Fresh Love

A Quiet Good-bye...

As the trees slowly make their way back outside, one by one like a evergreen train, the house begins to fill with that early holiday scent of fresh trees and a faint hint of gingerbread. A trail of browned needles leading the way from each room prove as little footprints of a full and finished season.

The Christmas china is carefully pack in their bright red boxes and loving stored. As each box is placed securely in its yearly home, a sweet memory of times gone past make their way front and center and force a smile along side a little tear of love as it passes by the lists of today.

One by one the bowls of everyday make their way back home filling the shelves with their happy colors. They are quickly joined by plates & tea cups who also had been hiding out during the holiday season. The morning of New Years day alive with slight cheering of their return proved to be a perfect reminder that the season was coming to a close and a New Year had begun.

With all the excitement whirling a much needed rest was in order, along with some anti-holiday french fries.

Wishing all a very Happy New Year filled with the perfect balance of

Peace, Patience, Understanding, Joy, Inspiration and Love.

Traditional Love

There are a couple things that I like about traditions. Celebrating those time honored traditions that put me in a time machine and whoosh me away to smells and joy of times gone past seem to be a welcome staple of the holiday season. From Halloween to New Years, it's a whirlwind dance between the past and present. We have added a few traditions of our own along the way, as the children grow and tastes change.

This years tree snuggled in the corner with our traditional snowflakes gently floating above, were unexpectantly joined by large hand-cut snowballs & three glowing "icebergs" so affectionately named by the small hands that helped create them.

With the downstairs decorations taking their place, somehow a second, then third tree found their way upstairs, settling into a new home in the childrens bedrooms. They were quickily adhorned with lights, bells, ornaments & garland by the little person whom it had been so lovingly choosen by.

One of the long honored traditions was changend this year as we decided a grand Christmas Eve meal would free up our Christmas Day to play, mingle & enjoy. It's a big change, I know, but Beef Wellington, honey ginger carrots, rolls, green beans, cranberry salad & egg nog can certainly be enjoyed just as much the day after. The evening came to a close with a new dessert : Chocolate Pots de Creme.

With the heat from oven and stovetop busy at work quickly filling the home with familiar smells, the traditional triffle found itself next to a new favorite, Orange-Walnut Buche de Noel.

There is just something so satisfying about being able to balance the old with the new. Intermixing them together to create a beautiful song.