Sunday 6 December 2015

The Weekend....


Friday was a drive to the cottage...
As you can see...another dark dreary day out there...
It was quite warm up near the cottage...but...as you went down the beach to the water, it became very chilly...
The breeze off the water was damp and bone chilling..

I love the colours of the stones when they are wet...

Not as much sand this weekend...
Strange...every visit reveals a whole new look...
It was neat having the waves wash over my boots!!
Thinking of the summertime once again...

Water is still on!! 
If these above seasonal temps continue...we are thinking..

                         ***   NEW YEARS EVE!!   ***
 



My Perennial Sweet Peas look like they have started to grow again!
In December!!
Looks like an El Nino Winter for us!!
Yippee!! 
 

Back at home...
I was readying the dining room for Saturday night dinner guests.. 
I had no decorations up in here yet...so it was quite a tall order for me...
Why am I always surprised when the Christmas Season creeps up on me!! 
Seems like I am never ready!

This year...less is more...for sure!!

My 2 outdoor planters are done...thanks to my fresh greens that I had brought from the cottage last week...
They are lit and beautiful!!
Everything that I brought went to good use...
Even had a few GIANT pine cones for indoors too!! 

My daughter Erika...aka The Flower Lady...brought me a huge bunch of fabulous Lisianthus blooms...

Awesome colour too...minty creamy pale green...some almost an ivory colour...
In different stages of bloom...
I made 4 arrangements from the bunch...Thanks Erika♥️

Dining room table...
Kitchen table...
Powder room...
Living room...
Love these!!

For my dinner guests...I opted for no tablecloth this time...
Used my quilted plaid placemats that I made about 20 years ago...
Some Christmas S&P's...
A few pine cones and shiny things.. 
My Moms beautiful Wedgewood china...
And the Bunny vase that my late Brother Tom gave me...♥️
And of course lots of candles...my passion!! 
 




Aren't these flowers just so beautiful???
With a few boughs of White Pine...perfect!
 



The kitchen table got a bit of a spruce up as well...
A few Lisianthus...some milk glass with candles...
And...
Of course...
My white Pumpkin from Halloween!!
My SIL Jeff brought me that...and it is still looking great!!
A few of my big pine cones...
A couple of red tealight holders...
And...Miss V's window clings in the background...very festive!!
Completes the look...
 


 I had prepared a platter of Hors D'oeuvres...

Smoked Salmon and cream cheese, with capers...
Black and green olives...
Huge green grapes...
Clementine wedges...
Pickled onions...
Savoury Mushrooms...
Dates...
Jalapeno Havarti Cheese...
Pepper Cheese...
Rice crackers and crispy Triscuits.. 
Sliced Kielbasa...
A variety of choices...
Very delicious...
And...it all got eaten! I like that!! 

Dinner was roast beef...roasted potatoes, carrots,onions...
Smothered in some pretty darn delicious gravy...if I may say so!!
We had red wine with that...and a jug of lemon water...

Dessert was a bumble berry crisp with butterscotch ice cream...
My guests said this was excellent...
Oh...and the meal too...
All my hard work paid off...and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...

       
Hope you all had a great weekend too...

Weather here is quite balmy...

With a few peeks of sunshine...

Spent the day tidying up...changed the sheets...lounged and snacked!

And the best is...

We have leftovers for dinner!!

But...this time mashed taters with sweetlet peas...

The beef is warming up in the gravy...

How wonderful is this!!??

Enjoy your evening...I plan to...

                          Cheers!   :o)
                              linda
 

29 comments:

  1. I love those flowers! Kind of a cross between a rose and a holly hock!

    Love that appetizer platter...yummy! And yes, leftovers after being hostess is THE best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are pretty....for sure!
      Not only leftovers for dinner....but enough for a small pot of soup!
      Gotta love it!

      Delete
  2. Gorgeous flowers. I bet they were a conversation piece. I like the feather photo, too. I'm not finding them on my walks these days since the birds want to keep them now. Glad you had a fun dinner party. 'Tis the season. L)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes...my friend said they were her favorited flower! What are the odds?
      Have a great week Deb!

