Maple Sugar

Christmas in Dixie

Ah...Christmas has come and gone. It was lovely, and filled with fun, and lots of food from Ina's Barefoot in Paris, which I have NO pictures of, because we ate dinner in the evening and I still haven't figured out the flash thing. I need to try the diffuser like a kind soul recommended.

But I did the brussels sprouts lardons, and the herbed new potatoes, and a gruyere souflee, and caramalized shallots, and boeuf bourguignon...my favorite. And Ina is right, it totally tastes better the next day.

So everyone's gone now and I'm left with that empty feeling that I usually get, and hate. It's even worse this time...for some reason I feel a little bit bad about Christmas this year...like it came and went and I didn't even notice. Like I half-hearted everything, like I got too busy and tired and never really relished my friends and family. Like the holiday flew by and I didn't get to do most things I wanted to...like I didn't get to enjoy it.

It's just that, I appreciate my family and friends so much , but I didn't get to show it in the rush rush rush. When did Christmas become more about what you are doing than who you are with? And what you are celebrating, for goodness sakes. Sheesh.

I guess it's just that quiet time, for all of us now. For reflection and pondering what on earth just happened over the past several weeks. To all my friends and family, especially those I don't see often enough...I love you and you truly fill my life with so much joy.

xoxo
Rebekka

Mmm.

Why must Restoration Hardware always have such beautiful, beautiful things this time of year that I really freaking want? For example, these Versailles Flannel PJs, priced at $129. "A print worthy of Marie Antoinette..." the catalog says. Oh, don't even.

And these, Wellies. The cornflower ones.

This herbal tea garden set, with chamomile, mint, and lemon balm seeds. Actually, I would buy this for Mary for Christmas if we didn't decide to not give each other gifts.

And, hellooo...foot duvets!? Need I say more!?

And this wooden sled...look how beautiful! This is for my future children, whomever they are, for the one day a year we actually get enough snow to go slipping around at Love Circle park. The crafsmanship...this is the kind of sled I can really get on board with!

Hope all of you are having a great week and are getting increasingly warmer and fuzzier as the holidays approach! I know I am!

shhhhh

I've been working hard on my Christmas gifts...it's down to the wire around here. Getting close. Here's a little hint.

Tree time

So here she is, our sweet little tree. On top of the rooster, our loving nickname for my dream car, the '91 Volvo 240 wagon. Literally, my dream car. We bought this car a few months ago to deliver wedding cakes. Oh, well. I love this car.

This is Steve, our roomate. Yes, ladies, he is single. I know, he is a cutie.

I'm so bummed out that I missed Kathleen's ornament swap this year. I got the most beautiful ornaments last year...this was my favorite. I don't even know who made it now. Are you out there...could you perhaps be reading this? If you are, I love it love it.

And I love these Christopher Radko ornaments...I really want to start collecting them. They are so beautiful, and so expensive. I'm fine with the knockoffs too...I'm actually not sure if this is one or not...it was given to me by the sweet family I babysat for last year. I love them...so classic. We're getting in the spirit now buddy!

Alabama Thanksgiving

It was marvelous! So marvelous that I didn't feel like toting a camera around everywhere I went. So here's a quick recap: Thanksgiving at my Uncle Robert and Aunt Peggy's farm in south Bammy...it was lots of family, old and new. So good to see people I've really been missing. Turkey drumsticks and a whole pig! Fresh chicken eggs, homemade muscadine wine, and golf cart rides. Falling out of the golf cart. Bonfires and fireworks. S'mores and lemon squares. Hammer dulcimers and harmonicas. Home grown satsumas and persimmons, beaujolais nouveau, and the finest southern hospitality one can find. (even a reunion concert of the band Ishta, featuring their greatest hit, "It's Thanksgiving on Friday." haha!)

Thank you, everyone, for making it such a special weekend. I truly miss all of you already!