What's on your Christmas tree? Part III

  Abbee & Emma's

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These are the two ornaments that reminds me most of the girls.  Our little Abbee, a sweet fighter born early she had  to be spunky.  Prayers answered, she is a joy to us. Nicknamed "Munchkin" she brightens our every day.  Our oldest is Emma, the princess of the family.  She came to us like a fairytale and has blessed our family ever since.  Wise beyond her years she has an amazing tender heart for others.  We Love you girls!

What's on your Christmas tree? Part II

Trimming the tree can be quite a task.  Some take hours to strategically place each item in a precise manner.  While others like me this year presented the box to the kids and said "have at it"!  Whether you are precision or abstract  you can't be both, so choose your level of comfort and conquer, I always say.

The next featured ornament is "Our first Christmas Together".  Yes, OLD and still in super condition I bought this when my husband and I were first married.  Almost 18 years ago, we celebrated with a few small gifts and this being one of then we exchanged.  A value of ours we love to see the success of couples working together through the hardships and happiness that binds them together.  We work at it all year long, and to our delight it has been a joy, 9.5 out of 10 my husband always says.  I pray your Christmas "firsts" bring back memories of comfort and good will!  And many more to come!

What's on your Christmas tree?

It's time, the hustle and bustle has started!  Here in the northwest close to the Canadian border we are "fortunate" to  receive extra shoppers. I noticed it last night as my girls and I were shopping for Christmas outfits!  I think there were only a few near misses to my car and a detailed how to list by my thirteen year old on how they could fix their driving all together.  Back to the subject, have you ever thought of the reasons why and how we adorn our Christmas trees?  Funny, shocking, elegant, or traditional the possibilities are endless and so is the cost if you don't watch it.  So for a bit I'll be sharing about my tree, the items, and there meanings as we bring in the Season.

High on my tree hangs a very special ornament!  Back in the days of elaborate Christmas programs and special gifts I received this ornament from a Sunday school teacher when I was 10 years old.  I am not even sure what part I played maybe Mary or an angel (I'd hoped) or most likely a ,manger animal.  It has made it through at least 6 moves from apartments to houses and back and forth it holds a sentimental reminder of the simple things in life make the most memorable moments of all.  Not made of anything other that some balsa wood and paint, I tell this simple value of the Christmas story to my girls every year it comes out of the box.

Apple sauce at it's best!

Have you ever wondered how to make apple sauce? 

It is a simple yet overwhelming of a task at first.  As  previously thought I shied away from making it because on the perception of to many steps to process it.  When finished a great deal of confidence is added, I will do this every year as a reminder to myself to try something new even if it seems hard.

Simple as apple pie...

First start with apples, not just any apples but Honey Crisps the only apple that I found you don't have to add sugar to!

Wash and pat dry apples.  Cut apples into small bite size pieces, no need to core or peel apples!

Add 1 cup of water and cook apples til they are mushy, about 20-30 minutes depending on the amount you have.  Then let cool til room temperature.

When cooled, the apples are ready to be milled.  I used a cylinder cone mill but used what ever you have. 

You can store it in any container you'd like.  I've used Ziploc bags and freezer safe containers.  Then FREEZE and ENJOY!

It all started with a dream....

It all started with a dream, thinking of what could be and how am I going to make this a success!  I have started an adventure this summer, one I have been waiting to execute for a few years.  I knew I wanted to share my photography since I was in high school, my love of snapping pictures and making people smile became more evident and I knew it was something that just had to be done.  So my first few entries will be encompassing my journey of how to starting a photography business that focuses on stock, card, and print sales and ideas.  The learning curve is huge because I am an armature at the computer to say the least.  I am  determined to use my resources and "know how" to make Eileen Winton Photography a success!