I unearthed my container of cookie cutters last week. Oh, the memories! Most I inherited from my grandmother and all of them had been used many, many times when the children were growing up.

I had the urge–after thirty-plus years–to make cut-out sugar cookies again.  Just for fun…and because the Star quilt had finished up early I had the time.

See the fingers at the top of the photo?  They belong to Daughter Nancy, who is recovering from her tonsillectomy.  Settled on the couch, she watched in wonder as her mother attempted to recreate the past.

I have to say it all came back to me.  Muscle memory clicked in when I picked up that antique wooden rolling pin.  The dough, made two days before, was chilled nicely and ready for action.  The cookie cutters were washed, dried and anxious to be put into service.

Making these cookies brought back so many lovely memories.  I wallowed in them as I rolled and cut and sprinkled and baked.  I missed those loved ones, now gone, and the excited little children who are now in their 40’s and–gulp–50’s.  Generations of my family loved baking and decorating those cookies, and many, many children delightedly frosted their favorite shapes at cookie parties.

Typically they would be decorated with various shades of butter frosting, but I settled for colored sugar this year.  Next time I’m going to go all in and frost the dickens out of them because, yes, I plan to do this again. This old Christmas tradition needs to be revived, even if I’m the only one to whom it matters!

I ended up with enough cookies for Claire and Sam, along with a tin to bring to Texas for the boys.

Today?  It’s time to pack!  Flying to Texas has become yet another Christmas tradition…and it’s a good one, too!