2018 - A Year in Review

It's another one of those years that end in 8.  Nice round numbers that mean I'm aging --- rapidly.  I do have to admit that this has been one of the hardest years of my adult life.  Honest!  There has just been so much to overcome and without the love of my sweet hubby, I wouldn't have seen the end of this year.  I'm thankful to be moving on - wish I could say thankful for the experiences, but it's still too new.

I would love to say that January held something.  But it didn't.  The flu was rampant in Dallas and we opted to just stay home much of the time.  I sewed, does that count?  I did attend a Red Hat function and we went to the museum once just in case sewing didn't count.

The following month allowed for 10 days of retreat, lots of visits to Dallas Blooms and my sweet hubby's birthday.  We have tons of decisions ahead so staying close to home happens a lot.

Christmas Family Time

Christmas Morning and I'm in my usual spot.  Sipping tea while it is still dark out and enjoying the glow of the tree.  It's the calmest part of the day and I adore it.  Some reading and some reflecting top it off and I can truly start the day with the right attitude.  Merry Christmas!!!

A Christmas Pavlova

Christmas dinner is at Mister's brother's house this year and we are bringing dessert.  The big question, now, is, "What to bring?"  There are dietary restrictions to work around, the largest one being gluten.  Wait!  We have been watching the British Baking Show again and Mister remembers the Christmas Pavlova that was taught one year.  Bingo!  I re-watch the episode and he finds the recipe to put into Paprika for me.  Off to the kitchen I go.

First thing is to take a piece of parchment paper and draw two circles on it.  One is 12" and the other is 6" and inside the larger circle.  Yes, it helps to center it there.  I know it's not a great picture, but it's all I have.

The next thing I do is check the recipe for ingredients and discover that one is on my grocery list.  Okay, change in plan.  Let's get the shopping done and then return to this.

Now, I'm ready to start.  Are you?  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees (F).

With 6 large, room temperature eggs -- separate them CAREFULLY.  Any speck of yolk in the whites will cause the meringue to be uncooperative.

San Antonio Day 3

Well, dang.  It's our last day in San Antonio and we are facing a long drive home.  Somehow I have a hunch that traffic will not be as nice to us as on our way here.  It's now just a few days before Christmas and people are on the move.

We are off to breakfast at a VERY old and "must see" place.  Parking in a nearby garage, it's just a short walk - about 3-4 blocks and a beautiful morning.  As we move along on the sidewalk, I spot a church that just must be peeked into.  Oooooh --- it's beautiful.  St. Joseph Parish has members entering and exiting the entire time so it's hard to get pictures without invading their privacy, but I do try.

San Antonio Day 2

Good morning!  It's Day 2 in San Antonio and we are on the hunt for some coffee.  The GPS says there is a shop right near us but we are having a dickens of a time finding it.  Finally, Mister spots it but we cannot find any place to park and it doesn't really look open.  He pulls over and I go inside to make sure it is operating.  It is and I ask where to park.  That's a bad question as he really has no answer.  All the construction in the area has taken up their parking spots and it's becoming an issue.  Well, dang.   A spot is located and we are in!  Whew.

Welcome to Commonwealth Coffeehouse.  It's a warm, cozy and truly friendly little place to be.  The kitchen is wonderful and the pastries they create emit an aroma that I just want to breathe in all day long.

Placing our order and talking with the staff makes for an educational moment and aren't those what life is all about?  If I were to own a coffee shop, I would want it to be just like Commonwealth and if you haven't been when in San Antonio, well you are just plain missing out.

San Antonio Day 1

I am still in shock that my sweet man has managed to snag some vacation days this late into December.  It's just so unusual but we are going to run with it.  Literally.  If we go fast enough, they can't change their minds.  San Antonio, here we come.

The drive down goes surprisingly quick and we are past our exit before we know it.  Honest.  I think we are about 45 minutes to an hour earlier than we expected.  Mister takes a random exit so that we can get our bearings and try to find some lunch.  I'm hungry and when I get hungry while traveling, things just don't go well.  I get a phone call from my daughter while Mister looks at the map so I'm surprised when I hang up and he has a destination in mind.  Just a wee bit away is the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and the largest Virgin Mary mosaic in the world.  It was built in 2004 and 4 story's tall, symbolizing a 40' tall votive candle.  The original candle can be see at the base.

The Artistry of the Nativity at The Dallas Arboretum

Vacation has begun so Mister and I are out and about today.  We have tried to buy a sewing machine bright and early at an estate sale (no go), then visited mom at rehab,  went to her house to water plants and collect mail, had pho for lunch, got the car washed at Subaru and scheduled the maintenance for January, stopped off for a beer, shopped at Tuesday Morning - found a candle and a pane-tone. 

Now we are at the Arboretum for The Artistry of the Nativity.  There are 500 nativities in the DeGolyer House.  The come from over 50 countries and represent so many cultures from around the world.  Each of the 500 creches are made out of unique materials, including cork, Waterford crystal, horns, seeds, corn husk, glass, adobe, paper-mache, wood and coconut shells.  It is absolutely wonderful and in addition to all that, every room in the house is elaborately decorated. Come along on a photo blog and see through my eyes just a small sample of the wonder.

Red Hat Holiday Spirit

 December is here and that means a Red Hat Christmas is right around the corner.

I was so hoping to be finished with all the dental issues I am having this year, but it just didn't happen.  Thus, here is my picture as I dress for the event.  Ugh --- My biggest hope is that next year, I will once again be able to smile huge and strut that happy person big and bold.

I want to be THIS Red Hatter:

Out The Kitchen Window

We have a visitor this morning.  Watch along with me.  It's so hard to get a decent picture out the kitchen window, but it's all we had for if we had opened the door, he would have departed rapidly.

Year 2 of The Girlfriend's Christmas Party

This is the second year of being invited to "The Girlfriend's Christmas Party" and I am meeting Stephannie there for a bit of fun.  We are not the first ones to arrive and groups are already reacquainting and catching up on each other's lives.

2nd Annual Ornament and Cookie Exchange

December has arrived once again and that means the Ornament and Cookie Exchange is right around the corner.  I think that means I should start the preparations.  I spotted a really cute snowman ornament in Quiltmaker magazine this year and decided to make that our little project.  It doesn't require a sewing machine and the supplies are pretty easy to gather.  (I picked up the scarf fabric while in Houston at the International Quilt Festival last month but everything else was in the studio waiting for a place to be used.)

Now to make the sample.  Oh, he's just so dang cute and since I have the decorations up, onto his little tree he goes.  Perfect.

A House Full of Christmas Spirit

Christmas is running throughout the house once again.  I do so love this time of year and with a party the first Saturday this month, I really needed to kick it in gear and get started.

Mister obliges and hauls all the totes down from the attic and now the unpacking begins.

Cream Wafers - Swedish butter Cookies

Way back in the early 70's, I discovered these cookies and they are just simply delightful.  My children loved eating them, but the making of them took a lot of time so "instant gratification" didn't happen, making them less-inclined to participate in the construction.  That simply made them more of a treat, because they didn't get made each year.  I decided that for my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange party, these would be the ones for 2018.  Today is the day and here we go.

Mix thoroughly 1 cup soft butter, 1/3 cup whipping cream (I used heavy), and 2 cups of flour.

Sunday Busyness - So Much Done.

Every now and then days are just plum full.  Today is one of those.

Mister has found a new coffee shop to start our day with.  It's always fun to explore our own area and this one is just right down the road a bit.  Called Houndstooth Coffee, I am eager to give it a try.  Sitting off to the side of a large complex, it comprises two buildings.