Hi everyone! Counting down to Christmas here---it's a very dark first day of winter! Rain and wind may come and as we await the storm I am filling the cottage with the warm and homely smell of baking and cooking. 

New cooky recipe: HERE   Pistachio shortbread, half with cranberries [how festive], half with tiny dark chocolate chips.

I made a simplified version Martha's stew. here

I like cooking things slowly in the oven, warms the house but this could be slow cooker too I suppose. If you make this recipe, very flavorful!, beware of the saltiness of the bacon, do NOT add any more salt.

Served with wide noodles, pappardelle in this case, warm and buttery. And garlic sauteed cabbage from TJ's.

I got out this week to Trader Joe's, a special treat.

In my family [perhaps because my parents were usually very frugal in day to day living?] it was always a tradition to go to a special market or gourmet store for Christmas Eve provisions and flowers and fresh greenery. Even in college I haunted the the historic market in that city, recently rediscovered by my brother who lives in that area now. Trader Joe's had no pine or holly, and NO red tulips!?, my holiday signature flower, so I settled on this beautiful eucalyptus and white tulips.

I have never seen eucalyptus with smooth pointy leaves, like olive branches, or the other variety with the tiny green berries or buds.

This won't be their final placement, I just stuck the stems anywhere to keep them fresh.

Aren't the flowers just a joy! Summer in December.

They even had ranunculus, but I stuck with my tulips. When I lived in Brooklyn years ago, I always filled my Art Deco black-and-neutral loft with bunches of Christmas red tulips everywhere, and would bring more home to the beach where I did a red and white Nordic Christmas, oh so fun and all so lavish.

Wonderful cheeses and salamis for charcuterie platters when friends and family stop by, I hope. Or good provisions to enjoy if the power goes.

 Gifts arrive! 

And one evening I went with friends to see the display of Magic Lights at the beach. Amazing and glorious among the pitch black dunes and ocean.

[edit: next morning- storm is passing but winds are high and temperatures are ''plummeting''. Must do the un -fun thing of trying to seal window drafts now.

Our deck/ sewing space doesn't look inviting, does it!

Wsihing everyone a warm and cozy holiday.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

last sunset of autumn 2022, as the solstice marks the shortest and and grey winter arrives.

Brave zinnias continue to bloom, so hopeful. Six more months til summer.....