FABBY: "Memory-Christmas Tree" 2013 in the Den

Hello sweet friends!

I am all decked out since last week, except I thought I'll start posting until my Tksgiving tables are ready for the day of thanks.

I'll start the small tour by showing you the big thing, which for me it's my Memory Tree. I call it this way because I have ornaments collected since our very first tree from our first C'mas as a couple, back in 1975.

Many ornaments are also gifts from my parents, my in laws, aunts, my grandmother, friends; even some were made in our past ceramic company by our daughters when they were children and gifts by my daughters now that they are adults.

There are C'mas balls from Alejandro's own C'mas tree when he was a child. There's also ornaments from different trips we've made to other countries, including the patriotic ones from the USA, as well. Many of the 'gifters' are not with me anymore, so the more I save them with love and thoughts.

I so cherish each ornament in this tree, I could never have a 'theme tree' perse.. of any type, or even a different color that it's not the classic holiday colours because of my 'memory tree'... like red, green, white, silver and gold, as now there are many new colors on style to choose from.

Ok, here it goes, hope you like it!

Here you have it, our den all decked out, with mantel and "Memory C'mas Tree" up!
I explained why I call our tree like this at the beginning of this post.

The mantel is ready too and right next is the tree. The Den is our C'mas room when where we all gather to open up presents and where my g'girls watch TV and eat snacks, lol! The TV center is next to the tree.

The mantel now has the Nativity scene without the village like I used to do before inside the fire place in the past.
NYCity's St. Patrick's Cathedral at your right and it's so pretty when lighted, but it's difficult to see in the photo, as the lights are soo tiny!

St. Patrick's Cathedral at your right, just like the one in my home town NYCity.

I won this Nativity and many other C'mas things several years ago, because I taught in a store how to do a tree and place the lights.

I added the plaid ribbons and gold mesh in the tree myself and learned from an Internet tutorial.
A small ornament figure of a pug to remind us of our beloved pet Ben.

My daughter Sofia when she was two in the small picture frame.

The bottom part of the tree, where there's a small ceramic Santa made by one of our two daughters when they were young children. There's many and different figurines like these by the girls, all around the tree.

My daughter Alexandra in the little tree picture frame.

My little g'girls in the small wreath picture frame. My God Bless America C'mas ball, which was a gift my friend Stephanie gave me right after 9-11.

Many, many years of ornaments. The German glass Santa in the cloche is vintage.

I had fun placing the ribbons and mesh this year for the first time. I always wanted to do this, but finally did it from a tutorial I saw on Internet.

A small tea table with 'Pumpkin and Chocolate Cake,' as my Sils were coming to coordinate the 'Crespo family' yearly C'mas get together party.

The Chocolate Pumpkin Cake set for tea with cute mugs and teapot made at our former Ceramic Factory.

This cake is great. The recipe is at the end of this post, if anyone wants it.

Here is our den all ready for the Christmas holidays 2013.


Pumpkin Chocolate Harvest Cake
2/3 cups softened butter, (not margarine)
2 cups sugar
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
2 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 (15 oz.) can solid-pack pumpkin
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 tablespoon water
Heat oven to 350F.  Grease and flower pan; set aside. In large bowl of K. Aid, or whatever you have..beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and egg whites; mix until well blended. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and 1/2 cup water; mix on low speed until blended, scraping bowl often. Increase speed to medium, and beat 2 minutes. 
Remove 3/4 cup of the batter and put in a small bowl. Spoon reserved batter into prepared pan.  
To reserved batter, add cocoa and 1 tablespoon water; stir to combine. Place spoonfuls of chocolate batter  on top of batter in pan. Using a knife, swirl chocolate batter, into pumpkin batter to marble. 
Bake 40 to 47 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan; remove from pan and cool completely.


Thank you sweet friends for your great comments, you always make my day.

Thanking the gracious hostesses for hosting such awesome parties each week.


LOVE,
FABBY

I will be joining:

Kathryn for Make it Pretty Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Marty for Inspire Me Tuesday at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://sandymyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Ma. Elena for Tuesdays at our Home at,  http://ourhomeawayfromhome.blogspot.com
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday at,  http://knickoftime.blogspot.com
Kathe for You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at,  http://kathewithane.blogspot.com
Ruth for Tuesday Cuppa Tea at,  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com
Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Kathy for A Return to Loveliness at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Emily for Tasteful Tuesday at,  http://naptimecreations.blogspot.com
Debrah for The Scoop at,  http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Judy for Wordless Wednesday at,  http://judyhjsthoughts.blogspot.com
What We Accomplished Wednesday at,  http://greenwillowpond.blogspot.com
Paula for What's It Wednesday at,  http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Deb for Cottage Style Party at,  http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com
Kathleen for Let's Dish at,  http://cuisinekathleen.blogspot.com
Terri for It's a Party at,  http://acreativeprincess.blogpot.com
Riverton Housewives Roundup at,  http://therealhousewivesofriverton.blogspot.com
Debi and Charly for Wednesday Adorned from Above at,  http://adornedfromabove.blogspot.com
Create it Thursday at,  http://lambertslately.blogspot.com
Kathy for Home and Garden Thursday at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Michael for Foodie Friday at,  http://rattlebridgefarm.blogspot.com
Courtney for Feather  Nest Friday at,  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Christina for Wildly Original Linky Party at,  http://igottacreate.blogspot.com
Sarah for Make, Bake and Create at,  http://hopeineveryseason.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursday at,  http://haveadailycupwithmrs.olson.blogspot.com
Hej och for Saturday Show Off at,  http://rosegardeninmalevik.blogspot.com
Junking Joe Linky Party at,  http://thecottagemarket.blogspot.com
Beverly for PINK Saturday at,  http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
The Scrapshoppe Christmas Link Party at,  http://thescrappeshop.blogspot.com
Natasha for Saturday Sparks Link Party at,  http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com
Show and Tell Saturday at,  http://bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com
Alyson for Favorites on the First at,  http://thepolohouse.blogspot.com
Megan for Show Me Your C'mas Trees at,  http://honeywe'rehome.blogspot.com










 I will be participating in Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.













 I will be joining Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style.