Day Ninety-Nine

The Adonidia Merrillii

So, it turns out that cutting down a palm tree in Florida is illegal. After much consideration, we decided that a potential misdemeanor wasn't worth the "free" price of the chopped plant. Well, originally that news greatly wounded our hopes of a unique Christmas tree...that is, until we found Bongard Nursery. Determined to find the most perfect palm for our first Holiday season together, we spotted, quite immediately, the tree we will cherish forever. Turns out, that among the vast selection of palms within the nursery, we chose The Adonidia Merrillii. Also know as? The Christmas Palm! And we knew right away that this was fate! Adam scooped up our tree, placed it onto the cart, and the small little lady drove us to checkout. We picked up a poinsettia for some additional decoration and left spending only 27 bucks. That certainly beats the price of a misdemeanor, and really, it's quite cheap considering what they're asking for evergreens these days! PLUS, we're going to plant our little guy and re-use him next year! We're so excited and feel a bit better about our lack in Christmas preparation.

Oh, and two more things: today, I tried my luck again with the crockpot. And luck, I didn't find. Apparently slow cooking a pre-cooked, pre-sliced ham in apple cider isn't the way to go. My excitement faded instantly when I opened the lid and found a discolored, shrunken ham resting in muddy liquid. The smell was delightful. The taste? I explained it this way to Adam, "I'm not eating that stuff. It tastes like dead people." So I didn't eat it. And Adam, he took it like a man and stomached a good portion of it. Gosh. Darnit...Sigh. 

But to top the day off, I accomplished a HUGE obstacle. I have never, not EVER, used a sewing machine before. Now, I can officially say that I've threaded my first-ever machine (my sewing vocabulary is lacking, so please forgive me), and I created my first product...a small, red, felt, elf-sock-looking stocking. And I'm pumped!