IT's BEEN so BEAUTIFUL.......

 ……the sky has been ‘blossoming’ since the rain!

Calligraphy class with Shantien ‘Tom’ Chow is always a wonderful way to start the month.  He gave the most interesting talk about why Calligraphers like to use those unweilding large ‘Soft’ brushes.  Because they are so difficult to handle, there’s a lot of unpredictability involved.  Happy accidents that turn the work into art!

 

We always love it when Dorothy brings one of her magnificent landscapes. This is ’Sea of Clouds.’  Tom & I are trying to convince her to use larger mats.

Violet needed sugar and the yummy Marzipan from Miss Judith did the trick!

All of this is well and good but what about Christmas!!!

Nikka, it’s time to trip the tree...

Nikka found this wonderful star for the top and surrounded it with our angels.

Thanks to thoughtful Eileen we have a wreath to hang…..finding the perfect spot took a group decision and hanging it was pure teamwork.

Wait ‘till you see what else we did with that wreath!  It’s a surprise…...

It was great fun working with Lizzie Girl on her Christmas card.  She selected a precious little bird and it came out wonderful….sooooo happy!

Someone please tell me why Kita loves to take the moss out and toss it about meanwhile ingesting some and causing problems of another kind.  You get my drift….

She’s hoping someone will come and rescue her from her ‘time out’!

Now here’s a cute gift idea…..Happy Feet ‘As Seen on Shark Tank’!

 

 Did you get to crush any leaves?????  Soooooo fun!!!

Foodie alert!  I’ve discovered the most amazing place in Toluca Lake……Olive & Thyme.  If you love Joan’s on Third you’ll feel right at home here!

 Debbie & I met there for lunch and stayed until closing!

The following photo’s will give you some idea of what I’m talking about!

To cap the day, making it absolutely perfect, awesome Amy came by with exquisite creations for mom & me!!!

Serendipity brought me to Bloomie’s where artist Enzo Selvaggi was hand painting designs on the Jo Malone boxes……

It was great fun!

My wish for you…..

 

 

 

DID I MISS THANKSGIVING?

I can’t believe two weeks have gone by since I entered a blog.  There seems to be a fog of memory that has settled down and that’s why I’m so grateful for all the photos I take.  I know it must drive you all crazy….no eating allowed until a photo has been taken and my capturing all the little moments but you might want to consider doing the same.  It’s a wonderful way to diary without having all the bla bla that’s needed and so I shall continue.  Thoughts?

 

Back to Thanksgiving.  Thanks to the disastrous prescription given to Sir Charles by the ‘fill in doctor’, he was unable to get out of bed or hardly even open his eyes.  Lots of drama along with that and my main job was keeping the ship afloat.  So, the decision was made to do the bird and carry on.  Now here’s the amazing fact…..I had not ordered the usual….'give me your most expensive and largest hen' at Whole Foods’…….

….Instead, I waited until Wednesday to grab any bird hanging out at Trader Joe’s!  They had three left…..Not having high hopes I grabbed one and Thursday morning Vicki and I went to work.

Kita’s always ready to help!

The special Black Truffle Sea Salt from Miss Judith was put to good use!

O.K., stuff that bird and send it on it’s way!

I really hate to brag but I am the queen of stuffing and lately I’ve been getting help from a few things at Whole Foods.

Almost finished….

I always simmer the neck, giblets, and liver with onions & celery to have a base for the gravy.  Don’t you?  Anyway, I can tell if the turkey will be tender when I have the neck (love it) for lunch.  Well, this was amazing, the most tender, juiciest neck ever….just delicious and I knew we’d have a sensational bird  Turns out I had never purchased a ‘brined turkey’ which this was and it’s opened up a whole new world to me.  I suppose you all knew that already as you’re all so smart!

I was so happy Charles could have a little taste even though he had to stay in bed.

I think this was my second helping!  Eeeee gads….out of control!

Dessert was simple….Collins Street Fruitcake with whipped cream…...

After a huge amount of ‘help from my friends’  (Yea Beatles) I had Vicki and Kim stop the RX and Charles was not only able to open his eyes but sit up and eventually get back to our routine!  Yippee!!

Saturday’s class in the studio was wonderful.  Laurie Pie brought her artwork that she will be exhibiting.

Here’s the info.  Please let me know if you plan on going.

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I had gotten this Danish Kringle at Trader Joe’s…..

…..and it was sooooo good Nikka brought some up for the class!

Sunday’s with Sandie.  Always the BEST!  This time it was mounting her beautiful paintings….

….and catching up with some Nespresso cappuchino!

So, after a couple of weeks of drama, drama, drama, it was time for a Bloomie’s fix with Mary and lots of catching up.  You’re looking at her plate, I had exactly the same & can’t believe I finished it off & then had an ‘extra thick’ smoothie!

 

I know how happy everyone is with the rain….Vicki fashioned a coat for puppy….tres chic!

And then it was time for a little dancing….

Someone please tell me why Kita is so over the moon about our mailman!  He’s the only one she doesn’t jump on but waits patiently for his greeting.

The tree trimmers came by….

As did Edgar, Charles assigned PT.  We love him!!!

Wishing you a GOLDEN week!