THANKSGIVING TABLE AND RECIPES

We've had a few days to digest the "white" food and carbs so I feel it just might be okay to talk about food...mainly, the delicious dishes we had at our Thanksgiving celebration.  I'm not so good at photographing food; you faithful longtime readers know that, so I'll keep those pictures at a minimum.  I decided to start with something pretty and that's the table I did that was just a bit different than the one I did for "practice" a few posts ago.  I had to make room for more guests so I just made a few changes.  The salad plates were removed at the last minute to become dessert plates.  I'm sneaky like that.  The napkins were on the plates.  Still pretty...just more practical.

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I changed the centerpiece out so we could see one another (Ha!).  I lit the candles early, too, (not seen here) so it was more comfortable when they burned lower,  I was able to get my hands on a big bouquet of flowers for $11 the day before and made several bouquets with them. I forgot to take pictures of the others.  :(

 I knew my silver was bad, but I kept plugging along with the idea that it was the patina that mattered,  I got wise, asked for advice and finally did the old soak in aluminum foil and baking soda.  Oh yes, a few splashes of white vinegar helps.  And then I polished each and every piece, all 80 of them, with Wright's Silver Polish (thank you, Mary).  You can see the difference from the top picture to the bottom.  I was just so happy, but boy, my hands were not happy at all.  I'm foolish.   I was just going to do enough for my place settings, then I thought it was crazy not to do it all since I was soaking them in big pans.  Well, whatever, I've recovered somewhat.  :)

I made the ever elusive apple pie (for me), and it turned out scrumptious.  Just not so pretty.  I think I'm going to move on to cakes.  If you turn your head to the right, that's a little heart I cut out.  :}

 

I absolutely adored this recipe.  Not too many people like Brussels sprouts but I do and it wasn't until recently that I learned of all the ways you can prepare them.  This recipe seems involved but don't let the steps fool you.  Bits of panchetta, Gruyere cheese, all melted in a smooth white sauce and poured over blanched Brussels sprouts.  Seconds anyone? Here's the link...keep this in mind for a Christmas side dish.  We loved it!

I went last minute shopping at a new grocery store that has a great cheese and wine department.  I decided to choose a few cheeses, some I've never tried.  This is a goat cheese with  Bosc pears in the center.  Heavenly!  It really is cool for me when my family tries new things.  And they did!  In addition, my son's fiancee, Deirdre brought a plate of cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon...seriously delicious!!  Just neat to try different foods.  

I had a nice variety of cheeses...Wisconsin Farmhouse Cheddar, Provolone, Blue cheese...and a few more.  An assortment  of crackers and some fruit; pears, apples and red grapes.  I really loved how our guests stood around the island and tried different combinations.  It made me happy that something so simple and easy made them smile. :)

This is a recipe that I have to share...it really was a great hit and so simple. You can do it ahead and it makes a pretty presentation.

1)  Cook 7 pieces of bacon.  Drain and set aside.

2)  Drain off all but 1 T. of drippings and saute 2 T chopped garlic cloves for one minute.

 3)  Beat 2 8 oz. cream cheese (softened) until smooth.  4)  Beat in 1/3 c Half & Half.

Stir in bacon, 1 t garlic, 4 oz. blue cheese, and 2 T chopped chives.

5)  Spoon into a small baking dish and bake at 350 for 15 minutes (you can refrigerate and do this prior to serving).    Sprinkle the top with 2 T chopped walnuts before serving with crackers and/or fruit.

It never ceases to amaze me  when I win a giveaway.  In my six years of blogging, I've been so fortunate to win so many.  And I recently won this bounty after joining in at Top This Top That blog.  Sponsored by Mary Kay Cosmetics and BlogHer, I won a bunch of Mary Kay products, from make up brushes to lipsticks.  And the big one was a $100 Visa card.  I am beyond belief!!  How did I get so lucky?  I love the cosmetics of course, and it's going to take me awhile to figure out how to use the card.  Thank you so much, Laura!!

