An early Christmas at the cottage........

We celebrated an early Christmas with my mother and siblings, children and dogs this past weekend at the cottage.  It was a weekend of eating, walking in the snow, gift giving and spending time together........lots of fun!

As a final thought to share with you, my mother gave me these sweet little needle points that she and her mother made together in 1959.  I will have to find a special place for them in my home!

This will be may last post for a bit as we are heading over to Scotland on Wednesday and I haven't even started packing yet........yikes.  Have a wonderful Christmas my blogging friends and see you all in the new year.......... xoxo

gifts from afar.........

Thank you so much to Aina of Modern Country for her generous gifts of the post cards and Christmas stocking.  It inspired me to do a few more little  season touches to the house.........thanks again Aina!

I'm dreaming of a white..........bathroom!

Our bathroom has been a construction zone with a toilet etc. for just about ever.  I dont know when we are going to get around to fixing it but in the mean time a girl can dream.......which bathroom would you choose?

Have a good weekend everyone! xo

A little tree.......

Since we are not putting up a tree this year as, we are away, I thought I needed a little something that resembled a Christmas tree.  I found this rosemary tree at the grocery store and thought.......this will do.  In some ways I won't miss that tree..........let's face it, who loves sweeping up pine needles in July because they always seem to creep up even when you think you got them all:)

Happy Wednesday!

Good Eatin'........

One of the pleasures of cooking for a living is that there are often really yummy leftovers as was the case with dinner last night.  I was cutting up a large piece of sirloin for catering but cut a couple of pieces for my husband and I for dinner.  There was leftover chive and tarragon compound butter which topped our steaks and I served it with a simple but delicious tomato and avocado salad tossed in a greek style vinaigrette.......yum!

To make the compound butter simply soften about a half a cup of butter and mix in a small handful of chopped chives and chopped fresh tarragon.  Place in the centre of a piece of saran wrap, roll it up into a log like shape and place in the fridge until hardened.  Slice a pad of the compound butter and place on top of your cooked steak and let it melt!  This is also quite good on top of a piece of baked salmon or any white fish........enjoy!

Also, head on over to Janet Mallory's blog and check out her very generous giveaway of these gorgeous candlesticks...........I so want them, don't you..........

Have a great weekend everyone xo

A few simple Christmas decorations

I am not putting up a tree this year as we are going away for the holidays.  We will be spending Christmas in Scotland with my daughter and her boyfriend, and then going off to Spain for 4 days over  new years eve.  Its all very exciting............but I wanted a few bits of seasonal decorating around the house to get me in the spirit......fa la la la la..........