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Volunteer Planet => The Tool Bar => Topic started by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 08, 2008, 05:59:56 PM

Title: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 08, 2008, 05:59:56 PM
We'd all love to see your Christmas/holiday decorations either at home or around your town so I'll start with my tree which the dog has so far knocked over 3 times.

(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c5/tassie_devil/DSCF1295.jpg)

The guilty party. :halo:

(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c5/tassie_devil/ladytree.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 08, 2008, 06:47:34 PM
My tree.

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/tree.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: kiska on December 08, 2008, 06:57:34 PM
Here's my baby tree.

(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm81/kiskaopr/tree.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 08, 2008, 07:25:50 PM
Schen that tree is beautiful with all the white lights.

Kiska I love yours. The little decorations around the base are lovely. Is that a tiger in the tree?
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 08, 2008, 10:36:46 PM
Gads, guys, this is going to be tough for a former Christmas freak and now a curmudge. 12 cats can destroy a decorated house quicker than you can say "faux paws!"  I have a few treasures that come out every year, so I'll try to find them and photograph anything that's not in shreds. (The last time we had decorations out, Lon put up the trains and Boo ate the caboose.  After turning the air blue, he packed up the remains and they've been in storage ever since. I made the mistake of thinking it was hilarious, so I was on the poo list with Boo for quite a while!)

Your trees are so lovely, Tess, Shujen and kiska.  It does make me nostalgic for the days when my son was little and we had so darn much fun over the holidays.

I think of jello cookies (my recipe was published in the St. Pete Times last year), popcorn balls, million-dollar fudge, home-made egg nog, string-ball decorations, pasta Christmas trees and Iron Man's declaration as he sat down at the table for turkey and fixin's – "I intend to hurt myself!"

Tess, I think you may have gremlins in your house.  That innocent-looking pooch couldn't possibly be the culprit knocking down your tree.  I mean, look at those eyes.  Pleeze!

Cheers!

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: cmpentecost on December 08, 2008, 10:53:01 PM
Well, we don't have our tree up, and with a 5-month old kitten, I'm sure it will be an entertaining holiday.

This is a photo I took last week after a fresh snowfall.  We have a young pine tree on the perimeter of our yard, so I've put Christmas ornaments on it.

Chris

(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n140/cmpentecost/Ornament1.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Candice on December 08, 2008, 11:41:50 PM
Very Pretty!
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Deborahjc on December 09, 2008, 03:27:09 AM
Wow great pictures.  I love the picture of your adorable dog Tess.  They look the most adorable after committing mayhem dont you think? 

Here is my favorite from our old place in Singapore.  Our place here isnt quite done yet.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Deb

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp181/deborahjc/tree.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Atlantis on December 09, 2008, 04:56:52 AM
(http://secretatlantis.smugmug.com/photos/164618611_NfNWm-L.jpg)

a photosession two years ago with our cat Luna and my oldest daughter trying to steal the chocolat
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 09, 2008, 05:54:24 AM
They are all so beautiful. Glenna don't you believe that innocent 'who me?' look. I got a chuckle out of Boo eating the decoration.
What is million dollar fudge? More to the point wheres the recipe?

Chris your photo is very eye catching, so bright amongst the snow. Deb yours looked great especially with the statue in it. Atlantis I don't blame your daughter one bit wanting those chocolates.
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: cmpentecost on December 09, 2008, 10:42:57 AM
If you look closely at my ornament, our house is in the background.  We've gotten a lot of snow over the last 36 hours, so I'll try and get out with the camera for some more holiday photos.

Chris
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Ausimax on December 09, 2008, 08:47:23 PM
This is our tree, it has had many visits from Santa, it will be celebrating its 39th Christmas this year.


(http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5341/xtreeon9.jpg)

Max
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 09, 2008, 08:56:21 PM
Love the tree, Max.  Talk about longevity!  Another old fart like the rest of us.