The last time I posted I mentioned a blogger whose photography I so much admire.  And I also admire so many of you ladies that love the photography/writing connection...I think you know who you are.   Sylvia not only takes the most stunning photos, her writing is outstanding and I totally get "lost" in her posts.  I am absolutely mesmerized by the way she weaves within her photos... her stories.  Please pay her a visit.  And have a look at her cards, all graced with her beautiful, rustic pictures.  I recently won a giveaway from her, five of her holiday cards  Do me a favor...visit Sylvia, it would mean the world to me.

And that's all I have.  Tomorrow I'm helping my daughter Emily get some of her Christmas decorations up, and on Monday she will help me.  I'm just doing a bit at a time...our "live" tree won't come until the second week of December...that's when I get in the festive mood!

I'll get back to you on the bathroom and office reveal...The Husband is slow going on getting the office in order and I haven't had time to take photos of the bath.  Much sleep needed here! :)

Jane xx

A FEW CRAFTS FROM MS. ALL THUMBS (AKA. BLONDIE)

Hello!  Lots happening in Blondieville and for that I'm grateful.  I've been stuck close to home with temps in the single digits and The Husband using my car (for long time followers, you know the situation of The Husband buying a sports car 6 years ago which you can't drive in cold wet weather, and he did that obviously, so enamored with said car that he failed to remember we live in the Midwest).  More on that later.  So...I was able to finish up some of those crafts I've been hinting at in my last few posts.  The first is a Mason jar (in this case Kerr), filled with faux snow and a votive candle and then dressed up a bit for the holiday season.   I want to thank Jennifer at Town And Country Living for the inspiration. 

The fun in trying ideas you find on blogs or Pinterest is that you can fiddle and make them your own...I found this true with the embellishments.  Some shiny snowflake garland and ball ornaments, some string in red, white and green.

Some hints from me:  I find purchasing Mason jars in the summer and early fall to be the most economical way to do it.  Especially at grocery stores, Walmart and some drugstores like Walgreen's and CVS.  THE best prices around.  If you can't do that, they are sold at Michael's and Hobby Lobby for just a bit more and a few more choices in size.  Secondly, the votive candles were found at Michael's, 12 in a pack for around $8.  Once they burn down, pop them in the freezer for 5 minutes and the old wax will poke out with a knife and you can then re~use them with another votive or a tea light candle.  The artificial snow is from any craft shop as well.  In a nutshell, or Mason jar, fill 3/4 with the faux snow.  Tuck a votive candle jar in the center, pushing it down as far as possible.    Using a teaspoon (or even a small funnel or handmade paper cone), fill in around the candle with the snow.  Any excess that falls in the candle can be scooped out with a small spoon, yet I didn't find it to be flammable.  But don't take chances.  Since you don't want to mess up the "snow", use a long match stick or lighter.    And you can just keep re~using these as much as you want!! :)

Another Mason jar idea came from Yvonne at Stone Gable.  God knows I've gone through tons of Epsom salts in the bath with my bad back, but I never noticed the sparkle (maybe not through my pain!).  So in this case, take your Mason (Kerr, empty pasta jar...no matter), and spread Mod Podge over it with a small spongy applicator or paint brush.  MP is like a glue that dries clear.  Spread it on evenly, not too thick yet not too thin.  Pay careful attention to the very bottom of the jar which you might miss as it curves under.  Go just up to the the top and not over the ridges near the lid.  Fill a small bowl with the Epsom salts, hold that sticky jar  by the rim over it and just spoon the salts over... covering evenly.  Voila!  Snow covered jars. 

Then  just drop one of those glass votive's in  and start the fun part: adding ribbon, fabric, sparkle, you name it.  Most of you girls know I'm a wanabee crafter.  I do not have a craft room.  I have a "craft basket", just a place good enough for some fabric, stencils, stamps, paint, ribbon and a few other random pieces from crafts of long ago.  For these jars, I took apart a small berry wreath from last Christmas and wrapped pieces of that around the tops.  Then  made little ties with drop cloth ripped into strips.   A miniature ornament makes them look Christmas~y. 

