The holidays are always a time when finding the perfect gift feels just as good as possibly receiving the perfect gift. I love that QVC makes that so easy for everyone. Even for those folks on my list that people say "are hard to shop for," we have to have something that will please them.

 When I was just a little boy, my older sister Janet gave me a gift at Christmas that I still remember to this day. I've always had this love affair with automobiles.  That will never end. I was the 5-year-old kid that could tell you while sitting in the backseat the name and model of every car that passed by. My sister wrapped up 50 Hot Wheels cars and presented them in a little carrying case for me. Wow, talk about overwhelming a little kid. It started me on a life-long journey of collecting those little toys that remains with me today. And the thrill of finding one from my youth that had somehow eluded me and my collection makes me feel just like I did on that Christmas morning oh so many years ago. When thinking of a gift for someone, take the time to ask, "What are they passionate about?" Even if you don't share that passion with them, try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they will feel when they open the box. That joy of seeing that smile or surprise on their faces is to me one of the best feelings for me at the holidays. I love it.

 —Dan Hughes

I love the outdoors.  I was always the kid that mom had to drag into the house when it got dark outside.  And I am still that way.  My wife Kelly and I have really been looking forward to Spring time.  This winter has been brutal and living on a farm has it's challenges during bad weather or good, but at least sun shine warms the spirit when there is work to be done.  We are currently in "lambing" season and have 11 new additions to the growing list of animals to feed and keep happy.  There are few things as cute as a baby lamb.  They make me laugh every single day.  The way they run around and kick up their heals is a joy to see.  The products that I try to pick out for the show are those that make my work time more productive or at the very least cut down on the amount of time doing those chores we have to do.  More free time means more time to really enjoy the great outdoors.  I test every one of the items before they go on air and can truly give an endorsement for each one.  So enjoy, get out side and smell the fresh air..Spring is right around the corner.

Dan

Is it really that time of year again? Really? It seems like just a few weeks ago that we finished putting away the decorations from last Christmas and started (and then ignored) a new set of New Year’s resolutions. The summer seemed to fly by as if it never happened and that just means that the holidays will be upon us before we’re ready to accept that they are, indeed, here. When I was a little kid, the gifts that meant the most were those that told me someone took the time to really think about what I liked. My older sister once gave me 50 Hot Wheels cars for Christmas...wow...50 is a lot when you’re a little kid. And that gift started me off on a love affair with cars that I still have today. By the way, that same year, my aunt gave me a pair of sox and a belt. Guess who still gets better gifts from me to this day? The dollar amount of the gift has, and will, never impress me. In fact, I always seem to feel somehow uncomfortable when I think someone has spent too much on me. That’s one of the things I love about QVC during the holidays. You don't have to break the bank to make someone know that you really care and were thinking of them. We have a really nice NASCAR Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scale Die-cast 12-car Set for only $65. Some things don't have to change…that's a great gift for a child, boy or girl.

The gift of food has always been a winner at our home as well. So many people watch QVC and fall in love with the idea of a Lobster Gram or Kansas City steaks, but for whatever reason, they won’t take the time to order for themselves, even though they watch the show and get hungry every time. Treat them to that special meal that they will remember for weeks to come and the thought that you made it easy for them to do so. And QVC will make it easy for you with the Bill-to/Ship-to option, which lets us do all the work so you can take all the credit. I also highly recommend anything from Stuffin Gourmet or some of the fabulous desserts we make available.

So take a few moments, think of who’s on your list, then let us help you make that special individual feel great when they receive the item you chose for them. Happy holidays to you and your family.

WHAT is on your face?  I have heard that question asked already a 100 times this month and the month has only been 6 days long...lol... And every time it makes me smile.  Why?  Because that means this ridiculous mustache is doing exactly what it was intended to do...You may know me from my hosting role here at QVC but you might not think of me as a Cancer survivor and/or the son of a Cancer survivor. 

November is now being called Movember by 1000's of men across the country who are growing facial hair for one month to help raise more awareness towards men's health issues.  Prostate and Testicular cancer in particular.  So all I am hoping to do is to be a small part of a big cause.

I read your Facebook comments, I read the threads...I KNOW most of you don't like the immense "lip curtain" I am growing but be patient.  It will all go away soon but hopefully the seeds it plants in people’s minds to support Men's health issues will remain.

Our group here at QVC that is involved is called the West Chester Walruses and you can follow us all month long on www.Movember.com

Well, it is growing even closer to holiday decorating time. Hard to believe the leaves will soon be off the trees and we will be thinking of Christmas soon. That brings me to my next installment on my holiday decorating blogs.  I get e-mails all year long with people asking how to make holiday lighting look it's best and the number one question I hear is "how do you light up bushes and trees effectively"?

Bushes and Trees are TOUGH.  Odd shapes, nothing is perfectly square or round, and it is difficult to do it right an not make it look like a strand of lights just hanging there. I will tackle the bushes in this blog and next month I will teach you some secret tips on how to make you trees look glorious.

