Forecast/Sugar Cookie Baking Tips and Recipe

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Since I know many of you are beginning your holiday travel, tonight I am posting the Storm Prediction Center watch/warning map (to the right). Please remember that this is time sensitive, but it gives you an idea of the trouble spots. Also, want to mention that the brownish color in Texas is for wind advisories. The rest are winter weather advisories/watches/warnings.

A bitterly cold day on the way for Friday across the northern tier of states. Some parts of Montana won't break 0 (Fahrenheit)! Meanwhile across the south it will be warm and balmy. Look out for wintry precipitation across the Sierra Nevada and northern Rockies and Wasatch Range of Utah. There will also be some of the same across the Great Lakes states, Ohio Valley and northeast.

Houston is under another Dense Fog Advisory until 8 am Friday. Look for fog again Saturday morning. It will be a muggy day with highs in the 70s. Cold front arrives Saturday night. Sunday and Monday will be cool with highs in the 50s. There should be some showers on and off into Sunday morning and then some storms are possible on Tuesday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do cookies or galletas, pronounced gah-YET-tahs. I love making and decorating sugar galletas.

If you know any Spanish speakers who would like to learn Spanish, our Spanish site is fully operational from product review through checkout. Go to www.frankypaco.com and let me know what you think.

You can still get our award winning DVD in time for Christmas...just choose priority mail after ordering through our web site, www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving because they will benefit from the cognitive improvements, language learning brings, for their entire life. If you are more interesting in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Making some sugar cookies today. The recipe is 2.5 cups of flour, 1.5 cups of confectioner sugar, 1 cup of butter (that's 2 sticks), 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon of salt (if desired), 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Now here is one of the things you need to know. When you mix all of this together (and it is recommended to mix the dry ingredients together first), you will have to mix for a long time with your mixer. You may think something is wrong because it will just look like a bunch of dry ingredients and you may think, oh no, I need to add some liquid or another egg or something wet. Don't do it!!!! Just be patient and keep on mixing (maybe for 10 minutes). Soon the dough starts to ball up in tiny pellets which clump and get bigger and bigger until you have a big glob of dough. Form that into a ball and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours (if you have time)...it just works better when it is cool. When you are ready to roll out the cookies, coat the surface liberally with flour (I work on wax paper), coat your rolling pin (or you can even use a straight sided glass--plastic is safest) with flour, coat your cookie cutters with flour. Press down and lift...if you are lucky the dough will lift with the cutter and you can gently lay it down on the cookie sheet. Keep applying flour to all surfaces as you work. Pick up the unused cookie dough and roll out again and again until you have used it all up. You can apply sprinkles before you bake. Spray the cookies with some cooking spray, sprinkle and press gently. Or you can wait and spray with butter after baking, sprinkle and press gently, or you can apply frosting and add sprinkles/decorations. Cook at 350 for about 7 to 8 minutes. Watch carefully toward the end as you don't want to burn them. Happy Baking!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Change in Christmas Forecast/Surprises at Garden Ridge Pottery

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Most of the western U.S. is under winter weather advisories/watches/warnings. And it is snowing over much of the southwest (especially the higher elevations). Meanwhile flooding remains a concern in southern California and Nevada. Winter weather advisories/watches/warnings are also in effect from Oklahoma through the Midwest and New England.

Thursday highs will be in the single digits for the northern plains and northern Rockies while the northeast will not get out of the 20s. The south will be much more mild (70s and 80s for highs) south and southeast.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for the Houston area and coastal counties until 9 am Thursday. A warm front will move through the area overnight bringing some balmy conditions for the end of the week. Next cold front arrives late Saturday. Sunday will be cool (in the 50s). Monday will also be chilly.

HERE'S THE BIG NEWS FOR HOUSTON! Temperatures will warm on Wednesday but it looks like a secondary shot of cool air will arrive in time for Christmas Day. Christmas morning will be in the 30s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do dense or denso, pronounced DEHN-sew. Yesterday we had niebla for fog. So tonight we have niebla densa.

2008 was a wonderful year for Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. The DVD was recognized as a Top 10 Educational Product by Dr. Toy and a Top 15 Educational Product by Homeschool.com. Don't miss out on the excitement!!! Order your copy from our web site, http://www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving because they will benefit from the cognitive improvements, language learning brings, for their entire life. If you are more interesting in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Went into Garden Ridge Pottery for a few last minute Christmas items. First of all, there was lots of stuff 50 and 75% off. But what struck me the most was the spring floral arrangements as I walked into the store. I had to do a double take to remember what time of year it is. And, there wasn't a ton of Christmas stuff left. I asked the cashier if anyone was actually buying the spring stuff and she said, oh yes, we have had quite a few sales. Wow! I am just so not in that mindset right now. You can get some terrific Christmas deals (for this year or next)!