A peek at one last thing I'm not going to reveal until I have my Christmas decorations up.  I have a blogger friend who I love to pieces.  I have to credit this whole idea to her.  You might know that these little wood rounds are absolutely heavenly to play with...there's a multitude of things you can use them for.  With the help of The Husband, who drilled small holes in a few for me, and the old reliable stamps, I have the makings of...well something, and I'll share that soon (along with the proper links).  

Beside the crafting, I had a great light bulb moment in how to deal with my ever~expanding family...you may be in the same predicament and find my ideas useful.  Be patient, at least for a week or so!!

I was able to hook up with a friend of my daughter in law's to paint our office and main bath. The Husband and I would rather clean the gutters than paint, although between this and the lakehouse, we've done our fair share over the years.   You might remember me saying that the office was a beautiful shade of paint that should have been named "Canned Peas".  I don't think I have a 'before'.  It's a very tiny room, it only holds an "L" shaped glass desk and would benefit from some shelves or other type of storage,  but to be honest...I want to keep it simple.  A small (dinky) space for our computer and printer and a place for The Husband and Abigail to have privacy to work is just fine.  I'm also adding a more "feminine" spin on it...more to come.  The paint isn't even dry yet!!  She did the bath also as I said, I have to put the finishing touches on that and I will share.  

Life has been so chaotic.  I wrote previously that my hair girl (also my DIL's sister) had baby Margot, October 25th.  And what a doll she is!  Anyway, Katie last did my highlights the first week of October and then took a maternity leave and I'm first on her appointment schedule December 6th.  Ugh...talk about a head of brunette/gray roots!  I've been wearing headbands and knitted caps when I go out.  Do you know I'm covered in freckles?  Must be all that Irish in me.  And oh yeah...this is definitely a selfie of me trying to look glamorous!  Ha.  Not your everyday Jane!

With the crafts, you must think my feet are firmly planted in December.  Before you put that Scarlet "C" on my sweater, know that I have The Turkey!  For some reason, if I know the bird is in the house (or the  ham for Easter), I rest easy.  A short story:

This morning my son in law Mike stopped by and we all had coffee.  He asked about the Thanksgiving plans.  I said...well, I have the turkey.  Abby  bolted upright and said, "Where is it at?"  As if I had it in the backyard...we all laughed.  But The Husband and I know where this is coming from.  His clients are very generous, especially at holidays.  One year, when the kids were very small, one his clients, an older Illinois farmer, gifted us with two pheasants that he had hunted down (no, not a fan of that but I was gracious).  Before a small pre~holiday gathering, I defrosted the tightly wrapped birds I had kept in our big freezer in the basement.  Although I had made various types of fowl and game (and no, totally am not a fan of any of it now), I wasn't prepared for the feathers as I unwrapped the newspaper and then plastic.  Yes, lots of feathers, adhered to the birds if you know what I mean.  My little ankle biters heard my screams and then ran out of the kitchen in horror after seeing them.   "What am I going to do?" I wailed to The Husband.  He countered with, "We have to figure it out, Ed has to know we appreciated his gift!"  So we did a little research on what was then a very ancient and limited Internet.  Our choices were to do the boiling water method to pluck the feathers...or the hot wax method.  Oh, dear God.  So aware of wasting food when there are so many hungry people in the world, well, it was a hard decision. We had no choice but to dispose of the pheasants, and have a lovely lasagna for our dinner party.  We wrote Ed a note that the pheasants were wonderful. Gorgeous feathers. Gulp.  And that was that.

I may pop in before Thanksgiving.  I'd like to show you how the bathroom and office turn out once I get them jazzed up.  I hope you like the crafts.  I'm all thumbs as you know, I just like to brag a little when I have the opportunity! :)  I also want to introduce you to a blogger friend of mine that has the most exceptionally written posts and photography, and is now offering cards of all sorts that I think you would love to have a peek at.  Can't wait to share that,

Jane xx

Joining Thoughts From Alice, Dwellings From The Heart Of The Home, Inspire Me Monday & Cozy Little House.

THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE & MANTEL AND MEETING A BLOGGER/AUTHOR!

