I have been making these silly things for almost 30 years. 😂 Every year I am certain there isn't anyone I haven't given them to and every year new recipients emerge.
Last year I gifted 5...to adults...and you should have seen the laughter and delight. I've even had people offer to pay me to make them, but I just make them for fun. So, silly or not, I'm making them again.
A few weeks ago, DH was in town and stopped at a local cafe for lunch. Our mechanic was there and they visited a bit. Mark left and when DH went to settle up, his bill had been paid.
So Mark is getting a reindeer and some Whiskey Praline Pecans.
And then DH thought we should give some to neighboring ranchers...so reindeer parts are being assembled
As pecans are roastimg...
I picked up 10#
And yes, they will all be gifted with the exception of maybe 1 batch for our family to enjoy over the holidays.
I modified my antlers this year and also changed them from felt to foam
I wasn't able to find brown pom-poms for their tails and was about to settle for pink and dye them, but then I found these for $1 and they were perfect.
It took all day, but the pecans have all been roasted and the herd is complete.
The last 10 days have plumb worn me out and it has nothing to do with Christmas.
My in-laws live almost an hour away (that's practically next door for our rural lifestyle) and for 5 days, we left the house between 4:30-5 and headed that way. DH took his dad who is 88, hunting each day. They were unsuccessful, but honestly, this year, it was more about them spending time together and to get his dad out of the house and give him a break because my MIL is declining and isn't able to be alone for long anymore. And no, they will absolutely not accept any help coming in and that even includes us.
One day my MIL piped up, "They better get something today."
I replied, "That would be nice. We could use the meat, but if they come home empty-handed I'll be back tomorrow."
Her response: "Well son of a B!" 😂
So each day I packed ingredients and pots and pans for a meal and dessert. Yes, my MIL has those things, but the ingredients are out of date by many years and she won't let us throw anything out. I don't want a fight on my hands at this point as I'm just the DIL. So I just help as I can and will continue to do so as time goes on.
My SIL comes to visit for 2 days every 2-3 months so I leave the fighting to her. 😉 We both used to put leftovers in the freezer, but I told my SIL that no longer works because my MIL can no longer process that something needs to be taken out and defrosted and my FIL has never been allowed to set foot in the kitchen so even though there are 6 months worth of food in the freezer, they are living on sandwiches and frozen pizza. OYE. I thought about a meal delivery service, but they aren't open to trying new things, which I kind of get as we are set in our ways as we age.
So, after those 5 days, I spent 4 delightful days caring for our granddaughter at their home while her mommy & daddy took a short trip. E called it a 'field trip'. 😂
She had school function one evening called Christmas Around the World
I haven't set foot in a school in over 25 years and I was surprised, and delighted, to see this huge display of homemade nativity scenes
And the gingerbread houses were impressive
Gingerbread men were on hand for the festivities
As were Santa and Mrs. Claus
And playing on the playground
Is extra fun at night
One day was jammie day at school
And another day we went back to see Granny, drop off a poinsettia and make some Saltine toffee
Trying to cool it faster out on the deck
Which piece to try first?
Taste tester. 🥰
And on Sunday, after 9 days, I was finally home long enough to catch up and on Tuesday we finally made it out to cut a tree
DH found a beautiful tree one day when he was riding the fence line
We carried it back to the Can-Am
And headed home
Now I just need to muster up the energy to decorate it. Anyone able to spare a couple of elves? This one is knackered.
After spending the day at my in-laws on Saturday, I drove to our son's home. We had all planned on driving into town to take in the Mountain Christmas Light Parade. Sadly, a case of food poisoning kept him from joining us so we made it a girls' night.
The weather could not have been more perfect. Coats and hats were needed, but no wind, and not so cold that you couldn't enjoy it.
We found hot pretzals and warm beverages as we waited for the parade to begin
We popped into a few shops and did a little shopping. The shops were all decked out and E loved this pink tree
Parade time!
Looks like there is a new sheriff in town
You know you're in a small town when the parade includes a road grader. 😂
After the parade, we strolled through the park
And enjoyed more lights
We all 'deer-ly' enjoyed ourselves. 😉
It was the perfect way to kick off the Christmas Season!
I've been somewhat of a lazy cook since Thanksgiving, but we've kind of been on the go. On Monday, DH had an appointment in one town and drove another 2 hours to another town to look at some pipe.
I was in town on Tuesday to meet a friend for lunch and a long visit and to run a couple of quick errands. DH worked on some plumbing at the barn.
Wednesday, DH was gone again to pick up the load of pipe for fence and the orchard
Thursday, DH drove to Canyon (4 hours one way), to pick up our horse trailer that we had taken in for a new floor. Well that was the plan until it snowed so we spent the morning burning and tending to brush piles.
So Friday we made the 8 hour round trip to get the trailer.
Saturday was the 1st day of a 5 day elk hunt for my father-in-law. So we were up at 3:30 and drove to their home. I stayed with my mother-in-law and put out some Christmas decorations for her, did a little cleaning, and cooked for them. My MIL was upset because she was certain someone had stolen her little Christmas tree. I spent quite a bit of time hunting in the attic and was successful in finding the tree and lights. I ordered the missing star and it should arrive tomorrow.
While searching for the missing tree, I discovered a huge bin of Christmas fabrics and I would LOVE to make Christmas quilts for the kids from this bin. They are all from the 70's and 80's. I think they would be extra special to both kids. My MIL no longer sews, but she's not quite ready to let things go just yet and I want to respect her wishes, but I felt like I had opened a treasure chest. 🥰
That evening, I had another event I attended that I'll post about on Wednesday.
So I titled this post What's Cookin' so you're probably thinking so what DID she cook?
The day I was in town, I just made some Taco meat and grated some cheese so DH could have a Taco Salad or Tacos (an old photo)
I made a big batch of Sloppy Joes, coleslaw and fried potatoes on Saturday at my in-laws.
Then I made these Sugar Crack Cookies for the first time
Yesterday we were back at my in-laws'. I fixed Cornpone Pie, corn, and a salad
Cinnamon Apple Twists with ice cream for dessert
And in an attempt to keep my MIL engaged I asked her to help me with some baking. She used to do so much, but no longer does any and I knew they would enjoy some familiar Christmas favorites...we started with Pecan-Rolo-Pretzals
And then moved to Peanut Clusters (recycling an old photo)
I got a smile out of her so I'm calling that a win
I guess I should have waited a day to take the pictures of the Christmas quilt I posted yesterday because this morning we woke up to this
The mountain had disappeared into the clouds
When you hear 'Snow Day' what do you think?
Curl up under a quilt with a good book? Sew? Do a little baking? Sit by the fire?
The answer? None of the above. Although I did spend time by the fire.
DH came in at 7 and said he was burning the brush piles and would I please monitor the one below the house while he went to burn others.
So I slipped into shoes and went out in my jammies. It wasn't very cold - 29 and it was super toasty next to the fire
Once it had burned down enough, I trotted back up to the house and changed into real clothes, grabbed gloves, donned my Stormy Kromer hat, threw a shovel over my shoulder and climbed into the Can-Am next to Skeet. DH had 7 piles burning
and we went around with a pitchfork and shovel
tossing outlying pieces into the middle
Not a great picture, but I had been working and that fire is hot!
