Part 4: WHO came to town...??!

And here's the filled Christmas stocking to prove it...

also the empty cookie plate and drained milk glass on top of the cabinet!!

Dad cleverly hides from the camera as he opens a gift...

But I happily show off my Pirates of the Caribbean T-shirt!

And an extra Wii remote makes tennis more competitive...

Then a drive over to Grandma and Grandpa's house...they didn't get as much snow as we did.
  Is somebody at the door??

 


Hi Grandma!!  Look at the snow flurries coming down...

Their decorated piano...

Rudy the Reindeer lounges on the right end of the piano.  He sings and taps his hooves to "Don't Worry, Be Happy"!  It's a riot...!!!

We drive back to our house for ham dinner, mashed taters, green beans 

and banana creme pudding for dessert.

Then an unposed family picture, between the Tree and the Village...

Then one with three grands...

'pa, 'ma and 'daughter!

A Merry Happy Christmas was had here, and for those dear friends and family who could not be with us, know that you were in our hearts, and that we send big hugs to you all!!

Now it's New Year's Eve and we wish you all a healthy, happy New Year, Two Thousand Eleven!  (don't forget to write that new year on your checks~~ha!)

Part 3: Bing Crosby Sings!

I'm dreaming of a.......

hey, WAKE UP and look out the window!

Legend has it that the last time it snowed on 

Christmas Day here was in 1963!

So here's history and beauty and a dream come true. 

Snow began falling about 4:30 in the morning 

(yes, I was up, waiting for Santa!)...

and kept on, no wind, big fat furry (?!) flakes,

...the back of our acre was picture-perfect...

Um, camera decided that snow 

should be very light blue...?!

Who'da thought Snow in Mississippi!!

From my bedroom window...

A Cardinal in Snow is like a Hallmark card!

Gizmo in her new pink snowsuit!  She ran out in the yard, around the fence and back into the house...I had a hard time getting a photo of her because she never stopped moving!...

No they're not robbers, they're dressed to brave the big white outdoors...Why?...

To do construction work!...

 

 

HI, I'm the snowboy!  

Thanks for the muffler, I'm absolutely frozen!

I asked for a hat and none could be found, 

but photoshop took care of my crown!!

Here's the way to watch the snow action...look at Snowboy reflected in the glass!...

AHA!!  Here's what's responsible for the snow...

it was found by Amanda-elf in her Christmas stocking!!

See, the magical words are right there 

on the cookie tin (oops on the glare)...

Santa don't kid around!!

Stay tuned for more about Christmas Day...food and presents...

Part 2: Decorate and Bake

A word about our fireplace: you can't burn wood in it because a gas heater was installed after a bad ice storm some years ago took out the electricity all over the area, and furnaces would not work.  So in case of another emergency, we will have heat.  And this heater is EXTREMELY warm when a 'brick' is lit. 

 

Now, I DO like a camp fire, or one in a rented cabin, but that's when someone else does the clean-up. :-)

What fun to decorate our 'altered' fireplace, though!  

 

 I didn't realize until I looked at the photo that two Santas

were caught in the shot. 

Wish I could say I planned that.

Nope, just lucky~~smile~~

 My collection of skinny Santas, 

plus one gnome trying, unsuccessfully, to fit in...

doesn't he look like he thinks if he keeps his arms down,

no one will notice?!

And, of course, a Snowman Collection...

Oh Look...An elf has appeared to work on the village...

Now sprinkle in a little magic,

for a soft and  glowy scene...

Now, onto the BAKING!....

Yup, it's Christmas butter cookie time...baked with a special recipe from my dear Grandmother, who taught me how to bake. And now my daughter has taken up the craft.

Look at all these cookie cutters below...some really vintage.  Just like me, Ha!  Check out the saguaro cactus shaped one in the lower right corner...don't see many of those!

1.  Roll out the dough...

2.  Pick a cutter and squish out a shape...

3.  Put them in the oven to bake, (check every few minutes, our oven likes to char things)...

4.  Then cool them on the cookie rack...and repeat until dough is gone.

DON'T wear an apron!!

And get creative...cookie dough sculpting is a fun artistic outlet...!

Now how about joining us for a cookie and a huge hot cup of cocoa with extra whipped cream?  I think the cream is fat-free, so no calorie worries here...!

 

P.S. We don't frost the cookies, we like them plain.  And we make sure to bake some to a VERY crispy brown, 'cause my mom (grandma) loves them that way!

Part 1: Christmas Tree

We begin at the local urban forest known as the Curb Market.

The Hopeful lot, awaiting a home...

Serious discussion and then a winner!  That's Amanda in her lumberjack hat

and Mark in his toboggan cap(southern talk)...it was very chilly.

Loading into the sleigh...

The  place is cleared in the livingroom...

The smaller branches are trimmed and later
brought to Grandma and Grandpa to fill a vase and

bring the scent of pine inside...

Then the sawing of the trunk so the tree can drink...

Get a look at this picture!  Amazing camera work, right?I mean, I caught that tree trunk piece right as it fell off.

HA!  Totally lucky shot!!

Careful examination...NO LEANING allowed...

The first ornament...the Angel Tree Topper...

She  is SO ready to watch the rest of the decorating!

Um, does she look like she's praying that all with go well??

First the white lights go on

and because Mark unwinds them each year,

they are NEVER tangled.

Almost never (!)

The white and colored lights...

Lights, ornaments (no pictures of Amanda and me

doing that part), tree skirt, Angel Topper...

Ready for The Day...

All ready for the arrival of Santy Claws.

If she wakes up from her 'long winter's nap' !!

 

More Parts of Christmas to follow...