Chris, your photo is awesome.  I love the red ornament against the stark white, and the reflection of your house is genius.  Great shot!

Tess:
Million Dollar Fudge (WARNING: THIS IS WAY TOO RICH AND TOTALLY ADDICTIVE)

4 1/2 cups sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1/3 pound butter
2 packages chocolate pieces
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 pint marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Mix sugar, milk and butter. Boil exactly 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate pieces, chocolate squares and marshmallow creme. Stir until all is melted.  Add vanilla and nuts. Pour into a 9x12-inch greased pan. Cut when cool.  Yield: 2-3 pounds.

Eat 4 or 5 pieces.  Loosen your belt!  Enjoy!

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 09, 2008, 09:04:57 PM
Wow Max, how did you get your tree to last so long? My last one was a great scratching post for out cat but it tended to fall over when she tried to climb it..

Glenna that sounds oh so addictive and yummy. Guess who's going shopping later. (http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c5/tassie_devil/eatingcakeani0ng.gif)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: weewood on December 10, 2008, 02:34:40 PM
This is our Christmas tree. We have a flocked tree every year, and just love it. This picture was taken last year, but it will look the same again this year. We are still decorating this year's tree. Hope you like it.

(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/weewood/DavidandKaysChristmasTree.jpg)


Merry Christmas, one and all, David
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Candice on December 10, 2008, 06:49:51 PM
It's all so festive.
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 10, 2008, 07:59:18 PM
David, your tree is stunning.  It looks like decor in a photo from "Better Homes Than Ours."

Hugs!

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 10, 2008, 09:24:45 PM
Quote from: glennab on December 10, 2008, 07:59:18 PM
"Better Homes Than Ours."

Hugs!

GK

:funny: Thats what they should call that magazine.
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: weewood on December 11, 2008, 01:34:57 PM
Quote from: glennab on December 10, 2008, 07:59:18 PM
David, your tree is stunning.  It looks like decor in a photo from "Better Homes Than Ours."

Hugs!

GK

Thanks, Glenna! I like the "Better Home Than Ours" magazine idea. You are funny  :funny:
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Candice on December 11, 2008, 08:13:58 PM
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr322/kandykisses0054/ChristmasWonder/tree08.jpg)

Ye humble tree.
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 12, 2008, 05:37:08 AM
Your tree is beautiful lagirl. It's perfect against that colour wall.

I also love the Christmas theme John has put up for us. You can choose it in your profile/preferences. Thanks John.  :hug:
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Candice on December 12, 2008, 11:14:10 AM
The Christmas theme is my page too. Love it!   ;)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Mhayes on December 12, 2008, 02:28:10 PM
John, I love the Christmas theme!  :wnw:
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 12, 2008, 03:20:56 PM
John, I love the Christmas theme, too.  But where are the dancing elves? They were so much fun.

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Johnboy on December 12, 2008, 04:46:05 PM
John,

Great job on the Christmas theme. I like the opportunity to change the theme at will. I can see that being handy for future themes too.

Johnboy
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 12, 2008, 04:47:36 PM
Glenna,

If you were looking for the dancing elves, you were looking at the wrong website.  Try this one:

the OPR Elves (http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/pvrRiNyH6M4Kbi6m)

Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 12, 2008, 05:35:50 PM
Quote from: schen on December 12, 2008, 04:47:36 PM
Glenna,

If you were looking for the dancing elves, you were looking at the wrong website.  Try this one:

the OPR Elves (http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/pvrRiNyH6M4Kbi6m)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/tessc/rollonfloor.gif)Wow you guys and girls really got hip this year. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/tessc/clap.gif)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 12, 2008, 09:28:44 PM
WOW!  We've been practicing all year, and it shows.  What a hoot!  Shujen, are you the culprit?  I love it.  Whoever has time to come up with this fun stuff can't possibly have a job!  There's no way for that to be called work.

I suspect the elves will be making the rounds as they did last year.  I know a bunch of lunatics down here who'll  get a huge laugh!  Way too much fun.

