Anybody seen Rudolph?

Can you find all four deer in this photo. I stepped out on the back deck this morning and there must been nine deer on the edge of the yard. There are four or five more outside the frame of this photo. I've been trying to attract them for a month or so and this is the most successful I've been. This is just great.

Thursday Thirteen No. 9

Thirteen Ornaments and Decorations Part Deaux

If you remember last week, I mentioned that I am married to an honorary elf. Christmas is my wife's favorite holiday and she is very good at decorating our home for this special time of the year. She has an exraordinary eye for design and is capable of making almost anything she sets her heart on. So, with that introduction, I present an additional thirteen Christmas things you will find around our home. Merry Christmas to all!

Let's start at the front door. Welcome all.

The fireplace mantle has another wreath and garland. All of this was created by the elf without any help from Hobby lobby or Wal-Mart, etc.

Here is a detail of the end garland on the fireplace mantle. I told ya she was talented!

Whimsical picture frames with photos of the kids and Santa are a great addition to any decor. The pics are fond reminders of Christmas past.

Theses metalic frames are a little more formal and are placed on the dresser in the Master
Bedroom. Remember, Christmas is not limitied to any particular room at our house because an elf lives here.

Ok, here is the main tree in the living room.



And the elf has made bows for this tree.

Here is the 3' wilderness theme tree in the study. I got to pick many of the ornaments that go on this tree.







This 6' rustic tree is in the sitting room by the kitchen. It has those photo and antique ornaments that you saw last week ...or just scroll down to enjoy them.





And here is how the honorary elf topped this tree!





You guessed it, the elf hand painted this ceramic ornament.










MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This the Season to be Jolly

Like most people the wife and I have let the holiday schedule get a little out of hand. As I mentioned, last Wednesday we drove over to Branson, MO to see "The Music of Mannheim Steamroller." Well, last Friday we hosted our Sunday school class party, Saturday night was my office party, today my wife is hosting a luncheon for the widows in our home and tomorrow night is the church staff party. Are we done yet?

Thursday Thirteen No. 8

Thirteen Christmas Ornaments and Decorations Around the House

Since my wife is an honorary elf, our hourse is transformed during the Christmas Season. We have three trees, the main 9 footer in the living room, the 6' rustic tree in the sitting area off of the kitchen and a 3' wilderness themed tree (it's mine) in the den. Here are 13 decorations and ornaments you will find around our home this time of year.

The honorary elf made this ceramic ornament a number of years ago.

It is probably my favorite of all of the ornaments in the house.

I love cocker spaniels. They are my favorite breed of dog and the only breed I have ever had as a pet. When we found this ornament a few years back, buying it was a no brainer.

I love to fish and bears are much better at this sport than I am. But then again, they don't practice catch and release.

You don't have to look very hard around this blog to understand why I own this ornament.

I am an architect and this little construction guy is the closest thing we could find to represent the industry I am in.

Like most of the really cool ornaments that we own, the honorary elf found these embossed leather ornaments at a craft store.

Santa fishes in the off season. There is actually a traditional green ball ornament that is the basis for this decoration.

Like I said, Santa fishes in the off season.

There are few things prettier than a traditional glass ornament.

Traditional shapes and colors are always reminders of the season.

Toys from your childhood. I can guarantee this ornament is over 55 years old!

Olde World Santa Lamps. We have nine of these and they are displayed on top of the kitchen cabinets.

Take a photo of the kids/grandkids every year and put them in these photo frame ornaments. In a few years, you will have enough to decorate an entire tree.

Christmas Extraordinaire

I took yestderday afternoon off and my wife and I made the two hour drive to Branson, Missouri to the "The Music of Mannheim Steamroller". It is kind of like the off-broadway version of the group. There are four featured musicians from Mannheim Steamroller and 14 members of the Branson Orchestra. There are also some special lighting, multi-media etc. The performance was great, but it only made me want to hunt down the full blown Mannheim concert and see it. I can't make those plans this year because time and schedule won't allow it.

The full group will be in Kansas City next week, but I will just have to keep track of their schedule and make plans for the holidays next year.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The Christmas tree is up in the foyer of the church and it is spectacular! I love this time of year.

Over the next week or two you're probably going to see several posts relating the Christmas, decorations, shopping, grandkids and gingerbread houses. Since my wife is one of Santa's elves, we currently have three trees up at home. You will get to see those as soon as I photograph them and can get them posted. Until then, Merry Christmas. Enjoy the season and remember that the greatest gift of all is the gift of our Savior. Give the gift of love to everyone you know.

Here kitty, kitty....

OKLAHOMA SOONERS 38 Missouri Tiggers 17

Granted, we contributed to the mess of the BCS as to who should be playing in the national championship game, but the Sooners left no doubt last night as to who is the Big 12 conference champion. I kept telling myself I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if Missouri won, because that would put a Big 12 team in the title game, but when they teed up the ball that all changed.

I am Sooner born, Sooner bred, a Sooner Alum and I just can't bring myself to be anything else.

BOOMER SOONER!!! ROLL ON CRIMSON AND CREAM, ROLL ON!!!

We're ranked No. 3 by the Harris, AP, and USA Today Polls. We finished No 4 in the BCS. We will meet West Virgina in the Fiesta Bowl. They are so-o going to wish they had beaten Pitt after the beat down that the Sooners are going to put on them. Pass the Tostidos and the dip.