Christmas Catch Up

I didn't post a single thing in December.  I just was too caught up in running around and getting ready for Christmas this year. 

On the plus side, it didn't seem as stressful this year so that's nice.  I thought I'd post some pictures of what things looked like after the fact.  Christmas in January?  Well, why not.

Here all of our stockings (including the doggies' ones) are hung with care.  I think Santa has visited in this picture!

Look at my darling daughter's attempt to fix our reindeer in the yard when I couldn't find the real antlers.  These "antlers" came off of the Christmas tree.  I found the real antlers later that night, but we laughed so hard at the tree antlers that I had to share.

Then we have the actual tree.  This is the first year in about 10 years that we did not use an artificial tree.  Yes, Virginia, it's a real tree!  Part of the reason is that when we moved things around after the flood, the room we normally put the tree in is now the dining room.  It has the high ceilings.  The game room now (used to be the dining room) has lower ceilings and our artificial tree was too tall for the room.

I must admit it was wonderful to smell the pine. This picture doesn't really do the tree justice.  The ribbons were really pretty and the lights were all red.  Yes, I realize it's crooked.  I think the tree was actually crooked.  My husband and I made sure it was absolutely straight in the holder, and it still leaned.  We finally gave up and just decided that it added to its charm.

Right before Christmas I got my ceramic hand built soup tureen painted.  I built this one about three years ago and Randi got after me to "get it done, already!"  I dropped it off on the porch of her shop the week before Christmas on my way to work so she could fire it.  I'm glad I did because it turned out really pretty. 

It was just the bowl and the lid in green ware when I started on it.  Green ware is the soft clay before it is fired the first time and becomes bisque.  In class we cut out the poinsettia leaves, rolled holly berries, made holly leaves and bows. Once that was all put on it was fired into bisque.  All I had to do for the last three years is paint the darn thing, but at least I did it. Here is a picture of the top so you can see the bow.  It looked really pretty in the center of the table.

I made a beef wellington for Christmas Eve and we all agreed it was an amazing meal!  I grabbed a quick picture of it as it was resting.  Next time I make it I will put in on a rack so the juices won't make the bottom mushy.  I used Gordon Ramsay's recipe and it was perfect and actually pretty easy.

And what did I get for Christmas?  I got a NookColor.  Oh my gosh!  This thing is soooooo neat!  You know I got the nook classic last year and loved it, but this color one is my favorite new toy ever.  It's andriod based, lets me surf the web, watch movies, and play games.  Magazines are in full color and look just like paper ones.  I could go on and on, but suffice to say I was very happy with what Santa brought me!

I think I am caught up with Christmas.  Hope your holidays were merry and bright!