The Perfect Tree
Yesterday marked our annual tradition of the Tree Hunt. We are tree traditionalists. A fake tree shall not cross the threshold of our nest. Therefore we are, like so many other like minded people, always in search of the perfect tree. My husband says that I declare each tree, every year, to be The One. Perhaps he is right but I’m sticking to my guns on this year’s find. It is as perfect as Christmas itself.
Our noble fir stands a little over 7 feet tall and is so exquisitely shaped that at first glance you think it has to be an imposter. She smells heavenly, her bough’s are soft as a feather yet strong enough to hold the heaviest of ornaments. I love this tree so much that I used restraint on my decorations and actually put several boxes back in storage so as not to over dress her. Every heirloom ornament is hanging from the branches along with those that represent the Christmas’s of 5 children. It’s not a stretch to say that there are plenty of baubles hanging from our tree. I love it.
This year was all the more special because I had one of my children here to help me decorate the tree. It was wonderful to pull those memories out my boxes and share them with my first born. We admired those that had belonged to my grandmother, her great-grandmother. I explained (one more time) what these ornaments mean to me and what I hope they will mean to her and her sister some day when they become the guardians of 4 generations of decorations. She got to place her “baby’s first Christmas” ornament on the tree for the first time since she left for college. Until she graduated last May this has always been final exam time, as it is for Tori this year, so coming home to decorate the tree was never an option.
We’ll be going to The Nutcracker this afternoon, I’ve been dreaming of sugar plum’s and toy soldiers all night. 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy Tree Hunting,
MMD
The Nutcracker
My daughter Tori performed in The Nutcracker every Christmas starting when she was just 5 years old. That first year she was an angel and I still remember the beginning of what became an annual tradition in our house. It wasn't Christmas until I was driving my little ballerina back and forth to auditions, rehearsals and finally the actual performances. Auditions began in October...
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Let’s Remember Our Troops
I’m going to take a little detour from food this morning and focus instead on our troops. My daughter, Tori, was deployed that holiday season and my heart was feeling a little broken. The troops were lucky to have a 5 Star General and his wife visiting that year and Tori was chosen to sit next to the General’s wife at the Thanksgiving table. I remember feeling such gratitude to this woman...
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Kahlua Pecan Brie
It would be absolutely impossible to even guestimate how many times I've made Kahlua Pecan Brie. This is my "go to" appetizer for any time of the year and the number one request when someone asks me to bring an appetizer to a party or an event. Nothing could be quicker or easier than throwing together a Kahlua brie. Keep a big bottle of Kahlua in your liquor cabinet...
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Chicken & Noodle Soup
Kids always love this chicken & noodle soup recipe - it's not heavy on spices and seasonings. The noodles are hearty enough to fill both children and adults and the broth is warm and comforting. Mom made her noodles from scratch. I'm lazy when it comes to physical labor so that doesn't work out for me very well at all. I like to use a package of chicken thighs with a whole fryer...
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