Have a terrific Thursday and safe travels everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Warming Up/Walmart Service Pleasant Surprise

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Friend in Dallas told me his co-worker arrived at the office saying he had just had an accident on the ice. In the just the last hour or so, the temperature in Dallas has finally climbed above freezing and the warming trend should continue overnight as warmer air begins its push back up and over this arctic air mass. Look for dense fog around the Houston area--a Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 6 am. Dallas has a Freezing Fog Advisory but that should be modified to a Dense Fog Advisory overnight as temperatures continue to climb. Bottom line is that if you have to travel overnight, look out for fog. If you are planning to travel northward early Wednesday, ice won't be the problem--it will be dense fog.

Winter Weather Advisories/Watches/Warnings are still in effect for much of the country including a long line from Texas to New England. There are also winter storm warnings for many locations in the Rockies, mountains of Nevada and southern Sierra and the mountains in Idaho, Oregon and Washington state. Flood watches are in effect in Arizona where rain is a problem.

On Wednesday, the bitter cold will persist over the northern plains and western Great Lakes states where highs will only reach the single digits. Temperatures will moderate across the southern plains.

Houston, Wednesday will be much milder with highs near 60 after morning lows in the 40s. Look for balmy conditions Thursday through Saturday. Next cold front arrives Sunday, bringing chilly conditions for Hanukkah. Mild temperatures return by Christmas.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do fog or niebla, pronounced knee-A-blah. Be careful driving tonight. Use those low beams in the niebla.

Give the gift of language this holiday season...order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site, http://www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving because they will benefit from the cognitive improvements, language learning brings, for their entire life. If you are more interesting in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Finished up helping Santa today. I was very impressed with the service at Walmart in that I was attended to immediately. I picked out a bicycle and the worker, who helped me, arranged to have it by the gardening checkout so I could finish the rest of my shopping. That just helped so much!

Happy shopping and be careful in that fog!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Freezing Rain Advisory/Bible on One Page/Poll Results and New Poll

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
I'm shivering as I write this...just thinking about how cold it is for much of the country. My sister was visiting from New Mexico and I heard her tell a colleague (over the phone) that it is cold in Houston. Poor thing...she was going right from the cold water into the deep freeze as she was facing snow and ice upon her return home this evening. The problem in Houston is that often when it is cold, it is also humid. And that dampness just goes right through you. Combine that with the wind and it really can be bone chilling even if it is in the 40s.

And the 40s are mainly what we have in the Houston area this evening. But to the north, temperatures could dip to freezing and that combined with some drizzle could cause some slick spots. So, the National Weather Service issued a Freezing Rain Advisory for locations north of a line running from Columbus to Livingston. So...no ice in Houston or even Katy. If you are planning to drive north (say 290 or 45 or 59 north), watch for slick spots on overpasses and bridges. As of 8 pm, I found some freezing drizzle reports around Dallas and as far south as Hearne there was a report of mixed precipitation.

Well, that old shallow arctic air nipped us again. The models just don't see it. So, we have some chilly air very close to the surface. But it could be much worse. My in-laws in Council Bluffs, Iowa awoke to negative single digits. On Tuesday, highs around Minot, North Dakota and International Falls, Minnesota won't get out of the negative single digits.

There is a swath of winter weather advisories, warnings etc. from central Texas into Pennsylvania and then secondary lines through the southern Rockies, mountains of California, Oregon and Washington state, and from Kansas through Nebraska, Iowa and into Michigan. On Tuesday, look for wintry weather from Memphis into the Great Lakes. It will be balmy across the southeast U.S. with thunderstorms possible from New Orleans to Atlanta.

Houston, it will be cold (in the 40s) and cloudy all day on Tuesday. Some light rain is possible. Wednesday will be slightly warmer with balmy, mild conditions returning on Thursday. Look for another dose of cold air Sunday. Hanukkah will be cool, but Christmas will be mild.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, winter doesn't officially start until 6:04 am on December 21, but it sure is wintery around the country. So, let's do winter, or invierno, pronounce een-vee-AIR-noh. Watch for ice on the road during invierno.

It's not too late for Christmas to order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site, http://www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. The youngsters will be entertained (and educated) long after the presents have been opened!!! If you are more interesting in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
If you like to read the Bible, my Aunt Pam sent me this amazing link: http://www.jrsbible.info/bible.htm. You can look up any verse or passage with just a couple clicks--easier than paging through the Bible and not so heavy. Thanks Aunt Pam!!!

Here are the results for what people like the most about the holidays: 55% said seeing family, 11% said seeing friends, 33% said giving gifts and zero percent said getting gifts. Our new poll has to do with how you think this winter compares to what is normal for your area.

