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#8 of SMJ’s Christmas Countdown

Christmas Cookies Can’t be Beat!

SMJ in tree

 

Hi everybody! SMJ here, hanging around in a tree. Can you see that blue sky through the branches? How about the green grass with just a touch of snow on the ground? Well, that’s Colorado for you. One day we’re freezing and the next we’re out in our shirt-sleeves. I love it! It gives me the chance to get outside and climb trees or just run around without getting so cold I turn blue. Just in case you didn’t know, blue isn’t a much better color for Sock Munkees than green.

Okay, I guess it’s time to go back inside and get to work. I know I’m still two entries behind, but I promise, I will make them up eventually. I just know how much you enjoy having pictures with the posts and sometimes the internet doesn’t cooperate with getting the pictures where they need to be. So, onward!

Today’s main focus is cookies. Christmas cookies! Well, maybe not Christmas cookies technically. I mean, we didn’t decorate them or make cutouts. I guess I’ll have to get Sandra on that. She’s the residenSock Munkee baking cookiest ‘Betty Crocker’ in this business. However, Casey and I baked some chocolate chip cookies. Yum! One of my favorites. Here’s a link to a bunch of cookie recipes you can try.

Her you can see how I carefully placed the cookies on parchment paper so they wouldn’t stick or burn. They’re perfect, right? You will also note that I used a pot holder to get the tray out of the oven. I didn’t want to get burned. Just the burst of heat when we opened the oven door was hot enough for me. Safety first!

This might be a short post, but I did want to offer you a cookie. Sorry, I got hungry waiting for you and took a bite, but it’s just a little bite. I hope you think they’re as yummy as I do.

SMJ sharing cookies

Sandra needs to go run some errands so this is goodbye for now. Don’t forget to leave a comment answering this question. What’s your favorite cookie of the season? Inquiring monkeys want to know!

Signing off,

SMJ

SMJ’s Christmas Countdown Day 7

Decorating the Christmas tree. Yippee!

Sorry, everyone but I have to interrupt the tree decorating post for a special announcement.

I met SANTA CLAUSE!

Sock and Santa at Christmas Party

Remember I told you about Henderson Management donating a bunch of goodies for our Christmas packages? Well, they also host a Christmas party for children of their tenants every year and I attended. My mom works for them. Anyway, she asked if I could get my picture taken with Santa and they said yes! I was SOOOO happy.

Okay, SMJ and Christmas Lightsback to decorating the Christmas tree.

Like everyone else, I started with the lights. Obviously, that didn’t go so well. I was trying to untangle them when someone plugged them in. It startled me and I ended up in the middle of the tangled string of lights. It took quite a while for mom to get me untangled. By the time they freed me and we got the lights on the tree, I needed a break. So, mom fixed me some hot cocoa.Sock with Hot Cocoa in Sandra's favorite mug.

Mom’s the best. She even gave me extra marshmallows! Can you read the mug? We borrowed it from Sandra. It’s her favorite mug. My mom gave it to her as a gift one year because Sandra always says her characters talk to her until she writes their stories down. I like to use it once in a while in the hopes that characters will start talking to me and I can become a writer like Sandra.

Okay, if you haIMG_20151116_093513ve been following the countdown, you know I really decorated my tree earlier. You remember the picture with me hanging the shoes from the Mastering the Brides book on the tree? No? Here’s a picture of me with the shoes and other ornaments I wanted to put on the tree. It took some time to talk mom into puttiIMG_20151116_094218ng shoes on the tree, but I pleaded my case (and maybe whined just a little) and she gave in.

Of course, she wasn’t thrilled when I climbed up the tree to hang them. She told me I was supposed to use a step stool or some such thing. Personally, I thought climbing was fine, but then, I AM a monkey. 🙂

Next post I’ll show you some of the Christmas treats I made.

So, do you have characters talking inside your head? Or, have you silenced them by writing their stories? Any Christmas stories?

Until next time, this is SMJ signing off.

Sock Munkee’s Christmas Countdown Day 5

Sock Munkee picking his Christmas treeSock Munkee Picks a

Christmas Tree

Hey, welcome back everyone. Today was so exciting!

It wasn’t easy. We had to go to two different tree farms to find the perfect tree. Let me tell you, those farms are not little. I had to go all over both of IMG_0237them until I found it. Then I had to chop it down. It took FOREVER with my tiny little hatchet, but I was determined to do it myself. Mom offered to help, really, but I was adamant. I have to admit, it was kind of exciting to yell, ‘Timber!” when I took the last swing. After it fell, I had to drag it out to mom’s car and we tied it to the top of the car.

Before we left I couldn’t resist a patch of snow I found. IMG_20151204_063838I mean, I was so hot from all that work chopping and dragging. Mom didn’t want me to get all wet since I didn’t have a coat on, but I just had to do it. I rushed over, fell backward into the snow and made a Sock Munkee snow angel. When was the last time you made a snow angel? We don’t always get a lot of snow here, so I had to take advantage of it. What do you think of it?