Would you believe it's 18 degrees here in Chicago?  And we are supposed to get down into the single digits as the week goes on. Brrrr...and in my area, there has been very little snow so it's like we just went into a deep freeze with none of the beautiful white stuff to make it worthwhile.  At least it's happening now, maybe we will have the milder temps around Thanksgiving so all the guys can have that annual football game before they eat 3000 calories of carb laden food!

I did this tablescape last week before we took the Arctic plunge (you can see my door is open).  I'm just fiddling with ideas for Thanksgiving.  We will be having eight for dinner and then I'm not sure how many in the evening for wine and dessert.  So you see, a lot will be edited from this picture if we want our forks to go from plate to mouth!  

Daughter Emily was working on a client's home (redoing the decor in the living room/dining room) so I tagged along when she had to do a little shopping.  While at Pier 1, I strolled through the dish section and they had the most stunning tables set for Christmas.  Oh my gosh, the sparkle!  I think I mentioned before that I read that sparkle gives off the essence of luxury...really, at least psychologically.  No matter, I think it's beautiful!  What really got my attention was how they were clearing out Thanksgiving items already!  I picked up these salad plates at 10% off and there were many sale items everywhere.  

I am using my everyday dishes from Ballard Design, that are really showing the chips.  And old mismatched silver that has to get a good polishing before the big day.  The brushed antiqued chargers were a sale score from Sur la Table and may still be on their website.  I used a scarf for a table runner and a few candles here and there.  

Can you see the little green pumpkin on the right?  My sweet friend Jody from Rooted In Thyme makes the cutest pumpkins and I recently acquired a few.  In the pictures above see if you can spot the green velvet one and another in orange knit.  As a really nice gesture, she threw in a little sock snowman!  Please visit her blog and Etsy shop.  Her stuff is so cute and creative! :)

Before I even played with the table, I changed up my mantel mainly by paring it down as much as possible.  This will help me when I change over to Christmas.  I think I just added that vintage plate that I've had forever.

I still have the banner from Carol up.  I went looking for the "Thankful" banner I made last year and somewhere, somehow, the "l" fell off! lol! I have to locate the stencils and get to work!  Carol's banner is timeless. :)

I was able to drag The Husband out Saturday to a big craft event put on by Three French Hens.  It takes place about an hour southwest several times a year.  I went once many years ago.  It's much bigger now, set up in four different buildings and outdoors, much like a French market.  There were a lot of vendors with vintage items.  And there is nothing better than Christmas vintage!

I felt like I was walking around in a trance trying to take it all in.  It really was a magical sort of North Pole from 60 years back!  And I was a very good girl, I think all I bought was an evergreen swag for my front door.  The Husband was like a maniac running around buying up all the homemade jams and pies and cakes!!  He was like a kid in a candy store weighed down with his bags.  Ha!

I had the pleasure of finally meeting this girl who I have "known" about since I started blogging.  Jennifer Rizzo is one creative and successful blogger and she just had a book published.  She was there signing them and meeting and greeting people.  Is this not a dream come true for Jen?!   She has an Illinois blogger get~together every spring and for one reason or another, I've never made it.  This was so cool!

Her book is chock full of DIY Christmas crafts and ideas, and the photos are unbelievably inspiring.  You just want to curl up in front of a fire and make plans for the best holiday ever.  

Several blogs I've come across  have been raving about this book and I heard it flew off the shelves at Amazon.  Better grab one while you can and you might want to get an extra as a gift for someone you love!  Thanks, Jennifer, I know we will meet up again!

Again, thank for all of your well wishes.  My cast comes off tomorrow and I'm feeling pretty good.  Still using up those veggies I chopped...tonight it's vegetarian chili!  I'm going to fiddle a bit more with the tablescape and I actually did start two different Christmas crafts and I'm tweaking and working on a third. I'll share next time.  I just polished off two big mugs of green tea while I wrote this and now I may just snuggle under a throw with the dogs before I start dinner.  Have a great week! :)

Jane xxx

Joining parties at Cozy Little House, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, From My Front Porch To Yours, and Rooted In Thyme.  

