Christmasing

 

The countdown is upon us and all the Christmas preparations and lead up to the actual holiday are winding down.  I am getting excited to see family and especially my sweet granddaughter.  All the presents are wrapped and shipped, the food shopping lists are prepared for when arrive and our plans for Christmas week in Michigan are set.  It will be hectic as always, but so much fun too.

There have been festive breakfasts, lunches, cocktail parties and dinners with friends to get us in the holiday spirit.  It is always a different feeling in Florida, but no less festive with palm trees decked with lights and Christmas parades both on land and by boat.

I tried a new recipe this morning, thinking a could recreate one of my favorite cookies my Mom used to make, but they were not a success.  Ginger Molasses cookies that should have been chewy, were dry and crumbly. I have a lot of my Mom’s recipes, but couldn’t find that one, so I will keep trying.

And, I will leave you with the cutest snow bunny with pink mittens.  My daughter lives in an area of Michigan that is known for lake effect snow and they have already had a bunch.  Audrey will have so much fun growing up there. 

Happy Wednesday and one week until Christmas!

Hello December in Photos

 It was a week of Thanksgiving food prep including a pie crust I am pretty proud of and my famous homemade Cranberry, Apple and Ginger Chutney.  We drove a bit north of Tampa to my mother in laws in New Port Richey this year, so no big turkey to prepare for me. It was a nice change after so many years of hosting, but also a little sad too.  I do love a big holiday crowd.

My very full, beach inspired Christmas tree is up and I added some sparkle in a corner by the kitchen this year with this cute little flocked tree I found at Target.  I seem to shop at Target less and less, but do find something good now and then.  I also, planted some poinsettias at my neighborhood entrance for some holiday color.  This Michigan girl will never get over poinsettias planted outside in December.

Finally, we celebrated our anniversary (42) with lunch in Siesta Key.  It looks so great after being ground zero for Milton landfall just under two months ago.  Florida you are amazing!  And, I can say the same about my town too.  After a lot of clean up, Venice is almost back to normal, palm trees are decorated and the annual Christmas parade was a much needed lift to everyone’s spirits.

Bring on the holiday season.

Life Lately

 

Life has been good and busy and honestly, too busy to even remember to take photos to share here.  But, I am ready to get back to normal after the hurricane clean up and celebrate the holidays.  I feel like all of the Florida Gulf Coast feels the same way.  Hurricane season is finally over and our normal sunshiney days await for the next 9 months.

Since we returned to Florida from our trip to Michigan, there has been a lot of catching up, but also fun. Snowbird friends are arriving back for the season, so we have been out and about.  Golf and yoga are always part of my days too.  I hosted a dinner party and today, I am going to test a new crust recipe for my Thanksgiving pies.  

The most fun occurred last weekend when my daughters visited for a long delayed girls weekend to celebrate Melissa’s 30th birthday.  We had planned to go to the new Margaritaville resort in Ft. Myers, but the pool was filled with sand from the hurricanes and we ultimately decided to spend the weekend here at my pool.  I made them fun drinks, they got plenty of lounge chair sun time and we had a great night in downtown Sarasota with rooftop pre dinner drinks, a wonderful dinner at a new to us restaurant and post dinner martinis at a speakeasy type bar.    I miss them already, but luckily Christmas is very soon.

I am a big theatre geek and have seen Wicked three times on stage, so I did something I have never done before and went to see the movie by myself yesterday.  I knew I would have emotions and wanted to experience it on my own.  There are really no words for how good it is and how it paid wonderful homage to the play and to The Wizard of Oz.  During the iconic songs, I had both chills and tears.  Seeing it again, will be happening soon.

Happy Saturday!