A New Year

Can you believe that a new year is knocking at the door?

When you welcome in 2020, 

you will also be ushering in a new decade! May your heart and home be filled with love,

peace and

joy!

No matter if you're bundling up and going out tonight 

or enjoying a restful evening at home, 

may you and yours experience abundant blessings! 

'Tree'-Mendous Day

I usually decorate a dozen Christmas trees. Although I did fewer this year than typical, I did manage to get eight done in time for our first hosted event of the season, back on December 2. We have enjoyed all of them since they went up! Not all were featured in posts throughout the month, so I am including pictures today. I hope "yule" like looking at these nighttime shots of our trees.  😉

We have a snowman tree in the dining room, a Santa tree in the kitchen, a tree with red family ornaments in the living room and a woodlands tree in the solarium.

Then there is the Boston terrier tree on the landing, the gold tinsel with vintage ornaments on the corner of the great room, our main tree (which rotates and also stands in the great room) and the patriotic and St. Louis Cardinal tree in the office.

I hope your day has been 'tree'-mendous!

It's No Big "Dill"

I hope that you, too, had a wonderful Christmas filled with peace and joy. In a few days we will be ushering in 2020 and so I thought that you may be interested in this simple recipe. Whether you celebrate with a large group or prefer a quiet evening at home, I think New Year's Eve is a perfect time to enjoy a variety of appetizers. Maybe this dip will appeal to you for just such an occasion.  Fresh vegetables, chips or snack crackers go well with it and making it is no big "dill"!

Dill Dip

Mix together the following dry ingredients:

1 T plus 1 tsp. dried dill weed

2 tsp. beau monde

1 T dried parsley flakes

1 T dried onion flakes

To that combination, add 1 1/3 cups sour cream and 1 1/3 cups mayonnaise. Stir well and allow to blend overnight in the refrigerator for best flavor. 

* This dip mix may be put together and kept in an airtight bag to share with friends. Add a tag indicating that the recipient should add the sour cream and mayo when ready to use.

For a printable version, click here.

Have a great weekend! 

Merry Christmas!

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem. 

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.

O come let us adore Him.

O come let us adore Him.

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

I treasure this very special nativity set, which was a gift from my parents several years ago. Each season it is given a prominent place and since the day after Thanksgiving, it has been on display on our mantel.

O come let us adore Him.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Jolly old St. Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way.
Don't you tell a single soul
What I'm going to say.

Christmas Eve is coming soon
Now, you dear old man.
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
Tell me if you can!

 Our kitchen is filled with Santas this season!

Are you ready for St. Nicholas?

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!

I absolutely love sparkly Christmas lights! We have been able to enjoy dynamic annual displays this season...and all involve beautiful, glowing illumination. MO Botanical Garden's Garden Glow makes the grounds look spectacular, creating a fabulous holiday treat. Although it was a brisk evening for our visit, we were dressed appropriately and loved walking among the shining colors.

The indoor garden railroad display, also a part of Garden Glow, is an equally wonderful experience. This year's Victorian display is especially enchanting.

A local county park, named Tilles, also offers a breath-taking gift to the community called Winter Wonderland. Rather than walking, guests drive cars through the exhibit and it's hard to absorb all of it. Over a million lights create a joyous show and the snowy background makes it look particularly festive this year!

To offset the cost of operating Winter Wonderland, each vehicle is charged as it exits. When we made our way out, the attendant informed us that a car ahead had paid our $10! Isn't that a thoughtful Christmas gesture from a stranger?

As much as we like going to Garden Glow and Winter Wonderland, we are also very happy walking our historic Main Street each year when the quaint, old shops are open late and the Christmas lights are shining. Taking-in residential displays is also a part of our annual tradition. Whether you look at professional or residential lights...

may your days be merry and BRIGHT! 

Chicken Tettrazini

This recipe goes together well and tastes good. I recently prepared it for a dinner party that we hosted and everyone loved it. We originally got this recipe from a friend of my mother's.

Chicken Tetrazzini

6 T. oil

6 T. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups chicken broth

7 ounce jar of sliced mushrooms

4-5 cups cooked chicken, cubed (I used 5)*

1 cup sliced green olives

8 ounces spaghetti

2 cups shredded American cheese

1 cup dry bread crumbs (I used panko)

Cook spaghetti.

Blend oil and flour over medium heat until smooth. Add salt and broth, stirring until thick. Add mushrooms with their liquid. In oiled (cooking oil spray) 9 by 13 pan, layer cooked spaghetti, put chicken on top, followed by cheese and then olives. Pour broth over entire mixture and top with crumbs. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 35 minutes.

* I used meat from rotisserie chickens.

For a printable version, click here.

Tuesday's Tablescape

Poinsettias are such beautiful Christmas flowers and are the focus of today's table.

A friend gave me this lovely pot of beauties early in the month and we have been enjoying them ever since.

These poinsettia luncheon plates were a good find a few summers ago. When we went to our favorite apple orchard, the owner had a little corner of random treasures for sale and these were in the collection. I snapped them up at 50 cents a piece.

Mr. Bird is perched on the table.

 The quilted table topper beneath the poinsettia was made for me by a talented friend last Christmas. I love the rich colors!

I hope your day was wonderful. 

Let It Snow!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful 

And since we've no place to go,

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Fluffy white flakes filled the sky yesterday and they're still with us. This picture was taken when the snow first began.  A bit of freezing drizzle was added to the mix, which affected the safety of our roads and caused the closing of all area schools and many businesses. It seems rather fitting that our dining room has been decked-out in snowmen since it was decorated the day after Thanksgiving. 

This 7.5 foot flocked tree, as you may recall, is the one that I purchased in November. I love its look and appreciate that it tucks into the corner without impeding the flow of traffic in the dining room when we entertain. 

I added this snowman head, a red "scarf" of mesh ribbon and two stick arms.  

The snowman tree is filled with a merry mixture of snow-themed ornaments (most of which were gifts throughout my teaching career) and glass balls (from my husband's childhood).

The handsome cookie jar was given to me by a friend as was the giant dome.

Because of the reflecting light, I removed the dome for a few closeup shots to show the awesome detail.

It's always difficult to photograph the antique buffet because of its mirror. 

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!