FIGGETY, FIG, FIG, FIG

II am going to tie up our little trip to Asheville with a few great pictures I took while shopping.  Then will probably whine a lot about other things happening in my life.

We visited the town of Blowing Rock about 2 hours away.  It was THE most incredible trip of my life.  The mountains, the valleys, the colors...looking out the car window at the side of the road a few feet away that dropped off a few thousand feet as we rounded curves.  The Husband and I were in such awe we couldn't speak.  Seriously.

The town didn't disappoint either, everything was dressed up in  Christmas finery and I really loved that.  Is the first week of November too early for Christmas displays?  Not on your life.  It's not yet hectic, the sales people are happy and bustling, everyone is humming along to the carols they haven't heard in a year.  I just love it.  I suppose pictures like this make you wonder, the overabundance of holiday decor.  You have to work hard to keep the "want, want, wants" from going through your head.  And I find it a bit ironic how we have veered toward nature and the rustic/simple sort of look in decor, and then you see it, heaped upon heaps!  Far be it for me to criticize after buying faux acorns!  So, just as you stood in front of the candy counter as a child with your nickel in hand, you just choose a few things and that will be enough.  No, I haven't taken the pain killers today.  Yet.

I love these sort of little town gift shops, they have the most unique items.  I adore these little guys, just unusual and I believe I have a scarf like this somewhere! :)  But I knew those twiggy little legs would never make it home in my luggage.  

This guy was precious.  Part deer/part fox?  And are those socks?  I really wanted him, too.

And the ideas you come away with.  I've always loved seeing what bloggers do with the vintage mantels and fireplace surrounds they find.  This would make a believer out of me!  The Husband's eyes lit up when I asked if he could cut the wood for something like this...you know we have the wood!

Shopping makes you work up an appetite.  This is my version of a sandwich I had in a restaurant, I had a picture of the original in my last post.  Good bread toasted a bit, some hummus, sliced avocado, tomato and sprouts.  And for those of you who made it or want to, I forgot to mention the red peppers.  Ouch!  I served it with sliced Honeycrisp apples to keep it healthy.  The Husband and Abby enjoyed it, although he had a little pile of avocado left on his plate, and she had picked off her sprouts.  ^^

I've always been curious about figs...what they tasted like, what to do with them.  Of course we had Fig Newtons when we were children, at least in my case I smelled them and turned away in disgust, but I think they are being re~vamped.  So in a neat place called Strada, I ordered these as an appetizer.  Figs stuffed with Goat Cheese, wrapped in Panchetta with a Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Very, very good!  Don't let the picture make your mind play games.  And then Monday night, Emily had us over for dinner and she had an appetizer plate of Pepper Jack cheese, crackers and a fig jam.  I think I am ready to enter to world of Fig Recipe Experimentation.  

We never went horseback riding.  The morning we has planned to, we woke up to some drizzle.  The Husband looked sadly out the window and said, "Jane, I'm afraid the trails will be too muddy for the horses."  I nearly spit out my coffee.  I'll let you in on this.  Everyone in the family knows The Husband is afraid of horses (although he vehemently denies it).  As the story goes, they won a pony in some sort of county fair when he was a young boy, and they kept good 'ol Rocky on his uncle's farm in Indiana.  We've heard many stories about Rocky over the years, but none involved riding him.  Oh, we ask, but The Husband hedges around about it.  There have been other clues and we are all pretty much tired of teasing him about it.  Every once in awhile he comes up with a plan to go horseback riding and it never fails, we never do!  So, on this "terribly sloppy" day, we instead went to a wildlife and nature center.  It was not only beautiful in the fall, I was up close and personal with black bears, wolves and coyotes.  I actually took a video of a conversation I had with a wolf and I was going to put in on this post, but alas, I said a bad word as I often times do when I see something that surprises me, and I couldn't delete it.  Sigh.

