Holiday Lights - II

TINY TOWN

The photo tour

As in any year past, it is always the coldest night of the year when we schedule this extravaganza. Even if we went all the twelve days of Christmas, each and every one would be the coldest night of the year. It adds to the ambience. There is a massive bondfire to back up to and get toasty. Then there's the tour to keep you moving...house after tiny house, filled with eclectic collections of toys, yard decor and ephemera. It is a wonderland that tops almost any that I have ever seen.

We had a delightful evening with the Munsons and friends, touring the Tiny, eating chili and watching football. Not to mention catching up with good friends.

I love the holidays, for all those reasons.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Happy December!



When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a posse of Barbies, decked in rodeo gear!

Holiday Lights

Claude's Barn

Illuminated by Clara

What a beautiful sight right in our own backyard.

The lights and illuminations definitely make the season.

Waterfalling

Cody & Cinnamon lead a tour of the falls. Lake Jocassee, Thanksgiving.

What I have to be thankful for...a couple of friends with a new houseboat...a beautiful day in late November...a destination not so far away...and tons of beauty to take in. Oh, and a couple of furry friends to spice it all up.

Well, there is much more to be thankful for...and let me not forget to tell each and everyone thanks for being my friend, my counsel, my moral support, my confidant and for bringing much love and joy to my life.

I am blessed.

Gloss and Glimmer

Glitz and glamour. True confession. I AM a confirmed 'zine-a-holic. The best outcome of that to date is that I have also become a collage-a-holic, so I am a vicious cycle of ripping the pages and reconstituting them into art and other great ideas.. All of that to say, that I still have piles of them lying around and do enjoy trading with friends and moms for scoring more visual stimuli, recipes and good ideas.

Last Wednesday, I visited the Asheville Farmer's Market trying to put the pieces together for a true "Martha" centerpiece of white pumpkins and gourds.



I'm pretty fickle when it comes to 'zine topic, be it food, decor, art, fashion... I may not be a fashion plate outwardly, but I love to see a runway line up and the latest Fall Fashion issue, believe it or not. I switch my subscriptions around just to experiment. It breaks my heart to see the publishing industry taking such a heavy hit in these trying times. It hits me harder than you know.

I love a slick front beautifully photographed book of high advertising, Vogue photo shoots by Annie Leibovitz, one of the greatest photographers of all times, current gossip and events, what to cook for Thanksgiving this year, and so on...

I subscribed to New York Magazine for years just for the weekly crossword and the chance to live vicariously through a "New York" window. My most mysterious 'zine experience has been receiving anonymous "gift" subscriptions to magazines that I most likely would have never ordered. I understand the concept that it is good to read magazines and books that you wouldn't normally read. However, it weirds me out that someone that I may or may not know has bestowed me with "Parents" magazine ( I have no children, only cats and dogs), "Backpacker" (let's face it, I'm an artist and a cook and my idea of "outdoorsness" is camping in a state park and taking a 30 minute walk in the neighborhood) and "Field and Stream" (okay, for as much as I don't mind eating it...I'm just not going to pull the trigger...and I still don't know how to bait a hook!).

One of this month's faves is "Country Living" Nov. '09 issue, which features a great food article "A Southern Thanksgiving" with Matt and Ted Lee from Charleston. (i.e., Lee Bros..Winning the "Throwdown" with B. Flay, Food Network on Nov. 4th, also demonstrating at Wms. Sonoma, Asheville on Sat. Nov. 21st..FYI) I have already tested their Pimento-Cheese Potato Gratin (which they also demoed on "Today" last week). Yum yum. It is a keeper! AND on the T'day menu.

Another charming article by Susan Orlean called "Polishing Silver", I found I related to in the way of loving shiny and dear things. I didn't grow up in the company of silver service tea sets and all that, however, I have inherited several sets of lovely old silver plate that our grandparents used for family holidays and dinners with special friends. I love to polish up these relics for same events with our family and friends. I have also collected a few choice small silver pieces to accent the mantle and other shelved collections to add a shiny glow to presentations.

May your Holiday Season be all aglow with shiny things, great food and loving gatherings with all those you love. We're getting cozy here at Claude's Cove.



It's a good thing!

Autumn Views

painting: Yellow Ground

This was the first of my series of tree paintings from a few years ago. The vision introduced itself to me at this same time of year, when the leaves have fallen and the skeletal elements of the trees stand out in the various dramatic light of an autumn day.

I am ready to take this series farther and in to larger dimensions. I am glad that I have some time to concentrate on this venture and to have the time to enjoy some autumnal outdoorsness. I hope to have a collection to show publicly by spring or summer, and may have found a co-conspirator to show with. This makes me happy.

I have just planted my winter garden with collard green plants and seeds of lettuce, spinach, beets and radishes. The rain came just in time to water it all.

I've been gathering twigs of kindlin for starting the first fire of autumn in the fireplace. This will make the dogs happy. It is a good time of year to concentrate on coziness, hot cider and gathering with friends and family.

Abundance

Postcard from Germany -

Earlier this year, Annie the Nanny left Claude's Cove and journeyed across the ocean to live with the beautiful Lumia Rosamari Mulliganova. Annie traveled to Germany with Lumi's Aunt and Uncle where they had many great adventures while Lumi showed them many sights. I relished in seeing photos of their travels to museums, street scenes, cafes and stunning architecture. Best of all it does my heart good to see what abundant pleasure a visit with a new little family member can inject into the lives of loved ones.

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Last weekend the day finally came to hold little baby Charlie, our newest young family member. What a delight it is to see the family line cross in to a new generation.

Later in the week I had the privilege of making a new friend in sitting with 3 month old Stella. Stella lives in an awe-inspiring olive green house with aubergine trim and lovely views of pastures, animals and mountains. She was a treasure to spend time with. Holding such a loving bundle of warmth and affection, having her gently fall asleep in my lap and absorbing the peace and serenity of her simple nap, gave me such reward to care for this little person.

As the week passed we had the good fortune of visits from two old friends from North Carolina. It was a wonderful time of sharing music, reminiscing and taking in the crisp autumn air on our deck, appreciating long time friendship and the depth it gives to our lives.

This week of fresh new lives blending in to ours , and revisiting rich, long relationships gives us a comforting foundation for enriching our life together.

Pilgrimage

End of September, a crisp, cool fall day. Many years my family has journeyed to the hills of Western North Carolina to acquire mass quantities of the season's freshest apple crop. As a child I rambled through the barns, around the tractors and wagons and scuffled underneath heavy laden gnarly apple trees dodging bees and such.

Monday morning, Mom and I set out for a drive through the Dark Corner and the winding woodlands of the watershed. Out Highway 64 to Ednyville, the road is scattered with roadside produce stands and orchards. Apple trees with limbs bending to the ground loaded with golden and russet fruits.

The Lyda Farm has been our favorite destination for a long, long time. They offer an ample selection of vegetables and fruits. Gigantic pumpkins, winter squash and gourds. Ghostly white pumpkins, pale skinned amd bright orange. Giant cabbages larger than your head. Red tomatoes, green tomatoes, beets and cider. Ah, the pleasure of shopping in an open air market on such a beautiful day, to return home with the reward of freshly grown harvest for the table.

Stuffed Cabbage - it's what's for dinner.
With a side of beets.