Sometimes I feel this blog is kinda like a diary of my own thoughts and family happenings, but other times it amazes me on how many people read my blog. Did you know already today I have over 3,000 people looking at my blog? And yesterday it was almost up to 3,000? It just totally boggles my mind for sure!
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OH well, on to Christmas! For Christmas Eve, Steve and I planned a quiet evening at home. On our way back from Oconto, we popped into Festival Foods to get some of their fresh snow crab legs for our evening feast. Yummmmm Steveio steamed them up in our propane burner unit outside with the big steaming kettle. That keeps the smells and the excess moisture out of the house.
With soft Christmas Carols playing in the background, we sat down to a great meal with glasses of wine, good food, and wishes and plans for the upcoming year. Our conversation wandered from projects to do, places to see, working out the retirement budget, and of course how great our meal was together. It was great to sit back and unwind a bit after two days with our silly kids and energetic grandkids. We did some pretty good damage to 3.5 pounds of crab legs for sure!
Christmas morning was exciting for the dogs, so things were not too quiet. They unwrapped their own presents and little Binney had to tell us ALL about what Santa brought her. Toys and doggie treats is all they wished for. And they got it. LOL
About 11 a.m. the patriarch of the Pfundtner Clan came over. Steve's dad drove over from Waupaca to spend some time with us and exchange presents. It was so pleasant spending the morning with him and his companion, Millie, the springer spaniel he has trained for therapy dog visits to nursing homes. We then hopped into his truck and drove on down to Belgium to take part in the Pfundtner Family Gathering at Steve's sister's house.
Wonderful food, family laughter, presents and fun stories... it was a great way to finish off the Christmas holiday. Dangnabbit I set down my phone when we came in and never took a single pic! We drove on back home as the weather was changing from rain to sleet! Nervous about sending Steve's dad on home that last 45 miles or so to Waupaca... but he said he would be fine and call us when he arrived home safe and sound. He did and we slept peacefully that night.
I wanted to mention a Pfundtner Family Treasure that was recently bestowed on Steve. If you remember, I was bestowed a special family heirloom a while back by Steve's dad:
Now it was Steve's turn!
When he was a child, his parents had this little cast iron match holder device hanging by their fireplace in a couple of their homes, over the years. It moved from house to house with them. Steve always liked it. Recently, Steve noticed it laying out on the bench in the garage at this current home his dad has. It hadn't been mounted because they didn't have a fireplace. It was just laying out on the bench in the garage.
His dad mentioned about having some guys come to work on his garage and do some tool organizing and storage solutions. Steve asked his father if he was ever going to need this little match holder, or plan to use it, or was it going to be tossed? His dad gladly gave it to Steve!
It was in need of a bit of rusty surface cleaning and a new coat of paint.....
It is called a ''Venus and Cupid Match holder''
The new wooden matches go in the bottom compartment
and the spent used ones go in the top trough.
We didn't want to drill holes into the lovely tiles around our fireplace. So we bought a roll of black super heavy duty exterior 3M double stick tape. It is made to adhere mail boxes to brick, so I think it will work for this. It is rated to hold 25 pounds! At $7.39 a roll, it better!
He measured carefully and used a level to get it just right.....
ahhhhhhh looks great!
We put wooden safety matches in it, just for looks. We really do not need the matches in it except maybe to light candles on the mantle. Our fireplace is gas log with electric igniter. I even burned some of the matches to put in the top trough to be even more realistic!
Ahhhhh another Pfundtner Family Treasure
to adorn ''Our Old House''
Tomorrow, technically, is Steve's last day of work! He has been burning up vacation days since the 22nd until now. He said he is not retired yet, just on vacation! hahahahhaaaaaaa
We will see what he calls himself after 4 p.m. tomorrow?
I love your treasures! We had a match safe by our kitchen stove but it help an actual box of matches--not nearly as decorative. :)
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