Deck the halls with... groceries

I'm sticking around New York this year for the holidays, but I thought I'd post this series I took a couple of years ago at the South Dakota state capitol building.

They go all out there with the decorated trees. Local schools, boy scout troops, philanthropic organizations and fraternal clubs rally their resources to put up a pine and adorn it with homespun ornamentation. If you're thinking, "Gosh, that sounds ever-so Norman Rockwell," you're on the right track.

Here's a quick virtual tour via photo essay that, of course, can't really hint at the pine-resin breeze or compare with the twinkling splendor of the genuine article.

In keeping with my personal obsession, I've focused on the food-related aspects.

Here's hoping you get some time off for feasting and festing. Enjoy your holidays!


The overview from the balcony


Do you know the marshmallow man?


Apparently, wooden spoons were meant to be cats. This explains why they turn out to be such crappy utensils for eating.


We go together like walnuts and fishing lures, baby.


Dried apples + raffia = rustic holiday cheer


Santa on a stick!

Find heaps of food photos at my flicker page: flickr.com/photos/missginsu