Monday, December 19, 2011

For Those Who Wondered



We are spending our first Christmas on our little homestead. It's still hard to believe that our dream of being here has come true.  This year won't be exactly the way we have celebrated in the past.  Circumstances have helped to make that so. For one thing, I haven't put up a Christmas tree. There just isn't any room for one here in our little RV.  Unless I hang one from the ceiling of course. When we downsized to this trailer I got rid of ALL my Christmas decorations. It would have literally taken half a U-Haul trailer to tote around all the stuff I used to have! I DO wish I had made up a little Christmas BOB (bug out bag) now though.  Honestly, I don't know why I didn't think of it. I guess I was having a "senior moment".  It's ok though because like I said the only place to put one would be hanging it from the ceiling.  I DID put a tree up on my computer desktop though!!

Another difference this year is that we won't be exchanging gifts. Our gift to each other is knowing that our bills are paid and that we are able to pay the land taxes. For that we are truly grateful. Have you ever wondered what Guberment Scrooge came up with the idea to make taxes due right after Christmas?  Geesh.... 

I haven't decided what I'll be making for Christmas dinner yet.  I have been doing a bunch of baking here lately. I just love to bake this time of the year. I've been making cookies and cakes for us and to share with our neighbors. Mars even made some Peanut Butter Fudge the other day!  Talk about yummy goodness! 

I'm still trying to figure out if I want to go ahead and make a traditional Christmas meal or do something totally different. Maybe pick up a couple of nice steaks and put them on the grill.  That would be a really simple meal and a nice one too!  These days, with the cost of food skyrocketing, steaks are a real treat for us. Anyway.... I've still got almost a week ( ok ok 5 days)  to decide what I want to do.  I'll figure it out though because I'm NOT going to cook all day like I did at Thanksgiving!  I refuse to go through THAT debacle again.  LOL

Whatever we decide to do we will have a nice Christmas dinner together. We'll listen to Christmas music, make some phone calls to family and friends and watch a movie together in the evening.  The seed catalogs are starting to come in now and so I think I might do an inventory of the seeds we have on hand and drool over the possibilities of what might be planted in the Spring.  Heck, I might even make it a new Christmas tradition. 

So for those of you who asked what our Christmas plans were this year... There ya go! The one thing I DO know is that we are blessed.  There are so many families this year that won't have it half a good as we do this Christmas. 

      ~~~~~~ Hey ... I'm Just Sayin' ...  ~~~~~~

19 comments:

  1. That's the kind of Christmas tradition we have for gifts to each other too, Sci ...the good feeling of knowing our bills are paid and the tax money is set aside. Priceless!

    We like to cook nontraditional fare on Christmas too. This year it's Second Day Spaghetti (traditional spaghetti spread in a large lasagna pan and smothered in cheese) because that's the grands all time favorite and they will all be here for Christmas this year. But some years we've had lasagna or steaks or even meatloaf. It's not about what food is on the table, but about WHO is there to share it with you.

    Merry First Christmas on your homestead, you guys!

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  2. Our taxes are due December 20th! But anyway have a very Merry Christmas.

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  3. I wish you the very best this Christmas and hope the new year brings everything you need.

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  4. Isn't it wonderful to know that your dreams have come true! What a wonderful gift in itself...This is our 3rd Christmas on this homestead and I feel blest every year..Life is good and when the bills are paid...it even better!

    Merry Christmas!

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  5. HB, how wonderful that your grandkids are going to be spending Christmas with you. You must be "over the moon" happy! I think 2nd Day Spaghetti
    sounds awesome what with being one of the kiddo's fav meals!
    Merry Christmas to you and YOF and all your family.

    John, since this is my first year to have to pay property taxes I was kind of bummed when I first found out WHEN they are due! Merry Christmas to you and yours~

    Momlady, thank you so much. I hope that you and K, Someone, Evil Genius and Sprout all have a super wonderful holiday. (oh and anyone else I missed too!!!)

    Simple Woman, it is isn't it? Merry Christmas from our new lil' homestead to yours! May it be the best one yet.

