Decking the Halls
We braved the rampaging hoards Friday morning and visited Lowe's in search of cheap Christmas lights and good bargains and came home with LED lights (there's a story there, I promise) and a Christmas tree. The plan had been to go and cut our own on Saturday, but I was impatient, and really, the tree was a great price and gorgeous and I WANTED it. :oP I knew we would need to let it sit in the stand overnight for the branches to acclimate before we could decorate it, and we all agreed we wanted to trim the tree Saturday instead of waiting until today.
So, Friday afternoon, while we waited for the tree to rest and do its thing, the girls and I decorated the house--we're almost finished. I have a few little odds and ends to take care of--holiday wreaths to be made (see below), snowflakes to finish, cards to be made--but for the most part I can now sit back and enjoy. :o)
I started with my little shelf. I do love it and all it's wintery goodness. :o)
So, Friday afternoon, while we waited for the tree to rest and do its thing, the girls and I decorated the house--we're almost finished. I have a few little odds and ends to take care of--holiday wreaths to be made (see below), snowflakes to finish, cards to be made--but for the most part I can now sit back and enjoy. :o)
I started with my little shelf. I do love it and all it's wintery goodness. :o)
While I worked on the shelf and various odds and ends throughout, Lil and Bean set up their nativity.
Twelve years on, that little star still plays "Away in a Manger" just like new. :sigh: And, yes, we are bad Catholics--the baby Jesus is already there. I may whisk him away yet, as we're still anticipating and awaiting his arrival. I struggle because I love watching the girls play with him and have all creation adore him. Hm...
I set up my nativity (I can't do anything about my baby Jesus because he's firmly attached to his mother. :oP
Nicole and Emily came over Friday afternoon and helped trim Hannah's tree. They're traveling to Texas for Christmas, so there's not much in the way of decorating their house and I thought they might enjoy all the gorgeous ornaments for Hannah's tree.
B agreed it was perfect for four little girls to decorate Han's tree and while I sat and went through all the ornaments, I thought of all the love and support and generosity of spirit that went into the gifts. I look forward to putting her tree up every year and smile while doing so. Thank you all so much. :o)
B agreed it was perfect for four little girls to decorate Han's tree and while I sat and went through all the ornaments, I thought of all the love and support and generosity of spirit that went into the gifts. I look forward to putting her tree up every year and smile while doing so. Thank you all so much. :o)
Lil and Nicole put this tree together with Emily and Bean's help. I think they did a pretty great job. :o) The spool of ribbon was tucked away with the ornaments and they went with it.
Yesterday the tree was ready to go. I had put the lights on the night before and all was ready.
Those lights...
We had an artificial tree for the past four years or so and I grew accustomed to the simplicity of the white lights. I knew I wanted to keep doing that for our tree and thought to pick up a few strands of white lights on sale for $2/box of 100.
B read the box and noticed they weren't "constant on", meaning if one went, the all went. Uh, this has pretty much been the story of my life with Christmas lights and I'm pretty used to dealing with that. I'm the light master of the house, after all. ;o)
But, I had to agree with B, if he were willing to spring for the additional cost, I'd much rather have to replace merely one bulb than an entire string of lights. So, we were off pricing constant on lights. They are NOT $2/string of 100. *ahem*
I've been making noises about wanting LED lights for a couple of years now (okay, not the past four since the tree was lovely and easy and prelit, but for a year or so before that), but they are quite pricy and we decided it just wasn't in the budget, especially given my desire to try to set the tree on fire with all my lights. :oP
However, when we compared the price of the LEDs with the incandescent constant on lights, there wasn't that great a price difference, so we went with them. :o) I'm beyond chuffed!
I'm going to need a few more strands next year, but the tree is still gorgeous nonetheless. The LEDs are quite bright (we went with the warm ones instead of the silvery blue-ish ones) and intense, so that's taking a bit of getting used to, but I'm really pleased with how the tree is lit. :o)
Those lights...
We had an artificial tree for the past four years or so and I grew accustomed to the simplicity of the white lights. I knew I wanted to keep doing that for our tree and thought to pick up a few strands of white lights on sale for $2/box of 100.