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Mhayes on December 13, 2008, 01:22:15 AM
I'm exhausted and these tights are killing me! Shujen, you are on my list!

Margie
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: mschonher on December 13, 2008, 04:56:12 AM
(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/mschonher/IMG_0171.jpg)




Hi Everyone,

Just checking in to wish you all a merry Christmas, or however you celebrate. God bless us all now and in the coming year.

Hugs,

Mary   :hug:
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 13, 2008, 05:43:07 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/tessc/funnygif.gif)
Quote from: MarCat on December 13, 2008, 01:22:15 AM
I'm exhausted and these tights are killing me! Shujen, you are on my list!

Margie

Mary your decorations are absolutely gorgeous. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas. :hug:
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 13, 2008, 02:31:37 PM
Mary, your decorations are so lovely.  Another choice for the holiday spread in "Better Homes Than Ours!"  I can't imagine how wonderful it must be to put up all that beautiful trim and know a 12-unit demolition team won't make it into debris overnight.  (Not that I'd give up the wrecking crew for a moment, but what a pleasant dream to have a house that isn't a dozen cats' artistic project!)

Enjoy the holidays!

Hugs!

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 14, 2008, 02:16:41 AM
The Art Institute

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0184A.jpg)



The Wrigley Building

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0192A.jpg)



The magnificent Mile

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0218A.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 14, 2008, 05:27:23 AM
They are beautiful Schen.

This is the webcam for our ABC Giving tree. It's in the state headquarters of our national tv station and every year you can watch the presents grow as people donate gifts for those that have none. http://www.abc.net.au/webcam/givingtree-webcam.jpg

(http://www.abc.net.au/webcam/givingtree-webcam.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 14, 2008, 01:34:21 PM
Shujen, your photos are beautiful.  Wonderful night shots!

Tess, I love the giving tree.  That's what the season is about.

I worked for a printing company that every year had an "Angel Tree," from which we each took an envelope with a needy family's wishes.  I've never seen people have so much fun as we did rushing around to find the right gifts and anything extra we could afford.  When all the gifts were gathered in the lobby, I'd get weepy, because it's inspiring when people show so much generosity and get such joy from giving to others.  (Hmmmmmm!  Puts me in mind of a familiar group of photo restorers!  And don't tell the others, but OPR really IS my favorite!)

Hugs!

GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: cmpentecost on December 15, 2008, 06:53:41 PM
There is a holiday song that's been playing in my mind all day today.  It's titled "Baby, It's Cold Outside".   The pictures below will explain why!

(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n140/cmpentecost/Snow-0697.jpg)

And as I'm driving into town this morning, I see these horses standing near the road, with frost all over their faces:

(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n140/cmpentecost/Coldhorses1of1.jpg)

Brrrrrrrrr!  Our high today was about zero, and the rest of the week will be the same.

Christine

Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Candice on December 15, 2008, 07:22:21 PM
 :) It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! 
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 15, 2008, 08:13:09 PM
Wow, those poor horses need some blankets! Thats darn cold Chris.
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: hoodman3 on December 15, 2008, 08:20:10 PM
Happy Holidays to all!

I'm will be in Santa Barbara, CA with my wife's family. Christmas on the beach?!?
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and happy new year!

Pete
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 16, 2008, 09:47:57 PM
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I used to know.


(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0241Acopy.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Candice on December 16, 2008, 10:38:12 PM
Makes me thankful for a 2 car garage!   :-*
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: cmpentecost on December 16, 2008, 11:26:08 PM
Nice photo Shujen.  I like the background lighting of the house behind the car.

We warmed up to a balmy 5 degrees today.

Chris
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 16, 2008, 11:26:45 PM
Makes me thankful I live in Florida!  I'd rather be a wuss that deal with all that snow!

