Rexy

I have never been a huge fan of the blow-up decorations.  I notice them every season at the store.  Some of the Halloween inflatables are extra large and extremely detailed.  Horses, henchmen, carriages, witches, skulls.  All in the same inflatable. 

I can't even imagine the price tag that goes with that size.

We stopped at the home improvement store the other day.  To be honest, it's been several weeks since we've been there.  I missed it.  They had decorations on sale.  Walt Kowalski and I were browsing through the singing snowmen and Santas.  I stopped to look at the candles and when I caught up to Walt Kowalski, he was looking at the inflatables. 

They had a few left, a R2D2 and C3PO, Santa and a penguin playing soccer, Santa, Rudolph, and a penguin dressed as Mariachi players. 

Walt Kowalski was holding an 8 foot tall inflatable Tyrannosaurus Rex.  T-Rex was standing next to a Christmas tree holding an ornament in his mouth.  We had a good laugh about it and I walked around the corner to look at the ribbons.

When Walt Kowalski caught up to me he was grinning from ear-to-ear. T-Rex was in the cart. 

"The kids will love it!" he said.
"I think it's really for the BIG kid."
"Maybe," he said. "We have the perfect location for it! As cars come down the hill, they will see it."

Darn it, he's right.

 

And the worst part, Rexy is cute.  How can you resist that smile?

To quote my sister "How lovely are your tiny little armies!" I shook his claw.

I guess this means I'm one of those people now. ☺

Bloomin'

We live in the forest.  We love our forest.  But that also means we have a LOT of shade. I have come to the conclusion that if I wanted to grow mushrooms I would have problem with the darkness in this house. 

Flowers, however, are a struggle. Outside, in the summer I don't have problems.  Inside in the winter, my plants are withering in the dark.

Knowing plants, especially flowers, like warmth and light, I moved the sprig of forsythia from window to window to stove following the light and the warmth.

It worked!  Once again, I got leaves for Christmas day!

But then on December 26th, when adding more water to the cup, I happened to look down in the cup...

Flowers!

 

It bloomed! There are more coming, too! 

 

Looks like an omen for a good new year.

Whirlwind

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Christmas week.  It was a whirlwind.  Individually and together.  As a kid it was a whirlwind. As an adult, it was extra whirlwindy. 

Cooking, cleaning, cleaning, cooking, wrapping, organizing.  And I don't even have children!  I don't do the panic of "I don't have enough gifts!" at the last minute.  I usually have too many for one person.  That person varies year by year. This year it was my sister and older niece.  Last year it was my mom and youngest niece.  

I am the kind of person that buys Christmas presents year round.  This is how I usually end up with too many gifts for a single individual.

I am also the kind of person that puts those early purchased Christmas gifts in a safe hiding place for the other 11 months, then remembers them on December 23rd, and can't find the super safe hiding place! I have also remembered the hidden gifts (that are still in hiding) on Christmas morning as we are unwrapping presents.

 
I love all of the different wrapping papers at once.

 
When else but Christmas can you have cookies and cheese for breakfast?

 
The aftermath.  This is even after we've cleaned up!

 

 

 

Dinner is served!

 

 

 

Dinner was followed by games.  Board games! Non-electronic board games.  Games where we laughed so much we cried and then laughed some more. 

 

My sister said Walt Kowalski and I were cheating.  We weren't, I swear!  

Celebrations

After an excellent Christmas eve and a wonderful Christmas day, Walt Kowalski and Chain Saw Johnny sat down for a little pickin.

:

The snowman didn't play much. He just listened.

Merry Christmas!

Assistance

I get assistance doing everything. 

Cooking and baking:

 
Wrapping:

 
Gift sorting:

I wouldn't know to work without them.  I wouldn't want to work without them.

Sunshine

Saturday was a lovely day.  The sun was shining for the first time in almost 10 days. It was cold, but the fire kept us warm.

 
Perfect day for our last outside burn of 2014.  We had a big pile of branches left over from the tree trimming.  The trimmers were kind enough to take most of them.  I asked to have a few, but I didn't realize how many they left for me.  I could have made a HUGE wreath.

 
I forgot a few things about burning pine trees. 

1. It takes a HOT fire with lots of flames to burn pine.
2. Pine makes lots of smoke. (Sorry neighbors.)
3. The needles are quick to burn and the branches are slow to burn.
4. Pine needles are little, hot projectiles. Wear clothing you don't mind getting burn marks.
5. Fleece is warm, but burns (melts) easily. 

Walt Kowalski and Chain Saw Johnny planned to split more of the big pile of wood you can see in the background.  They have several stages of drying wood around our yard and his.  Once they get this pile split, they can work on the next tree to come down and start drying.

Generosity & Kindness

Walt Kowalski went to visit a co-worker who is off work because of a disability.  He planned to drop off some Christmas cookies, chat for a bit, and then come home.

2 1/2 hours later, he was finally on his way home. 

He said it was a nice visit and his co-worker is doing well.  When he came in the house he was carrying a superhero beer stein. 

"Where did you get that?" I asked.
"He gave it to me.  He said he doesn't drink this kind of beer and gave it to me." Walt Kowalski said. 
"He's too kind."
Walt Kowalski said, "But wait, there's more gifts in the truck.  He sent gifts for you, too."
"Me!?!!"

Next thing I know, Walt Kowalski is walking through the do with a bread machine!

"He gave you an appliance from his kitchen? For me?" I asked.
"Yes! He said he's a single guy and doesn't bake bread.  It was his mother's and I don't think she ever used it.  He knows you like to cook and wanted to thank you for the cookies."

I said to Walt Kowalski, "It's a good thing you didn't stay and visit any longer.  He might have given you an end table or a nightstand."

I know my cookies are good, but I didn't realize they were THAT good.  He didn't even try the new ones I made yesterday. 

I should not be allowed on the internet baking sites after December 10th.

Ohh, that looks good.  Oh I like that cookies.  Yum, I want to make some of those. Oh, look at this appetizer. 

Yesterday's cookie: Mint Thumbprints

 
The dough has just a hint of green color.  The recipe called for way more coloring, but a hint was enough for me.

 

I added the sprinkles for a little more accent.  The kitchen had a wonderful peppermint smell all day. I locked the finished cookies in the bedroom. They were safe from whiskers there. The bedroom smells wonderful, too. 

Forget the store bought air fresheners, I have cookies.