Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Merry Christmas, Friends

Hello Everyone,

Yes, it's been a few weeks since I've last written, but the busy season at the studio is over for the moment.

I have a story to tell you all. Now, hunker down in a nice warm blankie...you're going to love this one. In fact I'm sure that future generations will write legends about it.

As most of you know, my dear hubby is a pastor. So, as a result, we live a long distance from family and friends. Ever since my baby girl was a baby (she's now 8yrs old) we have pretty much been on our own for Christmas. The first Christmas we were on our own, we decided to start a new family tradition. I really didn't want to cook a huge traditional turkey dinner for just the two of us (baby girl was only 6 months old at the time), so we began our first annual "Traditional Non-Traditional Christmas Dinner". We decided to have anything but turkey for our Christmas dinner. Over the years, we have cooked everything from chicken breast to BBQ'd steak. But never turkey.

This year, a couple of days before the 25th, we thought maybe we should just buy like a turkey breast. But when we realized that would cost us almost $25.00 we figured it was cheaper to buy a whole turkey for the roastin'. So, we ventured over to the turkey section of the meat dept to check things out. My dear hubby, whom many of you would know to be ... frugal ... starts to rummage around the freezer full of turkeys. Wouldn't you know, he found a turkey that was mispriced. As we danced around in glee, truly believing this to be a Christmas miracle, we decided to feast upon turkey this year -- after all, turkey was no longer a Christmas traditional meal for us. So it would definitely fall into our "Traditional Non-Tradition Christmas Dinner" category.

So, you're all wondering how much this 13lb bird set us back???

It was priced at $0.13, but with our Club Card, it only cost us $0.07!!!!!

Can you believe it? A 7-cent turkey! Well, you can see where the rejoicing took place, especially when the store gave it to us for that amount for being honest in telling them about it. There was singing and dancing throughout the land! And, as I said before, I'm certain legends will be written about it some day....

So yesterday, after the Christmas service at church, we rushed home and had a quick lunch. My baby girl got back into her pjs and we finished unwrapping our gifts (we usually open a few on Christmas Eve and we open our stockings in the morning before church). After the gifts, I went to the kitchen to prepare the sacred bird for the roastin'. Several hours later, the three of us sat down to a Christmas feast we had only dreamed about...turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and more! We ate so much we decided to bundle up and go for a walk outside to get rid of the overstuffed feeling.

Such a fantastic day! And the topper...I got a new lens for my camera!!! EEEEEEEE!!!!!! So excited!

Bye for now -- I wish all of you a VERY Merry Christmas (don't forget, it didn't end on the 25th...there are still 12 days of Christmas left!!!). God's blessings to you all!
P.S. My hubby pointed out yesterday that wasn't it coincidental that our $0.07 turkey was purchased for Christmas '07...hmmmmmmm...

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Happy Advent Everyone!

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. As per our family tradition, today after church we decorated our home for the upcoming Christmas season. It is always a fun day filled with decorating, remembering, and snacking on our favourite appetizers to end the day.

However, I need to back the day up for you...starting last night.......

Yesterday the snow began to fall -- truly a beautiful sight! Light fluffy flakes slowly cascading down covering the ground with a beautiful blanket of snow. Evening came and the snow continued to fall slowly to the ground. A quick peek out the window before bedtime and I fell asleep with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head (...in case you haven't noticed, I LOVE snow...it is truly beautiful! I couldn't imagine living somewhere like California where snow is an oddity!!!)

I woke up this morning to the sound of my hubby chuckling to himself. His comments about the snow had me scrambling to look out the bedroom window. We got at least 15 inches of snow...and it was still coming down! I quickly dashed outside with my camera to try to capture just how much is out there. Enjoy!

(Our driveway leading to the church parking lot)

(BBQ anyone?????)


(Backyard was thigh-high in most areas)


(I kinda felt bad that my new baby, Bella, was all nestled and dry in the garage while everyone else's car had to be cleaned off and dug out...NOT!)

Well, after that I showered up for church. We had record numbers out at church today. We live out in the country beside the church. Including my family of three, there were five of us in total!!!! I guess most people were snowed in. But it was a wonderful service this first Sunday of Advent.
After that we headed home, changed into comfy clothes and, after a quick lunch, began our annual "Day of Decorating". The following are a few images of our wonderfully decorated house. I LOVE Christmas lights! I would have them up all year round if people wouldn't look at me so funny -- not that I care, really. Have a wonderful Advent season everyone as we prepare for the season of Christmas!
(Fontanini Nativity Set)
(Even the Littlest Pet Shop creatures came to love and adore the baby Jesus!!!)
(Ornament on our craft tree)
(Our slowly growing Christmas village)
(Angel on Fontanini Nativity Set)