The Day After

Tags

Advent Sunday, entertaining, Polish Pottery, Running, Tablescape, Thanksgiving

Oh, what a wonderful day!!! I am still sitting back rewinding the last couple of days.  All the work paid off.  We had a great time with our friends.  It was a special day.  I played with our table for a couple of days.  I finally decided on what I wanted to do.   I am very glad I took the time to think it through because it came out way better than I thought!

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We started like this!

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A big mess of something!

After ironing and playing around with arrangements, this was the end product!

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Not too bad,   The centerpiece was all my favorite Fall colors.

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On one side I added small pumpkins and pine cones.

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The other side I added height.  I am very happy that it turned out, in my eyes, pretty darn perfect!

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One last look!

For the place settings, I wanted something simple and not fussy.  I combined my Fall colors with my favorite color, blue.

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My Polish pottery plates added some fun to the table while the pine cone and khaki napkin brought simple to the mix.

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I really like to alternate and my pottery allows that.  So many different combinations!  The patterned blue napkins just seemed to fit.

Nice right?  I love it when it all goes well.

It will be a busy weekend.  My personal half marathon and the first Advent Sunday ahead.  I need to get my Advent wreath together!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

 

 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Tags

family, friends, Running, Thanksgiving, weather

On my way out for my morning run… I had to smile!

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I knew it was quite cold but how lovely!

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It is Thanksgiving Day, what a great present!

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Hoping you have a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends!

Let the Thanking begin…

Tags

family, preparation, Thanksgiving

In our house it has officially started!!!  We ‘butchered’ a pumpkin last night. We will do the rest next weekend.  We also made our pie crusts.  I do not want to rush the next few days.  It is one of those times that I just want the slow motion camera to be on.

Tonight it will be all about making pies and chopping up veggies for easy access on Thursday.  It will be about setting the table and getting the house presentable.  It will be with music turned up, voices gleeful and laughing.  Hubby asked if we wanted Italian (aka pizza) or Turkish (aka Doner Kebabs) for dinner.  We told him that it would be his choice!

I will share our good times on Friday.  In the meantime, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

The Menu

Tags

entertaining, family, menu, Thanksgiving

All the preparations for the BIG meal Thursday are done!  We thought we were having a small dinner.  Well….. That has changed!  We now have ten people who will be joining us for this fabulous day.  I cannot wait!

The menu has been set.

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I will have it displayed very nicely Thursday.  We have our favorites.  The stuffing is to die for.  The roasted butternut squash, fennel, and cranberries is mouthwatering.  Just typing it makes me happy!

We will pick up our fresh veggies and fruits today.  Everything from scratch.  Oh I cannot wait to get started on Wednesday afternoon!  Hubby is responsible for dinner Wednesday evening.  So that means take out.  Music will be blaring and the good times will roll!

Some of my best memories of our Amazing Daughter and Hubby are in the kitchen cooking together. Looking forward to making more this year!

Week of Thanks!

Tags

family, Grandmothers, measuring spoons, thankfulness

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Saturday morning I was going through our menu for the week and finalizing the to-do list for the week and I started thinking about the week ahead.  Loving the busyness of the start then how it tapers down to just enjoyment in the end.  I started making breakfast and I pulled out these.  A huge smile immediately came to my face.  I just simply whispered, “Millie”.

Millie was my grandmother.  Unfortunately, she passed away about two years ago.  When we were cleaning out her home, I ran across these measuring spoons.  I grabbed them.  Silly, really.  I remember visiting her during the summers and Thanksgivings.  I remember her using these spoons.  Her dogs at her feet.  The fact that I am still using them connects us in some way.

Millie had an amazing life.  Not always easy, but rewarding.  She was very fascinating to me.  A true Southern woman.  She had her hair done every single week.  Her fingernails were always painted.  Never missed church unless she was ill.

As we begin this favorite week of mine, Millie’s spoons will be used frequently.  They were well used before, but now, they are well loved and so appreciated.  I think I will go and paint my fingernails, in honor of Millie!

Enjoy your Monday!

My Favorite Week

Tags

celebration, family, Thanksgiving

My FAVORITE holiday is Thanksgiving.  Hands down!  I love the food, the relaxing, family and friends gathering, and the memories created.  If I could, I would take off all of next week just so I can savor every single moment of it.  I love sitting down the Saturday before Thanksgiving to plan out the week.  When do we start cooking, what is the order, seating arrangements, etc…

In our house we have alternated between having a huge Thanksgiving with a lot of people over or traveling.  Last year we had the huge dinner.  This year, we are doing both!  Amazing Daughter will be celebrating Thanksgiving with us for the first time in three years.  We could not pass that up.  We will pack up and leave on Friday morning (we do not do Black Friday!).

