It's a TRAIN RIDE Day - HI-Jinks for sure!

We are traveling through Northern Arizona into the canyon forest.  

The Train has indoor and outdoor cars, we will take blankets to sit outside and perhaps see some wildlife.  Eagles, mountain goats, mountain lions, coyotes and more may be along the way!  Hot chocolate and chilly weather help to be in the Holiday spirit.  AND even more special today is Jake's 18th Birthday!   We have a surprise cake for him and hope he treasures this magical train ride.

This is the Verde Canyon, (green canyon) the mini Grand Canyon.  

The whole family is having this Christmas Experience as one of our gifts.  Making memories with family is the very best way to celebrate in my opinion.

Thanks for stopping by to visit!  

Merry and Happy Holidays from Jean and Family.

A Holiday Project made of Wood and Paint

I decided that this year I would change up our Christmas Decor. 

(I'm fibbing I do that almost every year!)

This one had red feather boas all over and a red and green theme.

This is for the retro 50's tree.   Turquoise and red.

And this was preparing the Grinch tree!

We have had most every style tree you can imagine.  We went through the shabby chic phase, the gold and glitter phase, traditional red and green, a little bit country, vintage creamy colors and crystals, and Yes even the Grinch tree.  Real ones, artificial ones, indoor, outdoor and even in the bathrooms!  Chandeliers festooned with ribbons, crystals, and ornaments.  It's the one time of year when... MORE IS NOT ENOUGH!

  

We all know how popular "farmhouse" has been, so we decided to try that style this year.    My elf was working to put together a wooden tree collar.  I will stain and paint it with a stencil or two.  I realized I can paint more than one stenciled message since the box has four sides!

And Since we are doing sort of a Farmhouse effect, I will paint and decorate our Chicken Wire Tree as well.  I will use our Dixie Belle paints as a base and decide what to do when that is dry.  I have a few ideas rattling around.   We have 4, 8 and 16 oz jars of Dixie Belle Paints, plus glazes and clear coat.

We downsized our tree this year and it is a 7' slim profile artificial tree (we have two - one for the Family room and one for the Pool room).  Therefore to accommodate the base of the tree the wood collar is 20 inches square with an open bottom.   The corners were reinforced with 1 x 1 pieces halfway up the interior sides.  

A personalized stencil was created on the Silhouette.   The EST. year we were married was added, what fun!

Another heirloom for the future!  The tree colors this year are Red, aged silver Shiny Brite ornaments and a soft blue.   

  

  

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