Holiday shopping with purpose.

Tonight I got home and found this on my door step....


Seriously, shouldn't this be the motto of ALL the places we spend our money?

I found this shop Blue Q through another blog and fell in love with their philosphy and products.  They are based in Pittsfield Mass. and have been the largest private employer of individuals with disabilities in Western Massachusetts for over 10 years.  They design and manufacture all the items they sell.

This cute bag is made of 95% recycled post consumer material.



And I couldn't resist this mod-vintage cigar box to hold some of my most valued recipes.  It looks like the one my Grandma had in her kitchen back in the 1960's.



It's the perfect spot for all my handed down favorite recipes, well except for the pickles, that one is under lock and key!



I bought a few more items but they'll have to remain under-wraps as they are gifts, shhhhhh don't tell.

If you are looking for that unique stocking stuffer or a gift for someone you have no idea what to get, you may just find it at Blue Q.  


Holiday soda's from Cost Plus.
I hear corn popping, have a lovely evening all.

Cookie Exchange

Today I was up bright and early in preparation for my Cookie Exchange Brunch and it was wonderful.

Guests started arriving just before 10am, my breakfast strata had just come out of the oven, Brenda Lee was belting out Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and freshly brewed coffee was swirling in the air.



In the hustle and bustle of hosting, I simply forgot to snap photos of the parade of Christmas cookies that marched throughout my home in their holiday splendor.  There were so many wonderful cookies no two the same just like the lovely ladies who prepared them. 

We had snowflake sugar cookies, jam filled cookies, brandied chocolate lace cookies, ginger molasses cookies, fig cookies, traditional decorated sugar cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, chocolate sable cookies, crispy salted oatmeal white chocolate cookies and many, many more. 


A plate of "exchanged" cookies all ready to go home.  The cookie exchange is great because you only bake once and you end up with so many different cookies.


After brunch and exchanging cookies we continued the merriment and enjoyed Brandied Eggnog Snowman; complete with donut hole heads, aren't they just the cutest? 


Party favors: Circle Creek Home hand poured soap, and holiday fridge note pads.

I enjoy hosting this cookie exchange and I am so happy everyone had a wonderful time. 



Thanks you ladies, enjoy your cookies.

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas.

Ahhhhh, the Holidays are in full swing!  Our tree is up, complete with Maine Starfish Santa. 


This year our tree is loaded with memories as opposed to my usual "theme" tree. A few years ago I opted for a tree full of green, amber, gold, and a touch of leopard.   It has ornate flowers and feathers and it looks like it was on display at a fancy store.  It is a beautiful tree but this year I wanted an old school, traditional tree, the kind I grew up with. I loved decorating this year unwrapping ornaments I had not seen in a few years and remembering.

I found the first ornament my Sweetie ever gave me, ornaments from past travels and those given by family and friends. There are ornaments I bought with my Sister in Maine and ornaments I bought when Clyde and I surprised my Mom with an unexpected trip to San Francisco.

This tree is the kind that takes me back to being a kid and believing in the magic of Christmas, and it makes me happy.



Behold, the Christmas Village.



Complete with GIANT reindeer and adorable Basenji.


Oh yeah, in my Christmas fairytale village there is a Basenji awaiting a crackling fire or a warm lap.

So here it is the first weekend in December and that means it is my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange brunch.  Tomorrow at 10am my friends will arrive, full of holiday spirit, with four dozen cookies in tow to share.  We'll sip coffee, eat yummy food, chat about the year behind us, the holidays and the year ahead.  They will tease me about my Cookie Exchange rules and I'll take it in stride knowing all to well that everyone loves a challenge.  At noon everyone will pack up their assortment of four dozen cookies and return to the hustle and bustle of their day. 

Let the baking begin.


Who knew they made edible glitter?  That just makes my heart skip a beat.

Tonight I am baking, Crisp Salted Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate, recipe found here.



Oh my gosh, the aroma of these baking is heavenly, butter, brown sugar, oats and white chocolate.



Chocolate Sables are next........

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Maine ~ part 2. Memory Lane and a Lobster or two.

Oh how good it was to be home.

Memories... 

The town I grew up in has changed and while some areas look completely different, many are exactly the same.  Like the Rollodrome, it was the pre-teen hang out.

I remember waiting in the long line that gathered out front on Friday and Saturday nights.  We would wait, sometimes in the bitter cold, with skates slung over our shoulder.  We waited like Target shoppers on Black Friday, less the riots of course. 

Then the doors would open and we would skate for hours, under the disco ball, to the tunes of the 80's.  We would circle around and around on that gleaming wood floor, while the DJ spun, Come on Eileen, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Safety Dance and the rest of the Casey Kasem's Billboard Top 40 hits.  Then the vibe would slow down for Journey's Faithfully or We've Got Tonight by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton, oh the 80's were good, weren't they?  Next trip home I am so going skating at the Rollodrome.

Then we drove to Poland and visited the Summer Camp I worked at for three incredible summers.
 

