When guests enter Janet Anderson's home, they may find their feet beginning to gently lift from the ground.
There is no structural damage or abnormalities in her home in the least; what may levitate her visitors is the welcoming smell wafting from the kitchen. In fact, Anderson has spent the better part of 41 years baking cookies of all shapes, sizes and flavors.
Thousands of recipes have been tried and tested, from Oreo and coconut balls, divinity cookies, hermit cookies to Lep cookies and quite a few more. Yet for 41 years, the purpose of the temporary cookie factory has always remained the same. Each tasty treat is made for those who cannot bake for themselves. Every year, Anderson has made tray after tray for residents in nursing homes and other elderly California folks.
"It just gives me a good feeling to be able to do this for everyone," Anderson said. "Everybody loves cookies, and I love to bake. Besides, that's what Christmas is all about."
While the baking has been done for members of the community who may need their own bit of Christmas cheer, the process has been a tradition for Anderson's family.
"When I was young, my brothers and sisters would watch me bake, then my daughters would watch me do it," she said. "When they had grandchildren, they would watch me and help out when I needed it, too."
This tradition of sorts inspired her daughters to come together and make a special cookbook for Anderson. The book of both family and discovered recipes rests in a small spiral setting, but the contents are in Anderson's handwriting, making it all the more special. One recipe for orange drop cookies is from Anderson's mother. Another is for yet another tradition she has kept going for a generation or two.
"Over there, I have the cookie tree," Anderson said of the baker's dozen of cookies arranged in a Christmas tree formation, drizzled with frosting and red and green sprinkles. "I don't care if no one eats it; I make it every year just the same.
"I've done all of this out of love," she said. "I had a gentleman I would bake for for years try to pay me a few times, but I will never accept any money. I never have, and I never will. But just before he died, he told me that he would like me to keep this tradition up. So I most certainly will."
Anderson's children have done what they can to keep this promise going.
"My son bought me a freezer I have out back," she said. "The only thing that's in there are baking goods, pies and candies. That way I have it all right there in case of an emergency."
While the collection of trays has grown over the years, one has remained the same. A wooden germanic tray was gifted to Anderson when she married her husband and has stayed in her possession for 46 years in mint condition.
As much of the year is spent working in the kitchen creating the comforting and delectable aroma of Christmas goodies, Anderson also helps her son in Centertown.
"For a couple months, I go to market with him for Anderson Produce," she said. "His specialty is tomatoes."
Having moved from Centertown just eight years ago, she brought her giving spirit to California, with no end in sight.
"It's always been very relaxing for me to bake," she said. "I have spent many Christmases baking and bagging, and honestly, I haven't even eaten a dozen cookies yet this year. But I do it out of love, and I get just as much enjoyment out of it as everyone else does."