Tuesday.....

Good morning to the two or three of you who aren't desperately trying to visit all the beautiful homes on BooMama's 2008 Christmas tour of homes. Poor Sophie. Last time I checked, only 729 people had joined the tour. She must be so discouraged. LOL


My front yard at 5:30 this morning

OK, all my sweet northern friends. Stop laughing. I realize this looks like a light dusting to you. But for me, it's a real treat. When people learn that I live in Colorado, they automatically assume I have non-stop snow all winter long. Wrong. I live in Grand Junction, so far west in Colorado, I'm only eight miles from the Utah border. This is desert country and snow is very rare.

It's so rare, that my little Cameron was beside himself with excitement when this happened.



Look what I discovered in my bookshelves. Seriously, we've had this book for so long, I'd completely forgotten about it. If you look at the early morning shot of my snow, and if you saw the dancing Christmas tree in my Christmas tour post, you're probably wondering if I've ever cracked this book open and, you know, actually read it. Nope. Obviously, the answer is no, I haven't. But I think I will. :-) I'll bet there's a chapter on how to not get the white spot from the flash when you photograph your digital photography for dummies book.



One of the teachers at Rob's school gave these out to everyone last year and I saved it because I thought it was such a sweet, simple idea. I realize there are a million variations of this kind of thing, but really, this is so simple, a child could do it. As a matter of fact, I'm sharing it with you because it strikes me as the perfect little project for a child to make for his teacher or perhaps even all his classmates.

Simple. She put one package of hot chocolate mix, one Hershey's kiss and one tiny candy cane in a baggie. Then she added a little card with a Christmas scene and these directions on it:

Late
Christmas Eve
Relaxation

Instructions:
1. Boil water
2. Put hot cocoa mix in a cup
3. Put in 1 cup boiling water
4. Add candy cane
5. Stir
6. Put the chocolate in the cocoa
7. Stir again
8. Sit down
9. Drink up

Let Santa Do the Rest!

I thought this was very sweet. Simple, thoughtful and very inexpensive, three things that always, always work for me.

You may remember, Krissy, Mandy and I went to the annual Once Upon a Christmas Arts and Craft Show at the convention center here in Grand Junction, the day after Thanksgiving. There were 125 booths and it was the first time I'd gone to this show. I'll be honest. I went because my daughters are determined I should have my own booth next year and sell sock monkeys, Santa stars and baby things. Based on what I saw, I sure could do that. I'm trying real hard to not think about how many of each of those three things I'd have to make between now and then for a two-day craft show that's visited by literally thousands of people from all over western Colorado and Utah. As a matter of fact, I think half the vendors were from Utah.

There was amazing variety at the show. I was very drawn to some of the adorable Christmas ornaments and especially the nativity scenes for sale, but money was limited of course and all three of us found ourselves mostly shopping at the unique food booths.

OK, Krissy bought Cameron a stuffed moose made in camouflage fabric (very macho), which I immediately named Mickey Moose, but other than that, we shopped almost entirely at the food specialty booths.

OK, Mandy bought the most delicious bloody Mary mix I've ever tasted in my life, and a very spicy jar of pickled okra, but really, other than that, we were intrigued by the unique soup and dip and spreads-for-bread mixes booths.





Here's the only thing I bought that day. I'm sharing it with you for two reasons. The young couple who created The Zesty Moose Company were two of the nicest people I think I've ever met. They created this company because they're both so opposed to preservatives in food.

And second, they had samples out and I'm telling you, their Bull Blazin' Guacamole Mix is probably the best guacamole I've ever had. And I've had myself some guacamole in my time. As much as I can get, actually.

I also got their Garlic Basil Parmesan butter mix, to use next time I make garlic bread. Delicious.

They have no idea I'm sharing them with you, of course. If you click on The Zesty Moose logo, you'll go to their site and their on-line store. Their mixes are also sold in several specialty shops all over Colorado, especially near the ski resorts. I was pretty thrilled to discover there's one shop right here in Grand Junction where I can get more of that amazing guacamole mix.

Today and tomorrow are the last two remotely quiet days I expect to have until after the new year begins. Beginning Thursday, I'll have both grandchildren here every day for two and a half weeks, and Mandy and Aaron are arriving Saturday afternoon.

It's going to be completely busy, noisy and chaotic around my house. And I can't wait!