MEATBALLS, GRAPE JELLY AND KETCHUP.......

That's it!  The recipe for Everybody's Favorite Meatballs....

We're partying out in the Hamptons tonight.... and I'm bringing my usual, and everybody's favorite.  This recipe is so easy, and guaranteed it will be the hit of the party whenever you bring it.  

1 (18-ounce) package fully cooked meatballs, frozen

1 (10-ounce) jar grape jelly

1 (16-ounce) bottle ketchup

Combine the grape jelly and ketchup in a large, heavy saucepan.

Stir over medium heat to blend the jelly and ketchup.

Add the meatballs and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, so the wonderful flavors will be absorbed.

That's it!

It doesn't sound good, but they are really delicious!

Now, I'm off to bring the dogs to be groomed!  After all, they're  party animals, too!

I wish you all a wonderful, safe evening!

Happy New Year 2009!

Carol~

MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE.....

Yes, you read that right!  I am making a list, and checking it twice.  That list, is my list of New Year's Aspirations!  I like the word aspirations instead of resolutions, because I think it sounds a little more gentle.  I am writing my list of those things that I hope to accomplish like the usual losing weight, exercising more and eating healthier..... and I will remove those things that cause frustration and regret when I look back at the end of the year because I did not achieve them. 

I have a sign in my store that reads:  It is never too late to be what you might have been.....

We have 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days to begin anew.....  What are some of your hopes and dreams for the new year?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

 I have so enjoyed blogging in the last few months of this year, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind comments and emails!  I look forward to the year ahead!

Carol~

TABLESCAPE TUESDAY- My Christmas Table

Thank you Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for hosting another Tablescape Tuesday~

Welcome to my home!

My Christmas Table has been set with Lenox China

the pattern is "Holiday"

The china sits on crimson red chargers from Pottery Barn

A cozy vignette

A Victorian Tussey-Mussey of red roses and pines graces each chair back~

The centerpiece of golden French horns and pines (all silk, of course!)

A precious "gift" at each place setting~

The view from my dining room into my living room.  The French doors lead into the Conservatory (a previous post)~

I found these small mercury glass votives in an antique shop in Palm Beach~

Peace on Earth~

Thank you so much for visiting!

I wish  you all a very Merry Christmas from my house to yours.....

Carol~

SIMMERING POTPOURRI....Holiday "Scentiments" and An Evening at Home

After a long busy week of holiday celebrations, shopping and shoveling snow, it's time to stop and smell the..... well, simmering potpourri.  I like to make my own stove top version with all my favorite holiday scents.  I make a batch of this and simmer it all day long in a red crock pot in the store.  As customers enter they are immediately welcomed by the warm scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.  They love it!  And so, on a rainy night such as this, I love to fill my home with my favorite scents of the season and just enjoy being at home.

The measurements need not be exact, and you can alter it with whatever scents you enjoy.  To make my version, blend one teaspoon each:

Cloves (ground or whole)

Nutmeg (I like to grind my own)

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Cinnamon

Allspice

Vanilla

Vanilla Bean

Cinnamon Sticks

Orange Rind

Granny Smith Apple (cut off upper half)

1 Cup Apple Juice

1 Cup water

Add all ingredients to a small pot and let it gently simmer......

Enjoy!

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.....

The best gift.... Is there any gift that we could ever receive that would bring more pleasure than the ones that we give away?  It is true that giving is better than receiving.  Please let us all remember that the holidays can be a sad time for many.  Is there someone in your community who will be alone for Christmas dinner, a single mom struggling to make Christmas joyous for her children, a shut-in forgotten or alone in the world?   If each one of us would  bring one small ray of hope into someone's life,  then together the light of Christ will shine more brightly this Christmas season.  Nothing under the tree could feel better than that! 

Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said?

Does the one who's hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day or use it?  Was it well or sorely spent?

Did you leave a trail of kindness?  Or a scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God will say,

"You have earned one more tomorrow by what you did today?"

"The scent of the rose lingers on the hand that gives it"

~Shakespeare

~MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL~

YOU'VE GOT MAIL........

Don't forget your mailbox!  It stands outside like a trusty old friend day after day, in hail, rain, sleet and snow just waiting to receive all those holiday greeting cards and packages.  I decided it deserved some holiday cheer....... A bough of fresh greens, some ornaments, and a huge red velvet bow.

A CHRISTMAS VIGNETTE

I love creating small cozy vignettes around my house.  They are little "scenes", yet they make grand statements.  I created this one by potting a small faux tree in a favorite urn and placed it on a small table in my dining room window which faces the front of the house.  With the candles in the window and the tiny lights on the tree it just says "Welcome Home" to me when I pull in the driveway after a long day.  Outside is a view of the horse and carriage I wrote about in a previous post.  I love the cozy lighting around the house at Christmas, don't you?

IT'S CHRISTMASTIME IN THE CITY......

New York City anytime of the year is always exciting for me, but I particularly love the magic of Christmas when everything seems to transform into a glittery fairyland.  The hustle and bustle of the crowds, the skaters on the pond, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the stores all lit up and sparkling in their Christmas grandeur, even the incessant honking horns of the taxis......It's definitely Christmastime in the city!  