We arrived home early Saturday morning.  On one hand I was miserable getting up at 2:30 in the morning to catch the only direct flight that day, but to be cozy in my own bed with my dogs at 8:20 a.m. was heavenly.  As most of the country is involved in this polar vortex hullabaloo, I thought I'd show you how Layla deals with it.  If she could just crawl under that radiator, she would.

Okay, on to the meaty stuff.  I am so miserable I could cry!  For the past two days I have wondered how to write my next post, what viewpoint to take, do I describe my agony or just fluff over it?  So...with my two poor, stiff index fingers, I will just let the words flow.  This last surgery was hell.  I don't know why.  How can your hand be numb and still painful?  My fingers were swollen and turning blue.  And then yesterday was worse because the numbness wore off and it was just real pain.  And of course, the pain pills give me a headache...how ironic and just my luck.  This cast is bigger and bulkier than the one I had on my right hand a few weeks ago, making it almost impossible to even peck on the computer.  Since my right hand is still healing and pretty weak from not using it, it just doesn't pick up the slack for the left hand (oh, did I mention, I'm left handed?).  So, I'm learning to use a fork and spoon with my right hand, forget scissors, speaker phone only, no texting.  No driving, online shopping but I've answered a few emails and visited a few blogs I follow by email,  And I made a salad for dinner last night only because I spent two hours the night before the surgery cutting and chopping 10 pounds of lettuce, celery, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli and onion so we could eat for the next few weeks.  

I feel really bad because right now I have a lot of friends and some family members that are not well, and almost all of them in worse shape than I.  I'm not trying to play the martyr but I have a keen sense of guilt.   I walk that tightrope where I lean into the Superwoman side, and back over to the Pity Party side. 

Many years ago I had a friend who had just given birth to her fourth child in 6 years.  One day she came over and slumped in a kitchen chair and said, "I'm sorry, I try to make it look easy."  I nearly slapped her!  All this time she was my Mama Hero.  I was going to have ten kids because she made it look like a breeze.  No matter that the only time I got away from my kids was when I was in the hospital having one.  

So, I've been honest.  It has taken me almost 3 hours to do this post and I really didn't want to at all.  I actually want to lie in my bed in my jammies and probably will.  I may take a pain pill with a Tylenol chaser.  Salad again tonight with a different dressing?

Before I forget, someone asked me if I could send some of my Morning Glory seeds that I offered and I'm so sorry, I forgot who you are!!  Please email me again, and if anyone else wants some, I have plenty.  :)

I am planning to perk up and get into the swing of the holidays.  I have actually made a few craft things, and have a really pretty Thanksgiving tablescape all figured out in my head, so please, have faith in me, I will be back to "normal" soon!   Thanks for your well wishes!

Jane xx

LOVING ASHEVILLE

I keep an app on my phone that gives me the weather...not just in Chicago, but at our lakehouse  as well as Asheville.  Oh, and Cupertino, wherever that is.  I love seeing how it's 85 in January there while we are in the single digits.  Helps me be a silent martyr.  But anyway...we are in Asheville, N.C. at our condo and I am so loving every minute.  We are really lucky to have gotten here twice this year.  And they had a pretty substantial snowfall Friday, it was still here and slowly melting when we arrived Saturday night.  I took these snaps Sunday morning when we went out for brunch.

Look at those skies!  We have been to Asheville now about 5~6 times, the third time was the deal breaker and we knew we had to invest in property here.  And to get to use it...priceless!  We have always come in the spring, in fact, I can't remember a time that The Husband and I have ever taken a vacation other than in the spring.  It just works out that way.  Lake time is a frenzy all summer long and then the holidays seem to spring up out of nowhere.  By April or May we are ready to climb out of our skin to get away.  What I'm trying to say is that I've never been here in the fall.  It's a whole different sort of beautiful.  There isn't that sort of hazy atmosphere that we have in the Midwest this time of year, in fact, everything seems very focused and clean cut, sharp.  Can you see that in the above picture?  The temps have been in the mid to high 

sixties, but we had warm clothes from our trip here from Chicago, which wasn't much better.  

