
This was a record-setting year for chocolatiering: 136 pounds, 2 ounces of bonbons, in 38 different varieties. Alas, one of the varieties would not fit, so the peanut-butter-and-jelly ones did not make it into the boxes (and thus are not listed in the index). But I can assure you they were delicious!
If you’ve ever wondered what 136 pounds of bonbons looks like, wonder no more! Here I am with the complete collection:

Yesterday eight friends came by and helped pack 3,000 chocolates into candy cups and then into boxes, tied the boxes neatly with red ribbon, and packed them away for shipping. There were 83 boxes total – 40 for donors, 41 for friends, family, and a few select business associates, and 2 that I’m holding in reserve should a box or two get lost in the mail.
After that, my friends gleefully pillaged the remaining chocolates (there’s a reason I never have trouble finding volunteers to pack!), with the result that my house is now almost bare of chocolate. Once Mike takes the remaining few pounds to his salivating coworkers today, the house will be empty of chocolate. Except, of course, for the two cases (40 pounds) of chocolate I have left over for next year… 🙂
While Tigress mostly hid from the hordes of people, Fritz was ecstatic about the hordes of people who were clearly invited over just to pet him! Alas, they were mostly busy packing chocolates (how terrible!), but he did find some beautiful cat toys, made just for him.

You are so good to do all that. Does your place still smell of chocolate? Everything looks incredibly delicious.