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Garden, Home & Party

Category Archives: Christmas

{GHP} Gift season is approaching

01 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Holidays

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Gift ideas

I get accused of being overly organized, as if that’s a bad thing, right?  Anyway, here’s the disclaimer: I really hadn’t started working on any kind of Christmas list, let alone buying items yet.  But then I opened an email from one of my favorite blog sites, The Polohouse. Alison is hosting her monthly “Favorites on the First” and for November 1st the theme will be Your Favorite Gifts to Give!

Since I love these blog parties, I started thinking about gift buying for the upcoming season.  I must say, it was kind of fun, and while I only came up with a few things, it started the wheels turning for the shopping ahead of me.

This Christmas we will have two married sons…our youngest son is getting married December 1st.  After raising 2 boys I can tell you, it’s really fun to buy for girls.  DIL #1 has similar likes as DIL #2 (to be) but there are subtle differences and I want to make sure I buy them each gifts they will love.

A cozy throw for the winter months is always welcome as one of their gifts.

I believe one would like this faux fur throw.  Manufacturers have really come a long way where faux fur is concerned…it feels so much softer than the stiff polyester they used to try to pass off as fur.GHP, Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{Pottery Barn Faux Fur Throw}

and I believe the other one would enjoy this one…  I think the monogram would be fun on a throw.

GHP Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{Pottery Barn monogrammable throw}

Along with the throw I thought I might order this pillow for me…do you ever do the one for you, one for me this time of year?

GHP Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{Pottery Barn Joyeux Noel Embroidered Pillow}

Both Son #1 and Son #2 love to cook.  It makes me very happy that they enjoy cooking!  While watching America’s Test Kitchen, which is the group that test not only recipes, but kitchen items and make a determination as to which product is the best, I decided both of my amateur chefs could use this which ranked as “best” silicon basting brush…GHP Gife season is approaching{Williams Sonoma OXO Silicon Basting Brush}

and to support and encourage continued good eats from them…

GHP Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{Williams Sonoma OXO leave-in digital thermometer} 

I have one of these and I love it!

Christmas is one of my favorite times to buy cookbooks.  This one is appealing for Son #1 (maybe Son #2 as well) but it promises to be more involved than I would like.  Still there is a great site that reviews a bunch of the newly released cook books…check out Eater.com

Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller and Sebastien Rouxel.
The release of any Thomas Keller cookbook is going to be celebrated, but the breads and pastries of Bouchon Bakery insure this volume will likely see more actual kitchen time than some of its predecessors. While it’s not necessarily for beginners — there are four recipes for brioche, each suited to a different, specific purpose — the book’s sense of humor and traditional techniques make this a must have.
Artisan: October 23.

GHP Gift season is approachingI confess the cover is tempting, I’ll give the book to Son #1 and then request that he bake me something from it.

Barefoot Contessa is more my style and her new book looks great.  This is on my list…hint, hint.

GHP Gift season is approaching 11.1.12

With a title like “foolproof” what could go wrong?

Since I get to buy for our granddaughter, I came up with only a couple of items.  She’s still young (just 2 years) and I wait for her mommy to give me some ideas, but this would be fun and appreciated…

GHP Gift season is approaching{Land of Nod, personalized growth chart for measuring height} 

There are a huge array of designs for both boys and girls.

We want to spark that interest in cooking at a young age so I’ll get her this…

GHP, Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{Stephen Joseph Cook Set}

For hostess gifts and gifts for friends I lean towards indulgences such as a great smelling candles, personalized note cards or a box of my (and most of my friends) favorite chocolates…

GHP Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{Votivo Red Currant~Bloomingdales}

Votivo candles are one of my favorites…they come in an array of delicious scents and red currant is my favorite.  I love Jo Malone candles as well, but they are out of my price range when Christmas looms.

GHP Gift season is approaching 11.1.12{See’s candy}

Mr. B claims that I love See’s because that is what I grew up with.  I believe I’m more objective than that.  I’ve enjoyed my share of Fran’s (Seattle), Godiva (everywhere) and Neuhaus (which I’m not sure is still in business), but seriously, for flavor and texture, give me See’s any day.

GHP Gift season approaching 11.1.12{Caspari notecards}

There’s a glasses company that I love and I might order Mr. B some sunglasses from them…

GHP Gift season approaching 11.1.12{Warby Parker ~ great glasses}

The final thing on my list so far is something Alison (The Polohouse) asked us to list…an item we would give as a gift if we were made of money, like Oprah.  This is it, if I had truckloads of money I’d buy one of these for everyone on my list because I think they would all love having one…

{Vagabond House ~ Acorn Oak Leaf Wood Tray}

I first heard about Vagabond House from Tina at The Enchanted Home.  They make a lot of really pretty stuff.