So, after mom tsked several times, we climbed in the car and headed home. I was worried something would happen to the tree, but mom promised me it would be okay. I was very happy to find that she was right when we pulled in the driveway.

I couldn’t wait to get the tree inside and start decorating. Mom popped that balloon fast. Once we got the tree in the stand and watered it, she said we had to let it ‘settle’ over night. I guess the branches need time to warm up and relax a little after being out in the cold so long. All I know is I had to wait another night to get my Chrismas tree decorated. At this rate, I might not have it ready in time for Santa to put any presents under.

Okay, okay, I know I’m whining. I just love decorating for Christmas.

Do you like decorating for Christmas?

I’ll get back to you later.

SMJ

Day 4 of the SMJ Christmas Countdown!

Decorating the Office for Christmas Countdown!

Granny and Sock having cocoa and coffeeOkay, I promised you pictures of Lil Sock and I decorating Sandra’s office. Well, things didn’t turn out quite as well as we’d hoped, which is why I didn’t get back to you as planned. Plus, Sandra and I had to take Granny for coffee and shopping. This is Granny with me at Dazbog. They have really good hot cocoa there. Sandra and I had peppermint in ours. GranSocks and Christmas lightsny had a latte of some kind. I get too confused with the fancy coffee names so I can’t tell you what kind of latte. Back to decorating.

As you can see here, Lil Sock enlisted the help of another Christmas Sock Monkey who lives in Sandra’s office. I think the idea was to untangle the lights, but instead they tangled them around each other. I have to tell you, it is really hard keeping these two on task. They got really excited at one point and just had on GREEN Christmas lights. Of course, someone chose that moment to take my picture. I look like some crazy space alien or something. I don’t think green is my best color. It’s cool for Kermit the Frog, but not so much for Sock Monkeys.IMG_20151204_064136

Believe it or not, we Sock Munkee with Christmas Decorations on deskclimb all over the bulletin boards and monitor hanging lights, they decided it was cool to be in the office. They even made me clip them to the monitor so they could hang around like a couple of ‘real’ monkeys. As you can see, some of the issues with decorating were because Sandra has such a messy office. I think Santa should bring her a professional organizer for Christmas. She needs one.Christmas tree in office

There was one thing still missing from the office. You guessed it. A Christmas tree. Granny is really getting up there and didn’t want to put one up this year. I don’t know why. The one she had you don’t even put together, just pull it out of the bag. It’s even got the lights permanently attached. Sheesh! But, it worked out for us because she let us have it for Sandra’s office. It fit perfectly next to the printer. That way she doesn’t have any excuse about not working. It isn’t ON her computer or the printer. She has several projects in the works so I can’t cut her any slack. If she want’s Christmas day off, she needs to get busy! A Munkee can only do so much.

The really great news is we got the technical difficulties at my house fixed. That means the next post will be about more of my holiday activities.

What kind of holiday activities are you up to? Have you decorated yet or do you wait until closer to Christmas? Inquiring Sock Munkees want to know!

Until next time, this is SMJ signing off.

Day 3 of Christmas Fun with SMJ!

Ready for more of SMJ’s Christmas Countdown?

Christmas Lights and a Sock MonkeyWe’re ready to do some work with the lights. Yes!

As you can see here, Lil Sock really likes bright shiny things. It took a while to dig him out of that bowl of bulbs. Do you remember the episode of The Big Bang Theory with Sheldon in the ball pit? You know, the one titled, The Einstein Approximation. Leonard tried to talk Sheldon into getting out of the pit so the security man could lock up, but Sheldon kept diving under the balls. then Leonard had to dive in and try to find him. Bazinga! That was me with Lil Sock in this big bowl of bulbs. This little guy is fast! I did finally get him out, but it was a chore.

Christmas cocoa mugs and 2 Sock Monkeys

Of course, afterward he wanted a treat because he was hungry, thirsty, and tired from playing. he ran over to the tray Sandra had set up with mugs. He thought the Sock Monkey figure holding a picture frame would help him argue his case. I guess he doesn’t quite have a grasp on real and play figurines. I know what you’re thinking. We’re monkeys made out of socks, we’re not real. Don’t get me started. Have you had the adventures I’ve had? Just check out my uncle Sock’s journey and my adventures ever since. Then we’ll see who’s real and who’s pretend.

Sock in Christmas Tree with the Browns Santa

Back to hanging lights. I gave up on the battle with my cousin and Sandra made us some hot cocoa. After we finished, I thought he would get back to work. No such luck. He ran to the tree and climbed up to the branch where the Brown’s Santa (that’s Sandra’s hubby’s favorite ornament) is lounging in a chair. I know, I know. Santa is supposed to be getting things ready for his big night of special deliveries. Calm down. It’s okay. He just took a few days to soak up some vitamin D and rest. He said the elves at the North Pole have been running him ragged.