Ok, so let me help you.  Let's start with bushes, they're easier.  Start at THE TOP. (really..not at the bottom?).  Yup at the top.  But, start your light strand so that it drapes over the top of the bush towards the ground in the BACK of the bush with the electrical plug just off the ground. 

The whole idea is to NOT make it look like a straight line of lights.  Nothing is straight in mother nature and remember when it gets dark the bush will virtually disappear and all you will see will be the lights. You want to avoid straightness (this way the ONLY straight and vertical line of lights will be in the back).  Plus, this way the electrical connection will be at ground level and the lights will be suspended off the ground making the lights appear to "float in midair".

Don't make the mistake of "wrapping" the bush in lights or walking around it laying the lights from top to bottom, this will make it look like a suspended coil of lights, not a bush (unless you like that look in which case there are no rules, go for it).  By making large "S" shapes with your light strands and making the loops as UN uniform as possible, some big some small...the lights will be much more random and define the bush shape better. 

Feel free to weave the lights in and out of little branches to make it follow the shape of the bush.  It takes a little practice but do your best to space the lights out so that the other end of the cord winds up being at the lowest part of the bush so that you can make your electrical connection and move to the next bush.  If you have to you can fiddle with the lights after they are on the bush to make the end of the cord reach to where you need it to be. Keep the cord ends about a foot off the ground if you can.

I use extension cords BETWEEN bushes so that no lights are hung in a midair "tight rope" between bushes.  This also breaks up the line of sight end defines each bush as its own visual experience.  Try to find the shortest needed extension cords for this and you can hide them on the ground.. they won’t be seen at night.

One last thing, take the time to clip a few of the lights to a small branch or twig, if your lights don't have clips, an occasional wire twist tie from a bread wrapper will keep your lights in place during wind storms of heavy rains and snow.  That way you don't have to decorate more than once and you can enjoy the light show.

Hope this helps.  OH and if you want to make it REALLY easy, purchase some Bethlehem Net lights.

H19841 Bethlehem Lights 70 Count Plug In Net Lights

More to come next month, enjoy!

I start getting excited about holiday decorating at this time every year! Sure it might seem early to some of you, but the key to making your outdoor decorating display fabulous and less frustrating is the pre-planning. 

I start by sitting down at the kitchen table and sketching the outline of the house on a piece of paper.  I'm no artist and you don't have to be.  Just draw in the roof lines, gutter runs, windows and doors.  It doesn't have to be to scale; it doesn't even have to be neat. 

Be sure to mark on your sketch where the outside electrical receptacles are located, that way you will have a good idea of where you can run your power from.  Now, on the scale that we do things here on the farm it is a little more involved and we have taken the time to have multiple electrical outlets installed in key locations so it makes it easy to run the miles of lighting we put up each year.  You don't have to go crazy but keep in mind just what the power loads are for that outlet and keep to those ratings. 

Overloading circuits is dangerous and flipping breakers every night is a good way to anger you spouse when the house goes dark every time she plugs in a hair dryer.  I sketch out where I want things to go and write a list of any tools or accessories I will need.  Then I don't have to be running back and forth from the garage while setting up just to go get something I forgot.  I put all those tools in a bucket and when the time comes, everything is at hand and ready to go.

When day one of the project arrives, I pre-test ALL light stands while still on the ground, replacing any bulbs that might have burned out from the previous year.  It is easy to do this before you get up on a ladder and a lot safer!  Your time on the ladder should be as limited as possible and avoid reaching for things unnecessarily!

Make a "to-do" list of what you want to light and in what order...then keep to your list.  This will save you time and keep you more organized.  I usually start at the top of whatever I am lighting and work my way down.  Get the tough stuff done first and out of the way.  This is especially important when lighting trees, it is easier to fill in lower areas from the ground level then re-climbing a ladder and attempting to attach more light strands if you run short. Keep yourself safe so you can enjoy the holidays!

One last note on this blog and later in the season I will share with you tips on how to effectively light trees bushes and walkways for maximum impact. 

Label ALL your light strands either before putting them up or after taking each strand down at the end of the season.  I use a "Sharpie" pen and mark the plug end of each strand with where it goes AND whether that plug is to the left or right (or top or bottom) of whatever it is hanging on, (example house, 3rd floor gutter run, left).

That tells me the plug will be closest to the nearest outlet and where it needs to go.  If you have ever put up a full strand of lights just to find out that it is backwards you understand what I am talking about!  I used to tell myself I would remember where each strand was supposed to go...you won't ..trust me on that!  Labeling them makes life a lot simpler and decorating more fun. 

Enjoy, I will have more for you later in the season!

How do you break the ice? Over the years I've learned a few things. But I'm always eager to learn more.

Talk to you soon friends!

I am by nature a rather private individual (not easy to do when you work on TV) and I can also truly say that every single day of my life feels like a blessing.  Many of you might know that I was out of work for an extended period of time back in February....and I have never really taken the time to say why.  On February 21st, I suffered a massive heart attack that should have ended my days. But, for reasons that I cannot understand.....it did not. … I will now spend the rest of my long and happy life trying to deserve this second chance.

Saturday November 9th was the 15th annual Philly American Heart Association walk.  QVC has become a primary corporate sponsor for the event and I was humbled that the Association had asked me to join their efforts as one of their national spokespeople. So, on Saturday I walked.  And with every step I gave thanks for being allowed to once again be strong and healthy.

Other than my life on TV, I try like crazy to avoid the spotlight (it makes my bald spot look shiny and I have never been comfortable in it). The ancient Romans believed that the heart was the center of emotion; medical science has proved otherwise....  Let your heart reach out to your loved ones and friends. Tell them you love them and bask in the pure emotion that comes from the heart. Continued smiles to every one. Thanks for letting me share.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Meet Pearl.  She was at the American Heart Association walk, like me, walking with her friend. She has been a QVC viewer for twenty years and came over to chat with me. It's so nice to see friendly faces. I feel very lucky surrounded by inspiration and courage. 

Last month I shared with you a few tips on the best way to light up bushes with Christmas lights.  This month lets tackle a tougher job...trees.

Fir trees or any others that look like Christmas trees are somewhat easy to light.  Start at the top and drape the power cord down the back of the tree towards the ground so you can later hook up your extension cord to run power to it.  Then work your way down the tree towards the bottom either draping the lights or wrapping them in a cylindrical pattern.

Hardwood trees, like Maple, Oak or Elm trees provide a different challenge.  They are never symmetrical, some branches are longer than others and it is hard to estimate the number of lights necessary to complete the task. Just remember that it doesn't take a lot of lights to make a tree stand out when it is dark outside.  And the tree itself will virtually disappear after the sun sets any way...only the lights will be visible. 

You only need to make a basic out line of SOME of the branches to make a tree light up beautifully.  Start at the bottom and run a STRAIGHT line of lights up the tree trunk just off center of the trunk to the left or right.  Wrapping the lights around the trunk will confuse the eye and over load the trunk with lights as compared to the branches. 

Then when you get to your first desired branch to light up (it doesn't have to be the lowest one mind you) take your strand out in a straight line following the curves of that branch from trunk to tip. Again don't wrap the branch.  I use a staple gun making sure not to crimp the electrical line.  Then at the tip follow back on another straight line back towards the trunk.  Again, you are looking to define the trees natural lines, plus wrapping the line uses up much more light stand.  This way your lights will go farther and the tree looks more natural.

Once back to the trunk go a little higher and repeat the process.  Your final section of light strand will then come back down the trunk of the tree off centered once again to the ground were you can make your connection for power.  It sounds confusing but it is easy to get the hang of and your trees will look natural and spectacular.  Give it a try.

After the long and harsh winter we had here at the Hughes farm I thought spring would never get here.  

(This is the tree that happen to land on our home during one of the harsh winter storms)

Yet just like every year, spring arrives with a sense of renewal and a fresh start for everyone.  This has become my favorite time of year.  The transformation from dull and dreary to explosions of color and the mystery of new life can only make you humble when you take the time to step back and watch Mother Nature painting her landscape. 

We all get busy so it is easy to rush past these first few days of a new season and miss all that there is to witness.  Soon the trees will be laden with leaves, the grass will need to be mowed, and we all will be complaining about the heat.  But, today it is beautiful, cool breeze in the air, small buds on the trees working towards a full canopy, and in the barnyard baby lambs....lots of baby lambs. 

The gestation period for a sheep is just 148 days.  That's just less than 5 months.  5 months ago my wife asked me to paint the dining room.....it's not done yet.  But Mother Nature created a LAMB in that short period of time. Man, I am a slacker. 

Did you know that a new born lamb can walk and even run 2 minutes after it is born, it's true.  Human babies just lay there for about a year before they can walk, wow, we're all slackers. 

All the flowers, trees, new born livestock and wild life in the spring make me remember just how special life is in general and we should take the time to be awed by it all.  Mother Nature, just like any Mom doesn't ask for applause at her hard work.  She only asked that we take notice of it and appreciate her for what she does for us.  So take a few moments today and look around.  You too will be amazed.

To many, automobiles are simply transportation to get from point A to point B.  To me, they represent so much more than just steel, chrome, paint and rubber.  Cars have been my true love since I was very young.  They define us as individuals and say so much about who we are or wish to be.  There will be some of you who just won't understand this but I feel that cars have a personality and each one is unique.  Yes, I talk to my cars.  My wife thinks I am nuts but I pat the dashboard lovingly and thank each ride when she gets me home safe and sound.

In my chosen line of work I speak for a living.  The research I do each day on the products I present and the work I do with vendors to bring out the best in their "on air" time has its blessings. I get to touch people’s lives in a way that benefits them and that feels very good to be in that position.  But, at the end of the day you cannot see words.  There is nothing I can hold in my hand that's says, "This is what I do." 

That is where my passion comes in.  My father installed in me very early on that you appreciate something more if you build it instead of buy it.  That may sound funny coming from a veteran in the televised shopping industry, but it was as much out of necessity as anything else. My mother and father both worked very hard for what they had and although we always had food on the table for five kids, there was not much left over. I learned the value of hard work and a dollar in my early teens.

I could not afford a fancy first car.  For that matter the budget didn't allow the purchase of one that even ran.  So we built it.  In the back yard in Indiana on hot summer nights my father and brother and I tore apart the shell of an old van I had scrapped to acquire. Many months later although never destined to be a show car it was my baby and I drove it through high school.  I knew every nut and bolt on that van because I had touched them all.  I wish I had never sold her after graduation.

After my heart attack in February of 2013, I told my wife of a lifelong dream of mine.  To open a classic car restoration shop that would allow me the opportunity to finish some personal projects that had been put on the back burner and to help others to realize their automotive dreams. I have never put a sign out front yet we have been busy since day one.  I was able to assemble a team of the finest craftsmen in the North East, men like myself who are driven by emotion maybe more so than common sense.  There is no time clock to punch In the morning and although profits have been sparse the experience has been enriching. 

Here are some of the photos of projects we have worked on in the last year and a half.  To see these beautiful vehicles come back to life to be enjoyed once again is its own reward.  My customers are not rich; they too work on a limited budget.  But we get the job done.  The last vehicle we finished was a 1978 Ford Bronco that a friend brought to me after it had sat for over 20 years. 

1978 Ford Bronco:

His wife had purchased it in high school hoping to one day see it restored. Their lives got busy with marriage, kids and a mortgage. Last year she was severely injured in an auto accident and her husband wanted to give her a recovery gift of the old truck.  My team and myself spent countless hours late at night and on weekends to finish the vehicle in time to surprise her with the final result at the largest car show in the North East.

Totally unaware that the Bronco was even out of her parent’s backyard, she was stunned by it sitting before her, beautiful and finished. She cried for almost a half hour and the hugs she gave us made even my toughest mechanic tear up (he won't admit that but I know it is true).

So as much as I love my job at QVC and will be there hopefully for many more years, working with my hands to restore these vehicles has made me smile.  The feeling of handing the keys to a person who put their faith and trust in my abilities is something that humbles me and yet makes me feel proud too. 

So crazy or not, talk to your cars.....they run better and makes them happy too.

1967 Sunbeam Alpine before:

1967 Sunbeam Alpine "almost" done:

1934 Ford Pickup:

1953 Studebaker:

1955 Chevy Sedan Delivery:

1955 Chevy Panel Truck:

1948 Ford:

Vette:

1936 Ford:

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Sometimes you just have to laugh.  We had another round of bad thunderstorms in our area on Wednesday evening.   The high winds brought down several large trees and when that happens we often lose power.  Last time it occurred we were without electricity for almost 5 days and we had a tree in our living room.  So both Kelly and I were happy it was just a lack of luxuries for a night and not a repeat of "the great outdoors" brought inside. 

Pictures from previous storms.. so you get the idea of what it looked like to have a tree in my house and a new "lake" ..lol

We are a rather hardy stock here at The Hughes' Farm so we can survive without lights, air-conditioning, water or plumbing for one night.  I set my phone to wake me a little earlier than normal so I could get into the studio and shower there before going on air.  Now, my garage is not attached to the old farm house, so I can’t just walk out the kitchen door and climb in my car.  You can only access the garage from the outside and it is all built into the home security system with a backup battery that allows me to raise the door in just this type of circumstance.....usually. 

Apparently the battery had gone dead and there was no way to get to my car. It's 3:00 AM, I'm standing in the driveway in the dark and trying to figure out what to do next.  Believe me when I say there is always an answer. My commuter vehicle for the day was a bit unconventional but I got to work on time, got my shower and as the saying goes, "the show must go on."  I do apologize to the other hosts for taking up twelve parking spots in the parking lot for the day...my bad.

If you see a farm tractor parked in the lot next time, you know I lost power again!  Lol!

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I am having a bit of fun picking out my favorite photo from the host photo shoot… perhaps you can let me know what is your favorite.. oh and let’s all be nice!  Lol!

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That time of year is approaching fast and a little pre-planning on your part can really help to make your holiday lighting project a lot easier. Let me guide you through what I do each year and maybe one or two tips can help you.  Not only can a game plan reduce some of the usual frustration, but also could mean less time up on a ladder later. 

(Stringing the lights on the QVC outside set) on yes one of our Little Giant Ladders..)

Now before I begin let me say I don't expect you to go to the extremes, I do.  First, because you are probably sane, and for me, that train left the station in regards to Christmas lighting several years ago.

Start with a simple outline sketch of your home or the building/buildings you wish to light. You don't have to do what I do and that is start from detailed scale architectural drawings that I sat at my drafting board for days to create.  (what can I say, I wanted to be an architect when I was younger and who knew this televised shopping things would actually catch on).

On your drawing mark were each one of your outdoor electrical outlets are located.  This will help later when deciding where to start your light strings without excessive need for extra extension cords later.  Nothing is more frustrating than stringing a lot of lights only to find you put them up backwards with the wrong end of the cord at the far end of the gutter instead of closest to the wall outlet.  I have done it...more than once.

Measure estimated lengths of your gutters from on the ground, This doesn't have to be exact at this point.  If you’re going to be purchasing new light strands this year you have some numbers to work with when you do your shopping instead of just guessing. 

I am a man; therefore if relying on a well educated guess is my only alternative I will most always screw it up and buy three times more lights than I really needed.  When measuring a roof line from the ground that includes the peak of two roof lines coming together, don't just measure from corner to corner or you will come up short on your lights.  The peak of the roof has to be added into that measurement as well. 

The picture of one of my roof lines helps explain this.  If you draw an imaginary line from the lowest point of each side of the roof to the other...imagine in this case it would cut right through the chimney and would be right above our sliding glass doors.   Estimate the difference from that imaginary line and the top peak of the roof.   Double that distance and add it to the original measurement for the length of that wall.  I have found this works very well.

(Here i am on helping light the QVC outside set.. see the roof lines..)

Always be realistic in what you can accomplish. Read the boxes that lights come in and make sure you don't have more strands hooked end to end than the manufacturer recommends. Over loading a circuit is a recipe for bad things to happen.  Remember LED lights draw less energy than "light bulbs" with a filament and the run length can be much longer.  I made the decision to go strictly to LED a few years ago and happy I did so. Plus this way my wife can plug in a hair dryer after dark between Thanksgiving and New Years, without blowing fuses and unexpected visits from our local fire department.

I do a simple sketch early this time of year of exactly where I want to run lights and the directions (with arrows) that I intend to use them.  You can purchase at any hardware store what is a called a "three way splitter" that will allow you to continue a length of lights but head in another direction as well.  Again don't over load your circuits with the total number of lights on one outlet.  But if you are within the manufactures limitations than this is fine and will help you to get lights to an area that is not just in a straight line.

Ok one last thing, bushes and shrubs are tough to estimate in terms of how many lights it takes to make them look festive.  It takes more than you might think because you will be wrapping them around the circumference of that bush.   A good way to estimate the length of light stand or strands you will need is measure the height of the bush or shrub, then multiply that number by it's width.  Than take that measurement and multiply it by three.  An example, the two vertical acacia bushes that line my front entry way are roughly 6 feet tall, and 3 feet wide. 3 X 6 = 18...times 3 = 54 feet of lights..  for each bush. That was a lot more than I would have expected when I started this adventure but I have learned these things the hard way.

Bushes, trees and shrubs are the toughest things to light and we will tackle that together in my next blog. Enjoy the path way as much as the destiny.  Enjoy the planning as much as the end results.  Start now before it gets cold and allow yourself to get excited about it. 

The holidays come so quickly that is it so easy to get swept up and feel like they pass us by before we are even prepared. I know it is only October.  But starting now extends the holidays and keeps me in the spirit longer. To be honest, it's not about the lights at all, it's all about the feeling that I am actively in the moment and remembering the important things in life while doing so. 

Christmas lights are kind of my "electrical metaphor" for my private time with our creator.  And I don't just means the times when I say out loud, “OH please God don't let me fall off this ladder, or please don't let me get electrocuted".  I truly mean this when I say this.  

On a quiet night when the air is cool here in Pennsylvania, and I am able to get outside and see all the things I started planning weeks ago come to fruition, makes me smile.  And hopefully it makes make him smile as much, if not more so, than the neighbors who will drive by and see the lights for themselves. It reminds me be thankful, and for me that is the purest essence of what the holiday's mean. 

Enjoy.

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Thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s Home for the Holidays show and chat.  We will be doing a show every Thursday at 10:00 EST and hopefully live chats as well, as it gives me an opportunity to answer some of your decorating questions and maybe pass on a suggestion or two.

There were several similar questions that came in, so let me answer a few of them for you here and we will continue to listen intently to your requests in the coming weeks.

Let me start with wreaths and garlands.  Simply put the greatest invention in my mind for decorating.  Especially the battery operated one with lights on them.  They answer a myriad of decorating issues with the simplest of efforts and can make the biggest impact as well. I don't have what you would call a decorating "theme" in my head when I begin the season but I do like clean lines and simple elegance.

Many of you asked how do I decorate a fireplace without a mantle?  Kelly and I are blessed to live in a very old home (1790) and that's how they heated them back then, so we have four to decorate each year.  Two of them are without mantle pieces.  I have found a simple battery operated wreath hung on the fireplace wall does the job. Simple, understated but still give the feeling of warmth that Christmas lights add to a room.  I don't hesitate to put a nail or a masonry screw in the wall because a picture of other seasonal wreath can be put up after the holidays are over.

This time of year I hit flea markets and garage sales looking for things like old sleds (remember the ones with runners you could actually steer) or milk cans.  Even small wooden crates that you sit on the floor near the fireplace with a string of battery operated lights in it with some pine cones looks festive.  If your eyes see things at floor level and also above you don't need a mantle to decorate.  The visual space will be filled but not overdone.

Here are two of our fireplaces before the holidays, later this year I will post the holiday versions.

Here is a trick to decorate kitchen counters without taking up much space and it is again easy and simple to do. Simply take a strand of garland and lay it out flat on the floor.  All garlands are made around a center piece of sturdy wire.  Splay the greenery to equal sided of the wire to fold it flat.  Then simply place it up against the back splash of the counter with that center core wire at the point where the counter top and the back splash meet.  This will shape your garland like the letter "L" and will fit the space nicely.

The just do a little "fluffing”  by taking some greenery from the top and pulling it down and some from the bottom and lifting it.  This fills in the space nicely and takes up virtually no room at all. I then just put whatever was on the counter beforehand back into place (appliances etc.).    The greenery adds a festive touch but doesn't use up valuable real estate and only takes a few moments to accomplish.

OK last but not least.

We had a lot of questions last week from people who live in high wind areas or places with harsh winter weather.  How to attach wreaths and garlands when wind is a concern?  Any floral shop or craft store has the greatest stuff called "Floral Wire".  It is thin, strong and already painted green.  I have used it for years in many different applications.  Again I don't hesitate to put a small nail or screw above and below each window because I know I will use it again next year.  (A little dap of silicone will prevent any moisture from getting into the hole and creating any issues for years). 

I will cut pieces of floral wire and attach them to the top of a wreath and also to the bottom, be generous you want more wire than you will actually need.  Starting from the top nail I drape the wire over it and raise or lower the wreath till it is centered in the window.  The just wrap the wire around the nail and the wreath will stay in place at that height.  Then take the bottom wire and wrap it around the nail to secure the wreath so winds won’t effect it.  It takes all the guesswork out of getting your wreaths to hang just where you want them, and they go up fast.  The floral wire is so thin it seems to disappear and at night is invisible.  I again recommend the battery operated wreaths to add lights to a window without the hassle of electrical outlets or fat cords. 

Quick tip: If you use battery operated wreaths on timers and have multiple windows to do.  Put all your batteries in and then turn them all on before hanging them.  I will have a stack of them in the living room a couple nights before I will actually hang them on windows.  My timers are all 6 hours on 18 off.  So I wait till an evening at 6:00 PM, turn them all on and then even if I don't get to hanging them for a day or two they will all come on roughly at the same time when they are hung up.

Thanks for watching the show, we will do it again this Thursday morning at 10:00 AM EST and I will do my best to answer more of your questions. Enjoy the holidays!

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Well Thursday November 20th at 10:00 AM I have my last edition of Home for the Holidays with Dan show, for the year. So I thought for a moment that maybe we should just talk about why we decorate for Christmas.  After all, the whole show is dedicated to Christmas lights, and trees, and things that sparkle and shine. And I am not talking about my usual history lessons on who did what and when they first did it, (Although, Martin Luther was credited with being the first to bring a tree into his home and lighting it for the holiday back in the 16th century). NO, I want to discuss the "WHY" we do it.  The psychology behind all of this madness.  Let's face it, it really doesn't make sense.

We spend money on decorations that probably could be better spent elsewhere.  It's cold outside and all of us are already much too busy for such nonsense. I have spent countless hours outside on a ladder in the pitch black of night or up on icy roof ledges when any sane individual would be inside by a roaring fire, that's just plain foolish. And I am no child any more, I am a man now approaching my mid-fifties and you would think I would have matured past the point where things that sparkle no longer fascinate me.

So let's all agree the whole practice of stringing lights and garland, standing outside freezing our tails off is, illogical, foolish, immature and nonsense.........

Now before you think I went "bah hum bug" on you, those are all the good reasons we do it.!

You see, Christmas is the time of year when we all try just a little bit harder, to be the good people we wish we took the time to be all year long. Life today is so busy that we forget to take the time to be fascinated.  A single plastic electric light bulb can never compare to the glory and grandeur of a single star in the night sky. And those stars are there all year, on most any given night for us to enjoy.  But like I said, we get busy and we simply forget to look. We don't take the time. For those of us who love this time of year and take the time to decorate, the process itself pleads us, implores us, to slow down and just enough to take it all in.

When we were children we didn't worry about what made sense and what didn't.  We did things because they were fun.  As children we didn't concern ourselves with being mature or looking foolish, we just played for the simple joy of the action itself.  And as far as logical, there was joy in believing that reindeer could fly.  And that the world was good and people still cared.....When we transform our homes for those quick few days between Thanksgiving and New Years we are actually transforming ourselves.  It is not so much about the decorations and the lights as it is how they make us feel.  We want to believe in all that is good and amiable.  And just believing that it might be true is what starts the path way that makes it true.

Christmas lights remind us to be children.  That sense of wonder and awe that we tend to grow up and grow out of.  Our lighting displays here on the farm tend to be a little exaggerated a tad over the top.  But when I am outside in the cold, on a star lit night, I find myself looking upward and being humbled by what I cannot, and would never attempt to compete with.  And when a neighbor drives by and sees them, if they smile even for a moment, even while thinking that guy is nuts for doing all that work, without me even being aware of it at that moment, the question is asked, did I make a difference?

So call me foolish, illogical or even immature, but on Christmas eve I will still put out cookies.  And just maybe I will take a bite of one for my wife's amusement in the morning.

To answer your question, yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause, and any and all of you will be hard pressed to convince me otherwise.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thank you so much for your support and understanding of my show.

Dan Hughes

QVC

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Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Well here is one for yah. Kelly and I are "dog" people. You have probably seen photos of our four legged family members. But there is one resident here I have not told you much about. His name is Louie and he is MY cat. I say that only because as sweet and loving as Kelly is towards all of God's creatures, for some reason this cat hates her. He never misses and opportunity to bite her ankles whenever she walks by. And it's not just her, Louie hates everybody.

When we rescued him 10 years ago he had a piece missing from his ear from a fight he probably won and has redefined the meaning of the word mean. Even the dogs keep their distance. One time he beat the crap out of my dog Voodoo so bad I thought the poor pooch would need hours of psychotherapy to get over it. We still don't know the mental ramifications of a 50 LB. Australian Shepherd who works cattle, bulls and other livestock being bested by a cat. Even to this day if my dog sees a cat, any cat, he runs with his tail between his legs to the front door.

So the decision was made that Louie would be our barn cat. Me being the softy I am (and getting to the age where I too might soon become the grumpy old man) moved his fluffy cat bed, toys and water to the heated garage. Louie had full run of the farm and we took to calling him "The Mayor". Every day when I would do chores he would show up, sit on a fence post and watch me. Every year at Christmas for the last decade we had our unspoken ritual. I would climb a ladder to the roof and string Christmas lights, he would magically appear allowing me the honor of scratching his head for ten seconds. Anything longer than ten seconds and he would bite me and run off.

Well about two months ago Louie showed up missing. I would faithfully check his food dish every night but it seemed he was gone. Not knowing just how old he was, we wished for the best but to no avail. Tonight I was once again up on the roof and for the first time in ten years I am behind on my Christmas lights, some of it has been work responsibilities and other pressing issues but to be honest a little bit of my heart has not been into it this year. With just one last strand to hook up I heard something. I turned around and he was there! Up on the roof, just like all those other quiet winter nights. Looking a little tattered but not much thinner he was back. Apparently some kind folks thought he was a stray and tried to domesticate him and I assume after numerous scars and the worry of tetanus had given up. I swept him up in my arms, sat down on the roof and cried.

If you drive by the farm tonight you will see that the lights are lit, Louie is back and all is right with the world.

P.S. Seconds after Kelly took this photo tonight, Louie bit me and jumped down, welcome home buddy!

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I am a pretty simple guy and not much for fancy cookies.  Give me old fashioned sugar cookies and I’m happy.  But how about a bit of white chocolate to add to the fun, enjoy one of my favorite recipes.. it's easy, unless you burn the first batch!

White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups flour

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup softened butter

1 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Bag of white chocolate chips

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat butter and sugar until smooth.

Add eggs, one at a time; then vanilla.

Add flour, 1 cup at a time until blended.

Add baking powder.

Chill in refrigerator for at least one hour, or ice box for 15 mins.

Roll chilled dough into quarter size balls and put on ungreased cookie sheet

Press in white chocolate chips into dough

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden brown.

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When it turns cold outside we tend to redirect our thoughts to the inside of our homes. This is the busiest season for basement and room remodeling.   Hey Guys, what about that man cave you always wanted?

The floor space doesn't have to be large to truly enjoy a little "Guy Time" and a place you can call your own.  Here are few tips I have learned in my own remodeling projects that have become the “envy” of anyone with a "Y” chromosome.  Now, first remember that you are the King of your Castle, the Master of your Domain.......lol…So go ask your wife's permission and let's get started!!  Believe me that's how my project got started, I am NOT the boss in my house, I am just the tallest one who lives here.

Let's start with a few simple concepts, first size "Does NOT Matter."  Some people can afford to add a new addition, blow out a wall or two and really dream big.  That's not what I am talking about here.  I do all my projects on a budget; hardwork and pre-planning can cut costs dramatically.  When conceptualizing your space… think about that spare bedroom after the kid goes off to college, a corner of the basement or even a part of an existing room can become "Guy Space" and fully enjoyed.

Now let me begin by saying I was lucky, the living room of our 18th century farm house was the last room of our home here on the farm to remodel.  We rarely spent time in that room because the heating ducts don't reach far enough from our civil war era furnace to warm that room past 50 degrees in the winter and the wood stove was our only heat in there.  My wife is not big on building a fire and the mess and work so that room was somewhat abandoned during cold weather.  PERFECT man cave material.

You will see some photos of the finished project but believe me we did no structural changes and the entire project other than hanging French doors and we kept to our budget of under $6000, (And that included the man cave size TV that my wife still rolls her eyes over).  The beams you see on the ceiling are cosmetic only and came from an old barn that was being torn down.  I do a lot of recycling in terms of construction materials and that saves a fortune compared to buying new.  Plus it gives the place a nice old feeling to it.

First define the main purpose for the room, is it TV time, a place to watch sports, read, nap...what do you like to do and build the space around those thoughts.  For me it was a place to hang out with buddies and watch a race or a movie and just sit and relax.  We entertain often and it was also nice to have an overflow area other than just the kitchen for people to congregate. I know it is hard for us guys to get in touch with our emotions but what do you want the room to FEEL like?  

I wanted a place that felt like a lodge setting, lots of wood, comfortable and homey.  Conceptualize the space as finished and picture yourself in it.   The whole idea is to make this space your own.  We will talk about "construction" and I will share with you many money saving tips in later blogs, but for right now let's plan and prepare.  What do you want to surround yourself with?  

Sports memorabilia, music stuff, automotive, crochet, (ok just kidding on that  last one), but what makes you happy?  For me it was things that reflect on me as a person, I have some QVC stuff in there because that had been a part of my life for the last 26 years but this was not about work, this was about who I am. 

I have two old saddles in that room from my riding and roping days.  As a writer I love my old 1920's type writer I found at a flea market and paid $10 bucks for and took it apart and cleaned it, and it sits proudly on my counter top.  My Grandmother's favorite chair sits in the corner along with a few accolades that I have been fortunate to have received over the years.  Make it a space that pleases you, a place to reflect on the good things in your life and the things that make you  who you are. 

Deep thoughts I know and my head hurts now but that is the whole goal of a "Man Cave".   If a stranger walked into that room would they get a good idea of what makes you different from everyone else?   Will they understand your passions in life and feel like they somehow know you better by just having been there?  Set that as your goal and next time we will talk about how to make it all happen.

Enjoy the pathway. 

Till next time.

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How to Paint Like a Pro:

This is the time of year for indoor projects.  Few things are as gratifying as changing the whole look and feel of a room with a simple, inexpensive can of paint.  It is a simple D.Y.I project that most of us can tackle in a day or weekend.  The wall I recently painted was due to a pipe from our shower busting.  Not fun.  But that's just life in an old farm house.  I repaired the leak, patched the wall and now we’re ready for paint.

Before you begin, do a little planning.  Get all your supplies together first.

• Paint.
• A good brush.
• Paint trey.
• Paint Roller with proper nap for the wall texture to be painted.
• A #2 pencil.
• A flat bladed screw driver.
• A hammer and nail.  (I'll explain this one a little later).
• A paper plate.
• Medium grit sand paper.
• Stirring stick.
• Drop cloth.

Unless you're doing intricate designs, you probably won't need painters tape.

The key is to take the time to prep your wall surfaces before you begin.  Wash the walls down with a small mixture of dish washing detergent and warm water.  Most people don't do this but it removes any built up dirt and grease that may be on the surface.  It helps for the paint to adhere and makes for a cleaner project.

Lightly sand the entire wall with medium grit sandpaper and light pressure. Again most people don't take the time, but this smoothes out any rough surfaces and gives a much better overall result. 

Take your screwdriver and open the can of paint while it rests on a paper plate; this makes for less clean up and no paint ring on the floor when you're done.  Now take your hammer and nail and poke 5 or 6 holes in the lip of the paint can.  That lip is there to help seal the lid to the can, but it can also build up with paint.  When you go to hammer the lid back on after your project is done, paint flies everywhere.  Poking a few holes in this lip allows the paint to drain back into the can, and the mess is avoided.

The transition between wall and ceiling is tough for most of us; ceilings and walls are seldom ever truly flat or square, so tape really doesn't help.  Take your #2 pencil and lightly draw a line where the two meet.  This gives you a visual line to paint up to without getting it on the ceiling.  Try it, it works.  Mix your paint well, especially if it has been sitting for a long time; the ingredients in paint separate over time and a good mix will give you more even color.  When doing the edges of the wall, or what painters call "cutting out", make long strokes with the brush, with only a little bit of paint.  Paint goes a long way, so you don't want to layer it on too thick or the paintbrush lines will show later.  Dip your brush no more than 1/2 the length of the bristles into the paint and then pull the brush out of the can, scraping one side of the brush to clean it.  You don't need paint on both sides of the brush since you will only be using one; that's how drips happen.

When your trim is done you can roll with your roller for faster coverage.  Don't roll in straight up and down lines.  Paint in series of "W's", moving back over each line to get the best coverage and less little spots of the original color showing through.  These spots are called Holidays by the professionals - don't ask me why, they just are.  Most good latex paints only need one coat now days so the project goes fast and you get to sit back and enjoy the look of your new room.

Final hint: Pick the right paint for the project.  Water Based Latex is easiest to apply and clean up.  Oil based paints require lacquer thinner for cleanup and can be tricky. There are three basic levels of shine.  Flat, for most walls and all ceilings; semi-gloss for those walls that require more clean up like bathrooms and kitchens; and high gloss, which is usually reserved for trim work and moldings. 

Have some fun, change a room and make your home your own.  Enjoy!

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