Tickle My Heart Cookie Cottages: These are a few of the bird houses Jeannie and I made for the table center pieces at Kim's wedding in October of 2008.


See how blissfully happy we are when we play Gingerbread House!

"Orange Retreat"

"The Love Barn"

"Carrot Cove"

Bake and Bond

Jeannie and I both enjoyed making gingerbread houses at Christmas time with our children. In 2002 when we became acquainted, we discovered that we both had the gingerbread bug! We got our families together and made gingerbread cars to entice the men and boys to join in the fun. We have been making houses and other cookie creations together ever since.

We take ordinary, everyday food, such as carrot slices and dry them to blossom into beautiful flowers. We dry oranges or limes and turn them into elegant windows or roof tops. We gather unwanted weeds and create new varieties of foliage. One of our discoveries was the amazing mung bean which we used along with dried raspberries to create a new plant called, "The Rasmung Bush". Of course we use M&M’s, licorice, and every other kind of delicious, gorgeous candy to decorate with, but one item we always use are gumdrops. However, most people don't recognize them, as we have changed their form! Our general rule for decorating a house is: If it's cute (or even not too cute), stick it on!

We love each of our houses. Each one is different and special to us. They have themes with characters full of personality that make each cottage come to life. Although we are not “business partners”, we are “play partners” and we thought that calls for a name! Therefore, we affectionately call ourselves “Tickle My Heart!” which appropriately describes what these creations do, they tickle our hearts!

My newest motto is “Bake and Bond”. What began as a fun little activity to do once a year has turned into a year round baking bonanza. I have experienced a deeper bond with my daughter's, daughter's-in-laws and even their friends as they come and join in the heart tickling fun of gingerbread baking. It is pure joy!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

These are a few of the bird houses Jeannie and I made for the table center pieces at Kim's wedding in October of 2008.