Scary, swirly-looking weather patterns have torn the 2025 finish-line ribbon to shreds. Thank goodness the FLL (Fixin’ Leaks and Leaks) Headquarters has a new roof and a back-up generator. The back-up power system is courtesy of Nate’s electric car (which is not a Tesla). Not sure how the technology works, but the energy for charging… Continue reading Still Alive in 2025: Fixin’ Leaks and Leeks Year-End Wrap-Up
Author: ckennedy
Author of the DIY blog: Fixin' Leaks and Leeks. Paper/Rock Writing Consultation, Sole Proprietor.
Rum Ball Reprise
Potluck pandemonium is still jingling its sleigh bells along the buffet line, and we’re getting loaded. Well, I mean, we’re loading up the buffet line—for Alex, who is a young adult, getting invited to all kinds of parties, and he needs to bring something to the table. Many of his friends are of Mexican heritage,… Continue reading Rum Ball Reprise
Crisp Kringle Red Velvet Cookies
The elf fell off the shelf when it saw me dump a generous splash of cherry liqueur into the batter, but that’s how the crisp cookie crumbles. Yep, for this last batch of countdown-to-Christmas cookies, I dove deep into the pantry to see what other kind of booze I could sneak into cookie batter—and no… Continue reading Crisp Kringle Red Velvet Cookies
Merry Minty Mint Mints
The oven’s reached hot-flash mode, and I’m not far behind. The Heat Miser’s throwing flames and singing songs about melting things in his clutch. When this happens, it means the Christmas cookie countdown is coming in hot—and needs to cool down with festive mints. So, when the ovens are a fury of toe-tapping Heat Miser… Continue reading Merry Minty Mint Mints
Chocolate Peppermint Party Cookies
If candy cane confetti hits the kitchen like a festive windstorm of merriment, do you… a) finish the email you’re writing, b) freak out and call the Krampus Control Hotline, or c) bake a batch of chocolate cookies and use them as pillows to catch all the fun? I opted for “c” mostly because “c”… Continue reading Chocolate Peppermint Party Cookies
Christmas Cookie Countdown: Boozy Butterscotch
The sugar plums dancing in my head are turning in their tutus ‘cause they’re all tapped out. But they left some butterscotch morsels, doused in a good tempest of butterscotch liqueur in their place. And as we all know, the show must go on, bottoms up, cheers, down the hatch, nom-nom-nom. To make the best… Continue reading Christmas Cookie Countdown: Boozy Butterscotch
Good Gourd!
A horde of gourds is seeping, oozing, squishing, and exploding all over our Thanksgiving centerpiece plans. It all started with Halloween. Or maybe October 1. The Fixin’ Leaks and Leeks Team loves to decorate with pumpkins the minute the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. on September 30, which means we’re really counting on the squash to… Continue reading Good Gourd!
Coffee Shop Crawl
I’m all sizzled out on pumpkin spice, caffeine charging through my veins, spilling out in wild arm-waving to a techno beat. So, I’ve raided two coffee shops in town, in search of milder cranberry-flavored merriment. Starbucks, the source of my cranberry crisis last year, is sadly no longer serving its cranberry refresher drink, but the… Continue reading Coffee Shop Crawl
Mild Craft Alert: Thanksgiving Day Activity Placemats
I just watched a giant Barney-shaped balloon rip open over a crowd during a past Macy’s Day Parade. And I felt it in my soul, bursting at the seams while onlookers shout, “Whoa, Whooo.” (Seriously, watch this video of balloon mishaps from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades of the past. A candy cane balloon deflates and… Continue reading Mild Craft Alert: Thanksgiving Day Activity Placemats
SOS Cakes
A whirl of pumpkin guts, studded with candy wrappers and spider rings, just flew past my window. And I am so tired. Last night, it rained and rained and rained—and there were trick-or-treaters and Alex’s guitar. “Hotel California” briefly drifted into view. A pumpkin got carved, rolls got baked, and Alex played “The Greatest Song… Continue reading SOS Cakes
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