The Smoke It Encircled His Head Like A Wreath

Here's a little Santa I found at Goodwill for $2. It was still in the box and had never been used, but I recognized what it was right away. And these kind of things amuse me so I snatched it up. I guess we sort of collect Santas (who doesn't?) so he stands next to a few others on the Library mantle.

But what makes him special is that he can smoke a pipe! You take a little incense cone, light it and stick it under his robe (sorry Santa) and the smoke comes out his mouth. Isn't it just too cute?

We are going to my family's Christmas gathering tomorrow. I need to get busy since I'm bringing pies and chutney for the ham. So today we will be grocery shopping, cooking, and smoking our pipes here Amongst The Oaks.

Guard Girl Gifts

I wanted to give my Guard Girls a little gift for Christmas. I've spent the last three years going to the band reviews with these girls and they are all so nice and such fun. I just wanted to do something nice for them. So I got this glittery red felt and cut it into 30 hearts. Then I used fabric paint to draw on a big "L" for Lincoln High School. Luckily the school color is red so it's Christmasy too. Then I cut 30 pieces of red ribbon for the hangers and I started sewing them together. There is just something so relaxing about sitting and stitching this blanket stitch again and again.
When I get halfway around I stuff in a little cotton and some lavender, finish sewing and Voila! a heart sachet. Or Christmas ornament. But really, their guard bags could use a little freshness so I'm hoping they use them as sachets. (You know something like that when you've been on the bus with them for hours and hours.)

So that's what's keeping me busy here Amongst The Oaks. That and dreaming of a white Christmas, which never happens here in Central California. It has been cold and a storm came through the mountains, but I don't think the snow will come this low, but I can dream, can't I?

Winter Formal

Tonight is a momentous occasion for my little girls. They went to their first "formal" dance. It was pretty hectic around here from 3:00 to 6:00 with four girls getting ready together. We had some last minute alterations, and lots of squealing, but they finally got it together and they looked fine. I just keep thinking how different things are today from when I was in high school.

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the Lord of the Manor and I were in high school, a boy would ask a girl he liked to go to the dance. If she liked him, she'd accept and then plan her hair, make-up, dress, and accessories weeks in advance. They would go to dinner, then the dance, and maybe he'd kiss her afterwards and then they'd be "dating".

But with this group, I can't even keep score! It seems purple dress was asked by tuxedo guy, but he really likes silver dress. Then blue dress liked blue tie guy, but it seems the fire has cooled, but they are still going to the dance together. Now gray tie guy likes. . . heck, I can't remember now, but he's standing next to green dress. Oh, and purple dress likes a guy who's not even going to the dance. . . See what I mean? It's crazy!

So, I'm all confused about who likes who and it doesn't really matter. But see these two here? With these two there's no confusion. I love them both, right up to the moon and back. Just like the Big Nutbrown Hare.

Tule Fog

It's tule fog season here Amongst The Oaks. It happens every winter. You'd think I'd be used to it, but I don't like it. Above is a picture of the Central Valley of California filled with fog. I'm down there waving at you. It looks like cotton from above, but down below it's all gray.

The fog is so damp and depressing. I never seem to get warm when it's foggy. The damp just cuts right through my clothes and I'm cold, cold, cold. A walk always seems to help. Not only does it warm me up, it also cheers me up. I took these photos on my walk the other day. The creek looks mysterious in the fog, but I found the drops of water suspended on things to be more interesting.

Here's a spider web.

And some blades of grass.

That's it from here Amongst the foggy Oaks. I hope your day is sunny.

See's Candies

Recognize this box? "I do, I do!" And if you are from the West Coast of the US, you might also recognize it as See's Candies famous red Christmas box. We were given this box by our insurance salesman. He gives us one every year. In fact, giving See's Candies has been a tradition around here for many years.

See's Candies was started in Los Angeles in the 1920s by a Canadian man. His mother, Mary See, helped with some of the initial recipes, and her picture is still on every box. See's prides itself on fresh, unique, preservative-free candy. Each tidy little shop is still decorated as they were in the 1930s; spotless white with black accents.

We have a stand-alone shop in our town. It's been there for at least 40 years that I know of. You can buy prepackaged assortments, or you can select your favorites from behind the glass. And you always get a free sample before you leave. Tell me, who gives away free samples now days?

I used to work right next door to this shop. Most afternoons one of us would suggest a little pick-me-up, so we'd scrape together our change, and one of us would walk across the parking lot to select a few of our favorites. It was heaven.

So here's what is in the assorted chocolates box. Lovely, aren't they?

I actually prefer the nuts and chews assortment, but I'll choke these down somehow.


Yum.

See's Candies, a happy habit.

Christmas Card

Here is our front door and, Oh look, there's our Christmas card tucked into the wreath on the front door. Let's get closer and check it out. I don't know how I come up with these ideas, but this year we are all wearing Santa hats and peeking out the door of "Santa's Workshop". That's Santa The Lord of the Manor at the top, then me, then Teen2, then Teen1. Click to see Teen2's ears up close. Aren't we silly?

