What I Got For Christmas III & The Super Bowl

As you know by now…maybe not…anyway, I love Polish Pottery. And with that in mind, my parents got me this beautiful platter for Christmas. It is gorgeous. And big…very very big. I didn’t have a Polish Pottery platter that size and I was coveting one. But I wouldn’t buy it for myself. It’s just one of those things.

As it so happens the pattern matches much of what I have already. I was thrilled!

And it’s big…really big. Big enough to hold this antipasta that I made for a party last week.

So if you are going to a Super Bowl party today and you don’t know what to bring, throw some antipasta-like stuff together and put it on your giant Polish pottery plate.

Speaking of Super Bowl…

Today…

we are…

rooting for the…

Saints.

Only kidding.

We’re a little bit restless today, maybe it’s a little bit of cabin fever from the blizzard the last couple of days. And maybe because the blizzard put a damper on just about all of our plans. It’s been quite a weekend. Anyway, I’ve made this for the Super Bowl.

Artichoke dip. None of the kids will eat it and the husband is – ahem – stuck somewhere (story later) so I guess I am going to eat the entire thing.

Easy artichoke dip recipe.

3 packages of cream cheese
2 cups chopped artichoke hearts
2 cups grated parmesan cheese

Mix together and bake at 250 for 15 minutes or until golden on top.

Go Colts:)

My Nepenthe Love

On this Love Thursday, I wanted you to see this.

This beautiful book came in the mail for me from Bob Towery over at Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday: My best abstract . I don’t know how we “met.” All I know is that I’m so glad we did.

How does someone, a perfect stranger, know me so well as to take the time to purchase a book at would so stimulate my imagination?

It’s filled with gathered families, recipes and beautiful photography. It makes me the bohemian that I want to be.

As stated on the front cover, “My Nepenthe is a story about food, family and the culture of place, and how it all unfolds around the table and why that matters.”

I swooned when I read it. It is precisely the life I want to lead and I want to lead it around the fire at Big Sur.

Thank you Bob, once again, thank you.

One of the things that gives me such great joy is to see my place linked from someone’s blog. Like from Shirley’s place, from Austin’s place, from Julie’s place, from Elizabeth’s place, and of course, from Bob’s Place. And I smile a little smile when I see a casual shout out like, “Puna if you’re out there, I can’t get to your site,” from Jane’s place. Like old friends having a casual conversation.

It’s a good thing. A wonderful thing. It’s My Nepenthe.

My Kitchen – Again

I know I’ll be accused of shameless braggadocio but I’m going to do it anyway.

I was sent a link yesterday from our kitchen designer, Mark White at Kitchen Encounters. Our kitchen is featured in Washinton Spaces 2009 Design Competition. Yahoo! I don’t know what that means exactly but here’s the link. You don’t have to look at just mine (again) but there are a lot of other very gorgeous kitchens there. You might want to give your eyes a treat if you need a break. I’m so excited to be in such good company!

Designing Twins

A little while back I had an email exchange with Kelly at DesignTies. We found that we had a lot in common, photography, Thai food and Dancing with the Stars. Then I saw her kitchen tile and I proclaimed that we were twins.

It’s the same as mine.

She says it’s not.

But I say it is.

It’s copper just like hers.

And it’s mosaic glass.

I just think so. Is it Kelly?

When I chose finishes for my kitchen, I picked out glossy cherry, matte zebra wood, seafoam green subway tiles and these copper glass mosaic tiles. And don’t forget the teak on the eat in counter and the black granite.  There is no rhyme or reason and obviously I didn’t want everything to “match.” I just liked all of it and I was confident it was going to work. And you know what? In spite of the reservations of my mother, my neighbors, the husband, and the designer, it worked and I love it.

So is it the same tile Kelly?

And Merry Christmas everyone!

Download “Christmas Time” For Free

Among all the craziness that is this season, there’s this.

“Christmas Time” was commissioned by Dana Clark to encourage generosity, selflessness and the true meaning of Christmas this season. The music is by my talented friend Dana Robinson. Her voice is angelic and goes right to your core. Her husband and my friend Jeremy produced the song. The CD was designed by another friend, Daniel Palmer, whose talents are limitless. He plays the piano on the track too.