You’re probably thinking, that’s not Santa. Santa is bigger and he always wears red. Take a minute and think about it. He’s trying to get some rest. If he went on vacation as he normally looks, kids would be lining up to talk to him everywhere he went. He wouldn’t get any rest. So, he used some of his magic Christmas snow from the North Pole and temporarily shrank himself and his beach attire. I promise, he’ll be back to regular size come Christmas Eve. Unlike Lil Sock, Santa takes his job VERY seriously.Lil Sock with a Christmas Sock Monkey

I guess Sandra finally put her foot down, because the next thing I saw was Lil Sock zinging around the tree moving the lights and hanging all his favorite ornaments. Of course, one of his Christmas Sock Monkeys visited with him. That’s Orna Sock Monkey with him in the picture. Some of his other ornaments are in the picture, too. Up at the top you’ll see a stick horse. Sandra’s mother-in-law made that a long time ago. Lil Sock really likes to ride it around the house during the holidays. He’s always tripping someone up when he does. Then there’s the little teddy bear ornament behind him. He likeIMG_20151116_094938s to use that one as a pillow for naps after all the hard work of decorating.

I did finally manage to get a couple of things done at my house. This first picture is black and white because I thought it made the cat’s eyes look like Christmas lights. I can’t remember which cat it was as we have four running around and two of them look almost identical. This is one of the twins as I call them. IMG_20151116_094218

This second pic gives you a better view of my tree. Isn’t it pretty? This is me hanging the first ornaments. You have to look close to see what they are. Yep, you guessed it, they’re shoes. These shoes are part of the cover for Sandra’s next release, Mastering the Brides.

As you can see we were quite busy yesterday. Lil Sock was busy being silly and I was busy running around after him trying to get him to help with the decorating. These crazy kids can wear a monkey out. Then again, they make all the holiday preparations that much more fun. I mean, who can’t laugh when they see a sock monkey next to Santa in a Brown’s shirt on a lounge chair. Am I right?

A little later today I’ll post our adventure of decorating Sandra’s office. This should be a blast.
So, what’s YOUR favorite Christmas ornament? Is there a story behind it? Tell me. I love Christmas stories.

Oh, and if you hurry, you can be the first one to pre-order the new Masters Men series novella, Mastering the Brides. It comes out the day after Christmas! Hurry, it’s available for pre-order on Smashwords right now. I’ll try and see if I can get more links later.

SMJ

 

Day 2 of 25 Days of Christmas Fun!

Welcome back to SMJ’s 25 day Christmas Countdown!

Okay, IMG_20151110_021056so I’m taking a break with some more hot cocoa because of technical difficulties at my mom’s getting things going. I know, it was a little misleading yesterday with me talking about Sandra going away for Thanksgiving. Sorry about that. I’m getting confused about where I am at any given time right now. Anyway, my cousin, Lil Sock sent me some pictures of him decorating Sandra’s house, so I thought I would share those with you. Fair warning though, he gets a little crazy sometimes.IMG_0968

Here’s Lil Sock taking a break after setting up the village in Sandra’s front window. If you look closely you you can see the lady from the quilt shop he’s sitting next to is handing out cookies. I wouldn’t put it past him to try and snatch one. Lil Sock has a real sweet tooth.

After theLSandSanta village (and his pilfered treat) he moved onto the step-case. I’ll admit, I’m a little jealous of this one. He got to ride in a big sled AND visit Santa’s workshop AND Santa. I want to meet the big guy too.  I may be older than Lil Sock, but I still believe in Santa. Don’t you? You better or you’ll get coal in your stocking. I don’t know about you, but I do not want coal. Hmm, I guess I better put visit Santa on my list so my mom doesn’t forget to take me.

IMG_0972

I’m sure Lil Sock drove Sandra crazy while she was decorating. Check out this picture and you’ll understand why. See the gingerbread men ornament? Look closely. Yep, that’s Lil Sock monkeying around. The kid never takes anything seriously. I guess I can understand, though. It is Christmas time and it’s so much fun playing with all the different decorations!

IMG_0971

Since it’s been pretty cold here in Colorado, Sandra hasn’t wanted to go out and play much. Actually, there’s not a lot of snow to play in anyway. That didn’t stop Sock. He still found a way to play with snowmen, snow-women, and snow kids! Leave it to my little cousin to know how to make a cold day fun. This kid rarely stops.

IMG_0976

Case in point, look to the right. If you look at the right hand side of the picture, behind the reindeer, you’ll see a stocking on the floor. Yep, that’s right. Lil Sock was supposed to be hanging the stockings, but he got distracted by the reindeer’s bells. That’s his story anyway. Oh, and there’s another reindeer (who’s not in this pic) that sings “Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer,” so, they were probably all having a grand time dancing and singing.

Well, folks, I’ve got to take a break and get some lunch. Just looking at Lil Sock’s pictures wears me out. Kids have all the energy. Sheesh, wish I was young enough to take a nap and not get teased. Oh well, I guess we all have to grow up a little, but never so much we stop believing. Right?

Later, we’ll join Lil Sock as he decorates the tree. I can see it now. Lights tangled, decorations every which way. But hey, he’s having fun.

Do YOU still believe in Santa? What do you want him to bring you for Christmas this year? Leave a comment below and tell me. I’ll send a special note to Santa to remind him for you.

SMJ

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