Things have been a-hopping in the Forest for the past week as we’ve been enjoying all kinds of family gatherings and celebrations.
We hung eleven stockings by the chimney with care (including one for each dog). No, the chickens did not get stockings. However I decorated their coop with big red bows and made sure that they had lots of yummy chicken treats. They rewarded us with eggs that made the most spectacular eggnog ever tasted in the North Country!
Queen Louise and I enjoyed our traditional screening of Elf.
My Beloved Husband did not exactly “enjoy” the movie. He tolerated it. More or less. Actually, less. He is a bit of a Scrooge about my favorite film. It’s the South Pole elf in him. But he was extremely festive about everything else, so we forgive him.
One of my favorite things this season was making a gingerbread house. Then I realized that the house standing alone looked lonely so I made a band of merry elves from gingerbread and marzipan.
(Gingerbread house recipe was courtesy of Martha Stewart.)
Here’s a close-up of the elves building a fire (foreground) whilst another skates on the pond behind them. If I ever stop writing, I may become a full-time elf creator.
I’m not sure how much blogging will happen between now and 2011, so please allow me to convey our best wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy and happy New Year.
I am amazed by your gingerbread constructing skills. Did you use any cardboard to support the house walls? I am curious about the building methods because my high school German Club has a yearly Gingerbread building event that baffles me. What magic allows those feeble grahm crackers to stand upright?
Happy new year too!
**you probaly used real gingerbread to build with, but at school we used the crackers.
I updated the post to contain a link to the Martha Stewart recipe and templates I used to make the gingerbread house. The walls and roof were made from real gingerbread – very tough stuff!
PS – Martha didn’t do this, but I thatched the roof with Fiber One cereal.
Superb elves, Laurie. (I’m especially fond of their ears.)
Do you do gnomes?
Glad you’re having some playtime after the busy schedule you’ve had.
Happy 2011!
xo,
Pam
I love your gingerbread house, it’s beautiful. Elf is also one of my favourite films, it never fails to put me in a festive mood. Happy New Year, and all the best for a brilliant 2011!