I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Friday, November 24, 2017

Thanksgiving ~ The Food! The Wines!



Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I usually tell all about my food and table settings but this year I went to my friends' house to share their wonderful celebration. I didn't take a lot of pictures, to respect their privacy, and no recipes because I was not the chef. I'll mix in photos of how Mo and I shared the day, glorious though cold, with walks around the neighborhood.


The hosts were my friends I often mention, of the minimalist grey home decor and tropical garden. Over the years they have picked up some of my design ideas, changing things like throw pillows throughout the seasons. Instead of bright orange for Fall they used oatmeal linen with burlap piping and wool tapestry the color of dried yellow corn for pillows,with  hints of tarnished copper for the festive day.


Table setting.



These friends are healthy eaters, so the food was wheat free, mostly; dairy free, mostly; soy free. Post-Paleo/ semi vegan [because there was, after all, a turkey!]. Everything except my contributions and the wines, was from Trader Joe's.

MENU

 starters/ hors d'oeuvres

an exquisite cheese platter [we call this antipasto, even if it's not classic Italian antipasto]. Goat milk brie, dried cherries, interesting crackers, hot pickles, and spreads. Classic salami, provolone, Swiss/ Jarlsburg, and for me, a favorite, white cheddar with dried cranberries.


And also these delicious small savory ''pizzas": cauliflower crusts [ordered online?], one with fig chutney and goat cheese , the second with a caramelized onion spread, the third added to the cheese board for the spreads, like carrot and squash and others. These little hot ''pizzas''were amazing! Light but so flavorful!



Wine for this course was a rose, no info or sauvignon blanc here  Featherstone Vineyards. 


Main course:

Free Range Turkey with gravy

Whipped mashed parsnips

Roasted, caramelized Brussels sprouts with apple wood smoked bacon

Stuffed mushrooms [spinach, goat cheese.]

My stuffing [ cornbread/ sausage/ apples/ chestnuts]

my Creamed onions, because I love them.

Wine was Etude pinot noir  here

Dessert

Vegan Pumpkin Pie with coconut milk  whipped ''cream'' topping.

This is an exceptional dessert, very light and sweet, with light pumpkin flavor and cinnamon. 
Nicer than classic!

I had hoped to go back today for leftovers! I always love Thanksgiving leftovers. But my friends were off to the city for the weekend---what is more exciting than NYC at Christmas. Yes, I was a tad envious but so grateful to have have shared the holiday with my children and good friends.


More Thanksgiving walks with Mo. Thanksgiving is the height of autumn here, what leaves we have are finally starting to change. Note how green the grass is!





























One favorite moment was walking down the again wind blown and barren  beach path and smelling fresh cranberry sauce simmering on someone's stove. Mmmm.









Even though I was not the host/ hostess this year, I was tired! Haha, all that lovely wine. Today I walked on the beach, then Mo and I had a sunny if chilly hour on the deck, as I sewed on Muddy Water's / Parmateer Point's binding.



I have a big etsy order to fill! Yay! But after car shopping this week then the holiday, I needed a quiet day. How about you?



love,

lizzy

gone to the beach.....































Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!



"Enjoy your turkey!"


love,
lizzy and Mo....







gone to the beach!....















Friday, November 17, 2017

Inside November



Hello, everyone! Do you decorate for Thanksgiving? I am not hosting the dinner this year so I again simplified my November decor by keeping things blue and white, but banishing all the brilliant  oranges and  cheddars of October/ Halloween. I go for a calmer, more neutral palette instead. For many years I switched the sofa cushions to browns and greys, and displayed my turkey plates and platters with such joy and enthusiasm. But no, not even a funny chalkware turkey this year---yes, okay, a little sad, but flexible is the modern way for holidays, right? And I am avoiding the vegan, everything-banned menu probs.


I kept out all my  mercury glass pumpkins.


Coffee table's big wooden bowl.










Dining table:


Added autumns leaves, berries, and acorn garlands. I love anything ''woodland'', so that's a fun touch and so easy.






Neutral quilts:


I love this small Star quilt I made with antique.blocks. The fabrics are perfect, and almost 200 years old!, c. 1830-45 stars .








This frayed and fragile Log Cabin quilt picks up my blues, plus has soft tans and pinks and golds.



Pitchers are easy to switch out.



This is a favorite.



A large sepia ware platter with a Mayflower-esque ship.



A little jug of the last marigolds, cut before last week's hard frost.








A pumpkin spice candle on my new little TQC project.



A little pop of bright turquoise below,



Not a turkey to be seen so far. Maybe one of my beeswax tom turkeys will sneak out still, who knows. Mo is patiently waiting for his Thanksgiving dinner. He waits every day! I think he likes these new seat cushions.




....

On a side note, what do you think? For Bitty?



Last post I mentioned the polka dot Blueberry backing fabric is a knock off of a Cotton and Steel print. Which led me this morning to the idea that I do have a different C & S ''modern'' print, that might make an ever sweeter backing. It's called Tulips, and is both folkloric and modern, with a hint of script or graphic in the jig jag lines of the stems? I can just make it fit I think. Opinions?


...

Have a fun weekend! Are you already planning your holiday meal? Favorite recipes?


love

lizzy

gone to the beach...