So, talk to me, have you started the “list”.  Do you buy for a lot of people or are you clever and DIY some of the gifts you give?  Do you draw names and only buy for one, plus children in the family?  I’d love to hear some of your traditions. 

If you have a minute, stop by The Polohouse for some great ideas on gift giving this season.

~and~

I’m joining the fun at Savvy Southern Style for the Wow US Wednesdays.

 

{GHP} Visions of sugarplums dancing in my head

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Entertaining, Family, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christmas

‘Twas  the night 5 days before Christmas…

As we round the corner, with Christmas clearly in sight, I think of the upcoming days with excitement and joy {and yes, sugarplums or any sweet treat, have been dancing through my head}.  Our granddaughter, Olivia, will be spending Christmas with us as well as her mommy (Jamie) and daddy/our oldest son (Kyle)! {huge smile}

The front door is dressed and ready to welcome guests…

Wreathes adorn nearly every room, some fragrant fir and some faux pine and berries…

Cox & Cox

The pantry is stocked with ingredients required for old favorites and a few new recipes…

{via}

The side board is set with festive serving pieces at the ready.   Candles are lit every evening to set the mood of the season…

 {via}

The table is set and ready for meals that will fill tummies and make memories for the season…

{via}

Christmas cards have been sent and received…

{via}

The fireplace is laid with logs and ready to warm the room…

Southern Accents

The tree is decorated and presents are wrapped…

Outdoor activities are on hold until after the holiday…

 

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tin reindeer,  With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.  More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!  On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!  To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!  Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.  And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.  As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.  He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.  His eyes–how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!  His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!  His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.  He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.  But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good-night.”

by Clement Clarke Moore

Dear readers/friends, I am taking some time off from Garden, Home and Party to be with my family.  I wish you all a happy, healthy Christmas surrounded by loved ones.  May 2012 be a very good year for us all!

 

 

{Garden, Home} Forcing bulbs

01 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Flowers, Gardening, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

forcing bulbs, paper whites

It’s time to decorate for Christmas and even if you prefer to keep things simple, forced paper whites or amaryllis can add natural beauty to any room.  I find paper whites to be a little too fragrant for the dining room but will use them in the family room.

via Petersham Nursery, England

via and George

via and George

 

I’ve had some success with forcing paper whites but recently I’ve purchased paper whites that are already in bloom.  Besides, it may be a little late to force them…we only have less than 4 weeks until Christmas; the experts say you should allow 6 weeks from planting to bloom.

 

 

I know I’ll miss the joy of watching them grow but I find most paper whites grow too tall for the container I’ve placed them in so by buying them as a potted plant I can get the size that suits my location.

via

                                                                                                                                                                                                                via The White List, Tricia Foley

via French Essence, image Vicki Archer

via bulb hunter

Mary McDonald via adventures of tartanscot

source unknown

via and George

via and George

via The White List, Tricia Foley

via My French Country Home, Sharon Santoni

If you want to grow them from “scratch” visit this link for a detailed description of ‘how to’ not only grow paper whites and amaryllis but several other bulbs, such as ‘snowdrops’, scilla, ‘hyacinths’ and ‘muscari’.  I may try some of these for spring.

via paper{whites}, photo by Alison

 

visit these sites for detailed instructions on how to force your bulbs…

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-19.pdf

~or~

http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/forcing_bulbs.html

…or you could just by these and put them in some lovely containers and call it good.  P.S. If you do go with ‘cyclamen’ be sure to put them in a cool place every other day or so…they don’t like to be too warm (we share this in common).

Happy 1st day of one of the best months of the entire calendar year!  Take time to stop and smell the fir, drink cocoa, host a few social events and thoroughly enjoy the season!

I’m linking to Sherry’s Open House Party at No Minimalist Here, have a look.

Merry Christmas and happy hoidays…believe

24 Friday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Traditions

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Christmas

No matter what your religion, this is a magical time.  Time for reflections, gratitude for the abundance so many of us enjoy and time for a pause in our typically hectic lives.

image of the family tree, 2010

I’m happy to have good friends and family and to have met many blog land friends this year!  Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my site…it truly warms my heart to have you give your time to drop by!  Happy Christmas

“At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them.  Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound.  Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”

~The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

I hope you and yours can “can hear the bell”  this holiday!

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