Halloween Discussion Forums, Costumes, Horror!

I just want to wish Murf, Andy, and everybody here a Merry Christmas! Stay safe and healthy my friends.

You, too! I hope your girls are happy with their real tree.

Happy Chrismakwanzadan, believers!

I'm aaaaalmost done decorating. I'm at my brother's house for a few days helping with theirs.

At my place I have to string up outdoor lights, and put boxes back in storage.

Murf - Oh, yes, the girls absolutely love it!

It's funny, last week they asked me why we didn't put the tree up yet, as my wife usually has the tree up by Dec 1st, and I told them that she's been busy with work, but that we would do it on the weekend. They still didn't know that we were going to get a real tree for them.

We ordered the tree stand online and it arrived last Thurs. We were going to bring the kids with us to get the tree on Sat. but we wanted to surprise them. So on Fri. morning I went to pick it up, and Tomasso, one of my employees, accompanied me. I drove over a hour to get there and when we arrived they didn't have any large trees left. We wanted to get a tree that was at least 8 feet tall, but the only trees the guy had were about 5 feet, but he recommended another tree lot that was about a hour away. I appreciated his honesty, as most people wouldn't send you to their competition, but he knew that I wanted the tree for my kids. So I looked up the address on my phone, and we drove even further for another hour and when we got there we found the perfect tree for a good price. Thankfully I was driving the van, because there's no way it would have fit in the car.

After we got back here and we got the tree inside, we struggled to set it up, and if Tomasso wasn't here to help then I probably wouldn't have got it done in time. When my wife and the kids got home they were surprised by it, and the girls ran straight to it. Oh, yeah, you were right about the scent Murf, I observed the kids as they were looking at the tree, and I saw Sam smelling at it, and she had a peaceful look experiencing that aroma for the first time.

My wife and kids decorated the tree on Sat. while I was out getting some supplies, and they decorated it beautifully. It was a pain obtaining, and setting up the tree, but when I saw their faces I knew it was worth it.

Andy - We are looking forward to it!

My sister croched a hat for my Beethoven statue, ans it fits me as well.

Lol! That's some hat, Andy!

That's an amazing saga about your tree, HH. I'm so glad your girls are enjoying it. If I were you I'd leave it up through Jan 6 (Epiphany, end of the Twelve Days). It's very doable if you keep it watered. And you can either mulch or compost it afterward. Perhaps your ciry collects trees for compost. Ours does that, usually on Jan 8. You can also sink them in lakes, since fish like to hide in them.

My yard is all lit up for Christmas, but I still haven't got my tree up. I'm hoping tonight or tomorrow. I do have an Advent wreath I'm using for daily devotionals, so I'm experiencing some Christmas. Also I've bought and wrapped most of my gifts. I do have some baking to do, too.

You can also sink them in lakes, since fish like to hide in them.

You learn something new every day.

It sounds like you're going to be busy Murf, will your older son be coming home for Christmas this year?

Andy, of course you have a Beethoven statue, why wouldn't you?

Is it a bust or a full statue?

Here he is, wearing my Santa hat, patiently waiting for me to bring him his custom nightcap.

That's a remarkable thing to have, that bust. Are you musical, Andy? How come that statue to be in your possession?

HH, I know about the sinking of Christmas trees in lakes because my cousin used to live in a lakehouse on Lake Hamilton (Hot Springs, Arkansas), and that's what he and his neighbors would do to encourage the fish population in the lake. Of course, if you don't live on a lake, you'd probably have to get permission to do that.

I forgot to answer your questiom about my older son. Yes, he's flying in on Sunday and will be here through early January. He's still on an academic schedule, and sometimes he works remotely, too.

The bust sat next to the cash register in a second hand store for decades and when the owner told me that he was retiring earlier this year I staked my claim (put a post-it on it) and took it home during the first week of the going out of business sale.

Although I come from an accomplished musical family ( I told you about my niece getting her PhD and professorship at G. Mason), all I can play is the stereo.

I think I'll still be decorating by New Years...

...and...

Still decorating by New Year's! Lol. I can relate. I still haven't put up my tree, although I should be able to do that tomorrow. I've been working on my yard display and wrapping gifts, and today I made my first of four loaves of cranberry orange bread. There's a Christmas cookie party on Christmas Eve between the two church services, and I created a monster when I brought my cranberry orange bread a few years ago. Now everyone is expecting it. And we have to have it ourselves for Christmas morning. And this year my husband wants me to gift a loaf apiece to his sister and niece.

He looks very happy...right?