Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

On Christmas Day in the morning

We did not see “three ships come sailing in”, but we could have – Christmas morning was clear. The sun rose into a blue, blue sky and although there was no fresh now, the slushy stuff from Christmas Eve Day was still there and in better condition for walking around as it got cold overnight.

The woods sparkled.

A walk and a treat…

And then all off to Beardog Point. I followed with a cup of coffee and enjoyed the glorious morning with Bear and Auggie and remembering joyful childhood Christmas mornings and mornings with all my dear pets: Jake, Zack, Gus, Karl and Bob.

We had a stellar day of outings, treats all around and a late afternoon dinner of prime rib roast which we all had a bit of and plenty left over for Christmas Week nibbling.

Thanks to all who sent emails, cards and comments and hope all who visit here had a wonderful and blessed Christmas Day!

Headed for a White Christmas: Christmas Eve Day at Noon

This morning started with a skiff of frozen slush…then it started raining…and finally, the rain changed to snow.

Headed for a White Christmas!

Last night (Tuesday night), I shaped dough for morning bagels…

Yum-a-dum-dum! Fresh baked bagels with lox, goat cheese, capers and onions.

The snow kept falling and Auggie went as far as the end of the sidewalk “moat” before turning around…

Now and again the last week, I’ve had a Christmas “sweet” recipe on the counter, but my sweet tooth lay dormant and what really sounded good was citrus.

Cara cara oranges have been available and inspired by a Smitten Kitchen recipe ( Endive with oranges and almonds ), I’ve been making a romaine/orange/almond salad dressed with a gorgonzola vinaigrette.

Pretty AND good!

Headed for a White Christmas: Christmas Eve Day at noon.

Soft light: December

It is December 20.

Five days until Christmas.

Here, in Northwest Montana, we should be knee deep in snow.

But, we are not. The ground is mostly bare.

Sad.

But inside the house…

Soft light…

I LOVE the new furniture arrangement…the chair in the kitchen with ottoman and lamp… It has changed my routine for the better. Hard to explain, but in some way, it helped to separate work/non work and I am actually getting to my desk for “work” more timely.

And evenings – EVENINGS!! – I have had evenings.

Auggie’s room….

The bedroom…sanctuary…peace.

Fireside…Bear’s room…

Soft Light…December.

Around the house

I’m not sure who the winner is here…

So, I’m still a bit out of kilter on my bedtime/wake up time, but it is better than it was! I’m in bed 7:30 ish and up 4:30 ish…BUT, I normally wake between 10 and 11:00 p.m. and Bear and I have a nighttime outing. I love being out especially the last few nights when it was crystal clear with a zillion stars.

But back to morning… I was up shortly after 4:00 this morning and got on a bit of a cleaning binge and then cruised a few food blogs while making coffee. I do mean a few as I’m down to a couple that I keep an eye on and a couple more that when I think about it, I look.

This morning, I looked at The Kitchn. And there was a link to the sister site Apartment Therapy – a post about sitting areas in the kitchen: Sitting nooks in small kitchens. I first thought: “How funny”. But, the photos were intriguing. I read the comments and it was kind of amazing how many said they had a reading nook in the kitchen.

Huh.

I looked at the dark corner where my little, uncomfortable table with 2 chairs sits…and I wondered…and then I rearranged furniture…at dark o’clock in the morning…

Right away, I thought: “NO! – I do NOT like this…not working.”

Then, I thought: “Well, maybe I’ll try it through Christmas.”

Shortly, I was kind of liking it.

I liked it more and more.

So…at least through Christmas and then ???

You never can tell what might work around the house.

O Christmas Tree: the finale

If these last days were Christmas Eve, you can count on it…Rudolph would have been leading the sleigh…at least in Northwest Montana.

It has been drippy, soggy and foggy.

Not much fun outside for any of us!

But to “O Christmas Tree”…

Yesterday (Monday) morning, I woke to some commotion in the living room.

I went out to find 5 snowflake ornaments on the floor under the tree…

Ok. Not entirely unexpected. The commotion was from Auggie jumping to get the higher snowflakes

Still. Not unexpected.

I admonished.

I picked up the fallen snowflakes…and noticed…a LOT of needles on the floor. Brown, dry needles.

I knew when I put the tree up that it was a bit drier than I originally thought. Bottom line, I took it down.

Sad, but true…the “Auggie tree top/Christmas Tree” went 2 days.

There are a number of candidates for a replacement. We’ll see. I had my “real tree” fun and I have my silk tree and other things in the house.

It is still over two weeks until Christmas so anything goes. If I feel like doing the “real tree” for real, I’ll do it. If not, I will not.

Fog, sloppy mess, O Christmas Tree…Onward!