Christmas Tree

I went out to cut a tree today.  There weren't many choices that would actually fit in our house, so I chose:

It has single branches radiating from the trunk which allows you to actually hang ornaments vertically instead of on a fat bushy tree...this can also be nice, but I really like a sparse tree.

And then Rosie came to join me.

I put on Christmas music, A Robert Shaw Christmas, and made Orange Blossom Cookies from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion Cookbook.  I never would have picked this recipe because I especially like chocolatey or carmel things for parties, but Sam made these at work and they are really delicious.

Fixing the lawnmower with bread dough

Bread dough inserted just to the left of the red gas primer.

The gas tank actually broke off its mount and began to splash gas around and stopped.  The whole machine rattles terribly due to a slightly bent shaft......so while it is hard on the arms and wrists, I prefer to get the most out of this mower before I buy a new one.  I wrapped wire around the tank, hooked bungee cords into the wire and stretched and attached each to something on the other side of the mower.  Then I mixed:

1/2 C. King Arthur all purpose flour

3 T. Water

1/4 t. yeast

I kneaded this into a paste and pressed it into the cracks around the break.  I figured the yeast would help it expand and seal the tank.  IT WORKED.  I was able to mow the lawn normally without the tank splashing up and down losing gas.  The seal remained flexible enough to jiggle without breaking.

I didn't need to buy a new lawnmower today.