Decorations & Something Sweet ~

I love the way a tree looks when you squint you eyes! So i took a unfocused picture. I happen to love the way it turned out. :o) Nice and sparkly....hehe!

I finally talked the hubmeister into getting a 9 foot {fake} christmas tree. He is and has always been a full fledged REAL tree guy. And i love that about him. He grew up always having a real tree. I on the other hand grew up with a fake tree. I loved the fact that i could at anytime get the tree out and start putting it together. But this year i think he finally realized that it would be not only easier but cheaper to go ahead and get a big one. I looked and looked for a good deal on Craigslist and everytime i found one and emailed about it....it was to late....it was gone. I about lost hope and last weekend told the hubby that we would get a real one at Costco this year since their 8 ft was $34.00. But when sunday rolled around i realized we were in the wrong vehicle to go get a tree {sigh}. I was going to send him after work monday but alas.....i found a tree on CL and it was mine ....all MINE! Same tree i looked at at costco but instead of $299 it was $50.00! New in box and pre-lit! The hubs liked the price but i could tell that his heart wanted a real tree. I went and got it and brought it home. We opened the box got out all 4 pieces and started putting them together. In the end he looked up and said WOW! And in his words he said that is pretty SPECTACULAR! And that makes me happy...he actually likes it. :o) I had to go get more ornaments though. We were out...due to all the other trees in the house. But with one trip to Sams Club i got a "trim your tree" box-o-ornaments and WA-LA....a very big beautiful tree.

My daughter tells everyone we have a giant tree.

Here is another pic of our other tree in the front window of the livingroom. I again decided to take a "squinty eyed" photo.

Mantle......

These red and green pictures of santa were around when i grew up. I don't know how old they are but i remember them always being around. I like the way they look in these open frames i have up.

This weekend we had some wood delivered. It started to snow so we had to cover it with plastic. LOVELY! Not really. While daddy was out stacking it......

.....this little man watched the whole time. Decked out in his santa hat.

And then quickly moved on to his latest project....taking off all the ornaments he can reach. They are slowly moving up the tree and pretty soon it is only going to be decorated half way up. HA!

It is COLD out! I'm kinda over it. But atleast it gives me a good excuse to drink tons of hot chocolate! :o)

Speaking of chocolate.....here is another great recipe.....

Paula Deen's Gingerbread Boys & Girls Recipe

Gingerbread Cookie Dough

3 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. packed dark brown sugar
1/2 c. butter (1 stick), softened
2 lg. eggs
1/4 c. molasses

Icing

3 c. confectioners' sugar
3 to 4 tbsp. milk
Assorted food colorings (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare Gingerbread Cookie Dough: In medium bowl, combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer on low speed, beat brown sugar and butter about 3 minutes or until well blended, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Add eggs and molasses, and beat until combined. With spoon, stir in flour mixture until well blended.

2. Divide dough into 3 equal pieces; flatten each into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

4. On lightly floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll 1 disk of dough 1/2 inch thick. With floured 4- to 5-inch gingerbread boy and girl cookie cutters, cut dough into as many cookies as possible; wrap and refrigerate trimmings. Place cookies, 1 inch apart, on cookie sheet.

5. Bake cookies 10 to 13 minutes or until browned around edges. With wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cool, about 15 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and trimmings.

6. When cookies are cool, prepare Icing: In medium bowl, with fork, stir confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth and an easy piping consistency. If you like, spoon some icing into smaller bowls and tint with food coloring as desired. With decorating bag, fitted with small writing tip, pipe icing on cookies to decorate. Set cookies aside to allow icing to dry, about 1 hour.

7. Store cookies in tightly sealed container, with waxed paper between layers, at room temperature, up to 2 weeks or in freezer up to 3 months