In honor of my favorite week of the year, a top ten list!

10. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

9. FOOTBALL!!!

8. Turkey

7. Enjoying the cold weather

6. Having a festive table

5.  Friends

4. The conversations

3. Traveling… exploring something new!

2.  Celebrating our wonderful and blessed lives

and (drum roll…..)

1. Family

What a great way to start this weekend!

Training Update

Tags

half-marathon, Running, training, winter

As you know, I set a goal at the beginning of the year to run 4 half marathons, one in each season.  I am 3/4’s of the way there.  Due to scheduling difficulties, I am having this last one be a ME Half Marathon.  I will be the only one running.  I’m beginning to think everyone needs a ME race!

I have set the date for 1 December.  I am feeling pretty good about it.  My mileage is very good and the pace is relaxed.  I like that.  I have been hitting the gym three times a week for speed work.  Last weekend I ran 8.5 miles on Saturday and 5.5 on Sunday.  My Saturday time was great!  Sunday because it was ‘rest’ run was slower.  I needed that.

I have one weekend left before the ‘big’ race.  I am just going to see how it goes.  The issue of completing it is a non-issue.  I know that the weather will play a starring role.  We are actually expecting some snow in the next couple of days.  The temperatures are heading south.  That is okay.  I have always ran outside in the cold.  It really does not bother me.  The difference is running for over 2 hours.  This will be new.  I sure do not want to overdress or underdress.  I just have to find the balance.  Oh, the dilemma!

For some reason, I am very low key about this one.  Maybe because there will not be thousands of runners.  Maybe because I know the course.  Maybe it is because I know that I will accomplish a goal.  I know that it is coming and I am not obsessing!  A good thing.

Here is looking forward to a great weekend of running!  Some white stuff would be nice….

Cooking with the Daisies

Tags

bell peppers, cooking, Salad, spinach, veggies

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What do you do when some of your veggies start going south?   You quickly figure out what you can make with everything!  That is what I did over the weekend.

Veggie Stuffed Peppers

bell peppers

onions

fennel

carrots

 celery

garlic

prosciutto

I chopped onions, fennel, celery, carrots, garlic, extra bell peppers, and the prosciutto.  In a skillet I sautéed the everything in a little olive oil.

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Just for fun I added a few drops of liquid smoke.  I halved the bell peppers and filled them with the veggie mixture.

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We like the colorful ones!  The seem to have a more robust flavor.

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I baked them for about 20 minutes .

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Not bad!  Great colors.  Just added a salad of spinach, tomatoes, feta, and avocado.

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What an easy meal!  It tasted great also.  We really loved the liquid smoke.

Happy Wednesday!

You Got Mail!

Tags

Amy Tan, authors, book club, literature

I love getting mail.  There is just something about opening that box and bending down to see what is in there.  Living overseas getting mail is such a highlight.  We order a lot of stuff online.  Yesterday a package that I have been waiting for finally came in!!! Yea!

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A few weeks ago I ordered all the books that our book club will be reading this year. This is only the first box.  I am guessing the other one will be here in the next few days.  But who cares right now?  Look at all of these goodies!  Morality Play, the new Amy Tan, ExPats, and the one I need to get started on, The Round House.  (It is the one we are suppose to be reading this month.)

I am so glad the weather is turning colder.  A fire, a glass of wine, and great literature.  How else should a day be ended?  Life is good!

Oh, the Opera!

Tags

music, opera, Stuttgart, weekends

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It was beyond amazing!!!  I really had no clue what to expect.  However, my expectations were clearly met and then some!

Saturday was a crisp evening.  Perfect for a dressy night night out.  I have to say I really wanted to wear my boots.  I did not feel that was appropriate!

The opera itself was set in modern day.  That was unexpected, but it did not detract from the beauty.  The music, the voices were just out of this world.  I cannot imagine what an opera experience would be like in Washington or New York.

I was in the edge of my seat all evening.  At some points, I just closed my eyes and let music take me away.  I so want to do that again!

Hubby being the wonderful person that he is, actually enjoyed the evening.  On the way home, he mentioned that he picked up the schedule for the spring.  Then he mentioned that he found another place that has heard serves really good food.  I am thinking that was his way of saying, you want to see opera? Well then you will need to fed me!   Done, baby!

What a way to spend an evening!

Happy Monday!