It's Beginning To Look

.... A lot like Christmas!  

I shared with you on Friday that we decided this year to invest in a good, pre-lit, artificial Christmas Tree.  I have always loved live trees and tend to be a romantic when it comes to going out to find the perfect tree.  This year, however, switching to a permanent tree made sense for the first time.  As Hubbs and I age, it gets harder each year to cut down a tree and carry it to the car (especially because our living room needs a tall tree.)  There were other considerations, as well.... like feeling bad cutting down a perfectly good living tree to decorate for a month and then toss into the woods (we no longer have goats to consume the discarded trees.)  Not to mention the ever-increasing price of pre-cut trees - we'll recoup the price of our new tree in a few years.  So, no more needles to clean up.  No more having to chain saw a large tree into pieces to get it back out the front door (yes, we've had to do that in the past.)  Etc.

All that, to say... Ta-Da!  Here is this year's Christmas tree... 

densely decorated with everything sparkly in our attic.

I added snowy decor to the fireplace mantle to match...

with lights to make it sparkle.

The top of the piano...

The dining room table...

Our old hardware chest...

The little scales on the kitchen island...

A kitchen shelf...

I still have a few touches to add here and there in other rooms.  The house feels festive and wintery now - a feeling that I will enjoy until New Year's Day.  By that time, I will be in the mood for a more minimal look.  But for now... densely-packed festive it is!

Our weekend was spent at home... chores, woods walk, decorating, baking.  I made yet another batch of sourdough English muffins.  We cannot get enough of these!  They are just the best.  Here is the recipe if you are a sourdough baker.

I experimented with sourdough cinnamon rolls (they were eventually frosted and served for Sunday Farm Breakfast.)  I am going to continue my hunt for the perfect recipe.  These were good - but I am still searching for "Great!"

Because the weather outside was damp and gloomy - a pot of broccoli/cheddar soup with homemade sourdough pretzel rolls made for a perfect comfort-food supper.

Yes, it was a densely packed carbohydrate weekend as well... but I never feel guilty when those carbs are sourdough bread!