"I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas"

All right, this is for the baby boomers, although Eldy had never heard of this song before. "Really?? Are you kidding?" "Really!! I've never heard that song before." And then he politely refrained from adding, " That's the dumbest song I have ever heard!" Anybody younger than 60 reading this, I'm going to give you the link so you at least know where the title of today's blog came from. This song title was a very popular Christmas song growing up in the 50's, for some people, in particular, my father. If you type in the song title in your browser, it should take you right to the song...the address is http://www.sandysworldonline.com/go_nuts_at_xmas.html
Not sure if the link works, hope it does!

Ok....I really do go nuts at Christmas (tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving, I make most of my ornaments for my tree, I keep the tree up till well into January, lots of Christmas decor in the house), so I HAD to see the Bronner's Christmas store in Frankenmuth..after spending the morning for a good two hours at the local Med Express in town for an ear infection (haven't had one of those since I was a kid!), I was ready for some retail therapy...but not at the outlet mall, instead at Bronner's Christmas store today...

WOW! If you like visual stimulation, (I would not take anybody who is identified as having attention deficit disorder here) this is the place for you...gaudy, glitzy, the wow factor was huge--it was cute to see children's eyes taking in all the eye candy...lights blinking everywhere, every type of Christmas yard display imaginable, themed trees, a bazillion ornaments, personalized or otherwise, themed ornaments, and just everything Christmas. Bronner's has been there in Frankenmuth for 65 years and is still going strong. They've added on several times, and it is a beautiful store. Personally speaking, it seemed that a large proportion of their inventory is made in China, and I saw very few original ornaments...a few artists from around the U.S. and Michigan are represented, and a few other countries' offerings are displayed. Whatever possible interest/career you might have, there's an ornament for you! A few facts: there are more than 350 decorated trees in the store, half of Bronner's items sell for under $10.00, and 2/3 sell for under $20.00, over 2,000,000 guests visit each year, don't go the weekend after Thanksgiving, there could be as many as 50,000 people trying to buy stuff there, and their electric bill is $900.00 a day.

Can't leave the blog today without mentioning a GREAT place to eat in Frankenmuth, The Bavarian Inn...boy, do you get value for your money! We decided to get away from burgers and sandwiches and try some German food. I had weiner schnitzel (breaded veal), and Eldy had beef rouladen...we had no idea how much food was about to be presented when we ordered. We thought we were getting a meat, vegetable, and salad. Out came the first course--fabulous homemade coleslaw, pasta salad, noodle soup, cranberry/orange/apple relish, bread with strawberry rhubarb jam, and cucumber salad. Then the main course--the wiener schnitzel came with potato puffs, dressing, sauerkraut, and mushroom gravy. Eldy's beef rouladen came with a slice of pork roast as well, green beans, and potato puffs, all of this for 21.00 each..what a deal..needless to say, that was our main meal and the kitchen is closed, Eldo, for the rest of the night! PS..Eldy did his laundry today--"Well, I'm good for another month now!"