Elves!!!

Notice: if you are Cade or August Ann, please refrain from reading this post :)

I have been asked to elaborate on the Elves that I mentioned in a previous post! It's pretty simple...a week before Christmas my Momma sets out our Magic Boots (above) in the living room near the tree. The Elves come and leave us small surprises each morning before Christmas. When we were little they would bring me stuff from Hello Kitty or Lisa & Frank (Do they still have that stuff for little girls?) or just any kind of fun stuff I was in to that year; coloring books, crafts, books, nickelodeon gak...stuff like that, then I would have something to do that day! Maybe this Elf idea was devised to keep us busy since we were on Christmas Break and always bugging Momma for stuff to do! Now they bring me stuff that I need like I mentioned before, last year I got a Ped Egg one day in my Magic Boot...are they trying to tell me something!?!?!? I guess the Magic Boots sort of take the place of the stocking....we have stockings (Wrangler blue jean ones with all our names!) but there is never anything in them!

Anyway I hope this helps to further explain the Elves!! Obviously the Elf is my Momma, but I still like to think they sneak in at night with a trail of sparkly dust all giggling and happy to be bringing us gifts :)

While we are on the topic of Family Traditions....we also used to leave food for the Reindeer!! Hay of course! I think now my sister mixes her's with sparkles/glitter and makes it really pretty, but at our house we just used plain old hay! On Christmas morning after we had looked over all our gifts, we would run outside to see if they ate their hay, they always did :) I don't ever remember leaving Santa any cookies...of course in our house, we were always more worried about feeding the animals!!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for!!!

Our First Christmas Tree!!!! The Farmer actually hauled the huge box up from the basement and assembled it last night!! I didn't even have to do much nagging!! :)

Isn't it stunning?!?!?

The Tree is 7.5 feet, if that gives you an idea of how tall my Farmer is!

Soo pretty!!






Some of my favorite ornaments!!

boots!

another!

green high heels!!

Brittany gave me this Cowgirl! So cute!

Christmas Cow!

Christmas Cactus!

The Farmer's Hereford..they didn't have any Angus or Chars!

awww! Our first Christmas!!

Santa Farmer!

Take me for a ride on your big green tractor!!!

And all my piggies!!!

Love it!!!

:)

I had way too many ornaments, but they are too pretty not to display!

I think they look cute under the tree!

and on the table :)

Finally got my decorations up in the living room!

More of the Tree

http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-tree-re-visted.html

Poinsettia

http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2009/11/pink-poinsettia.html

The Outside!

http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-house-in-lights.html

More Decorations!

http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2009/11/signs-of-christmas.html

Holiday Cooking!!!

It's been much too long since I have done a cooking post! Well, get ready because I am on a Holiday cooking/baking spree! I have at least 4 more recipes after this one!! Get excited!! My shelves and counter tops are over flowing with things like; almond bark, marshmallows, chocolate chips, pretzels, oreos, ginger snaps....mmmmm! Stay Tuned!!

But for now, I give you the most AMAZING cheese ball!! This is my Momma's famous Cheese Ball that she makes on every special occasion! It's a real holiday crowd pleaser!!

Ok! The Recipe:
Two 8 oz packages of Cream Cheese
Two bags a smoked beef sandwich meat (you can also use 2 jars of dried beef)
6 green onions (chopped)
1 teaspoon of Accent
1/2 teaspoon of worsteshire sauce
a dash of garlic powder a cup of chopped pecans

Now follow the pictures so I don't have to type out what I did!! HAHA!

ok, I'll give you a little help! I just used Kitchen shears and cut the meat...

Isn't this the cutest thing ever?!?!?!

then did the same with the green onions

then combine them in the cute little food processor!

It should look like this!!

mix the cream cheese, Accent, worsteshire sauce, and garlic powder

add the beef and green onions

mix well and roll into a ball

cover with chopped pecans

Soo cute and TASTY!!!

serve with Club Crackers and an adorable Turkey Spreader!!

Mmmmmm :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

More Signs of Christmas!!

I decided I needed to take down my Fall inspired centerpiece on my dining room table and put up a Christmasy inspired one!! It's not pink and green because I wanted it to match more with my westerny Christmas stuff that I have in that room. The pink and green stuff will be limited to the living room with the tree and of course outdoor decor! I love the peppermint idea with these vases (I'm soo glad I have these!!! We are going to use them for my Church's Ladies Brunch too! More details on that later) I could have unwrapped each one, but this way they stay fresh and we can still eat one every now and then!! Ok, lets be honest...i was too lazy to unwrap them all!!! ha!! The Candle Holders are Fiestaware!! I think they look really cute on both sides vase! I tried to find peppermint swirled taper candles but white was the best I could do! The red pieces in front are my Fiestaware salt and pepper shakers...The Farmer thinks they look like hot air balloons!! :)

Look at the fun boxes and bags I found at Hobby Lobby!!! Perfect Colors!!! :)

Coming to a Christmas Gathering near you!! :)