I put up a photo of the big full moon a few days ago. Also, there is a photo from the great time at the Ramirez party. Santa Claus showed up and took a picture with Sarah, my niece Sophia and me. Remember how warm it was Saturday? Well, he was mighty toasty in his Santa suit but he was still plenty jolly. He asked Sarah which presents she wanted for Christmas and she said "All of the presents". That had him laughing so hard, his tummy shook like a bowl full of jelly. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Well stay warm everyone and be careful driving!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Unsusually Warm Houston/Bitter Cold Elsewhere/Blue Poinsettias

HURRICANES AND MORE
Big contrast in temperatures across the nation!!! Also wintry weather in Missouri and from the Rockies into the northern Plains (where there are blizzard warnings for the Dakotas and Montana). It is going to be bitterly cold in Montana and the northern Rockies where highs will be in the negative singles and negative teens. I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Houston, we are back to clouds and humidity and Sunday will be unusually mild. There will be some showers but rain is most likely on Monday. A cold front brings some drier air by late Monday. But that will be short lived and it really looks like there will be warm weather through Christmas.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do party or fiesta, pronounced fee-EH-stah. It is one fiesta after another this time of year.

Don't forget to order Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com for fastest delivery. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. These DVDs make great stocking stuffers. If you are more interesting in a full immersion type product, go to www.frankypaco.com.

AND MORE
HEB has the coolest blue poinsettias with glitter on the leaves...so neat! I think they must have fed white poinsettias blue colored water--a technique similar to what they do with carnations. The color is somewhat variegated--a pretty effect.

Enjoy the weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/$1 Car Wash/Biggest Full Moon

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
It's quiet now out east, but the northwest and Rockies and even the southern ranges in California are being hit with wintry weather. The really cold air is sliding south out west, but it looks like it is going to get stuck...an amplified pattern with a fairly deep and persistent trough (containing the cold air) out west and the warm air over the southeast. Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above normal temperatures over the southern Plains and Texas through the 26th of December. So, you probably shouldn't be looking for a white (much less a cold) Hanukkah or Christmas there.

Saturday will be bitterly cold with Cut Bank, Montana not getting out of the single digits. It will also be very chilly across the Great Lakes and northeast. North Dakota won't get out of the teens. Compare that to the southeast and southern plains which will be in the 60s and 70s.

Houston, the weekend will be cool in the mornings and mild in the afternoons. It will become muggy and there could be some showers on Sunday. Look for skies to become cloudy again on Saturday morning.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do moon or luna, pronounced LOO-nah. Be sure to check out the full luna tonight!!! See "And More" section for more about that.

We ship our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, daily. And if you are concerned about getting them in time for Christmas, we offer UPS and USPS priority shipping. Get your copies of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
Tonight, Friday, 12/12 will be the biggest full moon since 1993. For more information, go to:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11199195. Should be great viewing with the clear skies!

Gordy found the best car wash deal hands down. Mister Car Wash has a $1 wash at their new location on Dulles across from Dulles High School. Yes...it's true and you are not imagining!!! He used it today, and he reports that there are even people drying the car as you come out from the wash. He also said the vacuums are free. I don't know how they can afford to do this, but they are doing it!!!

Happy Weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/Snow Report

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
There was a lot of excitement around here...some of it not so fun. The NWS had to extend the winter weather advisory this a.m. due to so many accidents. NWS says there were between 0.5 and 3 inches across the Houston forecast area. Wow!

The same storm system was responsible for 50 hail reports and at least 1 tornado in the southeast U.S. And there are numerous winter weather advisories/watches/warnings in the east and northeast and southern Mississippi/Alabama. Also, there are winter weather advisories for much of the Rockies and northern Plains, the Intermountain Region/western Oregon.

Friday will be very cold for the Great Lakes and Northern Plains with many locations having highs only in the teens. Look for snow in the northeast and over the Great Lakes and rain in the northwest with snow in the higher elevations.

For Houston, after a morning of freezing temperatures, mainly outlying, a nice warm up into the 60s with sunshine. Saturday will start in the 40s and warm into the 70s with clouds returning. A few showers are possible Sunday. Next front (a weak one) arrives Monday. Weather will be very mild for the next 8 to 10 days.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do ice or hielo, pronounce ee-EH-low. Watch out for hielo on the road.

Kids grow up so fast. Their brains are amazing sponges and research shows that they learn multiple languages easily and effectively. Don't let this gift giving season go by without getting the youngsters you know our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco, today from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com, and you will get shipping within 24 hours. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Before you know it, they will have outgrown that optimal learning window.

AND MORE
Remember I told you that FortBendNow.com had covered me talking to Lexington Creek Elementary. Well, they put up some video, http://fortbendnow.com/. Look on the right side and you can watch it. You'll learn so much, you'll just be amazed--tee hee!

Happy Friday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman