My big Xmas present this year - my long, longed-for Orla Kiely bag. Sometimes stuff does bring happiness.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Winter Medley
Oh, the weather outside is frightful...
It's frigid cold these past few days. The kind of cold where your face stings and your ears ring, and your fingertips go numb...with gloves. I'm enjoying the real winter cold even though it's brutal when walking just a few blocks. I've been drinking lots of hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. I love bundling up in my new coat, cute hat, snug gloves and my scarf-of-the day. I cherish the last moment in a cozy warm room before hitting the bracing, but exhilarating, air, or the first moment there that welcomes me back from it.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
It feels more like Christmastime than those balmy 50 degree days that Washington sometimes has in December. At around 4'oclock on a gray, blustery day, it can look quite stark and dreary - those naked, gnarly tree branches in our concrete jungle. But by 6pm, the holiday lights start to glow from the yards and from the Christmas trees framed in the undressed windows of inviting homes. I love window-peeping in the urban winter landscape.
Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow.
It would all be softened by a little snow. A white soft blanket that would cover the greys and muffle the harsh echoes. And my guys at Capital Weather Gang are predicting the season's first snowfall will arrive tomorrow. One to two inches - a lit more than a dusting, and likely not lasting. But that first snowfall is such a thrill. Every. Single. Time.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings...
And I've got some holiday cheer, too. I've been wrapping presents - one of my least favorite things to do, and usually put off until the very last minute. But this year, I've engaged dear daughter and we're choosing paper and ribbon colors for each gift. She writes the labels in her darling, newly-learned, uneven handwriting "To: Helena. From: Grace and Victoria " and my heart melts to watch her grow up right before my eyes. So present wrapping is not so awful this year, and we're doing a few per night.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah, indeed! Tomorrow, we're going to the Kennedy Center for the Messiah concert of the National Symphony Orchestra. Every part of that last sentence is a superlative! Such a wonderful treat.
And today, I will say, for the first time in a few days or a few weeks, It's a Wonderful Life.
Fa la la, la la, la, la, la, la.
It's frigid cold these past few days. The kind of cold where your face stings and your ears ring, and your fingertips go numb...with gloves. I'm enjoying the real winter cold even though it's brutal when walking just a few blocks. I've been drinking lots of hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. I love bundling up in my new coat, cute hat, snug gloves and my scarf-of-the day. I cherish the last moment in a cozy warm room before hitting the bracing, but exhilarating, air, or the first moment there that welcomes me back from it.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
It feels more like Christmastime than those balmy 50 degree days that Washington sometimes has in December. At around 4'oclock on a gray, blustery day, it can look quite stark and dreary - those naked, gnarly tree branches in our concrete jungle. But by 6pm, the holiday lights start to glow from the yards and from the Christmas trees framed in the undressed windows of inviting homes. I love window-peeping in the urban winter landscape.
Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow.
It would all be softened by a little snow. A white soft blanket that would cover the greys and muffle the harsh echoes. And my guys at Capital Weather Gang are predicting the season's first snowfall will arrive tomorrow. One to two inches - a lit more than a dusting, and likely not lasting. But that first snowfall is such a thrill. Every. Single. Time.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings...
And I've got some holiday cheer, too. I've been wrapping presents - one of my least favorite things to do, and usually put off until the very last minute. But this year, I've engaged dear daughter and we're choosing paper and ribbon colors for each gift. She writes the labels in her darling, newly-learned, uneven handwriting "To: Helena. From: Grace and Victoria " and my heart melts to watch her grow up right before my eyes. So present wrapping is not so awful this year, and we're doing a few per night.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah, indeed! Tomorrow, we're going to the Kennedy Center for the Messiah concert of the National Symphony Orchestra. Every part of that last sentence is a superlative! Such a wonderful treat.
And today, I will say, for the first time in a few days or a few weeks, It's a Wonderful Life.
Fa la la, la la, la, la, la, la.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Menu: Thanksgiving 2010 - a shared cooking feat and eating feast
Appetizers
Shrimp Cocktail
Aged Cheddar
Smoked Gouda
Cashews
Vegetables with White Bean Dip
- Wine and Beer -
Dinner
Roast Turkey with Sage and Sausage Stuffing
Maple Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Braised Brussel Sprouts
Puree of Roasted Carrot, Parsnips, Turnips and Leeks
Cranberry-Orange Relish
- Beaujolais Nouveau -
Dessert
Traditional American Pies
(pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie)
with fresh whipped cream
- Coffee and Tea -
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Xmas 2009
I don't know why it's so, but it seems that Xmas always ends with a empty thud. It seems it's par for the course for so many. Sure, the food, delicious; the presents, just right; the laughter, joy, excitement and wonder of beautiful G to be cherished; twinkling lights, Divine; and lots of singing, off key (Fa-la-la, La-la-la, La-la-la).
But I'm tired, and I'm relieved it's over (the anticipation always being better than the actual thing), and I feel half-empty (instead of my usual half-full :-), distanced from my family, and unconnected.
I desperately need to get outside. Get uncluttered. Take a swim. Reclaim myself. Detoxify. Tomorrow, JS - I'm happy about that, but a little nervous. I hope it's good.
But I'm tired, and I'm relieved it's over (the anticipation always being better than the actual thing), and I feel half-empty (instead of my usual half-full :-), distanced from my family, and unconnected.
I desperately need to get outside. Get uncluttered. Take a swim. Reclaim myself. Detoxify. Tomorrow, JS - I'm happy about that, but a little nervous. I hope it's good.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Menu: Boxing Day 2009 (with JS :-)
First
Pumplin ravioli with sage butter
Second
Filet
Mesclun greens with walnuts and blue cheese
Afters
Traditional Christmas pudding
Vanilla ice cream
Champagne
A Nice Red
Kisses
xoxoxo
Monday, December 21, 2009
Menu: Christmas Day Breakfast 2009
Santa Arrives
Coffee
Main meal
Baked challah french toast with strawberry sauce
Country-style sausage links
Fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juices
Coffee
Tea
Tea
Menu: Christmas Eve 2009
Appetizers
Broiled scallops & bacon
Broiled dates & bacon
Parrano cheese with fig jam
Baguette rounds
Crudite assortment with coarse kosher salt
Olives
Nuts
Chilled Prosecco
Gifts
Main meal
Prime rib roast with horseradish sauce
Roasted potatoes
Yorkshire pudding
Green beans almondine
Cabernet Sauvignon
Buche de Noel
Chocolate truffles
Coffee
Peppermint tea
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