Hello again! Yesterday I posted some highlights of FALL 2019. Today I'm moving on to WINTER 2019/2020! As soon as Thanksgiving was over and the fall decorations were packed away, we went straight into Christmas festivities. My tea ladies and I kicked off the season the last weekend in November with a tea lunch at a beautiful tea room, all decorated for the holidays! This leisurely tea time was our calm before the holiday storm. The first weekend in December, our family went to cut down our Christmas tree at a tree farm we've been going to since our oldest was a baby. I took a lot of family photos, and won't post those here, but it was a lovely, sunny day on the tree farm! It's ... Read more
New Year’s Menu 2020
Hello! It's back to my regular schedule this week, but, as promised, I want to quickly share some recipes from our New Year's Day lunch we enjoyed with our parents. After our moms have hosted all the holiday meals from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Joel and I like to take New Year's Day to treat them to a break from cooking and cleaning for company. Every year I go with the traditional New Year's pork, collards, peas, and cornbread, but this year we decided we needed a steak! Joel and I could not remember the last time we'd bought steaks, and thought it would be a nice surprise for everyone. New Year's Day Menu 2020: New York Strip Steak Shrimp and Bacon Stuffed Potatoes Roasted Parmesan ... Read more
A Nature-Inspired New Year
Happy New Year, dear friends! I’m ringing in the new year with a tables cape that gives a nod to nature! I used to be a bit of a downer about winter, but, as I get older, I appreciate this quiet season more and more. Although there is stillness and rest in the earth during this season, life and color are present in subtle ways, exhibiting God’s promises for fresh beginnings. Isn’t it just perfect that oranges are in season in winter? I love their fresh burst of color and juiciness, not to mention their health benefits after all the holiday indulgences. I find myself craving them almost obsessively in January. Their vibrant orange color is set off nicely by my new green dishes, don’t you ... Read more