Christmas came and went -

A really great trip to the now wintry North Carolina mountains last week.
One evening we enjoyed walking to a French bistro in snow flurries. 
Next day we had a meeting with longtime friend and blogger Penny from
 Enjoying The Simple Things. We met for lunch in glorious sunshine with a
 thoroughly enjoyable visit to her beautiful home on a hillside, then came back
 to non-stop readying for Christmas!

I baked a lot for Christmas Eve!
Traditional English Mince Pies (with a dollop of rum butter added at serving time).
Tiny Cheese, Onion & Black Olive Scones (later split for a spread
 of herbed Boursin).  Costco supplied the baked brie and some great cheeses,
 and I made really crispy herbed crostini from rustic baguettes.
The grapes I roasted after brushing with a marinade of olive oil, white wine vinegar
 and honey - a new recipe which went over well, tasted so good, and looked great
 on the cheese board.
We took a late evening drive around the neighborhood to view lights and luminarias
lining the streets - all very festive.

Christmas Day was quieter. We visited with friends for drinks then spent
 the evening at home. I made Asian inspired salmon, Brussels sprouts roasted
 in olive oil and crushed garlic almonds with perfect plain mashed potatoes.
Dessert was Christmas pudding topped with more rum butter and fresh whipped
cream - oh my, I see more walking and exercise in the near future - like later today! 
The sun is shining and temperature perfect at 63F so no excuses not to head outside.
 Our meal was enjoyed in front of the hearth with a blazing fire. . . . . . .and watching
 the "Call The Midwife" Christmas special. OMG it was fabulous and filmed on
 Scotland's beautiful Hebrides Islands - one of the few places
 remaining on my 'travel bucket list!

Today, Boxing Day, is always a favorite day of the year for me.
Time to reminisce about childhood holidays and take a little 
quiet time planning for the year to come.
We have a busy month ahead which includes the garden - tree company coming
 to remove a dead oak (thanks to woodpeckers over-pecking!), and some serious
  pruning of other large branches now overhanging the roof.
Hopefully an indoor project involving paint and furniture will be done. . . . . . and, 
after the holiday decorations are down and stored, some serious purging and
 downsizing as we clear out 'stuff' room by room.
I don't make a list of New Year resolutions, however in my mind I know what 
needs to be addressed to get me organized here at home for what will hopefully
 be a great 2020!

If I don't make it here again before New Year's Day, I wish you all the 
very best for a happy, healthy and wonderful Year. 

Happy Christmas to all......................

We're westward bound to the North Carolina mountains this morning.  

Rain coming in, however should stop later.  Our couple of days in Asheville

 and surrounding areas should be bright, cold and dry - I'm happy in that

 weather, especially during the Christmas season.

More later....................

December means Christmas -

Eugéne Samuel Grasset (Swiss 1845-1917)

Color Wood Engraving from his portfolio Les Mois -1895

This has always been one of my favorite depictions of December as

 Christmas approaches - snow, hellebores, wind, a red dress and warm wrap, 

and a huge bunch of mistletoe.

This is the week I committed to nothing but Christmas decorating, indoor 

and outdoor. It's completed and I'm happy.

Well we did also manage to squeeze in a most enjoyable dinner date with friends 

(at that great Greek restaurant we recently discovered out of town) to celebrate

the season. . . . .and some shopping for gifts and holiday foods. . . . .also a great

Christmas concert. . . . . . and I wrote a lot of cards with more to do today.

I also blogged of course!

Yesterday's chilly, dreary weather with non-stop rain - still falling this morning -

made the kitchen a good place to be. I roasted squash - kuri and acorn -

made tomato basil soup, and even the famous 'best ever' apple pie - recipe

from my special friend Penny whom we'll be visiting in the mountains next week!

The list was long - a lot was done.

How are you doing with your Christmas preparations?

Gardening for Christmas -

Other than raking, gathering and piling the leaves - and no sooner that's done

more fall - there's not much gardening going on around here!

Very different weather this morning.

Rain, steady but light, temperature a few degrees above freezing

 (could have been snow if colder), enough to dampen down the dust and

put a sheen on the gazebo now sporting the annual Christmas tree 

to brighten up the dark nights.

While working out there yesterday, our family of Eastern bluebirds returned

 to enjoy the birdbaths and suet feeders. I managed a few quick photos of this

 handsome male, so colorful at this time of year. . . . . . and they brought me 

much happiness.

Christmas preparations are in full swing here, although mine are much

 more simple than those of many younger bloggers I've noticed.  

Did I used to have that much energy?

Do I wish I still could do all that? 

Yes of course.

Morning light in December -

The sunshine is brilliant but the temperature very low this morning. 

Our coldest night and morning yet this season.

At last it feels like Christmas weather.

Warm socks pulled up around my ankles feel good, and the

 coffee mug warms my hands now starting to feel dry from 

winter's chill. Time for gloves.

Piano music from Brian Cain's album 'A Change of Seasons' is playing softly. 

I admit being obsessed by his beautiful music.

There are many birds at the feeders, some also braving the water

 in yet to freeze birdbaths, tough little feathered friends.

Yesterday I completed my decorating for the holidays.

Lights were turned on.

The tree in the gazebo glittered last evening, the cottage and porch

 glowed warmly from the floodlit front garden. I wandered down to the

street to look back and enjoy the view.

The night was silent and still as cold nights can be.

Later today some shopping for holiday baking items.

Soon a trip westward to the mountains with visits to special friends.

Wrapping and more card writing. 

Deliver gifts to some special little ones.

House cleaning, ugh!  

Cooking plans and such written on refrigerator notepad.

Pick up fresh greens for the mantel.

Make mince pies + brandy butter for them on Christmas Eve.

Prepare my English trifle dessert for San Antonio friends who will 

make a quick holiday stop.

The list grows. . . . . . . .the holiday season always busy.

Thoughts of childhood Christmases so long ago, so far away.

Memories...................

I feel the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas around the house -

Decorating underway - nothing new added except traditional English crackers

 to pull Christmas Eve. Greenery will be added to the mantel in about a week

Just the usual much-loved objects. Some in the same place, others moved 

about displayed in fresh vignettes.

I still have to decorate the tree outside in the gazebo - later today when it

warms up a bit - and Bob will connect the floodlights to give the cottage

a little glow to warm the dark nights ahead.

Christmas is coming. Just 14 days to go!