends and then to block it. 

Yeah, sorry. Just as I was snapping, Isabel (Izzy) thought it was a photo op! Finally close to being done with this!!

Today I am trying some baking. I love watching baking shows and they keep talking about French Macarons and how difficult they are. They just look so delicate and yummy! I found a step by step of this from sugargeekshow.com. There's a bit to read for planning with pix and also a video if you want. I chose to read through the notes and try the recipe. I went back for the pictures whenever I needed a reference which was very helpful.

This is an image of the whites and almond flour mixture that I was folding. Hope I got the lava stream right!

Piped onto the mat, waiting for the skin!

I wasn't sure how long it would take for that skin to develop, so while I've been waiting is my oven preheat. It takes about 10 minutes, so I think I should be good. Here's the link for her recipe:

https://sugargeekshow.com/recipe/french-almond-macaron-recipe/

Looks like she has a few others I think I might like to try!

While you peruse her site, I'm gonna go check my oven and start cleaning and prepping for the buttercream ;).

Here we are! I didn't completely nail it, but very close.

All in all, good recipe! I had some issues on my part - oven temp has been off and tried to adjust for it among a couple of other things, but do believe I will be making this again.

Okay all, I am outta here for the day. Take care and God Bless!!