Getting Ready for Santa

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7EJeI1iEx5gXYlF9dffpXYsmfTxSIlZRKsAubvfKs039B8uO8lnH-_ndBg7xN2tMCW-FOXj8qUAgSkbtDhNF6Efm3oxf_M2Kee01BHpqUeEjjTfidiF0TfwjRw7mytm2gsCMyAFE5-Y/s1600/christmas+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="christmas decor, christmas lights, decorating for christmas" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7EJeI1iEx5gXYlF9dffpXYsmfTxSIlZRKsAubvfKs039B8uO8lnH-_ndBg7xN2tMCW-FOXj8qUAgSkbtDhNF6Efm3oxf_M2Kee01BHpqUeEjjTfidiF0TfwjRw7mytm2gsCMyAFE5-Y/s1600/christmas+window.jpg" title="" width="225" /></a></div> </div><br />Good Morning! Sitting across from my kitchen window feels a little festive now. As you may know, I had a set back in the Christmas decorating department, and I'm trying to play catch-up now. <br /><br />Yesterday my kitchen window started out like this. (photo from earlier in the year, but you get the idea...)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhxD3u6DN8j53cCLMpPm2Hx-n1AyNtfLMsvFBiDESly6d8iOCBkQIbADdV-KkJjITSDUZ_7AGCso9UMDZbjeqmfF2Ycgh0gzU4Q1ncFYl-11mlNlShfoCNmZtyllsX5WPhfBbtOXqohc/s1600/pinecone+frame1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="christmas decor, decorating ideas for christmas" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhxD3u6DN8j53cCLMpPm2Hx-n1AyNtfLMsvFBiDESly6d8iOCBkQIbADdV-KkJjITSDUZ_7AGCso9UMDZbjeqmfF2Ycgh0gzU4Q1ncFYl-11mlNlShfoCNmZtyllsX5WPhfBbtOXqohc/s320/pinecone+frame1.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love my little kitchen window. I spend quite a bit time here - with three kids at home I wash a lot of dishes! Plus when I'm on the computer, sitting at the island, it has the perfect view of the woods, where I keep an eye out for deer, turkey, and Big Foot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I'm feeling better, I decided it was categorically time to say goodbye to autumn, and get ready for Christmas. It is 8 degrees F outside, so rather than actually go out, I went straight to my basement and went shopping. I was hopeful, but... <em>nothing</em>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I headed to my next favorite place to rummage - the dining room hutch. Score!  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DQCHXpT8b1q0b260IGfFxRszKzsdmXHtAsTt0FJ-tEmsDP49GWf_jpusHW-cNI9O1XObs_fzWfZLB9o98F_WQ3aIShu_s8jF-TgVdw8kQj-C6zK5IprGifY8zZOeLVPtibj5QTryyYI/s320/candle+sticks3.jpg" width="212" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>When you're <strike>46</strike> 36, you have a lot of things hanging around that you might have <strike>forgotten about</strike> put away for a special occasion. (It's a true fact that I rarely <em>have to</em> go out of my own home to shop.) <br /><br />These brass candlesticks have never been put out. Mainly because they're boring. And all they needed? A little glitter. In this instance, a thin coat of gold glitter with a light spray of silver glitter. <br /><br />A quick spray with my new fave - <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B4GQCLU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00B4GQCLU&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">Rust-Oleum 267689 Glitter Spray, Gold</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00B4GQCLU" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />">Rustoleum Glitter Spray Paint</a> , and they looked a lot more like Christmas: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMkN4apVYi8e8uOtocLkRvSVMuuWqFoyZ3yGoKeot_8UpOemwQKLWx9WLFRpkIDUAFEFPEb-LrnDgiu5t7-EO4jj-aQntehKJGhDhm1b2f0eyzU2dKADW3IJoR1y0WH2B2z5xxe5o5A8/s1600/Candle+Sticks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMkN4apVYi8e8uOtocLkRvSVMuuWqFoyZ3yGoKeot_8UpOemwQKLWx9WLFRpkIDUAFEFPEb-LrnDgiu5t7-EO4jj-aQntehKJGhDhm1b2f0eyzU2dKADW3IJoR1y0WH2B2z5xxe5o5A8/s320/Candle+Sticks2.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I hung up some fairy lights, and a little bead and ribbon garland, and this is what my kitchen window looks like in the (very early) morning: </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLx00eD3tSxHNOQpVrghQLHGfEf-sz7QxWBYixkKhfQEIi9ZuHCXlN3VLzED6C3g1xPq0BprZiWg1YJr6bfoY15IST91pwOj_719Ut_-UnY4KWnrKPqx39nkZnHI5VVi8XkwdbMKdFX0/s1600/xmas+window1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLx00eD3tSxHNOQpVrghQLHGfEf-sz7QxWBYixkKhfQEIi9ZuHCXlN3VLzED6C3g1xPq0BprZiWg1YJr6bfoY15IST91pwOj_719Ut_-UnY4KWnrKPqx39nkZnHI5VVi8XkwdbMKdFX0/s320/xmas+window1.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> And at night: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqB3P_CGKt1fUEwoHBscmuADMrWpDMlYRHO8uaal7nRHSDGF-5hwvLwf-MB4X0sax-C3smofffsDsGQecs0jYYkzFeH6gWDlhRLGgCZcAAdMjRj6hyphenhyphensKQAgMsPyTU9E4CiHS3f1mWiqg/s1600/candle+sticks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqB3P_CGKt1fUEwoHBscmuADMrWpDMlYRHO8uaal7nRHSDGF-5hwvLwf-MB4X0sax-C3smofffsDsGQecs0jYYkzFeH6gWDlhRLGgCZcAAdMjRj6hyphenhyphensKQAgMsPyTU9E4CiHS3f1mWiqg/s320/candle+sticks1.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Little by little... And by Christmas Eve I hope the house will be glowing in time for Santa!<br /><br />Next up is the tree.<br /><br /><em>(A not to those of you know my obsession - I promise, no more about glitter. I swear!)</em>

