Well, Christmas is over and New Year’s Day is just around the corner. Our Christmas Eve get together was great! Everyone pitched in and helped. We had some great treats – macaroni and cheese, shells, cookies, banana pudding cake and an abundance of spinach snacks (we are all quite strong, now). Dinner was three types of fish with several side dishes. Desert was much later as we were all stuffed. Then we all sat in the living room for the gifts.
There were several popular gifts that got “taken” several times. A car polishing kit with a small folding chair (I guess to sit on while you polished the car). Also of interest was a small dip size crock pot and two rather large bottles of hot sauce. The strangest things….we never can determine what will be the “keeper” of the night.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves – I know we did.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas
Here it is a few days before Christmas, and still WARM! Last night we had dinner at a friend’s house and came away feeling more “Christmassy” as their house looked so nice – live tree, fire burning just kinda Ho Ho Ho. Here we ended up with what I refer to as a “Charley Brown” Christmas tree. To replace the white tree we brought the tree in that we had outside – a bare tree with alternating blue and white lights. So, hung some ornaments on it and it really doesn’t look bad… but not what we will do next year. I’m hoping we opt for a live tree but this is still open for discussion. The concern is that the sun is quite intense in the living room and any tree will have to deal with that as we put the tree by the windows. We think that’s what discolored the white tree. The important thing is there is a tree.
We are gearing up for Christmas Eve B’s family comes over. There should be 20 or so for dinner and gift exchange. Everyone pitches in and I get a lot of assistance in the cooking detail. Christmas Eve has always been spent with his family. We picked up the tradition when my mother-in-law passed away several years ago. We have made a few changes but there are some things that just have to stay the same. Fish for dinner – and that includes snackies before. We put several long tables out in the living room so we all sit together. Food is put out on the dining room table and after dishing up we all sit for dinner. Then on to the gifts. That’s so much fun. Packages under the tree are somewhat “generic” in nature. Everyone draws numbers – we usually have enough gifts that everyone gets 3 or 4 numbers. A duplicate set of numbers is placed in a bowl and a number drawn. Whoever has that number goes to get a gift and opens it amid ohhh or groans. (we get lots of different stuff including toothpaste, pots and pans, knives and DVD’s) Then a second number is drawn and that person can either get a wrapped gift from the tree OR take a gift from someone else. If someone takes your gift then you can go to the tree for a gift or take another person’s gift. Some try to hid their “good” gifts while others display in hopes that someone would want it! (really, when a guy gets a bottle of perfume, he tries to encourage one of the ladies to take it) Everyone laughs and they “fight” over the funniest things. B and I enjoy this sooooo much. This is the most fun we have had at Christmas. We buy the gifts all year long looking for mark downs and sales. So included is seasonal gifts for summer and spring as well as winter and Christmas. The “best” gifts are referred to as “keepers” and are often the ones that go back and forth. A fun time for all.
Check back on the blog to see what this year’s “hot gift” was!
MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Lake.
We are gearing up for Christmas Eve B’s family comes over. There should be 20 or so for dinner and gift exchange. Everyone pitches in and I get a lot of assistance in the cooking detail. Christmas Eve has always been spent with his family. We picked up the tradition when my mother-in-law passed away several years ago. We have made a few changes but there are some things that just have to stay the same. Fish for dinner – and that includes snackies before. We put several long tables out in the living room so we all sit together. Food is put out on the dining room table and after dishing up we all sit for dinner. Then on to the gifts. That’s so much fun. Packages under the tree are somewhat “generic” in nature. Everyone draws numbers – we usually have enough gifts that everyone gets 3 or 4 numbers. A duplicate set of numbers is placed in a bowl and a number drawn. Whoever has that number goes to get a gift and opens it amid ohhh or groans. (we get lots of different stuff including toothpaste, pots and pans, knives and DVD’s) Then a second number is drawn and that person can either get a wrapped gift from the tree OR take a gift from someone else. If someone takes your gift then you can go to the tree for a gift or take another person’s gift. Some try to hid their “good” gifts while others display in hopes that someone would want it! (really, when a guy gets a bottle of perfume, he tries to encourage one of the ladies to take it) Everyone laughs and they “fight” over the funniest things. B and I enjoy this sooooo much. This is the most fun we have had at Christmas. We buy the gifts all year long looking for mark downs and sales. So included is seasonal gifts for summer and spring as well as winter and Christmas. The “best” gifts are referred to as “keepers” and are often the ones that go back and forth. A fun time for all.
Check back on the blog to see what this year’s “hot gift” was!
MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Lake.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Do you like the different look?
I've been fooling around in Blogger and switched over to the beta version which has more flexibility. So, I made changes in the format. Now, the question is, what do you think??? Please let me know. You can click on the email to send a message. Thanks!
Winter is Here
Here it is, the third of December, and it finally feels like winter! November was often quite warm with temperatures last week in the low 60’s! Today it’s in the 30’s.
The house is decorated minus a tree. We had planned to again put up our white tree and use a theme of red, silver and black (black and white is the “in” color) However, when we took the tree out of storage, it was quite discolored on one side – probably a victim of sun tan. It was so noticeable we opted to throw it out. Checking out trees the prices are outrageous particularly when you know they will be at least half price December 26th. So, we are thinking no tree. We may change our minds – if we do we will get a live tree. Since I’d never put a live tree up until the week before Christmas, we have some time to decide. We have a lot of decorations and blinking lights and two trees outside so the house doesn’t look barren.
We are both up in the loft on our respective computers. I’m updating our Christmas card list and addresses. I’ve opted to use mailing labels as it not only makes life easier, it is also clearer. (my handwriting is not always neat)
Rump roast for dinner and I want to come up with something different for the meal…. I’m tired of the same old thing. Thank goodness I have so many cookbooks.
The house is decorated minus a tree. We had planned to again put up our white tree and use a theme of red, silver and black (black and white is the “in” color) However, when we took the tree out of storage, it was quite discolored on one side – probably a victim of sun tan. It was so noticeable we opted to throw it out. Checking out trees the prices are outrageous particularly when you know they will be at least half price December 26th. So, we are thinking no tree. We may change our minds – if we do we will get a live tree. Since I’d never put a live tree up until the week before Christmas, we have some time to decide. We have a lot of decorations and blinking lights and two trees outside so the house doesn’t look barren.
We are both up in the loft on our respective computers. I’m updating our Christmas card list and addresses. I’ve opted to use mailing labels as it not only makes life easier, it is also clearer. (my handwriting is not always neat)
Rump roast for dinner and I want to come up with something different for the meal…. I’m tired of the same old thing. Thank goodness I have so many cookbooks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)