A Christmas Game

In our split-level house, I decorate along the stairs with a fun nativity.  Every year this set finds itself on the passageway in and out of our home.

The fun part of this is that I arrange the pieces a certain way and almost daily, the pieces get re-arranged.

The Husband and Kidlet Three both shook their head "no" when I asked them if they had moved the pieces. 

They probably thought if they confessed I would be upset with them...

It has become a game.  I re-arrange the pieces.  Someone arranges them differently.  I arrange them in yet a different way.  They are arranged different still.

Here are some snapshots of the ever-so-subtle different "poses" I've found the nativity in:

It is almost like a "where's Waldo" game.  Some of the changes made were slight and I had to pay attention.

A Christmas Game...I think Jesus would be laughing with us on this one!

Trimming the Christmas Tree

Usually I keep my Christmas tree up for at least two weeks after Christmas.

Not this year. 

There is a long story about how the Christmas tree came to our house,

but just know a love-hate relationship had developed

between me and this tree two weeks ago.

The only picture I have of this year's trimmed tree is in this photo.

Our Christmas Day evening meal with the tree in the background. 

All the while we were eating, this is what was happening under the tree...

 Pine needles.  I'd been vacuuming almost daily under the tree

This year, the day after Christmas, we decided the tree had to come down.

The Husband and My Dad threw around some ideas and finally

decided to cut the tree into pieces right in the livingroom.  Any attempts

to carry this shedding mess out of the house would make my house

look like a pine tree forest. 

 The guys went to work with their snipping tools and slowly

and literally trimmed the tree.

 Just touching a branch would cause needles to shower down.

 The sheet was doing a great job capturing most of the needles, but we

also scrapped the floor and filled an ice cream bucket.

 Here is the poor, naked tree in my livingroom.

The Husband decided the star should go back on the tree for a final photo.

 The 2010 Christmas Tree

 And a close-up of the painted trunk. 

I am convinced this was a dead tree that had been

painted to sell.

 Some final fun for our tree trimming day.

Tree trimming.

Takes on a whole new meaning now, doesn't it!

Silent Night

Merry Christmas!  For some of us, our family celebrations have taken place but I know there are many still planning get-togethers.  So Merry Christmas's can still be said!

We had the honor of having my Dad and Mom travel from the Far-North-Town to stay with us several days before Christmas.  They traveled to Our-Bigger-City to visit a medical institution.  Dad has been having back pain with leg numbness and was diagnosed with a ping-pong ball sized cyst on his spine.  No wonder he has been in pain!  Many prayer partners were called upon this past week to pray on behalf of my Dad.  Prayer along with procedures and treatments by the medical staff have brought relief to him.  Praise God! 

Christmas Eve was spent with The Husband's side of the family.  I know I said this same thing last year, but this year's Christmas was the best with Grandpa able to be with us.   My Favorite-Father-in-Law (FFIL) has had many health scares this past year and praise God, FFIL celebrated his 88th Christmas.  I adore him. 

Our evening was filled with great food, laughter and an appreciation of the fact we could gather together. 

It was LATE when we arrived home. Pulling into our driveway, we were thrilled to see that Neighbor Steve has lined our sidewalks with ice luminaries that he'd made.  Each luminary had a candle lit and burning.  It was quiet as we stood on the snowy sidewalks, gazing at the beauty these lights cast.  It was a Silent Night.

 Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace



Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Sights of Christmas III

 

Can you tell what this is made of?

Baby food jars!

The jars are glued together and then a strand of Christmas lights are stuffed in them along with garland.  A nice cardboard backing is placed over the back side with more garland glued around the outside.

My brother made this for me years ago.  It must be some super super glue because it has stayed together for over 10 years.

This Christmas tree sits on the kitchen counter year after year.  And looks beautiful day and night!

Amazing lights!

Sights of Christmas II

A mini nativity sitting on the window ledge by the kitchen sink.  I love this little set.  And with all the time spent in the kitchen these days, it is good to have the Reason for the seaon right in front of me as I wash dishes.

Sights of Christmas

Over the next few days, let me share a few sights of Christmas.  I'll start with last Saturday.  During a blizzard, Neighbor Jack came over to help me make sugar cookies.

 Baking cookies with a buddy is way more fun than baking by myself. 

Neighbor Jack is an amazing cookie decorator!  And he thinks like me.  When I asked him how many cookies we each should eat, he paused and thought for a moment and then answered:  5.

I love that Neighbor Boy!

Baked Potato Soup

I've had several requests for the Baked Potato Soup that we enjoyed at Thanksgiving. 

Here is the recipe:

3 bacon strips
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 Tbls. flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 cups chicken broth
2 large potatoes, baked, peeled and cubed (about 2 cups)
1 cup half and half cream
Minced fresh parsley (or dried parsley)
Shredded cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp.  Drain, reserving 1 Tbls. drippings.  Set bacon aside.  Saute onion and garlic in the drippings, until tender.  Stir in flour, salt, basil, and pepper; mix well.  Gradually add broth.  Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes.  Add the potatoes and cream; heat through but do not boil.  Garnish with bacon, cheese and parley.  Yield 4-5 servings.

Hints:  I cooked up a rotisserie chicken we had purchased from the supermarket. Most of the meat was gone but I cooked what was left in water and used this as the chicken broth for my soup.  The meat that I was able to rescue, I used in the soup also.  Also, I left the peel on the potato. 

This is an "amazingly" good soup recipe!

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving

Okay, time is just flying by these days!  It has been a week since I've posted!

Uff da!

Oh we had such a lovely Thanksgiving Day.  My brother joined us for a simple Thanksgiving lunch. 

 Our meal consisted of Honey Oatmeal and Tastefully Simple beer bread...nummy!

 I made Baked Potato Soup and a Gone-All-Day Beef Stew. 

 Kidlet Three poured the milk and we dug in.  Such an enjoyable lunch.  It was little weird not having the traditional turkey, but it really is all about relationships.  My parents live in a Far-A-Way town so spending the day with my brother was a treat.

Here I am...So Amazed and Wonderful Brother! 

I hope you had a most enjoyable Thankful Day!