A Snowy New Year's Eve in the East

A beautiful day for a wedding! It's all relative, but a December wedding begs for snow, and we're getting some today. With the help of my studio assistant, the bloghusband, we finished nearly 175 wedding programs this morning.

They turned out really nice, especially with the hand embellishments of metallic stars and glitter snowflakes, adding a touch of New Year's bling and pizazz. Now, I can focus on what I'm going to wear. As Wild Willy said, "the mall is open." He knows me well. Ah, the pressure. Be safe tonight. Happy New Year's celebrations.

New Year's Eve Wedding Program

While we will certainly miss the calm of our annual celebration on the vineyard, we are so looking forward to celebrating Lauren and Kevin's nuptials on New Year's Eve.  I'm making the final creative and editorial adjustments to their wedding program.

 

2010: Year of the Scalloped Potatoes

For all of my culinary accomplishments, until this week, I did not own a mandolin.  Having the time for pleasure cooking this week, I was hoping LeRoux, on Main St. in Vineyard Haven, would have one for me to purchase.  I was very surprised to see such a wide variety from which to choose at the store.  The prices ranged from $19.99 to $209.00.  I opted for the Kuhn Rikon model at $27.99.  In the last couple of days I've made scalloped potatoes and banana cream pie, both simplified by the use of the mandolin.  The potatoes were just OK, the pie was simply awesome.  It is my mission next year to make the best scalloped potatoes ever.  The mandolin is certainly one of those gadgets one can live without, but more than useful, it's fun, and gives your creations a professional looking edge!  

Boxing Day in Tisbury

The morning after Christmas is always so special.  Aside from being the blogsister's birthday, it's a day to just do nothing.  It was another magical Christmas celebration in our vineyard haven.  It's a simple life here on the island, and we had to make do with fishing lures and other island gear to to decorate our tree.  I particularly love the peace sign topper.  The gift-giving theme this year was "summer schlepping made easy."  The bloghusband and son received a beach dolly or cart with real fat wheels.  The design is supposed to ease the load on sand.  We have yet to find a solution for all the gear one must schlep to Long Point for a day of fun in the sun.  Hopefully, this Wheeleez product will do the trick.  While on that website, a similar cart, for use with a kayak, looked like an good gift idea, too.

Coco stopped by and was bearing gifts, also.  One of the many reasons to love this island is the creative and entrepreneurial people who live and work on the vineyard.  Coco's mom makes and markets yummy blends of sea salt, herbs and spices.   We were the lucky recipients of a couple varieties.

The blogson wants to grow up and be a DJ, now that he has nearly mastered his XBOX game from Santa,  DJ Hero.

The fire in the pot belly stove has been burning since our arrival.  I've been working on my needlepoint with the dogs at my feet.  We all enjoy the togetherness of one room living on the vineyard, even the teenager in our life.

A Perfect Snowman in Vineyard Haven

It was a so-glad-I-had-my-camera moment after a final round of Christmas shopping in town.

Everything Really Does Get Done

Time expands to what you need.  It was another day of scrambling to get things done, but everything really does get done.  It's been a killer pace.  In addition to all the holiday tasks and demands, I completed two major projects, the PTO January Newsletter and the graphic design and layout for Lauren's wedding programs.  It's been early mornings and very late nights.  Yesterday, while riding up to the island (still listening to Atlas Shrugged on tape) I dozed off several times.  Luckily, the bloghusband drove the whole way.  Today, we bought a tree at Morning Glory Farm, finished up the gift and grocery shopping, wrapped gifts, and cooked a fabulous dinner.  The island is very crowded, and Main Street was jumping today;  reminiscent of August, except for the tons on snow!  We're all looking forward to a relaxing week on the island.  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Accomplished Merriment

Shop for 44 gifts; 27 hours

Wrap 44 gifts; 3.5 hours

Cater dinner for 12; 8 hours

Clean up dinner for 12; 2.5 hours

Merry Christmas:  Priceless!

The extended family holiday celebration is officially behind us.  We had a lovely, white Christmas gathering yesterday with twelve of the fourteen family members in attendance.  Jeff and Amelia were stranded in Florida; flight cancellation victims from the weekend's major snow storm.  The bloghusband's four children have not been together since his 6oth birthday, nearly two years ago.  As we head into Christmas week, and prepare for an intimate Vineyard celebration on the 25th, we are truly grateful for all of the blessings bestowed upon us and our family.  It is my sincere wish that you enjoy the spirit of Christmas, and be reminded that hard work and sacrifice has it's rewards (if only in the eyes of baby Jesus and your own sense of accomplishment).  Amen!   

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

It sure is beautiful out there.  We have about eight or nine inches of snow on our deck and it is still falling.  Good luck to all the travelers trying to get in and out of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.  Be safe.

Amelia in December

The babe is growing strong! 

From Steph:

For those of you who haven't seen her in a while just thought I'd send this out.  She weighed 17 pounds 4 ounces today and they are very pleased with her growth!!!  Almost too much, they want us back in a couple weeks to make sure she is not gaining too much!

'Tis the Season for Creativity

Creativity is not only about finding that perfect gift for a loved one, it's about simplifying meal time during the Christmas rush and still being mindful of consuming nutrients.   Dust off the 'ol crock pot and fill it with steel cut oats and water before you go to bed.  Add some raisins, cinnamon and vanilla bean to the low cook setting and delight the family with nourishing and quick comfort food in the morning.  Add something special to the dinner party menu, with little effort, by slicing up some sweet onions and putting them in the crock pot to caramelize overnight.  In fact, I cook them on low for sixteen to twenty hours.  They get mahogany brown and are delicious with just about anything.  Finally, with all the treats over the next couple of weeks, think about using apple butter in your baked goods instead of some of the real stuff.  It is said that you can reduce the fat in a recipe by one-third without really compromising the taste.

Flat Belly Diet Cookbook

Thanks to the blogfriend, Patty in CA, for introducing me to this great cookbook.  The diet looks interesting, too, but the recipes offer a healthy and delicious variety for those serious about weight loss.