I am so very humbled to have a small part in it. I was thrilled when Jeremy gave it to me last week.

It’s a free download at www.carolforacause.com. Then this morning, I saw this video as a tribute to our troops with Dana’s beautiful voice as a backdrop. I cried.

I can’t give one away. All the CD’s have been given out already but you can download it from their site for free. And after you listen to it, make a donation to the cause dearest to your heart. It’s what Christmas is all about.

Merry, merry, merry Christmas.

Black Friday & The Jobs Summit

I was curious to see what Black Friday would be like this year in lieu of what was happening in the economy. And lo and behold, this post is happening on the same day as the jobs summit in the White House. I didn’t plan it, reallly.

We (the husband, the boy and I) woke up early and braved the cold. The guys were kind of grumpy and quiet. Just thought I’d throw that in.

We went to the mall first. I always like to go to the JC Penny’s jewelry counter on Black Friday. There are always huge discounts on clearance jewelry. You don’t get the same deals at a regular jewelry store. I usually purchase jewelry for both my mother and my mother-in-law here. But it wasn’t any of the above so this won’t ruin the surprise for them.

I think I just gave away my shopping secret.

The media was out in full force, interviewing early birds like these ladies. I guess you have to have reindeer horns on to get interviewed.

It was actually a pleasant experience, it wasn’t crowded at all. And look at these ladies! I wish I was shopping with them…not that the guys weren’t a joy to be with.

I was very productive by the way. I found gifts for almost half the people on my list. The mall was kind of sparse, perhaps people were pulling back, hunkering down, waiting it out…I was thinking that perhaps the recession was really making a dent in the economy.

Then we decided to go to Target.

Oh boy.

Their flier said they had a terabyte hard drive for $59.99.

The line stretched in front of me, and behind me…

 

It stretched all the way to the back of the store. The poor last person in line had at least a three hour wait.

And I didn’t want the terabyte hard drive that badly.

I guess people couldn’t get enough of the Hello Kitty toasters.

The hypothesis about the economy’s weakness started to have a different outcome. Perhaps we aren’t so bad off after all. Understand, this is only an anecdotal observation.

I ain’t no economist.

We decided to leave and go to Best Buy. Perhaps they had a terabyte hard drive that was affordable.

But I saw this man with the End Of Line sign and decided once again…what terabyte hard drive?

And so we went to the book store. Ahhhh…the bookstore. No crowds whatsoever. Nothing but peace and quiet. And a coffee bar. It smelled nice too. What? No one reads anymore?

And there was no shortage of Christmas cheer. Just look at this man’s tie.

Another successful holiday shopping trip. See you all at the JC Penny jewelry counter next year.

Corner View ~ Patterns Of Home

 

This are treasures in my mother’s home.

A day late and a few dollars short with this post. Happy Wednesday on Thursday.

 

Anticipation

I’ve written before on how wonderful this  man is. Neighbor Kel is really handy. He can do just about anything.

One of the things he does really well is tile. He’s so careful, so detailed. I once posted a poll to see what you thought about the tile I chose for the bathroom. You hated it. So I didn’t ask a second time. Miss Shannon and I went shopping and we both agree on this chocolate tile with glass inserts.

And that’s final.

As it turns out, Neighbor Kel started a new job last Monday. A great job. A job he for which he has been waiting a long time. But the bathroom isn’t done yet.

How dare he?

So perhaps he can finish it when he has some time off, when the government and the aviation industry doesn’t need his expertise, when he’s done with his twelve hour day. I’m a patient woman.

I’m Hooked on Polish Pottery

I alluded to a love for Polish pottery a while back and while shopping at my local (or not so local, it’s pretty far away) BX a couple of weeks ago, I ran into some.

I said I would show you my collection but I don’t have any photos of those. I promise to take some soon. In the meantime, I’m showing you my friend Shannon’s collection. She moved back here from Belgium this spring. Before she left me behind in Maryland for fun and exotic climes, I showed her my own collection of Polish pottery and told her, “You have to get some when you’re in Europe!”

And boy did she ever.

This is her cute egg plate. I’m glad to have a friend in my neurotic love for pottery.