Getting Ready for Santa

  Good Morning! Sitting across from my kitchen window feels a little festive now. As you may know, I had a set back in the Christmas decorat...

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Making an Outdoor Christmas Tree

<div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Rcbu6J6EX0tdUdZng-dGd0ByE1taFYCQXEwum2m5702c9kQuo_Nv2BAVN0ddVmEGZN2OjihmOROGTCa33-qyh2xcghSkxdHQpmMIoZq2V1A7DiBO9qlTKXiws4ifxehiTDjafAePcY/s1600/aug+2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="build a tree, make a christmas tree, build a christmas tree" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Rcbu6J6EX0tdUdZng-dGd0ByE1taFYCQXEwum2m5702c9kQuo_Nv2BAVN0ddVmEGZN2OjihmOROGTCa33-qyh2xcghSkxdHQpmMIoZq2V1A7DiBO9qlTKXiws4ifxehiTDjafAePcY/s320/aug+2013+013.JPG" title="" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Our front yard of full of trees. It's beautiful, but at Christmas time, there's one glaring omission - not one pine tree to wrap in lights. Last year we decided to try and wrap a couple of the maple tree trunks with lights. It looked kinda cool. But we wanted a more traditional look. <br /><br />(Planting a pine tree isn't an option because we like the look of the yard exactly as it is the rest of the year.)  <br /><br />So we had the <em>great idea</em> to build a tree. (Reeeeaaal traditional, I know!) Oh, we were well aware that this could be a total waste of time, but we like to live on the edge. <br /><br />Off to Home Depot. <br /><br />We didn't have a list or a plan. <em>We talked about ideas in the truck.</em> That was our plan. <br /><br />After walking around Home Depot aimlessly for a while, here's what we bought: <br /><br /><strong>4 x 1/2" x 10' of conduit pipe</strong> (these are super fun to carry around in Home Depot - I didn't look back to see the carnage left behind..)<br /><strong>1 x Conduit T</strong> or Junction Connector <br /><strong>3 x 1/2" x 2" Re-rods</strong> <br /><strong>Zip Ties</strong><br /><strong>A Twinkle Light Star</strong><br /><strong>Twinkling Icicle Lights</strong> - we got the kind with random twinkling so it looks like they're shimmering. Here's a link if you're interested! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HLJ6QM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004HLJ6QM&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">Celebrations Lighting V84B4112 Shimmering Icicle Light 100</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004HLJ6QM" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAP0Ccj1Ho1vRc1H0oOMMcchR64t4n0_lbxBeSdLyBxiqSPiR8bRLXdo3cm2Eb5P9fqyIUlZapKS5irDi_QUl0tkBJVbH0bYi-Rp5D6Ltled6BLKgtswoHz9jsyxgIn7LB0dNUCr6N-g/s1600/conduit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAP0Ccj1Ho1vRc1H0oOMMcchR64t4n0_lbxBeSdLyBxiqSPiR8bRLXdo3cm2Eb5P9fqyIUlZapKS5irDi_QUl0tkBJVbH0bYi-Rp5D6Ltled6BLKgtswoHz9jsyxgIn7LB0dNUCr6N-g/s320/conduit1.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br /><br />Looks like a tree already, huh? Can you see it yet? Me either. <br /><br />We needed the pipe bender. (We spent 45 minutes searching our basement for this thing! If you're looking for yours - look on the table in plain sight - that's were it will be.) <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_ikNxVlKu18Si1gC5tEr1g9cwPA9gRVLRyST0mFvbc46Xe-RfKIG8f7L-JglIwBstk9snVQYv0XDBiyHtfqrLvhJsvt40KdEKJB4VfEwGBNf7RoW2114cuA9NGWXOYyIRbaLrkNn7D8/s1600/pipe+bender1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_ikNxVlKu18Si1gC5tEr1g9cwPA9gRVLRyST0mFvbc46Xe-RfKIG8f7L-JglIwBstk9snVQYv0XDBiyHtfqrLvhJsvt40KdEKJB4VfEwGBNf7RoW2114cuA9NGWXOYyIRbaLrkNn7D8/s320/pipe+bender1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was sunny, but frigid outside, so we were working fast! The whole project (not including searching for the pipe bender) took about an hour. <br /><br />The first thing we did, was use the pipe bender to bend the conduit about 66 degrees, so that it would fit into the T and taper down to the ground. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFL3rCpMsAtmFuUD5sYtH_7JKtqrJmLegAUdBFe2xZ9ZofKMEf4imSEiFqdLPVx2venkGmiil55AXmuUXon2MqHf1KlctT3WxBkOIF5R1SL6UMjmaNQeofl8hGnPy4u7pSB18Rd4a6o4/s1600/junction+connector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFL3rCpMsAtmFuUD5sYtH_7JKtqrJmLegAUdBFe2xZ9ZofKMEf4imSEiFqdLPVx2venkGmiil55AXmuUXon2MqHf1KlctT3WxBkOIF5R1SL6UMjmaNQeofl8hGnPy4u7pSB18Rd4a6o4/s320/junction+connector.