Christmas Trees

 As the house is not yet finished, I opted to forego a real tree indoors for my nifty little artificial tree I bought at Kmart for 79 bucks many years ago. I never have figured out where exactly to put it in the Palace, I even tried to place it on the floor plan many times, but nothing seemed to work. So as the front door is still nailed shut because there are no steps to the outside, I just put the tree in front of it this year. This is it unfinished, but it certainly does not have enough room for all the ornaments I have in the box. Looks pretty nice to me.

And though it isn't the best-looking tree of biggest one, the big ones in the old windbreak are much too big, I decided to decorate this little transplanted tree. I moved it from the area the power company was clearing. They took out some nice trees which we planted before there were any power lines there. It's not very healthy looking, a but yellow, the drought didn't help. I hope it survives the winter.

This is how it looked a couple days ago. Kaylee is wondering where her goody is for waiting patiently while I took the photo.

I decided that the beads didn't show up very well from a distance so today I added garland. It looks a lot better, but I do wish the poor tree was a healthier green color.

Thanksgiving at the Palace

 I figured I ought to get this post in before December! Hal, his older brother and our 2 friends had a great time together. I cooked the usual turkey, (15.83 lbs) that was much too big. I really should drop to no larger than 12 lbs next year. Bread stuffing of course, mashed russet potatoes and gravy, green beans, NOT in that horrid casserole, asparagus, croissants and a nice wine or two. Dessert was pumpkin pie and Amish baked mixed berry and apple pie.

I even got my china out for our first major holiday at the Palace.

The men seemed to be enjoying the food.

I seem to have a terrible time making a good looking crust but the taste was yummy.

Wall Decor

 As building is on hiatus till Hal heals from his hernia surgery 3 weeks ago, I've been trying to figure out how to decorate our home on a budget. I had a few paintings and framed photos, still haven't found where all of them are, but between those and a few prints I bought on sale from Big Lots last week, I've done a little here and there though mostly in the great room.

This first one I put by the front door which can't be seen but is just on the other side of the entry closet. I saw this print a few times at the store and realized I kept thinking about it so I must really like it, and I do. The end table underneath will not stay there but until I figure out where to put it, it will stay here. The front door is inoperable for the time being anyway as there are no stairs outside yet.

This little bird print is between the still untrimmed living room windows. But, hey, at least those windows are stained!

This is a portrait of my mom, I hate to admit that it was never hung in the 20 years we lived in our last home, but now she proudly hangs near the dining table, easily seen from the living room. Looks like it was painted in 1950, 2 years after my parents married.

And this is the "wall of sound", at least that's what I called it in our last home. My original intention was to put the tall cabinets in the TV room, but I have since decided they look fine here though at some point I hope to stain them darker to get rid of the orange tint that oak seems to become after many years. The old-world print is Hal's and we thought it looked good above the TV, and I hung my photo of the Mackinac bridge on the left.

This bird print I put in our main bathroom, just something nice to look at whilst mucking about in the bath.

I did buy a 4th print which will go in the guest room, but it hasn't been hung yet as I'm not sure which wall to put it on. It's the little one in the line-up below. I still have stuff in boxes I haven't unpacked yet.