Polish pottery is made in well…Poland. There are many different designs but most are stamped on the bottom and easily recognizable. I have found some knock-offs which I think are just as pretty and I don’t mind buying those and using them as well.

But as Shannon found out, it’s awfully fun to be in Europe and shop. Awfully fun. I’ve never been to the factory that produces these but I hear it’s a great way to spend the day. I have a feeling I may pass out had I been there. The husband has returned to Europe quite a few times since we moved away from there and he has continued to bring me a few pieces here and there. I loved it.

This is Shannon’s beautiful Christmas piece.

I confess, I didn’t stumble onto this display at the store. Shannon told me about it so I went looking. I can’t help myself.

This is the patriotic collection, I love the stars on them.

Then I had an idea. Why not bring some of them home with me? Like this cute little cream and sugar set? A girl can’t have too much Polish pottery.

The thought did cross my mind but I had an even better idea. Next week, it’s my turn to host bunco. So I bought Polish pottery to give away as the bunco prizes. I’m a genius.

I know what some of you are thinking. Isn’t this stuff expensive? Well, yes, it can be. But once in a while, you run into a bargain. And I did so that day. I’m pretty persistent about some things.

Anyway, the bunco prizes that we give ourselves are as follows: one $10 prize, two $15 prizes, and two $20 prizes. I stayed on budget. I told you I was a genius.

This scalloped plate will be a $20 prize. I’m going to do my best to win it though I don’t think I  will have any control over the outcome since it’s all chance. No matter, I may have to mug the winner.

So in order to save the winner from potential violence from the hostess, I might have bought  myself that plate that the sugar and cream set is sitting on. Because my life would not have been complete if I didn’t have it. At least that’s what crossed my mind as I stood at the store and stared at it for a twenty minutes. You will also see more than the five requisite prizes in this photo. I have no self control whatsoever.

With all that being said, what is the best way to get your Polish pottery? Go to Poland.

I asked the husband when our plane left. He said, “Have another glass of wine Puna.”

A Hooked on Memory Mosaic

Update: The husband says there are NOT many luxury hotels in Lanai, there’s just two hotels and not many people. Now I really feel privileged.

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This week, I’ve committed to an exercise of restraint, starting with my blog. So I’m combining a few posts for people that I like to visit in the blogesphere all into one, the gifted Gayle for her Monday Memories, the wonderful Mary at Mosaic Monday, and the fabulous Julia at Hooked on Houses.

Then I’m tackling my diet with some restraint too.

My memory this morning is of our ten year anniversary. We spent it at The Lodge at Ko’ele on the island of Lanai in Hawaii. I remember it today because I was rummaging around in our basement and I found some Asian inspired furniture and pottery that I really should bring upstairs to show off.

The husband was a part of the local aeroclub. We rented an airplane and he flew the two of us from Honolulu to Lanai. It was so special. Lanai is the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands but it has beautiful scenery and many luxury hotels there. I felt so privileged.

The hotel was full of wonderful Asian inspired furnishings and I felt immediately at home. Before we left Hawaii, I bought some Chinese monarch chairs and an old Chinese desk because I was inspired by the furniture in The Lodge. The Chinese desk is now the vanity in our powder room, I’ll show you another time.

Even with the Asian interior, there was also a touch of colonialism and a plantation style in the manicured formal gardens.

The plantation style was particularly evident in our bedroom. The pineapple as a symbol lent continuity to that. The curtain was made of this dominant fabric and as tacky as it sounds, I looked all over trying to figure out how to sew one like it. Except that I don’t sew.

The one other thing that I took from The Lodge was the wood. The paneling, the banisters, and the stairs were all made of Hawaiian koa wood. If you have never seen koa wood before you should spend time seeking it out. The luster and grain of the wood are gorgeous. I wish I had a koa wood dining table…but I wish many things.

We did some hiking and it was about five miles to the edge of the mountain overlooking the channel between Maui and Molokei. I was giddy with happiness to be there. It felt so special and so private.

I spent most of last weekend with my neighbors here in suburbia and there was much fun to be had. But I admit, that I love these special once-in-a-lifetime events and I truly love my husband for giving me more than I deserve!

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