Atlas just says no.

Merry Christmas!

There is nothing like the early morning glow of the tree with presents under it.

Holiday decorations

My Aunt Pat has her own holiday decorations, as well as the traditional family decorations. Here are some of my favorites this year.

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! The angel is trapped in the fireplace. Trapped behind the fire screen. What if someone lights a fire?

Joining us in a Bethlehem stable will be a large metal enclosure with tons of knee-sized truffles. An offering from an American chocolate conglomerate to the Prince of Peace?

These angels are trapped behind a golden fence with musical notes. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be inspiring good music.

Have your run out of room to store a flower arrangement that is bigger than you? With our brand new Amphora Bustle, you will be able to take along your Christmas floral arrangement on your next December caroling date.

Calendars

Matt and I have been using the Flylady calendar since we moved in together. I find it hard to believe that we have lived together long enough to have four of them to discard. But there is the evidence, right there.

Treat for the cats

I recently decided that the back porch would be a perfect place for suet feeders. There is a large wooden beam--the bottom half of the upper deck--which is undercover and squirrel and cat proof. Plus, when lounging around on the bed, the cats have a good view of the feeders, providing daytime entertainment. I put up the feeders a few weeks ago and have been eagerly awaiting any signs that the birds have discovered them. Last weekend, the cats and I were lazing about in bed when suddenly, "Hah-ha!" we all jumped up at once. The birds had arrived.

My aunt tells me they are Juncos. All I know is that they come in flocks and flit in and out keeping myself and the cats, as well as the cats that hang around the back yard, entertained.

Thwarting the cats

A certain formerly feral kitty who shall remain nameless--at least for the rest of this sentence--is quite the forager. Sentinel gets up on the counters, but in a blatant way so I always know what he's up to. Antares is sneakier and more willing to eat things that Sentinel won't such as pie crust and muffins. When I've got things that need to cool for awhile, it's hard to keep him out of the food. So I developed this low-tech system.

When things come out of the oven, I place them on one of my stacking racks to cool. Then I place another stacking rack on top of the first one and lay dish clothes over the whole structure. This barrier seems to be enough to keep the kitten out of the food, even though he could easily pull off the dish clothes, if he so desired.

Tree decoration

Yes, it is the annual tree decoration. It comes around so regularly. But, what this?

A man! And a tall one, at that. Matt came along this year and made sure we got ornaments on even the top-most branches of the tree, all without a step stool!