Deck the Halls...or walls...

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum...we don't lack for greenery in the northwest. Especially on the coast. Right in our yard, even! The back yard is a bit of an arboretum, thanks to mom planting a variety of baby trees over many years. So making a wreath, or a swag, for festive holiday decor, is just a matter of grabbing the loppers out of the garden shed, and talking a walk.

Today was 35 degrees COLD, but sunny - perfect for our evergreen hunt. We scored some nice branch ends off the Noble fir, and some long fronds of Sequoia. A jaunt across the steet yielded the holly sprigs. No red berries within reach of the loppers. Rats. A short drive up the hill and a roadside raid for some color. Back to the garage workbench, where the wire and pliers were stashed.

The first year we were married, while Dennis was off at boot camp in New Jersey, I worked most of November and December in Puyallup, Washington at a place that made wreaths and swags. I have seldom purchased one since, except to support the Scout troop a few times. Easy to make, and lovely to smell the resiny freshness as each branch is snipped and nipped. Puts me in a holiday mood like nothing else!

The berries and leaves match the door - how cool is that! No, I don't know what the berries are, I'll be finding out. I cut some from the same place last year; it's a prolific ornamental shrub, grows so rampant that the city crew cuts it back. I figured they wouldn't mind some help keeping it in check...

The swag may or may not get a red bow.

I have a couple more to make, smaller ones, which we put on Dennis' and Dad's gravesites each year. A labor of love - and a lovely time of year to remember past holidays with two great guys.

About the time of our third Christmas, with our first little punk on the way, Dad taught Den how to make his traditional buttery, creamy caramels, which have long been our family's favorite holiday treat. It's become the "guy thing" in our family. We always make several batches, because they are wonderful to share with special friends and neighbors.

Dennis' family loved popcorn balls. Over the years, Dennis became known as our Popcorn Ball expert - his contribution to our own family traditions. Even last year, I had friends asking for his recipe, once again! The popcorn balls are perfect for snacking, not too hard, not too soft - buttery, vanilla-y, salty, gooey perfection gluing the popped corn into shape. Oh my.

Making family traditional goodies will be next on the list of holiday things to enjoy...I think I need to put another pound or two of butter on the shopping list.