Saturday, December 23, 2017

Merry Christmas

 I still have presents to wrap and food to prepare so I wanted to take this spare moment to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!  May God bless each and every one of you!








Wednesday, December 13, 2017

How to Hang Christmas Wreaths on Windows Outside

 This is a picture of our home during Christmas of 2009.  We had a beautiful snowfall with lots of wind as you can see from the flag.  I wondered how I would be able to hang wreaths on the windows and keep them from blowing around.


This is how I solved the problem:
I attached heavy fishing line to the top of the wreath and ran it through a button.  We have new windows that drop down from the top so they can tilt in for easy cleaning, so I slid the top of the window down and dropped the wreath out, carefully holding on the the button at the end.  We don't have upper screens, so if you do that could be a problem.  I shut the top of the window catching the button on the inside.


I still wanted to anchor the bottom of the wreath so they wouldn't fly around in the wind.  I raised the lower half of the window and the screen.  I had previously tied a long length of fishing line to the bottom of the wreath.  I grabbed the fishing line attached another button at the length I needed it as you can see in the image and then cut off the excess fishing line.  Shut the screen down on the line with the button just inside the window.


Now I don't have to worry about my wreaths flying around!

I'll be busy decorating my real tree in our tv room today, making peanut clusters, and wrapping a few packages before the busy weekend.  What are you finishing up this week?


Wednesday, December 6, 2017

How to Galvanized Christmas Tree Stand

When I found out that Chip and Joanna Gaines had galvanized tree collars in their Target collection, Rick and I made our way to three different stores.  I even tried online, but there were none to be found.  At the last store, we pulled into the parking lot and there was a man walking in front of our car with the "target" of our mission hanging from his arm.  Rick walked up to him and asked him if they had more and he informed us that this was the last one and someone had brought it back to the store.  In the "spirit of the holiday", I asked Rick if he thought he could tackle him.  That poor man had been to four stores trying to get one.  Who knew galvanized tree collars would be so "in" this year!


Needless to say, we gave up and went to our local Orscheln Farm and Home store and purchased a galvanized tub for much less.  All we had to do was wedge the tree base into the tub and then put the tree together.  


I could see the stand of the tree through the branches, so I made another trip to the store for 3 yards of burlap to lay over the stand inside the tub.





I love the reflection of the tree in the window and on the hardwood floors!  The reason for the galvanized tub is that I didn't want my Roomba, known as Hazel, to eat my tree skirt.  This way she can vacuum up all the snow droppings from the flocked tree all the way around.


We also went to Riverwood Winery in Weston, MO to start the season off with a reading of The Christmas Carol.  My son in law, Scott, is on the right and plays Ebenezer Scrooge.