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season full of delightful traditions and maybe some silly new ones too. Happy Christmas from Amongst The Oaks.

the Cocktail Party

The Cocktail Party set up...

I made these three cheese filo triangles. They were fun and easy.

I also made these blue cheese covered grapes rolled in finely chopped walnuts. About halfway through making these I was wondering about my sanity, but with the Lord of the Manor helping, we got them done and they were very good.

I also made these radishes topped with chervil butter.

And Mark made these empanadas. They were yummy.

Oh, and we made these Morrocan Meatballs. Tiny little minty/spicy bits of lamb , cooked under the broiler. Yum.

And the Lord of the Manor insisted on a traditional meat and cheese platter. He also insisted on Ruffles potato chips with onion soup dip. And he was right, everyone loves that, and it's a classic.

And Kim slaved over the freezer case at Cosco picking up these mini quiches. I forgot to get a photo of Carie's dessert, but it was good too.

We had a lot of fun with this party, and it forced us to get the house decorated early. So I'm thinking it was a successful party here Amongst The Oaks.

Living Room Decorations

And so it starts.....

I spent Friday evening and all day yesterday fussing around in the Living Room. Here's what I ended up with on the mantle. A simple garland with ribbon and two gold angels, red transferware plates, my faux Staffordshire dogs, and Santa photos of the girls in these wonderful red transferward frames.

Can you believe the luck of finding these? They match my Tower Pink dishes perfectly! I was positively giddy as I assembled them on the mantle.



Here is the finished tree. Now I've got to run because we're having that party tonight,

but check out my helpers.
That's Prince Charming there helping Teen2 assemble the Christmas village.

Aren't they adorable?

Christmas Cards

I wrote 15 Christmas cards last night with little notes inside. I enjoy catching up with far-away friends and family at this time of year. I'll be sending cards to the UK, Australia, Germany, France, and Guam this year. I thought I should get the over-seas ones mailed right away, only problem is the postage is 94 cents and the stamps are 42 cents, so now I have to go to the post office (ugh) to get 10 cent stamps.

I can't show this year's card until I send the ones to my family. I want them to see the real thing before they see it here. Since the kids came along we've sent photos of them in the cards. Iused to dress them up in matching dresses, put something festive in the background and snap away. Some years were pretty odd; Teen1 with a candy cane striped cast on her arm one year. Lately, they don't want to dress up and it's been more difficult to get a good photo. Here is last years.

And inside was this photo. We laughed and laughed trying to get that one. It seems the Lord of the Manor felt like goofing off and we accidently took a little video of him making funny faces. We still crack up when we talk about that! But the finished photo came out nice.

So you'll just have to wait a week or so for this year's card, but I promise you'll have a chuckle for the nuts from Amongst The Oaks.

ps: Thanks to all of you who suggested hors d'oeuvres for the party. Spot, your vol au vents sound delicious. I'm seriously considering those. Who knew such a sophisticated palate existed in the canine world?

A Little Bit of Christmas

A little bit of Christmas has been creeping into my home. I put this Christmasy tablecloth on the kitchen table last night.

And this old tablecloth from Grandma is centered over a solid red cloth in the dining room. And I moved some furniture around in the living room to accomodate the tree. And I got out the outdoor wreaths and hung them on the windows, but their bows got all wrinkled over the summer, so I may get new bows. And we put new batteries in all the fake candles. Does anyone else have any of those? The Lord of the Manor thought they were a little dorky when I first got them, but he really likes them now. I forgot to take a photo of mine, but they look sort of like this one I found on Google. And I set them in my front window just like that.

Anyway, it's starting to look a little like Christmas now here Amongst The Oaks.

First Annual Cocktail Party

Our Gormande Club is having its First Annual Holiday Cocktail Party this Sunday at our house. I'm so excited! I've never had a "Cocktail Party". We plan to all bring hors d'oeuvres and just nibble and talk the night away. I've got the Williams-Sonoma Hors D'oeuvre book here in front of me and I'm thinking about making Moroccan-Style Meatballs...

Three-Cheese Filo Triangles...

and maybe Cremini Mushrooms stuffed with Spanish Ham.

Do any of you have a favorite hors d'oeuvre to recommend? This cocktail party thing reminds me of parties our parents' generation used to have. To do this right, I think I should wear a dress and heels and a fancy apron, and do my hair in a flip or maybe a chignon. What do you think? Too over the top?

Laundry Room Success

I'm sure you'll all be happy to know I've had some success in the Laundry Room. That stain remover stuff works pretty well and I've finished ironing all the napkins. I'm looking forward to ironing the tablecloth this evening. Exciting life, huh?



How about the rest of you? Do you use cloth napkins? Here Amongst The Oaks we use them all the time, even outdoors and in the kitchen. Consequently, I have lots of napkins and tablecloths. Here is one of those cupboards in the Living Room full of table linens. And there are more in the kitchen.



I guess I just like the homey-ness of cloth. And the warmth and substance. And the designs and colors. I think a family needs to sit down together and make an occasion of meals. And cloth table linens help make each meal an occasion. So I guess I'll just keep spraying and washing and ironing and trying to make each meal an occasion here Amongst The Oaks.