Does anyone really care?

Thinking about maintaining this blog again. But does anyone really look at it? Let me know.

This will be funny one day ... maybe ...

Making Cookies

Every year at Christmas, my mom and I try to get together to make cookies. For the past two years, mother has made the batter one day, and we get together to bake the next day. It works out perfectly that way, and is not exhausting.

This year, we made Persimmon with Chocolate Maple Glaze, Chocolate Chip Espresso, Chocolate Covered Cherries (my favorite), Chocolate Chip (the boys' favorite) and Peanut Butter Blossoms. We had so much fun!

Picollo loving on Strat? Not really....

Strat loves to scoop up Picollo, but sometimes she just doesn't feel like being held. In those instances, she will growl very softly and put her paw up to Strat's face. It is a gentle reminder that she is about to get ticked off. It's almost like she is saying, "Shhhh. Put me down and I won't hurt you." haha

Christmas at Dukemineer's

Christmas Sweater Party

Strat went to a Christmas get together at a neighboring Baptist church where the theme was "Terrible Christmas Sweaters". We went to a thrift store a few days before and found this purple sweater than looked just like an oriental rug. Over in the pants section, we found a pair of perfectly matching purple corduroy pants in Strat's size! I was on the road that day and asked Jack to take a few pics of Strat before he left. The poses crack me up, but the upward angle in the last one made me laugh out loud. Maybe Jack has a future in photography!

Now this is a cool tree!

Jack finds a wig

I can't remember why, but I bought a wig quite a while back. For some reason, it came up in conversation that I had it, and everyone wanted to see it. Jack was brave enough to model it for us.

Crazy sleeping places

Getting ready for Christmas

My Aunt Diner gave me all of these Nativities, with the exception of the ones made my the boys in preschool. They are a treasured part of my decorating. On the shelf below, you will notice two gingerbread men, decorated by Jack and Chase, and a milk carton Rudolf, made by Strat. The Playmobil Santa sleigh reminds me of the time the boys were crazy about Playmobil.

This tree is in the back of the living area, and contains ornaments that the boys have made. There is even one on this tree that I made when I was a child! One thing that is funny about the photos in the larger gold frames: these were made at St. James Church in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and Jack and Chase were not there the same day. Because their photos were taken a week apart, they are wearing the same shirt! I rotated their clothes often, and I didn't remember what they wore to church from one week to another. haha!

I love these S'more ornaments. I have only ever seen them at Cracker Barrel, and very occasionally at Marshall's. I added a S'mores tree to my collection a couple of years ago!

My Steinbach Ornaments Tree. I added three this year! These special wooden ornaments from Germany are all I put on this tree. I am looking for a special tree topper for it, but haven't yet found anything I like that will also go with the theme.

Reminded me of Strat, Jack and Chase!

I can't remember whose idea it was to wrap Strat in Christmas lights. You can't tell here, but the lights are plugged in and illuminated. The expressions on their faces are priceless. I love this picture!!

When we had our fireplace rebuilt, we lost the mantle. I saw a picture of a stocking hanger in a "cottage decor" book, and Jim made this for me. Isn't it cute?! The stockings are new this year. I think I sold our others at the yard sale back in the spring. That reminds me of the stockings that Aunt Diner made for everyone one year, years and years ago. I wish I still had those.