Click to enlarge photos~

A window at Bergdorf Goodman

Window at Tiffany's

Horse-drawn carriage

An Angel at Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Tree

Across from the Plaza

Tree at Trump Tower

Bergdorf Goodman Window

Window at Mackenzie Childs

Bergdorf Goodman

The Plaza

Trump Tower

The grand foyer at The Plaza

Outside the Plaza

The Plaza

The Plaza

The St. Regis Hotel

Cartier 

The Dancing Snowflakes

Tiffany's

SLEIGH BELLS RING.......

It was after taking my first horse and carriage ride around Central Park at Christmas a few years ago that I found this horse and carriage for my own front lawn.  I think we chose the coldest day of the year to get it set up on the lawn, and today I filled it with fresh greens and a big red bow.  I love how it looks, and I love the memory of that first ride around Central Park in my own life size chariot, driven by my own personal coach wearing a black top hat, and I bundled in my warm red blanket was  feeling like I was living the scene of a real life Christmas card as we trotted away through the Christmas city streets.

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY.....

My sister and I are off to spend a weekend together in Manhattan.  We signed up for a class in floral design at the Jane Packer Flower School.  Jane Packer is a renowned floral designer from England and she recently opened a school in New York.  I'm really excited to take a class in fresh floral design since my business is in silks.  It should be fun.

Then,  I'm sure there will be plenty of laughing and chatting as we take in all the sights and sounds of the city at Christmas.  I took this photo of Ralph Lauren's window on Madison Avenue shortly before Thanksgiving.  I'll go back now and check on the progress.  I'll keep you posted......

FAMILY AND FRIENDS.....

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISH.....

CHRISTEL~

We know how wonderful you are in Grayden's eyes......

But,

We all think you're pretty special, too!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

With love from all of us!

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT......

CHRISTMAS AT MEADOWSWEET

The decorating frenzy has officially hit Meadowsweet, and we are up to our elbows in ribbons, wreaths, garlands and glitter everywhere!    But, just like Santa, I could not do it all without the help of some very special and talented elves.  So, without further ado, let me introduce to you (much to their chagrin)  Meadowsweet's Designer Elves...... Smile..... Kathy, Sue and Joan 

ADD A LITTLE SPICE, AND EVERYTHING NICE....

Don't you just love all of the delicious scents of the season? All the holiday spices..... nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves...... Care to take a break from the decorating and join me in a slice of Cranberry Nut Bread and steamy cup of coffee..... just out of the oven, hmmmmmm?

~ADDITION TO PREVIOUS POST~

I've had several requests for the recipe for my Cranberry Nut Bread, so here it is.....  I can't take the credit, it is Ocean Spray's Classic recipe.  I make it every year, and it is delicious!

2 C. Flour

1 C. Sugar

1  1/2  tsp. baking powder

1  tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 C. orange juice

2 T. vegetable oil

1 T. orange peel, grated

1 egg, well beaten

1  1/2 C. fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

1/2 C. nuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9x5  loaf pan.

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.

Stir in orange juice, oil, orange peel and egg.  Mix until well blended.

Stir in cranberries and nuts.

Spread evenly in loaf pan.

Bake for 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool on rack for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

TABLETOP TUESDAY..... My first!

Susan, from Between Naps on the Porch invited me to Tabletop Tuesday..... I am a newbie and wasn't quite certain what to do.  So I have reposted my Thanksgiving Table.  My China pattern is Lenox Eternal, and the salad plates are Lenox Holiday Tartan.  The centerpiece is one that I designed using all faux greens and assorted fruits and berries. I must admit, had I known about Tabletop Tuesday, I would have used cloth napkins...... thirty lashes!  You ladies put me to shame!  I promise to do better for my Christmas table!

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.....

Decorating the tree is like a wonderful trip down Memory Lane.... Reaching into the large plastic bin of ornaments is like reaching back to special moments in time commemorating events in the paths of our lives.  First Christmas in our new home, tiny golden angels from a dear friend because she knows my love for angels, one from my Mom for my 30th birthday (a long time ago), ornaments celebrating the First Christmases of my children, and the many, many fine blown glass and crystal given from loving friends and family that glisten on our tree every year.  But, the ones I treasure most of all,  are the paper treasures made by the tiny hands of my children in grade school all those years ago.  Although the glue has dried up and chipped away, the macaroni lost somewhere in time, most tattered and torn, they will always take their rightful place of honor on our tree every year... front and center!  Now, I know these photos won't mean anything to anyone else but me, but I do know that there isn't a mom out there that would trade one of those precious macaroni ornaments for the finest glass ornament in the world.

I don't have any grandchildren yet, but there is a special little boy in my life named Grayden. He is the son of a very dear friend of my son, Bill.  I can only say that if this is anything near what a having a grandchild will be like, then I am in for something wonderful.  On Thanksgiving Day, I was given another priceless gift made by tiny hands.  It is a cake plate with the imprint of Grayden's hand made into the image of a turkey.  Around the rim are treasured words that read:  This isn't just a turkey as you can plainly see.  I made it with my hand which is a part of me.  It comes with lots of love especially to say, I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day..... Love, Grayden James