The only time I've driven in snow was once in Maine when I was taking care of my mother.  I had to go out to get her meds, so I climbed in the car, got a few miles up the road, couldn't see very well, so I turned on the window washer.  Brilliant! (That wasn't what I was calling myself as I stood at the side of the road, freezing my butt off and scraping ice off the windshield!)  Sheesh, how was I to know that one can't use a stream of water to clean ANYTHING in freezing weather?  I left for work today in short sleeves for cryin' out loud!

The Florida Wuss
GK
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: cmpentecost on December 16, 2008, 11:41:27 PM
Dearest FL Wuss....

You shall never know the beauty of "the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, gave a luster of daylight to objects below".  And, instead of "his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry", you just see Santa covered in sweat!  And...how can you tell when Santa was at your house?  At our house, his reindeer and sleigh leave tracks in our yard in the snow!

Perhaps you need to come to Montana to learn about winter and how to wash your windshield!!

Please don't give me too hard of a time on this Glenna.  I know you'll be slinging it back to me in April, when it's 80 degrees in FL and we're still getting snow!

Chris
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Tess (Tassie D) on December 17, 2008, 02:16:24 AM
Hmmm, well it's 72F here at the moment and we will definitely be spending Christmas at the beach. Santa wears board shorts and sandals while delivering here. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/tessc/D2.gif)

That said, it would be wonderful to experience a white Christmas. Schen is that your car there?
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 17, 2008, 09:17:14 AM
No.  It is a visitor's car.  But it is parked behind mine  :mad:
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Atlantis on December 21, 2008, 07:47:37 AM
Everything around the christmasholidays is very distracting from finishing my restores for OPR in time. Children and pets that need attention, making shoppinglists, cleaning & decorating the house, etc.
But I did finish the fotoshoot for this year's card and made you the english version:

(http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6015/kerstopr08jm1.jpg)

And I still plan to finish and upload before christmas  :halo:

Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Hannie on December 21, 2008, 08:30:11 AM
Atlantis, you are not allowed to crop photos and there are still some white spots visible on the orange candy in the lower right corner!

Just kidding!  ;)

What a lovely Christmas card, thanks for posting it and also for translating your wishes for those of us that are not fluent in the Dutch language.

Yummy, kerstschuimpjes...

Hannie
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Atlantis on December 21, 2008, 08:44:38 AM
Haha, you're welcome.
One more distraction : went to the city yesterday to do some shopping and enjoy the lights & decorations.

(http://secretatlantis.smugmug.com/photos/440397618_MJWuN-XL.jpg)

And it's time for lunch, I really get distracted to easily.
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Hannie on December 21, 2008, 09:44:57 AM
What a pretty scene...

Hannie
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Mhayes on December 21, 2008, 01:20:33 PM
Atlantis, what beautiful shots, one makes me hungry and the other one is such a beautiful Christmas card.

Margie
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 21, 2008, 07:05:10 PM
Atlantis, thanks for sharing the cards.  I love the Chinese lanterns on the tree.

We had a few inches of the snow Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon. Then the temperature dropped below 0 F and barely made it up to single digit this afternoon even with the full sun.


Before I cleaned up the snow and got the car out of my way
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0242A.jpg)


Icicles
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0246A.jpg)
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: glennab on December 21, 2008, 07:48:01 PM
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/glennab-fla/SunnyDays.jpg)

Anonymous!
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: Mhayes on December 21, 2008, 09:43:59 PM
GK, now that is cruel!
Title: Re: It's Christmas.
Post by: schen on December 22, 2008, 09:59:06 AM
Anonymous poster,

You may have 361 days of sun at St. Pete; the other 4 days are under the hurricanes.

This is the second day of cloudless blue sky.  Without the blanket of cloud to retain the heat, it is actually much much colder.  The wind was blowing at about 35 mph (55 km/h) yesterday and the wind chill factor was below -35. 

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0297A.jpg)


The blue sky that goes with the frigid temperature
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z298/schen_album/_DSC0301A.jpg)