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the pipe was bent, we put it into the T and tightened the screws. This is what the top of the "tree" looked like: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ZaLT-MWjifUggr6Uc8hpJcPdCfo7HRO0sIXuutkr1k9KfE7xTVwo32I_LmZt2GQSfAB4rTex6bOxjL4z4fOSWg5RR3_QSYxP5D7d2N0j62368qmvQdiLPTwmIxHPHD7SZVv2joGvHU/s1600/top+of+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ZaLT-MWjifUggr6Uc8hpJcPdCfo7HRO0sIXuutkr1k9KfE7xTVwo32I_LmZt2GQSfAB4rTex6bOxjL4z4fOSWg5RR3_QSYxP5D7d2N0j62368qmvQdiLPTwmIxHPHD7SZVv2joGvHU/s320/top+of+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">It's about 8" across at the top, but don't worry, it's 10 feet tall so it looks pretty pointed once it's lit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">To keep the frame secure we used 3 re-rods which Big A sledge hammered into the dirt. This is where the blood came in. Poor Big A sledged hammered his finger! We then fit the conduit pipe onto the re-rods. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KBAS-rvJvoFjZw0Eed2C5vt5hgC3hYV9mpEpAk4_CF0LLkvxGVXzkT6B-UAEaLS__rRLusPIU_SwoMsgIHO7OEwppAmTJxyjvDHvF6a4ehz1bdiSBZAnr1aVVkSp0xJMbHxC5Rz_a0o/s1600/tree+frame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KBAS-rvJvoFjZw0Eed2C5vt5hgC3hYV9mpEpAk4_CF0LLkvxGVXzkT6B-UAEaLS__rRLusPIU_SwoMsgIHO7OEwppAmTJxyjvDHvF6a4ehz1bdiSBZAnr1aVVkSp0xJMbHxC5Rz_a0o/s320/tree+frame2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">We wrapped the icicle lights around the tree frame at 6" intervals. We secured the lights with about a million zip ties. This took FOREVER. (Maybe it was only half an hour, but at this point our feet and fingers were frozen.) </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOYcgC9N_Its9T6kF3W_0nlXBCW5OqN1SBQC5i48rd3jbfO1FonCcm5FjVhO3H_yelDNPGZkN4rhckpaVO0Go3IGhtg2Q-XZHfVAu7mGjs0iiJgG7q6UakkmV1jNKMXdRU76Lq3n3Ak8/s1600/lit+tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOYcgC9N_Its9T6kF3W_0nlXBCW5OqN1SBQC5i48rd3jbfO1FonCcm5FjVhO3H_yelDNPGZkN4rhckpaVO0Go3IGhtg2Q-XZHfVAu7mGjs0iiJgG7q6UakkmV1jNKMXdRU76Lq3n3Ak8/s320/lit+tree1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ZaLT-MWjifUggr6Uc8hpJcPdCfo7HRO0sIXuutkr1k9KfE7xTVwo32I_LmZt2GQSfAB4rTex6bOxjL4z4fOSWg5RR3_QSYxP5D7d2N0j62368qmvQdiLPTwmIxHPHD7SZVv2joGvHU/s1600/top+of+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>Once the lights were on, we put the star on top. This proved a little tricky. We drilled a hole in the top of the T and put a tine of the star in the hole, but it was too wobbly. Solution - silver duct tape the "you know what" out of it! <br /><br />Done. <br /><br />The actual frame cost about $20. (The lights, star and extension cords are worth about $100 extra). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KBAS-rvJvoFjZw0Eed2C5vt5hgC3hYV9mpEpAk4_CF0LLkvxGVXzkT6B-UAEaLS__rRLusPIU_SwoMsgIHO7OEwppAmTJxyjvDHvF6a4ehz1bdiSBZAnr1aVVkSp0xJMbHxC5Rz_a0o/s1600/tree+frame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwHXkGliZY_2UF1MpBCcsokH2bvaxTMQY9-8OMpUx6jV3VCuq9ZrkulLBBCQfwulPUwx9Y4HfX-AGwB7_YdFWILhKuNORsUNwEkXqey5RDNI0bXChs65QlKw0dXx5svh_pALNpZsP5hg/s1600/xmastree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwHXkGliZY_2UF1MpBCcsokH2bvaxTMQY9-8OMpUx6jV3VCuq9ZrkulLBBCQfwulPUwx9Y4HfX-AGwB7_YdFWILhKuNORsUNwEkXqey5RDNI0bXChs65QlKw0dXx5svh_pALNpZsP5hg/s320/xmastree1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It looks tiny in this photo, but it's actually 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide at the base. All in all we were pretty pleased with ourselves. We might have high-fived. In fact, we might build a couple of smaller trees to keep it company. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy7CkGc6EJhnuRsiS2JfOfxoAKVa1PzKKnPptfGv_vvvtCkEcqQWSDBBF2OS-ChjeQw9IhLapLpBGkxiQfl88a4Ewf-PPRqa_0P0Udr4tqWbicoMNBTGzNDBMGmXUDr5HgxZ0c1NxsZA/s1600/christmastree6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy7CkGc6EJhnuRsiS2JfOfxoAKVa1PzKKnPptfGv_vvvtCkEcqQWSDBBF2OS-ChjeQw9IhLapLpBGkxiQfl88a4Ewf-PPRqa_0P0Udr4tqWbicoMNBTGzNDBMGmXUDr5HgxZ0c1NxsZA/s320/christmastree6.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Rcbu6J6EX0tdUdZng-dGd0ByE1taFYCQXEwum2m5702c9kQuo_Nv2BAVN0ddVmEGZN2OjihmOROGTCa33-qyh2xcghSkxdHQpmMIoZq2V1A7DiBO9qlTKXiws4ifxehiTDjafAePcY/s1600/aug+2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><br /><br /><br />

