Christmas Photos

I finally went through my Chirstmas pictures.  I wish I had taken more.  It was bedlam at my house, Just how I like it! My 4 kids, and their significant others, and two Granddaughters were all here. My Parent's popped in for a nice prime rib roast dinner.

The before, a thing of beauty!

During the grand opening.  Notice the mess! The girls had fun with the styrofoam peanuts.  They made snow.

My Son Jared the Beer meister! I found the glasses on etsy.

Son Brett, and his Fiance, Miranda got a new Kitchenaid stand mixer.  He wasn't as thrilled as Miranda was!  I wonder why??

Auntie Pam playing with Ava and Grace.

Kate hugging her new robe.  Notice the yule log burning on the TV? How corny are we?

I hope you had a special day with your families.

Have a Wonderful, Happy, Healthy New Year!!

Our Favorite Peanut butter balls

I've been baking up a storm.  We have at least 5 cookies that we have to make every Christmas.  Then,  I always  like to try a few new recipes. My Husband even gets in on the act.  I've been making Peanut butter balls since 1979.  My Grandmother sent me the recipe on a hand written recipe card that I cherish.   This is actually a no bake recipe.

3 Cups graham cracker crumbs.

1  1 lb. box Powdered confectioners sugar

1   18 oz. jar chunky peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 sticks melted butter or margarine

1 cup coconut (optional)

Mix well and roll into walnut size balls.

Melt one bag of chocolate chips with one 1/2 block of parafin wax, in a double boiler.

Dip the balls in the melted chocolate and set on a sheet of wax paper until the chocolate hardens.

(I  melt the chocolate and wax in a mini crockpot)

Hint.  You may have to add a few extra scoops of peanut butter if the dough is too crumbly to form balls.

This makes about 90 balls.

YUMMY!!!

Charley wanted to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In this photo, he was out on our screened in porch begging me to let him back inside.  Brrrr!!  Too cold out there for one spoiled rotten kitty. 

My tree skirt has legs!

I finally finished my Christmas tree yesterday.  Granddaughter Grace came over to help Mom-Mom and Opa.

Notice the tree skirt nicely placed around the tree?  It didn't last very long.

Yep! That's Charley in the center with his little face poking out. 

This is what I found this afternoon.   HELP! 

I decided that Santa will have to make an early delivery of some very heavy presents.

As I post this,  Charley is all wrapped up in his tree skirt far from the tree.

My Holiday Home

 I finally got most of the decorating finished . My live Frasier Fur will go up this weekend.  This post is of the Living Room decorations.  I'll post the dinning room and main tree soon.

Santa came from Williamsburg Va. 

I filled the lighted cabinets in the entertainment unit with some of our favorite Christmas decorations.

The Antique ladies desk is simply decoratied with pewter candle sticks, and a very old A Christmas Carol book.  The clock was a wedding present to me from my Husband in 1976.

I found this antique glass vessel at a local shop.  We want to eventually put a terrarium in it.
I purchased the birds, and paper stars at Pottery Barn.  They sit on a bed of faux snow, with pinecones and tea lights.
It's so pretty at night.

I've had this set of Byer's Choice carolers for a long time. The are sitting on the lower shelf of my end table.
I wanted to put some snow around them,  but quickly changed my mind when the Granddaughters came to vistit!  They think the Carolers are play dolls!  No snow this year.
I hope you enjoyed seeing my living room decorations.

Christmas decorating preview

I'm working like crazy to get my house decorated.  I decided to post it in several posts.  I don't like looking at long posts, I'm a quick and to to point kinda Gal. 
This is my preview.  Little Ava was helping mop and clean!  The sweetie was all dressed up in her Christmas outfit, after talking to Santa.