Interesting. Maybe if I lived in So California, Texas, or Florida. Not in Tennessee! Unless I hated my guests, I'm pretty sure we won't be outside. Thanks for the tips though!

We cut our tree last weekend, and that beauty is sucking up about a gallon or more a day. I fill the stand morning and night, to keep it from being dry. Tree is a ConColor? with very soft, 2 inch needles. Not huge, about 6ft and narrow. Looks like they shape them with a hedge trimmer!! However it is a pretty tree, pretty thick, good shape, fills the spot just right. We have used fresh cut Blue Spruce, Frasier Firs other years, and they drink well each day. Need a LOT of daily water. We only could keep our live Christmas tree inside a week. With warm house the Nursery warned us that tree would "wake up" and start growing if inside more than the week. This was a smaller tree, balled root which weighed about 300#! I said the work of moving it was too much, along with short time to view it and having to prepare a hole in the frozen ground for planting. Too much for the season. Just did rooted tree twice, a real chore. I usually leave our cut tree up at least 2 weeks, maybe 3. We put it up just before Christmas, so it is fresh to last that long time. I am more of Christmas starts at the 23rd, on thru Feast of the 3 Kings. No EARLY Christmas stuff for us, we prefer to drag it out! Enjoy tree after Christmas, with no seasonal pressure. Being so fresh, watered adequately, our tree lasts well, not shedding many needles before going back outside. It gets leaned against another tree for bird shelter near the bird feeders the rest of winter. Does keep the needles well outside too without water.

How about hot spiced drinks? Mulled wine. Hot apple cider. Either with or without booze. I suggest apple schnapps for cider or wine. Lemon infused vodka or rum can go well too. Hot Toddies made with bourbon, are great for fall or holidays. Hot Buttered Rum crosses seasons too. Make all of these from scratch. It's easy. Mixes are crap. If some of your guests do not care for hot drinks how about making traditional a Old Fashion. Make from scratch. Use a cinnamon stick for a stir stick and float and orange slice for garnish. Another cold drink for fall is the Moscow Mule (Vodka and Ginger Beer plus lime). I would offer guests drinks that they just can't get at the average bar. Something that will get them to take notice and remember, but something that isn't too wacky and seems soothing and homey. Although more of a winter holiday drink, I think you could do hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. Or with Irish Cream. Is this just a cocktail party with nibbles or is there going to be a meal? You have to match your menu to the spicy sweeter drinks. If you limit your drink menu to drinks the guests have not tried before, guests tend to drink less. Not that they don't enjoy them, but they tend to savor them rather than guzzle. It saves money and you don't have to worry about "Bill" or "Bob" knocking back fifteen gin and tonics, or whatever 'their' drink is.

There area lot of home made alcoholic things to make.... Kaluha, Irish Cream....and various liquors. Also you could make a bag of spices, pack it with an orange and include a split of red wine....with instructions to add the spices, juice of the orange ( or 1/2 the juice) heat and serve with the cake. Linda C