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Saturday, December 17, 2022

Finished tree... and other stuff

Finally finished decorating tree. Added more animals to the bottom and more ornaments and Mardi Gras beads to the tree itself. First pic is tree without the lights on, second is close up of animals under the tree and third is tree with lights on. It is ready! 





I also made some rum cakes and more whiskey balls for the neighbors (and actually remembered to take a pic). 




Oh, also got a package in the mail from one of the kids.
(Don't you just love getting packages in the mail!)
This is what was in it:

Kitty cannister


Really cute, but my kitchen counter is pretty cluttered. Going to have to find a way to fit it on there.


And our Christmas bar is getting filled up:







And now weatherman/woman  says we may be in for another Arctic blast next week... with it getting down into the teens (possibly even single digits) by next Friday. If this happens, it will be a test for our Texas Grid (which failed miserably back in 2021). I really hope this time they have this covered. 



That's it, my friends! 

Wishing you a wonderful holiday weekend! 

Stay warm and stay safe!


Giving you all a virtual hug

and

thanks for putting up with my ramblings this past year!


Rian





29 comments:

  1. Your ramblings as you call them are a delight. Thanks for posting them.
    Well done on your decorating and baking. You are ahead of me - despite the fact that our Christmas is closer than yours.
    Love the kitty cannister too. And parcels in the mail.
    Stay warm, stay safe.

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  2. Your tree is glorious, stunning! I love holiday decorations, it's such a pleasure to see other people's decorations and trees.

    That was a sweet gift from one of your children. There's always room for another cat/critter item! :-)

    Take care and enjoy this last week before Christmas Eve and Day. Wishing you a joyous season.

    Kim

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    1. Thanks, Kim. I do like the kitty cannister... and will find a place for it in my kitchen. Wishing you and Derry a wonderful Christmas - stay warm!

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  3. Your tree is just lovely and I really like that kitty canister. Hope you find a home for it. We are facing that nasty freeze Christmas week also. Not looking forward to it.

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    1. Merry Christmas Patti! Hope the freeze isn't as bad as they make it sound. Stay warm!

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  4. Everything that Arkansas Patti said, ditto for me (your tree really is beautiful) and so are those awesome looking cakes Rian. Well we're dealing with wind chills in the teens here in Pittsburgh, I am not stepping outside until Tuesday. :^)

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    1. I don't blame you, Dug. I don't go out (if I can help it) when it's in the teens either. In fact, I will probably set up camp by the fireplace for the next 2 weeks...

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  5. I also love your beautiful tree, and all the many animals safely ensconced underneath it. And yes, I agree that canister has to find a suitable place to live. It's perfect for you! :-)

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    1. Thanks, DJan. The animals under the tree are taking the place of our missing cats... and the large gray elephant (Snuffy) can only be under there sometimes as he tends to like to nap with me in the afternoon.

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  6. The tree is lovely, and I'm sure so many of the ornaments and the plush animals bring back some wonderful memories.
    I do hope the memory of the power grid failure isn't repeated this year.

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    1. Thanks, Mae. That power grid failure left us all a bit anxious...

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  7. I was at my Texas cousins for Christmas one year long ago. The temperature was warm and pure joy to we northerners. My cousins were praying for a "Blue Norher". And they got it. We woke to about 30 degrees on Christmas day. "It's just not Christmas without a Blue Norther!" they said.

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    1. Oh, I could do without a blue Norther, Joanne. It's nice to have it cold enough to have a fire... but please, no Arctic freeze.

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    1. Thanks, Miss Merry. It may be odd to add the Mardi Gras beads, but we like it.

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  9. Wow, looks good! The tree too!

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  10. I hope your electricity holds! Not long now till Christmas. Looks like you're ready. :)

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  11. wow, you sure have done a lot of baking. i did a little but not really very much. just a few batches of christmas cookies, i need to get a stool for my kitchen. the cookie jar is sweet. i think we just talked about cluttered kitchen counters. i would like an air fryer but i have a pretty small kitchen and not a lot of countertops.!!

    your tree is beautiful!!

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    1. Thanks, Debbie. I have a stool in my kitchen... where I sit with a cup of tea when I need to take a break. And I have to figure out how to unclutter my kitchen counters - but I like having things there when I need them... (and I love my Breville toaster oven air fryer!)

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  12. Wonderful tree!! And yes, I hope the grid will keep us safe and warm during the cold snap.

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    1. Thanks, Anni. I hope the Arctic freeze comes and goes quickly... Stay safe & stay warm!

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  13. Rian, your tree is absolutely beautiful! I throughly enjoy your ramblings and look forward to your posts. My kitchen counters stay pretty much covered too. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Glad someone else has cluttered kitchen counters... (ha!) I would like my kitchen to look neater, but it is well used. Merry Christmas Henny!

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  14. This was such fun! Merry Christmas, Rian!

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  15. Beautiful and festive !
    I'm drooling at the thought of your rum balls :)
    Hugs,
    ~Jo

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    1. We love our rum cake and whiskey balls (although I do use bourbon for the balls). They're traditional Christmas for us.

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