Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas Decorating with Friends and Kittehs


Getting ready for Christmas takes several days and lots of help . . .

Inspecting the lights . . .

A closer look . . .

John got the tree at the Farmers' Market . . .

Our trees are always secured with a stout rope . . .

Inspecting the stout rope . . .

Inspecting the tub for the tree . . .

Inspecting the tree . . .

From all angles . . .

Cory's inspection completed, Angeline takes over. . .

A negative reaction?

Sunday . . . friends and family gather for the traditional stringing of the popcorn and cranberries -- there's the traditional grumbling over the task  . . .

But before long, we have a nice long string . . .

Some family members don't participate . . .

Instead of Christmas carols and cocoa, there's football and beer and cider . . .

And all the popcorn you can eat.

This crew is adept at hanging the string to my exacting specifications. . .

It requires a good eye and a certain amount of athleticism.
 
When supper time arrived, there were two lasagnes -- a red one with Italian sausage and a green and white one with spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, and peppers.
 
A spinach salad with tangerines, green onions and an amazing oil and vinegar, curry and lemon dressing, as well as homemade bread and home-churned butter . . . and wine . . . and port . . .


After which, there was a total lack of interest in hanging more stuff on the tree.

No matter, the difficult bit's done -- I'll finish up tomorrow...


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13 comments:

Ms. A said...

That's a healthy looking tree, I must say! Do the kittehs like popcorn and cranberries?

susanbellnc said...

OK, I must have the recipe for the green lasagna. Sounds so good.

Thérèse said...

What a day!
Everything looks great, you are ready.

Martin said...

I can see why you need the sturdy rope!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I can see why you need the sturdy rope. With that grand feast you set out, I bet you have lots of volunteers to help trim your tree. How often does one find homemade bread and churned butter? Not often enough I think.
Sam
PS You fresh tree is so pretty.

Kath said...

What a lovely tree, and wonderful tradition!

Brian Miller said...

ha. you will have to let us know the further adventures of the kittehs with the tree...lol....i love a live tree.....

Barbara Rogers said...

What a great short story...beginning middle and yummy end.

NCmountainwoman said...

Love the tree. Our decorating is bit by bit but perhaps next year we will make a party of it like you do. Good friends and yummy food.

Jime said...

With friends and kittehs what could be better. The food looks sooo good

Vicki Lane said...

So far the kittehs haven't been inclined to snack on it.

Susan -- just follow a standard lasagne recipe - noodles, mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, and meat sauce then instead of the meat sauce, use sauteed (or oven roasted) veg. I used onion, garlic, red peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, and spinach.

Folkways Note Book said...

Lovely room -- like the wall of books. Santa's elves did a great job on your tree -- barbara

Carol Bryner said...

I made a popcorn and cranberry chain once. The result was lovely, but while the brittle popcorn was breaking under my needle and the cranberries were spurting juice, I swore I would never make another.
Your family and friends must love you very much to make such a large and generous chain. This was a wonderful description of a getting-ready-for-Christmas day.