I still have my childhood stocking. And those sleeper jams look warm!This past weekend we enjoyed trimming Rick's tree... First, the shopping...
We had to pick it out! (Rick is a scotch pine guy. Greg and I aren't. The guy with the cash picks the tree!)
Greg made friends with the dog belonging to the tree guy.
Gorgeous dog -- I wish it had followed us home!
Then on to decorating!
Greg did the angel. As kids, this used to be the highest honor in the decorating scheme and they'd post on the bedroom wall who did it the year before -- just so it was fair!Later we went to the party at the Irish Club. We aren't Irish or members of the club, but it's a regular thing, I guess, and someone asked us to come. We were thrilled we did! There was music by the Renaissance Singers and a recording group...
Fiddling... 
Good food and lovely decorations!
Speaking of good food, here is one of my favorite go-to recipes at the holidays because with this basic shortbread dough, you can go a lot of different ways.Pressed Shortbread
1/2 c. sugar
2 sticks of butter
1/4 t. salt
2 c. flour
Put on cookie sheet in balls and press with your palm or a glass just a wee bit, so they're flat but not thin. Or use a cookie stamp to make a decoration on it. Or add decorative sugars.
Bake at 300 for 15-18 minutes (edges should still be fairly "white") Cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then on a rack.
(Variations: add dried cranberries -- OR -- dried cherries -- OR -- glaze with a powdered sugar-thinned-with-fresh-lemon-juice glaze -- OR -- add lemon or lime zest and juice to the dough -- OR -- add crushed peppermint candies -- OR (get the idea!)
You look so adorable!!!!! What a QT! Love seeing you all pick out your tree! and that doggie!!! Oh, I just want to hug him!
ReplyDeleteI am a noble fir kind of girl. I live out here in Christmas Tree land and the trees are so cheap.YOU can a 6 footer for about 12$. I love the old picture.
ReplyDeleteI miss picking out a tree! Cliff and I were going to get a tree our first Christmas and it was like $85. We couldn't believe it. We went to Target and got a pre-lit tree! I think all of our real trees come from MI and NC.
ReplyDeleteWe never got any snow at our house, but TN got icey last night. You could use our deck as a skating rink.
You were a cutie!
ReplyDeleteI miss putting up a real tree. They are my favorite. Gave in a few years ago to the artificial ones when we bought Wooly Mammoth and Tiny Tim. Yours is beautiful!
Wish I could have gone to the concert with you. Bet is was wonderful!
I've got to write down that recipe. It does sounds good and versatile, as you said.
What a great time you must have had - tree trimming and an Irish party!
ReplyDeleteJoanne
The tree looks very festive.
ReplyDeleteOK, how do you get those guys to help trim the tree? The picture of Rick under the tree (likely fooling with the tree stand) is priceless!
ReplyDeleteAnd the dog. Yes, a beauty. And, decorated!
What a fun time you had picking a tree! And course the guy with the cash gets to pick.
ReplyDeleteI went with the fake tree this year but doing a real one again next year.
I Loved that doggy too,,its beautiful!
xoxooxoxoxoxox
Love, Love, LOVE the picture of the old fiddler. Fabulous. And I copied your shortbread recipe and sent it directly to me so I would not lose it.
ReplyDeletei simply had to say how completely sweet and adorable you are as a young child in sleeper pejays :) a curly headed angel is what you are. and it certainly made me smile because honestly you still look the same! i don't think i look anything like i did as a child but you sure do :) merry christmas dear jeanie!
ReplyDeleteXO