2016 ~Is just around the corner~

Best Wishes for the New Year~

Hope you all had a nice Christmas..

Not only did we have no snow for Christmas.. 
it got better..or worse ..depending how you see things..no pun intended.
On the 24th around noon..I  was in the car ..had the sunroof  open..listening to Christmas music ......trying to find the cool part of no snow for Christmas..like almost 70F..picking up the last of the mail..when howling winds arose..

.. we proceeded to have NO ELECTRICITY from 2PM on..
That's right Christmas eve..day and all night through till 4 AM Christmas morn..no power.
Nothing.
Thank goodness Frédérick and Caroline were the hosts..if anyone can pull off  Christmas dinner for 12..w/out power..it's them.He had decided  against a turkey this yr..wanted to switch it up w/ different cuts of lovely meats..thank goodness..
How Fred managed to cook duck,lamb,veal,etc..w/ a generator powering the toaster oven,some lights..very few..a tv for 4 active boys..he pulled it off w/ starmanship.
Their stove top is gas....not the oven..the BBQ was fired up..and the toaster oven for apps and my Duchess Potatoes.
We had candles everywhere..a disco battery operated ball that lit up all the ceilings..
It's  a Christmas..I won't forget for a long time..
An Iphone for Christmas music..Alain on guitar w/ Giu singing..
The streets were pitch black..no lights ..no trees lit up..no snow..
What can I say?
Counted my blessings to be with them.
And compared to real issues  as England is facing w/ floods and the southern states of the US w/ tornadoes..this is such small change..not even.

Christmas morn arrived  and everything  was back to normal w/ power..yet still strange sightings..the boys in their pjs throwing the  football on the  green grass.Du jamais vu.
Just like on Christmas movies filmed in California.
Un forgettable.
Brunch was done with a nice little variety of things including a great new salad..the only differences..I used feta..I had plenty ..and pomegranate seeds for Christmas..Keeper.
You have probably noticed the potatoes and salad came from a new to me this year blog that I love..Saving Room For Dessert.
I made a new quiche..I'll type up the recipe and share it soon..rich and decadent..we had chocolatines..clementines,yogurts,smoked salmon ,bagels,cream cheese, pecan praline bacon,kielbasa,..and Marie's fantastic Christmas Morning cranberry/white chocolate muffins..keepers!
Thank you for inspiring me with these 3 new to me recipes girls~
All of them can be eaten all year:)

Our tree was the welcome recipient of treasured new ornaments.
With every passing year,the memories come out of the boxes..and tender thoughts are associated with each and every one.
♥

Any of you happen to catch the Christmas special of Call the Midwife? Sooo good.
I just love that show..best Christmas special.Always.

I am truly enjoying Shari Blaukopf's second Caftsy Class..the first one was on Landscapes,,the second is  on Sketching The City in pen and watercolor.
I have set up my easel in my craft room..and the light is nice for painting..learning many new things..she keeps her pen and brushes loose and lively..the opposite of me..so I am trying to get out of my comfort zone and it's not that hard...to get out of my zone..not to paint well:)..Yet.
I encourage you to look the classes up..the snow is starting here and winter is long.
I love painting..and I can't bake right now..we have leftovers.
Had the boys for a sleepover last night..all 4 of them and it went well..Bingo..Pictureka..coloring..snacking..movies.
I can tell time is flying by..as it was Max who read Noah and I our bedtime story at 11.30 PM..it's a great feeling to hear your Little read a whole book..so well..we wondered who would sleep in the middle..Noah assured us he doesn't fart :) LOL Jacques and I cracked up.
Out of the mouths of babes..
Jacques slept w/ Lucas and Oli..and as we always do the boys made up a family story before falling asleep.Oli was so tired he said a few lines and then  said ..that's it:)

See those marsmallows on one of my calendars?  All 4 boys liked this idea..I saw beauties here..took a shortcut and used edible markers on bought marshmallows..they are more than adorable floating on hot chocolate..beware though..you must slice the marshmallow in half or else they are top heavy..fall over and drown..I was crestfallen in front of 3 of The Littles..(my first trial)..halved they float perfectly.
Ahah..I am just adding this..this is how cute they look..my daughter took the rest of the bag home and offered hot chocolate to the kids playing w/ Noah outside..:)They make me smile:)

My hyacinths :) Makes me so happy to see something growing indoors..M gave me those for Mother's Day..I left them outside this summer..put them in the fridge..in August..planted them 2 weeks ago..
We had a touch of snow yesterday.. apparently..a lot tomorrow~

All the best for the coming year..Bonne et Heureuse Année~