Monday, December 25, 2017

Christmas festivities...


Christmas...magical..joyful..festivities with family & dear friends...a Holy holiday that keeps the spirit in our hearts throughout the year...a season that makes us grateful and thankful..even more so when we give to others...this years Christmas festivities in our home started the first of December when we put up our trees..hanging ornaments from years past...and continued until late today...lots of entertaining this year...Holiday baking this last week and then our Christmas Eve & Christmas Day dinner & gift giving..I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday...Sharing with you a small glimpse of Christmas this year in my homeπŸ’š




French chocolat cupcakes with seven minute frosting...my family's fave!



Christmas Eve...

Southern pecan pie...

Christmas Dinner...

Desserts...

Christmas Eve dinner...


Christmas...



Until next time...Cheers!

Sunday, November 26, 2017

As November fades ....


The last days of November are bittersweet for me...sad that Thanksgiving is over...yet anticipating the wonderful Christmas season that is upon us...Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends is one of my fave celebrations...I love everything about Thanksgiving...the food...everything pumpkin...golden leaves outside...cool crisp weather..most of all sharing this special time with loved ones...memories revisited & new ones made...much to be grateful for this year....I used persimmons this year everywhere...my Grandmother loved them...I felt like she was here with us...I made her delicious cornbread dressing...several turkeys..a traditional roasted turkey & a smoked one...Southern bourbon ham with all the sides...many desserts...my Dad's favorite chocolate pie...pumpkin pie & white layer cake with French buttercream...now to start decorating the tree...Sharing with you a glimpse of my Thanksgiving week πŸ’›














Wine & cheese after black Friday shopping...

Cheers....until next time πŸ’›

Friday, November 10, 2017

Antiquing France & England...



Visting Europe in Fall is always a treat...antiquing England & France is my favorite way to shop for found objects...markets in the fall are always a perfect place to find those hard to find...one of a kind...antiques...and the weather is gorgeous...golden trees...crisp cool days...I have made many dear friends in the last twenty years who I look forward to visiting with...special merchants who always are warm...friendly & have beautiful objects...furniture...art...I love shopping Les Puces in Paris...many shoppes...all inspiring...my fave markets are always in the French and English countryside...weekly village markets & the larger country brocantes...looking forward to unpacking all the boxes in the next few days...Sharing with you the last few weeks of antiquing in Europe & a walk around the most magical city..Paris πŸ’›


Les Puces...Paris



French treasures...



Early morning light at Les Puces...




A fave shop in Paris...



My fave croque monsieur...


Paris...

Les Puces...
Paris...


La tour Eiffel...always beautiful 


Strolling neighborhoods of Paris...

Antique Market in Newark - Nottingham, UK


Love a full English breakfast!


Newark - Nottingham...



Afternoon tea...Newark Antique Market


Until next time...Cheers!

Friday, September 22, 2017

September Days...

Autumn finally arrives...September...the gateway to October...one of my fave quotes from Anne of Green Gables..."I'm so glad I live in a world that has Octobers" October is a beautiful month...trees show off their colors...the air is crisp...football & festivals are everywhere...then gorgeous November...Fall here on the west coast is truly beautiful with a golden glow...warm afternoons...clear cool nights...I wish I could put this time of year in slow motion...Fall seems to go by too quickly for me...I savor each day and then there's December...a joyous month...that will arrive soon...but now back to beautiful September...this month I sourced French antiques for a couple of my fave clients and Rue 27 Maison...shopped for mums & pumpkins and added an Autumn feeling to my home...prepared Mimi Thorisson delicious recipe for roasted chicken with  creme fraiche...baked with fresh pears...plums...carrots & fingerlings...a definite taste of Fall...and a big hit with my dinner guests...Sharing a glimpse into the last few weeks...Happy Fall..ya'll πŸ’›






Delicious Creme Fraiche
 chicken from French blogger...Mimi Thorisson

Cheers to Fall dinner...










Cheers to Autumn!