Meet Morry

This 25" tall mouse-eared elephant is Morry.  It was smile at first sight when I walked into my favorite local art gallery and saw him standing there.  He's part old man/part old soul.  The slump of his shoulders makes him seem a bit tired but there are playful elements there too:  the worn red scooter, the glint in his eye.  I'm also taken by the screw in his trunk - it's there on purpose, like a nose piercing that he got in his youth.  I imagine him having the walk of Charlie Chaplin.  To me, he's a bit "Tim Burton meets Big Top."  Best of all, he makes me happy.   A shout out to all the local artists out there!  Local artists are awesome!!!  Love you guys!  

Everybody go out and support your local artists!!  You can see more of Brian Mergenthaler's works by clicking here.

No Charlie Brown tree for us

Our tree this year is ginormously fat.  At least for us it is.  It barely fits into our "Christmas tree spot" spot.

This year's weather in the great Christmas Tree Farming state of North Carolina has been ideal for tree growing.  That has led to an abundance of big FAT Fraiser firs.  No skinny happening here.  Get one of these babies and you might have to send your loved ones out on a "not so cold because it is NC" Winter's night to attempt to buy more strands of lights for the tree.  [Sorry. Thank you. At least it wasn't cold or rainy.  Right?]

Our tree is brushing the walls and still comes out 7 feet from the corner.  I measured it.  Then took a picture.  I realize that makes me a dork.

In case you had any doubt that I was talking about a real tree, here's the proof.  Yay!  Pine needles all over the carpet.  




 





We had to move a chair, the rug, and the coffee table.  It officially has its own room.

We get our tree from a small Christmas tree farm about 4 blocks away.  The folks there jack our kids up on hot chocolate, marshmallows and candy canes while we are preoccupied with choosing the perfect tree.  Then we pay 3x as much as we would have if we had gone to some kind of Super-Depot-Mart.  There are plenty of things I end up acquiring at a Super-Depot-Mart, I'd rather not buy my holiday cheer there as well.  Plus, if I had a Christmas tree farm and they didn't, I'd sure love it if they bought their tree from me.  But I don't, and they do, so see how that works out?

They have a sign as you leave telling you to have a TREEmendous holiday.  I think it is perfectly retro/cheesy.