Making an Outdoor Christmas Tree

   Our front yard of full of trees. It's beautiful, but at Christmas time, there's one glaring omission - not one pine tree to wrap...

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Decorating the porch

Big A asked me today if I had any ideas for decorating the front porch.  Ooooh no...<br/><br/>I'm the Queen of twinkle lights and I love decorating for the holidays.  But, if I'm the Queen, Big A is the <em>KING</em>.  He loves it when it's all done.  But like most kings (if my history lessons and historical fiction books served me well), Big A blusters and grumbles his way around the castle.  And nothing brings on serious bouts of bluster more than decorating for Christmas.<br/><br/>So, in an effort to reduce the huffing and puffing, I thought I'd get some Christmassy ideas from Pinterest for our front porch.<br/><br/>This is for you, Sire.<br/><p style="text-align: center;"> <strong>Christmas porch decorating ideas from Pinterest: </strong></p><br/><p style="text-align: left;">We have two artificial trees that we usually put on the porch, and I don't know if I like the color - maybe just white lights...</p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" class="aligncenter" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/187532771953732489_78ofhO9e_c.jpg" /></p><br/>Redneck style!  Or, maybe not...<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/168462842281629043_FotpiydF_c.jpg" /><br/><br/>Love this one - we could totally do that!<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/31525266112572896_EXnukkVs_c.jpg" /><br/><br/>Lights in window boxes - easy and so pretty.<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/198651033533871143_gAGhwYYN_c.jpg" /><br/><br/>Maybe...<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/244461085993984676_PSJdGfXw_c.jpg" /><br/><br/>Could easily make some big planters with pine boughs.  I did this with my Mom and the kids a couple of years ago and they were gorgeous!<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/218987600601833254_IQu5wG9h_c.jpg" /><br/><br/>And I love the idea of wrapping the tree trunks - looks cool!<br/><br/><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/45669383692175334_yEVibmPM_c.jpg" /><br/><br/>So what do you thing King A?  Something you could work with?  Or am I gonna end up in a tower waiting to have my head chopped off?  (I hope not, cuz I'm rather fond of my head where it is.)<br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000R3KGP4&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B005O9CJBU&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe>

Decorating the porch

Big A asked me today if I had any ideas for decorating the front porch.  Ooooh no... I'm the Queen of twinkle lights and I love decorati...

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