It has been sweater weather and perfect. The worst thing, the time change.  Chicago is an hour behind and then we set the clocks back so we were two hours behind and actually, we just don't know who to believe right now.  We are on "No Time"!  ;-)

  I love trying new foods away from home.  We had brunch Sunday morning at the Grove Wood Cafe.  Adjacent to it is a museum and gallery of artisan's works.  There is SO much talent here.  Anyway, I ordered a sandwich consisting of hummus, avocado, tomatoes and sprouts.  The bread was made here and it had bits of dill in it and was slightly toasted.  The Husband laughs at me, I whip out my phone and start tapping in ingredients and notes (back in the day I kept a notebook and pen in my purse just for these moments).  Of course I can get this at home, it just seems different far away, I guess I want to recapture the feeling by making it in my own kitchen once the trip is a memory.  It was really, really good!  And we loved the gallery.  I picked up two Christmas gifts.  Yay!

I've been here with my Asheville blogger friends before and this time I thought I would share it with The Husband.  One thing, a beautiful thing, is that we both love exploring antiques stores and flea markets.  I think he actually loves it more than me.  This is a really cool place.  Clean, spacious, very original pieces and even furniture (as in new).  It's almost a gallery of sorts.  Lots of garden items outside.  The Husband fell in love with two old chippy, rusty wrought iron settees and truly wracked his brain on how to get them home.  The woman manning the counter wasn't really familiar with the ways of the U.S. Postal Service, or UPS for that matter, so we let it go.  I have to admit, I never knew we shared an affinity for this sort of stuff.  Am I rubbing off on him?  When the day comes that he brings home an old olive bucket or some antlers, I'll know he's a convert.  

This is one huge tobacco basket that someone wove pieces of metal into.  It was quite interesting...just thought you might like to see the variety of of offerings they have here.  

And this is what I came away with...no, not the whole darn thing!   You may want to tap on the picture to enlarge it.  These are little painted metal sculptures of bluebirds, cardinals and owls.  They are on hangers that then have a spring and  then the  critter, so they sort of spring up (as in boing!) and bob around.  I love them!  At first I thought Christmas ornaments, but I must admit, the cardinals look like they could eat the tree if they so desired.  Then I thought how cute they would be in the summer hanging from lower branches of a tree...so, they are going to be multi~functional!  I just bought a few birds, the owls give me the creeps.  

We can't come here without hitting Tops For Shoes. It's a great shoe place but nothing out of the ordinary, just sort of old fashioned service that we love and miss these days.  I just happened to discover that they sold "Toms" shoes and my girls are great fans.  I love them (and they do, too) because for every pair you buy, a new pair is donated to a child in need.  But this always turns into a circus...they text me the ones they want and then,  there are all the variables that go wrong; the size, the style, the color...so I stand around the store looking like a nit~wit on my cell phone, like, "Wow, the broad can't get off her phone long enough to look at shoes."  Never judge a person on their phone, unless they are in a vehicle or blocking your way in Target.  So Emily is done, Abby I will get later and I found myself a pair of comfy (finally) Hunter's.  I bought Abby a pair two Christmas's ago.  They are solid rubber and you have to have a lot of cushioning via thick socks and/or liners.  We nailed that (we wear the same size) but because we are short, thus short legs, the tops would dig into that "behind the knee" area.  Anyway, the Husband and I have plans to go to a nature center Thursday or Friday and do some horseback riding so I picked up a pair of mid~calf Hunter's and I believe Abby and I will be good to go in the nasty weather this winter and spring.  And I would recommend to anyone that isn't cleaning out a barn, go for the mid~calf.  

My guy and I are fun shoppers.  We should do this for a living.  We go up and down the streets (in any town/city we are in), browse through store after store, and about every 2-3 blocks we duck into a bar and have a drink and sometimes split an appetizer.  Rinse and repeat.  The Husband loves this pub, Lexington Avenue Brewery. or LAB.  They have a great appetizer...Green Chili Pork Nachos with red beans, Queso blanco and scallions.  Notes, notes, notes.