I had an amazing experience at Tripp Lake Camp.  I never realized at the time how attached I had become to this magical place.  I still feel very connected to the property, the meticulous grounds, the dark green buildings, the people I knew there and the lesson I learned. 


Now it is owned by Joan Lunden and her husband, Jeffery Konigsberg, yet many of the directors I knew are still there.  I believe the key to TLC's success is the fact that the owner's have been incredibly detailed about continuing the same mission and traditions held there since the camp was established, in 1911. 


TLC pride's themselves on nurturing strong, confident girls with a deep sense of self worth.  This camp is amazing and the family they create is bonded forever. 
  

It looked exactly the same and while we only stayed for a minute or two, it was so good to be there.

Fall in New England...
As everyone knows, Maine has four very distinct seasons and everywhere we looked, Autumn was smiling back at us.  The air was cool and crisp with the earthy smell of fallen leaves wafting through the air.  


The sky in it's brilliant blue was a perfect backdrop for the vivid display of  Fall colors.  And may I just say, the Maple and Oak trees in Maine deserve a standing ovation.  Their final show of color is both breathtaking and graceful, and the fact that it is fleeting just adds to the beauty bestowed upon those who witness it.

Jen - this pics for you.

LL Bean and a Lobster lunch.
A trip to Maine is not complete without our usual trip to Freeport for a quick stop at L.L. Bean.

......and just in case you did not know, Lobster in Maine is everywhere:

Lobster door handles,



Lobster pillows,



.......and least you forget the Lobster Theatre,

 
"To eat or not to eat, that is the question".......

We ate, at our favorite lunch spot.



Behold the perfect Lobster Roll.


 and a Lobster Dinner.


and yes, it was delicious, right down to the last bite!!!


Final Maine post to come, Family, Pumpkin Carving, and more Lobster.

Maine ~ part 1.

It was 11 hours, from departure in Seattle to arrival in Portland Maine.  I am not the best traveler.  Vacations always begin with me working much longer than I anticipate and therefore running way behind schedule.  I always seem to underestimate the time involved in packing, dropping off the dog and preparing to head out of town.  This trip was no exception.  I arrived home an hour and fifteen minutes before the shuttle was scheduled to pick us up.  Clyde was dropping off Bailey and we both still needed to pack.  By the time the car service arrived at the door our bedroom appeared ransacked, my checked bag was four pounds over the limit and Clyde was asking me, "why I need 7 pairs of shoes for a 10 day vacation".  Ugh!!!!  

After re-packing a few items, grabbing my purse, and a few bottles of glitter nail polish, we locked the door and were off.  We arrived at Sea-Tac with an hour and a half to spare, the check in lines were short and we breezed through security.  After a few deep sighs, the stress of going out of town quickly adjusted to the excitement of going home and seeing family.  We took off at 10:55 pm, the weather was clear and although I was exhausted I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. 

I can't sleep on planes I think it the combination of many things, the dry air re-circulating through the cabin, the seats, and my nerves on overdrive.

After a comfortable layover and quick breakfast in Atlanta, we arrived in Maine about 20 minutes early. 

Luckily for me, my parent's are always ahead of schedule, obviously a trait that I did not inherit, and there was Mom standing at the bottom of the escalator.  She was cute, surprised to see us so early, and welcomed us with big hugs.   My Dad was right behind her with open arms and it felt so good to be right there at that very moment.

Thus began our trip home and let me tell you, Maine in the Fall is beautiful.

.....more to come soon.

Returning Home.

Tuesday Oct 17th Clyde and I took the red eye home to Maine.  This trip was long over due as we had not been home in 2 years.   The day was hectic and as each minute passed I was more excited to be spending the next 10 days with my family.  We arrived at Sea-Tac hurried and exhausted.  As I boarded the plane the anticipation of hugs, smiles, laughter and family reminded me that I really need to do this more often.

It was early morning when we arrived in Atlanta, for a quick layover, and I remember thinking just a few more hours.  I closed my eyes and pictured my Mom and Dad meeting us at the airport with open arms, happy to whisk us off to a long overdue family dinner that evening.

The flight was uneventful, the landing was smooth and I was anxious to grab a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee before we boarded the next flight to Portland.  As the plane approached the runway we double checked the pockets in the seats in front of us, gathered up our ipod, magazines and a now crumpled, half eaten bag of Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers.

As we taxied towards the gate a flight attendant came over the loudspeaker, “Welcome to Atlanta. Ladies and Gentleman we'd like to take a moment to thank our armed services who are flying with us today and we'd like to send out a very special thank you to Sgt. "..." who is accompanying one of our fallen soldiers home.  We have a special request to ask of you.  Please allow Sgt. “...” and our other soldiers to deplane first so they can continue to escort our fallen soldier.  We appreciate you remaining in your seats and as soon as the Captain turns off the seat belt sign, you may begin to deplane.”