B read the box and noticed they weren't "constant on", meaning if one went, the all went. Uh, this has pretty much been the story of my life with Christmas lights and I'm pretty used to dealing with that. I'm the light master of the house, after all. ;o)
But, I had to agree with B, if he were willing to spring for the additional cost, I'd much rather have to replace merely one bulb than an entire string of lights. So, we were off pricing constant on lights. They are NOT $2/string of 100. *ahem*
I've been making noises about wanting LED lights for a couple of years now (okay, not the past four since the tree was lovely and easy and prelit, but for a year or so before that), but they are quite pricy and we decided it just wasn't in the budget, especially given my desire to try to set the tree on fire with all my lights. :oP
However, when we compared the price of the LEDs with the incandescent constant on lights, there wasn't that great a price difference, so we went with them. :o) I'm beyond chuffed!
I'm going to need a few more strands next year, but the tree is still gorgeous nonetheless. The LEDs are quite bright (we went with the warm ones instead of the silvery blue-ish ones) and intense, so that's taking a bit of getting used to, but I'm really pleased with how the tree is lit. :o)
I had decided to do a "red" tree on top of our traditional family ornaments and the girls set about attaching hangers so we could finish off the tree.
And, all done, including B's stocking turned around all backwards and crazy crookedy wookedy photos on the wall. :oP
My view at night. It's hard to beat. I sat here with a cup of sipping chocolate with a shot of peppermint schnapps (B called it my "hot schnapplate", HA!) and enjoyed the beauty and peace of it all. Ahhhh...
Today the turkey soup is on the stove (Crystal gave me their carcass, sweet thing!) and smelling delightful. I have two dogs to groom and some cleaning to do (Lissie comes Tuesday, HOORAY!!) and then tonight I can sit and tat some snowflakes and enjoy the comfort and coziness of my home. I can't complain.
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Sparklies:
1.
Today the turkey soup is on the stove (Crystal gave me their carcass, sweet thing!) and smelling delightful. I have two dogs to groom and some cleaning to do (Lissie comes Tuesday, HOORAY!!) and then tonight I can sit and tat some snowflakes and enjoy the comfort and coziness of my home. I can't complain.
*************************
Sparklies:
1.
Dried apples are as easy to make as dried oranges, only you can't turn them as they wind up with grill marks on them. Okay then.
3.
3.
Uh, yeah, about those brown ones... Oranges do best in a 200 degree oven. If you have baked something at 425, be sure the temp is back down before you pop your oranges back in... just sayin'.
4.
4.
Finn is still a sad, broken little pooch. He desperately wants love and affection and attention, but is so afraid of being touch he can't stand it. Unless we're in bed... that would be how I found him up against me yesterday morning. I'm allowed to love on him all I want when he's in bed. In fact, he'll beg for attention. Crazy.
5.
5.
I know I mention how big the boys are, but I thought I'd provide a bit of scale here. Georgie is a fifteen pound beastie. He's HUGE. Fred is right behind him.
Oh, I should also mention Mr. Man here loooooooves being held like this--no sarcasm at all. B brings him over and he gets the tummy scritchings of his life. :oP
Milestones:
Decorating Hannah's tree for the seventh year without her. :sigh: I still feel like we're missing something when it's time to trim the tree. The girls now take turns putting up her ornaments. I desperately wish she were here to do it herself.
*****FISBEE AND JOVIE WATCH 2015*****
(Ellie decided since "Jovie" ended in an "EE" sound like her name, it should end like her's, hence the respelling.)
Oh, I should also mention Mr. Man here loooooooves being held like this--no sarcasm at all. B brings him over and he gets the tummy scritchings of his life. :oP
Milestones:
Decorating Hannah's tree for the seventh year without her. :sigh: I still feel like we're missing something when it's time to trim the tree. The girls now take turns putting up her ornaments. I desperately wish she were here to do it herself.
*****FISBEE AND JOVIE WATCH 2015*****
(Ellie decided since "Jovie" ended in an "EE" sound like her name, it should end like her's, hence the respelling.)
We found them going for a swing this morning. :o)
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