HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Amaryllis and Paperwhites update...

It's been 9 days since my last post, and I am pleased to see these flowers coming along so quickly....
At 31 days my paperwhites are flowering and the Amaryllis is just about there....


While I enjoyed watching them grow I'm not sure I will try this method again.  Can't say that I am fond of the total look achieved with these tall cylinder shaped glass vases...but for next to no effort I shouldn't complain too much. This method would be terrific in a limited space too, or at a desk in an office. Perhaps a wrap around the bottom with burlap or any other cloth would have been a nice addition. 

You can see how tall they get and that is the reason for trying the tall cylinder shaped vases- helps to keep them from falling over.  Although I think I would prefer a grouping in a shallow pot next time.

 The Amaryllis is a couple of days away from opening up...but I sure didn't get the vision I had!  I planted three bulbs, the same day and they all came up at a different pace... my vision was that all three would grow evenly, be the same height and bloom at the same time!  Hmm...what's up with this picture!  LOL.... Nature, can't control it!

  Dec. 1st

 Dec. 22nd

A visit to a nursery yielded me this pot of Cyclamen...couldn't resist!

Hanging out...

Hello everyone.... I'm hanging out at  my Mother's house in Rochester Hills, Michigan...

This is the 2nd part of our Christmas Holiday... 

I've taken some photos around my Mother's home and my Mother-in-law's home too, but wouldn't you know I didn't bring my cable to plug into this computer so for now I'm putting a couple of pictures on from my phone!

 Mom has always liked white and gold...this tree is fiber optic, so when it's lit it has a nice soft glow...On the wall behind it my sisters arranged all of my Mom's acrylic snowmen, which looks pretty neat at night with the little lights on...

This pink poinsettia was a gift from my nephew to my Mom...it's just beautiful in person....
Heading to my favorite decorating store  in town soon.  Up to The Village mall to see what I can't live without!  
We  plan to be back home late Thursday so we can be home for New Years Eve and not be on the road going anywhere. Our daughter had the whole week off from work and is still at our home. We will all just relax, have a tad bit of champagne, watch the ball fall in New York and off to bed... 
Then I get to start tearing down my Christmas decorating...not looking forward to it, but that's part of the deal!  
Hope you are all having a great day! 
What are your plans for New Years Eve?

Upon Request...

I am posting my recipe (from Epicurious) for 

Crème Brûlée French Toast

... it's a special treat and a "prepare the night before recipe" that is just delicious!


ingredients

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• an 8- to 9-inch round loaf country-style bread
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

PReparation

In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth and pour into a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking dish. 

Cut six 1-inch thick slices from center portion of bread, reserving ends for another use, and trim crusts. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.

In a bowl whisk together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350° F. and bring bread to room temperature.

Bake bread mixture, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve hot French toast immediately.

my notes:
When it comes out of the oven it may be puffed up a bit, but it quickly settles down, and then you can cut it.
I like to turn each serving upside down when I put it on the plate so the sugary side is on top.  
I serve this with sausage or bacon on the side and of course my family loves hash browns with it too. With some cut up fruit pieces and orange juice you have a filling, attractive and unique breakfast!
I think one serving per person will do- especially if you add some other food items to go along with it.  I would say 6 to 8 people can be served from it, depending on the type of appetite they have.


Bon Appétit 

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Merry Christmas Everyone...

Merry Christmas to All...

 Angels we have heard on high..Sweetly singing o'er the plains...And the mountains in reply...Echoing their joyous strains.. 

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! 

I used artificial roses, beaded garland, sparkling fruit and artificial snow...

 I was so happy to find this star of Bethlehem this year, it had just the look I wanted...My tree has doves, angels, icicles, chandeliers, snowflakes and glass ornaments this year...

A candle arrangement on the coffee table...

My glass menagerie...and near it on the floor a floral arrangement..      

 My lantern and tree vignette....

Wishing you a Merry Christmas....

Santa's sleigh...

 

 If you make a 180 degree turn around from the Santa display you are looking at my mini dining room! 

 Birds, gold poinsettias, pine cones and ornaments...

 Two boxwood wreaths hung on the china cabinet...

My Nativity this year..

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

 

Another Vingette of mine near the kitchen....

 My Santos Cage doll and stacked ornaments....

I set a golden finial inside and slipped a small candle ring in the bottom...gave her a red sash to wear too!

A collection of ornaments stacked with gold beads laced throughout and a large candle ring around the bottom....

At the kitchen table is another lamp I decorated with an upside down wreath and ornaments... and just to the right of this area is the corner cabinet below..

I emptied my cabinet and built a small version of my village with my Dickens Dept. 56 Village pieces..

I always like to have the Scrooge and Marley building as well as Fezziwigs...You  have to set the story up...

 Above here is the Cratchet family in a sleigh going through the town...little shops with things for sale...

 Scrooge's house with the ghosts outside depicting the three visits... and on the right is the shop where the big goose is that he sends to the Cratchets!

 A church in the village with Bob Crachet, Tiny Tim, and Carolers...

Victoria Station...maybe Tiny Tim will get a much needed ride on the train to a hospital that will help him now...

As Tiny Tim says...

God Bless us Everyone!

Merry Christmas everybody, thanks for stopping by, I hope whatever you love most about Christmas, whether it be about Celebrating the Birth of Christ, Singing Carols, Holiday Decorating, Gathering with the Family, or stories like the story about Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, I hope you have a chance to enjoy them!  I love it all!

I love to hear your comments!

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Amaryllis and Paper Whites

Well this is the 22nd day these bulbs have been planted.  Not going to bloom by Christmas, but that's just fine.  I look forward to seeing their pretty faces in January!

 Who told these guys to grow like that!  They were supposed to come up the same and bloom at the same time!  So much for planning!  Hmm...how is it those bulb companies get theirs to look so darn perfect! 

 I tucked some moss around the bulb just to give it a more natural look...

Can't wait to smell these!

I suppose it will be the 2nd week of January before I have blooms!  Tapping fingers..... HURRY UP

Christmas Card Display

I wanted to do something unique with the Christmas cards this year, and I was inspired by a picture from Martha Stewart.  

In this picture from Martha Stewart above, you can see they used painted clothespins to hold the cards....  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I realized I had these ready made satin ornament hangers, and decided to glue them to the back of each card.

 I hung the cards at the lowest part of the tree, and since mine is up on a table  I could do this and still have the cards visible. 

 I also don't have a stair railing to display from so this is my version...

I know this look isn't for everybody, but I'm kind of tickled with it this year! Each time I look at the tree I automatically have a chance to see the cards and enjoy them even more!

(I know my wild wrapping paper doesn't exactly make a coordinated look, but I am using up all my left over pieces of paper this year, cleaning out the old stuff!  )
What ways do you display your cards?