As the plane came to a complete stop, there was no movement as the entire plane sat in silence.  Tears welling in my tired eyes I could not help but think of what it means for all of us  "returning home".  We all watched with honor and respect as a highly decorated Sgt. quietly arose from his seat, retrieved his bag from the overhead compartment and started walking off the plane.  Once he had deplaned,  about 10 other soldiers stood up, grabbed their backpacks and followed him off the plane.  The sight of this was overwhelming, and my heart just ached at the thought of a very different family reunion.  Heavy tears now running down my cheeks we gathered our own bags and walked, in silence, off the plane that had instantly become sacred ground. 

I have though a lot about that Soldier during the past few weeks and the soldier's whose job it is to ensure that every fallen soldier returns home.   

It is with great honor and deep appreciation that I say, Thank you, to all of our armed services, your dedication to this country is a gift.  May you all safely return home to the loving open arms of your families.

Halloween

I like Halloween.  It's a Holiday that brings back memories of home made costumes and those classic 1970's purchased outfits complete with the hard, thin plastic masks.  You know the kind, the ones in the box.  They were the ones with the masks that had a thin elastic string that fit directly across the back of your head.
 
Like this one.

I loved those as a kid, even though they never really fit that well.  It seemed as though five minutes after I was dressed, steam was building up inside the mask.   And dare I try to hold a conversation, well forget about it, the mask was hoisted up on top of my head so I could breath and communicate.  But oh how I loved those masks.

I still love a costume party and we have rocked some pretty fabulous costumes, but this year we are staying in.  We just returned from a trip to Maine and are still in the process of getting back to our daily routine. 

But costume or no costume, I still love the whimsy of this holiday and I decorated early to enjoy it.  Here are a few pictures of how I add a touch of Halloween to our home.


Spanish moss hangs on the chandelier.


I love these bugs.


I have a few of these guys.  My handmade candles add a nice glow.




This alcove above the fireplace is a great spot to decorate for any occasion.

So there it is we are ready for the spooks tomorrow night.  
Have a safe and happy Halloween my Sweets.

Farm to Fork Dinner at Circle Creek Home

Saturday night was over the top fabulous. 

As Summer gently stepped out of the way and welcomed Autumn into the Pacific Northwest, we were welcomed up to Circle Creek Home, for a farm to fork dinner, hosted by our good friends John and Brenda.   


John and Brenda's home and business are nestled on 16 breathtaking acres along the Pilchuck Creek.  This was the perfect backdrop for the incredible six course dinner prepared by Ryan Edwards, of Table 9, and his partner Mike.


Check out the farmhouse table, below, made from reclaimed wood, one of the many talents of John and Brenda.  You must visit their Etsy shop here, Circle Creek Home.  I'll dedicate an entire post to Circle Creek Home soon, their vintage finds, handcrafted furniture and hand poured soaps are highly sought after here in Washington and around the world. 


Clyde and I were the first to arrive, of the nine lucky guests fortunate to participate in this end of the season celebration.  Dinner was to be served, al fresco, on the covered deck and the table was beautiful in shades of white and blue.


As guests arrived we mingled and toasted to what was sure to be a memorable evening.


I love this fire pit and the chairs take me back to the Adirondack chairs I grew up with in Maine.


This vintage sign on the coffee table said it all.


First Course: Assorted Charcuterie, Roasted Peppers, Local Artisanal Cheeses, and Fig Jam. John in the background.


We laughed, we shared great wine and we enjoyed every moment.  Clyde, Brenda, and Jay.


Second Course: Artisan Bread, Tomatoes, Boothbay Cucumbers and Capers drizzled with olive oil.


Third Course: Local late summer Corn, house made Crème Fraiche with Cilantro Oil and locally foraged Mushrooms lightly warmed and served with a Thyme Brioche.  I loved my name tag set in a vintage flower frog.


OMGosh, if you could only smell this bowl, it was sweet and earthy and so very yummy, we all raved about the corn chowder. It was delicious and Timi could not bear to leave even the slightest bit behind.


The Fourth Course: Spot Prawn Ravioli with a sweet pea cream sauce, was wonderful, but somehow missed it's photo call.

Fifth Course: Slow Roasted Pork served with a Cauliflower Gratin and Creamy Parmesan Polenta.


With the sun now set and the hush of the creek in the background, we all settled around the bon fire for coffee and some good old campfire chit chat.  Ryan and Mike also joined us.


Sixth Course: John and Brenda made dessert in their vintage 1940's mini pie tins. What a treat!!!  Seriously, is this the cutest mini apple pie you have ever seen? 


My cup was not only half full but deliciously overflowing.  Artisan dinner with friends, foraged mushrooms, 1940's vintage pie tins, Adirondack chairs, amazing; and I haven't even mentioned the unicorns jumping in their apple orchard or the permanent rainbow that resides directly overhead.

Yup, I'd say Saturday night delivered big time with dear friends, great food and an evening that begs to be remembered. 

If you have the opportunity to attend a Table 9 dinner I highly recommend it, and if you ever have a catering event, contact Ryan and Mike, they will exceed your expectations. Click here for more information on Table 9.

Many Thanks to John and Brenda, and Ryan and Mike.