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  6. Sci I fell in love doing BBQ turkey and I'll be do another one this week, if only for the leftovers.
    I always do a Prime Rib for Xmas and New Year's Eve. A small prime rib (4-5 pound) takes about an hour and a half to cook. I know it seems costly up front but if you get it with bone in they make great stock.

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  7. No matter what the main course, the companionship makes for a great dessert!

    I'm so happy for you two that you are getting to live the dream!

    Happy holidays, my friends!

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  8. Merry Christmas!!! That is the same gift my hubby and I gave each other this year- bills and taxes are paid. This means more than anything in today's economy.

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  9. That made me almost cry! How wonderful!! Next year should be our first Christmas on our land. I can barely stand the wait!

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  10. Happy First Homesteading Christmas!

    I have to admit, I splurged on my DD's room just this past few weeks, so I figured that was my Christmas present. Presents under the tree do not make Christmas.

    Have a Merry one!

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  11. Nice. You have each other and the gift of life. What else is needed...God bless.

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  12. You aren't kidding about the cost of meat, but I have to say steak has always been a treat for us. I remember growing up we had steak twice a year - once for a birthday dinner [my brother's] and one time for my Dad's choice.

    So, I say GO for it. It will be so special AND yummy [gosh, I love steak and london broil. yum]

    I think your Christmas sounds absolutely perfect - you have the best gifts of all - eachother and your home. I couldn't ask for anything more.

    Take care and enjoy!

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  13. ASR, I saw your post about your BBQ Turkey and think it sounds wonderful. We still don't have a pit/smoker big enough to do some of the things we love to do, but rest assured that once Mars gets one built I will be trying your turkey!

    Awwww Jim, you are so right about dessert! I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas, my friend!

    Coley, you know it girl! So many these days aren't able to do this much. Merry Christmas to ya'll!!

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  14. Representative, I get all teary eyed this time of year myself. I know it doesn't seem like it now but time will fly by and you will be there before you know it. Thank you so much for stopping by! Happy Holiday's to you and yours.

    Carolyn, thank you so much! I saw the pictures of your DD's room and I just LOVE it! For someone who doesn't "embrace the pink" I think you did an awesome job! And no, presents under the tree can't compare to gifts of the heart!
    Merry Christmas to you, Paul and Rhyanna!! (sorry about the spelling :D )

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  15. Stephen Thank you!!! Merry Christmas from our family to you, Sweet Nana, Little Bit and the Sports Model! I hope it is a blessed one.

    Skippy, My Snowman loving friend! Girl you aren't kidding about the cost of meat these days. Growing up we didn't have steak alot either. But growing up in cattle country we had more than alot of folks I guess. Even that has changed these days. Merry Christmas to you and yours this Holiday Season my friend!

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  16. i know that you and Mars will have a wonderful Christmas regardless of the menu! we were invited by several people to come and spend Christmas Day with them so i am thinking we will do a smaller version of our normal Christmas meal on the day before.

    this is our second Christmas on our land but we can't even remember last Christmas as we had just gotten here on Dec. 4....and we scrambled trying to get the place together during December and January. so we are treating this Christmas as our proper First Christmas and so will be celebrating with you and Mars!

    as for a Christmas tree - look out your window - you are surrounded by Christmas trees and the snow is tinsel - you have a ton of Christmas trees as do we.

    our house is pretty tiny to put in a Christmas tree too. so we have decorated some of our trees with lights - it's so pretty at night!

    Sci - you and Mars go have a wonderful, merry Christmas! we will raise a glass to you both and think of how happy you both are, and how happy we both are!

    we are all so fortunate! your friend,
    kymber

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  17. Sounds like your going to have a nice one. Merry Christmas my friend.

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  18. I'm not sure what you have as a grill but the recipe I followed was for a Weber Kettle grill and I used a small turkey. Oh crap I got to grab the turkey and prime rib and get them thawing in the fridge!

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  19. WOW! This is so neat. Maybe you could dress up one of the tree's close at hand. And get a orniment for your first year there, and get one for all the other years as they come along.

    And to the others out there. We hope you ALL have a great Christmas.

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