Winter Days

 I am enjoying these cozy, winter days.  I've been baking and cooking a lot.  Also, drinking lots of lattes and hot tea.  I recently added a slice of orange to my Earl Grey tea, and it makes it extra special.  The kitchen is definitely my happy place.  I love to feed the people I love.  

I feel like we are starting to get into a groove with homeschooling.  It's been over four months now, so I would say it is about time.  We definitely still have days that we both struggle, but it's better than it was in the beginning.  Charlotte will be back at her old school next year in a classroom setting, and she's very much looking forward to that.  It's a much better fit for both of us.  Although this hasn't been easy, I am so glad we were able to have this year at home together.  Very special, indeed.

No big plans for us this weekend.  We are planning to get out for a walk at some point.  I'm sure there will be cooking going on and maybe some cleaning.  I made homemade sourdough bread today to go alongside a lentil soup I'm making for dinner.  

I hope you have a great weekend, whatever you are doing.  Stay warm and cozy!

Happy New Year

 Hello friends!  I hope you are having a nice and cozy start to the New Year.  We have a full day of homeschooling planned today, but I wanted to stop in and say hello to everyone.  A dear friend made me the most gorgeous St. George's Cross quilt (we both share a love for England) and recently gifted it to me and I'm just thrilled with it.  It's so special and will be treasured for many, many years.   I also received a milk frother for Christmas and I am absolutely loving it.  I'm making oat milk lattes almost every morning now.  Such a special treat to start the day with.  I'm enjoying these chilly, winter days.  It's cloudy today and I have fairy lights sparkling in the background in the kitchen as I type this.  I'm also making a big batch of spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  Stay warm and cozy!

Lovely Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all safe and well.  We are getting excited for Christmas and I hope you are, too!  I can barely believe it's only five days away.  I made jam thumbprint cookies today and we are making gingerbread cookies later this week.  Christmas will be a bit different this year as we are all playing it safe and not gathering with family and friends and it makes me a little sad as I will miss our yearly Christmas Eve traditions.  It will just be the three of us and the puppy, of course.  We are planning to make filet mignon, fingerling potatoes, Cesar salad, and bread for Christmas Eve dinner.  My mom will be dropping off a cheesecake for dessert that she ordered from a little bakery in NY - I can't wait!  I do love a good cheesecake.  We are planning a nice and slow Christmas day with gifts to open, lots of coffee, and french toast for brunch!

What are your plans for Christmas this year?  I do hope it's a Merry one!!

All Things Christmassy

Happy December!  I absolutely love this time of year!  It's my very favorite, I think.  I am hoping and wishing for a cold winter, and snow would make it extra special.  I especially love it when we get snow around Christmas time, which is rare here but delightful when it does.  

We recently put our tree up and decorated the house for Christmas.  I'd still like to pick up a poinsettia or Christmas cactus for our dining table from Trader Joe's.  I've ordered new taper candles, which should arrive tomorrow.  I love candles, especially at Christmas.  I made my very favorite white chocolate cranberry bars recently, and let's just say they didn't last very long.  I'll be making another batch very soon!  I also want to bake Christmas cookies soon.  I'm thinking gingerbread and some sort of raspberry jam-filled cookies.  

So, what have you been up to?  Are you excited about Christmas?  Have you bought and decorated a tree yet?  Take care and stay safe!  Enjoy this wonderful time of year.  I hope it's filled with happiness and peace.✨

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Early October

Hello!  I hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year.  It really is my very favorite!  The weather has finally cooled off, the sky is bright blue, and the leaves are slowly beginning to change.  Oh, and we have pumpkins on the front porch!  Little Rosie is enjoying checking them out.

I recently made homemade overnight sourdough bread and I'm embarrassed to say I ate almost half the loaf the minute it came out of the oven.  I really cannot resist warm, freshly baked bread topped with butter.  I also made Ina Garten's pumpkin cupcakes with maple frosting and they were delicious!  Ina's new cookbook Modern Comfort Food is expected to arrive on Tuesday and I'm so excited to dive into it soon!

So, what are you up to?  Have you decorated for fall or been to a pumkin patch?  Anyway, I hope you are having a nice weekend.

Almost Autumn

Hello!  Just checking in to say hi!  The days are getting shorter and the evenings are getting longer which only means one thing - autumn is just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited about it!  I've begun turning on fairy lights and lighting more candles over dinner.  I also love being able to turn the lamps on earlier in the evenings.  We are promised cooler temperatures and lower humidity for the upcoming holiday weekend.  Yay!!  

We tried a new beer from Maine over the weekend and it was quite lovely.  I pulled out my felt autumn garland from last year and found it to be in a huge knot.  I'm still working on trying to get it out.  Unfortunately, I may have to order a new one from Paper Source.

I'm happy to say that little Rosie is beginning to enjoy car rides a bit more these days.  It will be nice to be able to bring her along on trips/day trips.

I hope you have a nice upcoming weekend!