Family

Our Christmas holidays officially begin on the
Friday after Thanksgiving.   We head for the
Baker farm, a one-hundred year old working
family farm about 30 miles from home.  There
are always lots of activities to enjoy.  After we
have selected and cut down our tree, it is taken
to the shaking and bagging area while we take
the scenic tour of the farm on the horse-drawn

(or sometimes, tractor-drawn!) hay wagon.
Everyone loves to visit the animal petting and
feeding area.  A huge, freshly threshed cotton
field is available  for picking of the leftovers.
One of our favorite decorating accents is a
beautiful, natural boll of fluffy white cotton.
It adds a nice touch on the tree or in a
natural arrangement.  The pumpkin field
has long since been harvested, but there

are always hundreds of irregularly shaped
or colored pumpkins left for the picking.
They make beautiful natural decorations
and are perfect for baking.  With the tree
securely tied to the roof of the car, there is
always a request to stop for ice cream on
the way home.  The crisp fall air and the
gifts of nature are a wonderful beginning
for our family Christmas celebration.



Decorating with cotton

   Leave cotton and boll intact; (a length
of branch left attached will also help in
positioning the cotton).  Place directly
on tree limbs; try positioning directly
behind tree lights.  Be CERTAIN it
is a cool burning light!                      
   Several lengths of evergreen (trimmed
from the bottom limbs of the tree),
nandina or holly berries, a few pine
cones and several bolls of cotton make
a lovely natural arrangement.  Place
a pillar candle in the middle for
the perfect finishing touch.

   Add a soft cottony beard to wooden
or ceramic Santas using water
based paste or school glue.

   Fill a clear glass ornament with tufts
of cotton dusted with glitter and
strands of silver or colored tinsel.