Merry Christmas!!

 A Very Merry Christmas 

to all of our family and friends!!

This season has been a total swirl --filled with old and new traditions.  For the very first time we stayed in Virginia  for Christmas and Simone got to experience the holidays at home. 

We have stayed very busy getting ready for the big day.  However, we did manage to take time to enjoy the season and make some memories

Once again we went to the cookie exchange at Patowmack Farm, which was lovely as usual.  This year we made reindeer cookies that appear at the bottom right corner of this shot.

Daddy and Simone sipping their respective hot chocolate and warm cider.

We also made cookies for our house.  Here's a peak at the gingerbread trees decorated by Simone.

Finally,  we spent one Saturday afternoon at Oatlands Mansion sharing tea with some close friends who have been going there for many years.  It was very special to share in their tradition and we had a great time!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh.... No!

Well, for the very first time in our life we went out tree hunting and came back empty handed.  On Sunday we visited our traditional farm, and found.... nothing.

You'll notice that nearly all of the trees are barely taller than Simone -- just not gonna cut it (no pun intended).

 Next farm and here again, mostly tiny trees with a few that were either way too tall or damaged.

We were hopeful at the next farm, but same thing.  All too small.

Thought we might get lucky here, but ..... still the same problem.

 In 2-3 years all of these places look like they will have a great selection of my beloved Colorado Blue Spruce, but not this year -- devastating.  Apparently demand has been so great over the past few years that the local farms simply can't grow the trees fast enough.

We finally gave up, got some dinner and went home.  So for this year, it looks like we'll have to settle for either a cut tree or an artificial-- I never imagined!  We'll let you know how it all works out...