How Much Do You Really Know about Christmas Carols?

....and other holiday musicopia?

Now's the time to find out.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Brrrr!

I don't know about your neck of the woods...but it's FREEZING here in Colorado. And snowing. That's good news for Daughter #2's partner Keith. (See him in the 'elf yourself' video below.) He has several snowplowing contracts in the Boulder area, and has been doing very well for himself. On the other hand, he hasn't gotten much sleep.

The dogs stay as close to heat sources as they can -- including Mom. The chickens make a dash for food and a drink first thing in the morning, then spend most of the day pecking and arguing in the coop. (I put in a halved pumpkin, so they've got something nice to occupy their time.) 

We were sick with the current crud pretty much all last week. We went to dinner with friends yesterday, but they (and the Brick) went on to a movie...and I came home. Just couldn't concentrate. 

Feeling better today -- but mostly because I've been parked on the sofa. I felt so ill last week that I didn't even read much. Now THAT'S sick!

Coming this week: a look back at our December cruises -- and some year-end musings. Meanwhile:

Don't miss out on the chance to 'elf yourself!'   It usually goes away early in January. (Here's the Brick family version...and a link to make your own.)

The two-present Christmas. This is an old post I wrote...I'm bringing it up again because we did a three-present Christmas this season, and it worked great. We spent a little more on individual presents (like a spritzer-maker for Daughter #1, binoculars for Keith and a waffle iron for Daughter #2), but we actually spent much less in the long run. And it was a heck of a lot of easier wrapping presents. You might want to try it in 2015, too.

The best DIY projects -- for under 50 bucks. (From Apartment Therapy) Like these cool concrete planters:

Five star chocolate chip cookies. Yes, they're that good.  (From Betty Crocker)

'Crack' potatoes. Because they're also that good. Think bacon, cheese and ranch dressing. (From Plain Chicken)

Bonus turkeys and other stock-ahead ideas. (From Donna Freedman) We just lucked out in this department -- one of my piano-student grandmas lucked into several frozen turkey breasts, and wanted to know if I could use two. Could I!

Don't pay your medical bills.  Really! (From yours truly via Midlife Finance)

Should you go to one of those all-inclusive resorts?  Tight-Fisted Miser did, in Cancun...here's his report.

Celebrity couples who live modestly.  Considering, that is. 

  

Have a great week...the last of the year!

 

2015's Color of the Year

...and the Pantone company has chosen a vivid, rich shade, like last year's fuschia, right?

Hmmm.

2015's choice is MARSALA, a shade best described as red-brown.  I guess. (It's the third one down in this photo.)

Pepper Cory explains that it's supposed to be gutsy; in fact, Pantone lauds it as "A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies, and souls."  She's skeptical.

For that matter, so am I.


Here are previous years:

I still like 2014 best.

Merry After-Christmas

Now here's one of the more interesting holiday traditions I've seen along the years...

A pallet Christmas tree!

(You can make it next year, thanks to Redhead Can Decorate's tutorial on the subject.)

Our (live) Christmas tree was a Hollander's delight this year. Because we'd come home so late, we figured that trees were basically gone. Christmas Eve, I stopped by the local King Soopers, and noticed a sign: all the leftover trees were free. Woo hoo!

The girlies and Keith helped us decorate it. Which was a huge relief, because I've been fighting some kind of cold/flu I apparently picked up on the way home. I even gave the Brick some of it, too. We both trudged through our annual seven fish dish celebration on Christmas Eve, present-wrapping and Christmas dinner. Then a snowstorm hit Colorado...the kids packed up quickly, and headed for home. (Keith has snowplowing contracts in the Boulder area -- income, yes, but responsibilities, too.)

And we collapsed. 

We spent our 33rd anniversary yesterday snuggling on the couch by a crackling fire, watching 'Blue Bloods' episodes, movies, and eating leftover Christmas cookies. I slept a good part of the day, as well.
     Ordered a pizza for supper, and had a few slices with a glass of wine.
Slept in this morning. Other than some clothes washed and folded, and the dishwasher emptied and reloaded periodically, I've been resting today, as well

Feeling better because of it, too.

Now it's on to other things...like Sunday church. (Where we have to sing and play. Again.) Library books. Errands.  A Broncos game.
    And work.

Life goes on, doesn't it...

Merry Christmas!

We celebrate the birth of our Savior...our Hope. 

May you have a wonderful, restful and above all, meaningful day.

Elf Yourself Strikes Again!

Want a chance to amuse your friends and drive your children crazy?

Put them in an elf-dancing video like this one. (I'd put it straight online, if I could figure out a way to do so...) The figures you're seeing here are Daughters #1 and #2, dogs Charley and Abby, and Daughter #2's partner Keith. (Sorry, big guy -- you chose to hookup with this family!)



Or go straight to the Elf Yourself site, courtesy of Office Max/Office Depot, make your own video, and give your family and friends a thrill. (Don't tell them before you do it...just send it to them. Fast.)

What God Thinks About Our Problems

And He means it, too. I'm so grateful for that.