Resin is quite the conifer expert. I think it would be best to acclimate them to some natural cycle. I find my garage gets dark enough and cool enough plants in it go dormant so you don't have to suddenly throwing a tree which has been in a 70 degree office into a 10 degree night. My guess would be 3 weeks in the garage then bury the pots in the garden some relatively warm late January day. Let us know how things turn out! Could be a great find if a few live for ya.

I hope you have resolved by it now. We have a hill in the back yard as well and I was looking on here for ideas. I would mix some stones into it (as simple as limestone rip rap)to help slow down the erosion. Mix some topsoil in. Sow some sunny wildflower mix seed. Maybe even make a few paths and small sitting area that will draw you up there. A bird bath maybe. Keep it low maintenance. I hope that wall has some drainage. Hills are for heroes.

If you don't want characters, run a dowel along the back of the mantle and secure it at the ends with cup hooks. Then loop a piece of holiday ribbon around the dowel, and tie a pretty bow to hold your stockings at the level you prefer. TTFN, Candy

I think the trick is to do as much ahead of time as possible, stick with fairly simple recipes and have one or two Martha-y touches. And as others have mentioned - decor is a good place for the Martha touches, since you can do that way ahead of time. Mashed potatoes are a great option since they fill up a big bowl on the table, most people eat them and they are a snap to make. Why not use vegetable stock and a bit of roasted garlic instead of dairy products? (I know that chicken stock is the generic substitute for butter with dieters, but I think that vegetable stock has a bit more flavor) I'd serve a simple veggie that can be steamed or blanched at the last minute - broccoli, asparagus, green beans - whatever your family likes. Add a bit of lemon or margarine or olive oil to keep the dairy out. (another big bowl on the table with minimal effort) Fruit salad was a great idea. A green salad would be good too. You should be safe with almost any oil-based dressing. Throw in some star fruit or pluots or something to make it seem fancy shmancy. Breads and rolls were my favorites as a kid - and certainly what I see being snatched up at the kid's table at our family gatherings. Bread doesn't need to contain dairy - you could ask what kind of bread the kids normally eat or call your local bakery. Since they are more likely to use real ingredients rather than chemicals, they'll be able to tell you what's safe. Or if wanted to be kind of Martha, you could make your own bread - not a big deal if you have a bread maker or make the dough the day before and slow the rise in your fridge until the day of the party. You've got pies coming. If you want another dessert, there is a great recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that the kiddos would like in The Garden of Vegan. Vegan or kosher recipes are good ways to keep the dairy out. A veggie tray or hummus and pita bread or some spiced nuts are super easy things for guests to nibble on until dinner is ready. I think we forget how delicious things can be with simpler flavors or just a few ingredients. If you fill your menu with stuff like that, you will have more time for one or two knock your socks off details and more time to spend with your guests.