Capturing December days 10 through 14...

Day 10...Wrapping Paper:  I bought one roll of new wrapping paper this year.  I will incorporate it with leftovers...if I ever get around to wrapping!  This is not how it was supposed to be this year!

Day 11...Green:  Well the tree is green...ALL green, because it doesn't have any ornaments on it yet!  This is not how it was supposed to be this year!

Day 12...A Beautiful Sight
and
Day 13...Family:
     

     Making ornaments with the girls.  This is EXACTLY how it was supposed to be this year!

Day 14: Christmas Tree...

     See "Day 11 above."

Capturing December day 9 (and 6, 7, 8)...

 Day 9...Something you're reading:

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

How convenient that Day 9 is 'Something You're Reading' AND coincides with 'What I'm reading Wednesday.'   I'm about to start Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. I think I heard an interview with the author or a review on the radio...something piqued my interest to look for this one.  Happily I found it available from my library as an e-book with only one person ahead of me on the reservation list, and I just downloaded it. 

And to catch up with the days I missed...

Day 8...Ornaments:  They are unloaded from the closet, but not unpacked.  The tree is in the living room, but not unboxed.  Still...progress of sorts.

Day 7...Bright: Monday (day 7) was quilting day with my group at the library.  Made a little progress on the Midnight Mystery Quilt and had a yummy Christmas potluck lunch with the group.  I am listing this as 'bright' because it's always a bright spot in my month.

Day 6...Shopping:  I have four gifts left to shop for.  Two are fairly easy...one is just a bit of drive to pick up...and one I have absolutely no clue of what to get.  

Capturing December Challenge day 5...

Today's temperature:

Mid 60s F (18 C).  Perfect temperature and a beautiful sunny day.  

I took this photo while I was out this afternoon.  It does not fill me with joy.  Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty valley, but it looks like this year round...rocky, green/brown, no seasonal changes...no oranges and reds in Fall, no fluffy white in Winter.  The only break from the constancy is a few weeks of wild flowers in Spring, and then back to this for the rest of the year.

Speaking of not being filled with joy, I skipped day 4 "Joy" of the December challenge.   I am not feeling the joy.  Truth be told, I am feeling pretty prickly lately.  In the past week I have: left a slightly snippy comment on Facebook; responded to a political email a family member sent me with a very cranky reply (I did manage to refrain from using the descriptive '@$$h01e' and settled for 'idiot'...both describing the politician, not the relative); managed to really annoy my husband; and I even let a phrase used on the radio get me really cheesed off today.

I think I need to put up the Christmas tree.  I've been really dreading it, but I think it's time to just get it done and over with.  Maybe accomplishing something will change my mood.  

Or maybe getting up and going to the auction tomorrow and coming home with something necessary...if I don't find something to use as a bedside table soon I am going to steal the one from Carey's side of the bed.  Mine is missing, after all, because I donated it to his mother's new down-sized space.

Capturing December Challenge day 3...

Red:

These Cherry Shortbreads are from Simply Joolz' recipe.  The shortbread melts in your mouth, and the red cherry on top just says 'Christmas' to me.  I haven't baked them this month yet, but I hope to in a few days.  They are so yummy!

And I must send out a big THANK YOU! to Cath @ Home who drew my name in the monthly giveaway she holds for participants of her 'What's for Dinner Wednesday' link party (button on the right --->).  Today's mail brought (all the way from Tasmania!) this gorgeous handmade towel, which will look adorable in my kitchen for Christmas and beyond, and the fun chalkboard jar labels...so cute!  :)  Thank you  so much, Cath, I love them!

Capturing December Challenge, day 2...

Favorite Holiday Movie:

A Christmas Story, Dir. Bob Clark, MGM/UA Entertainment Co., 1983

Hands down!  None other in the running.  See that leg lamp on the left of the movie poster?

I love the movie so much, my husband bought me one!  It's the real deal.  A Major Award!

But it is FRAGIL-AY...

...so woe to the miscreant who were to break it AND use up all the glue ON PURPOSE!  :)

Don't worry.  We only put it out at Christmas.

Capturing December Challenge, day 1...

I snagged this photo-a-day challenge from Pamela at The Lady of the House Speaking.  My first thought was that it might benefit me to participate.  I'm hoping that, in order to get a photo each day, it will keep me moving toward readiness for the holidays.  Christmas Eve usually finds me madly wrapping packages; I don't want to be doing that this year.

This was my view today: 

My public library has a Pinterest page, and one of their recent pins features a book-lover's Christmas tree from The Decorologist.  Love!  I began putting mine together last night.  Then I took a break.  After examining it at each pass by, I disassembled it and began again.

There are children's books, antique books, much-loved favorite books, picture books, hobby books, board books, big books, small books, Little Golden Books, fairy tales, biographies, poetry, classics...

I'm quite happy with the shape now.  I will add a few more 'ornaments' and some mica snow when I come across them while emptying out the closet where all the Christmas decorations are stored (I haven't started on the other decorating yet).  In the meantime, it makes me smile even unfinished.  Carey got home from the hunting lease today, and was duly impressed.  :)

Sunday Desserts - Rudolph Cookies...

Sunday dinner is in a few minutes, so I am quickly going to show you what I made for dessert.  I got the idea from a Pin that took me here.

I had a roll of prepared sugar cookies in the fridge that needed to be used, and that suited my energy level today just fine.  Once they were baked and cooled, I decorated them right on the cookie sheets.

I melted some chocolate chips, put the melted chocolate in a sandwich bag, and snipped off the corner to pipe on the antlers and face, and I used some red candy cake/cookie decorations for the nose.

These are about the easiest thing I've made since I don't know when, but I think they are pretty darn cute!

Sorry if it's too Christmas-y too soon, Caroline.  Bwahahaha!

edit:  Caitlyn reminded me that it was still November, and we were supposed to have another pumpkin dessert today.  :)  Ah well, Caitlyn...cook's prerogative!