We had plans, and we so looked forward to meeting Mary and her husband Bob from Raleigh.  Good friends that I met through  through blogging three years ago when we first came to Asheville.  Last May when we wove our way from D.C. through Virginia, we took a little detour to Raleigh and spent an evening with them,  So it was just the icing on the cake to meet up with them again here.  They already had plans to be here but also accommodated  us.  We met at The Lobster Trap, a very casual place right in town.  These are fun pictures.  Bob and I ordered the Cioppino, and like ribs, we were given bibs!  So here I am helping him prepare for our feast.  Cioppino is also known as "Fisherman's Stew".  A somewhat thin tomato based broth with an abundance of clams. oysters, shrimp and various white fish, as well as a few veggies.  Lots of crusty bread help soak up those juices.  Hungry?!!  The Husband and Mary had the salmon which looked outstanding.  We were quite happy and content after this feast!

Bibs intact, we await our dinner!

We had a ball, laughing and talking.  It is such a unique and amazing thing to meet a blogger (and in this case their spouse) and then get together several more times.  There is a short history and still so much to know about one another.  I have such an affinity with Mary, and Bob is just one of the  most happiest, upbeat,  and ever jovial person all around.  You just can't help but smile when you re in his company.  

After dinner Mary and Bob came back with us to our condo, our "home".  Now this is what makes a house a home.  Friends.   I can't decorate, although I may buy fresh flowers.  This is a "hotel" of sorts and all the units must be uniform and furnished by the management.  Even though we "own" our space, that's just the way it is.  Then again, we have maid service everyday! ;-)  So I happened to have some apples and cheese in the fridge.   We had some wine and a fire going and it was fun and happy and most of all, I felt truly AT HOME here in Asheville for the first time. 

I've been rambling a good long time here now.  We relaxed today reading, watching TV and I made lunch.  We generally eat just two meals a day,  I have some basics...cereal and bagels for breakfast, and then we make do with a small snack and dinner out.  Or we have a breakfast here and then a lunch out.  I've made simple dinners  a couple of times.  We really live here.  You do not want to know what we pay for our rental car,  You have to cut corners somewhere.  

There is a small area of shops practically within walking distance of us and we hit them early this evening before dinner.  Chico's, Coldwater Creek, J. Crew and my fave...Williams & Sonoma.  I have to say my shopping has been quite light.  I just don't have room in my bags.  Almost everything I've picked up are gifts...some for Christmas, some not.  I can't hide gifts from my kids...I give them away early at least until Dec. 1. :(

I spied this pale, dusty gray/blue table runner at W&S and it was speaking to me.  Thanksgiving?  Why not?  Sometimes you just get a feeling.  And my mind is whirling with possibilities.  I can't wait to fiddle with some of my other linens and dishes to come up with ideas,  And of course find out who the heck is coming to dinner!  lol!

I miss my dogs!!!  I wish they could text me!  Jeff and Emily take turns coming and taking them out midday.  Playing with them for a bit... but I know it's just terrible for them to sleep all day with just that brief intermission til Abby gets home at 6 p.m.  And then she goes to bed early.  Emily came Monday on her day off and brought them to her house.  Now good 'ol Rusty is still quite a wild boy.  But Milo is older and wiser and doesn't tolerate much!  Tomorrow Jeff is going to take Milo to his house to hang with cousin Tulo.  Layla will have to stay home...Tulo is a gentle giant but she is terrified of him.  And Jeffery's  home is humongous, we might not find her for days!

Tomorrow we are getting up with the sun to take a day trip to a town called Blowing Rock, just under 2 hours away.  I'm so excited.  Not sure what to expect but I've been to the website and I hear it's a great town to explore, shop and eat.  I will tell you all about it the next time I come by.  We get home very early Saturday morning and I have much to do before my date with the doctor Monday morning.  Wish me luck. :)

I'm joining up with Stan and Jody at Rooted In Thyme for Simple And Sweet Fridays.  Please go and have a look at their Etsy shop.  She has the most beautiful handmade velvet and knit pumpkins.  I ordered a few today and I definitely plan on using them straight through December 1!!!

Jane xx