      Delete
  3. I had a friend who was a florist..
    I love lisianthus..your daughter is great w/ flowers..
    me too wet stones..

    wouldn't that be something NYE?

    It's weird though this weather..I want snow now..from sand to snow;)
    Your meal sounds wonderful..we had rb tonight..it's been so long!
    I agree your feather photo is beautiful Linda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Monique...
      I could not remember the last time I made roast beef!
      We have stayed for New Years in years past...would be the best if we had water! Fingers crossed!
      I like snow for Christmas...so beautiful!
      Enjoy your week....

      Delete
  4. your photos are always amazing,, always,, the flower arrangements are beautiful and what a wonderful meal!!I'm fine with no snow,, just a bit on the big day then leave,, lol,,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Laurie....great to have you back...I missed you!

      Delete
  5. That does look like a dark day at the lake, but the beach seems lways interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Furry!
      The beach is always interesting!
      Gotta love a Great Lake,eh?
      Hope you have a wonderful Christmas...

      Delete
  6. Those boots are such a beautiful shade of blue!

    ReplyDelete
  7. First---I would be in heaven at your cottage...the great lakes are so beautiful and 'challenging' in the nastier elements. Our lake is quite large for most, over 100 acres, and we get whitecaps in the winter. Still not as exciting as Lake Michigan or yours. Gorgeous and exhilarating!

    Your dinner party sounds like it was lovely We are the same sort of birds...going all out. Your apps intrigue me...savory mushrooms? And you have so many---do you serve them in small quantities? We have maybe 3-5 but we also go overboard in an abundance of those! lol!

    Your table is lovely!! You throw a wonderful party, Linda!

    Any news on your visit to the states over winter? Its cold in Chicago but we'd have a great time (for about 5 days) lol!

    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jane...
      Thanks for your lovely words about my cottage...
      The appetizer tray that I showed was it!!
      4-5 mushrooms..1/2 dozen olives and onions...one clementine...small bunch of grapes...
      the most was the salmon and cream cheese...maybe 10 slices of Kielbosa...not too much...
      only a wee bit of the pepper cheese left over...which I enjoyed Sunday afternoon!!
      yes...we will be going south early February...
      Hope you come back to see my answers!!

      Delete
  8. Your food all sounds delicious! I have been feeling the same, that Christmas is creeping up quickly on me and I haven't decorated at all inside! I blame this wacky unseasonably warm weather. Just not in the Christmas spirit yet! The flowers are gorgeous! -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't they beautiful!!
      I must get her to bring me something else before Christmas!!
      I will take the warm weather!! You will be very soon!!

      Delete
  9. Beautiful flowers, lovely place settings and the meal? Oh my! Everything sounds so delicious! I am now very hungry!
    Your guests are most fortunate to have the "hostess with the mostest." :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well thanks so much Suzanne! Appreciate that!

      Delete
  10. Well, the hostess with the mostess!! Your flowers are just beautiful....wish I had a "flower gal" in my family!! Things are looking rather festive at home but the cottage.....pretty dismal at this time of year isn't it? New Year's Eve sounds like a lovely idea though for a change of scenery and take advantage of the "no snow" winter so far......love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there Ann...been thinking about you lately!!
      I hope we get to go on New Years...we always have fun there!!

      Delete
  11. Gosh it looks gloomy on the cottage beach ~ looks a bit like Omaha . . .
    Loved the home shots and your guest preparation photos ~ very posh and full of style . . :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Eddie...
      Very gloomy with no sun...same here at home the last few days...but no snow!!
      Thanks for your lovely compliments!!

      Delete
  12. Your table is beautiful! The food sounds - and I am sure was! - incredible too!!! New years at the cottage would be wonderful wouldn't it! xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Lisianthus with the White Pine . . . and some pine cones . . .
    just plain scrumptious . . .
    what a gift to have a flower shop daughter . . .
    love the party touches . . .
    tis the season . . .
    I must get busy . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lynne...
      I have always loved setting the table for guests...never the same...
      Yes...you...get busy!

      Delete
  14. oh good grief!
    who had room after the horsy doovers??? i could have mad a meal on that alone!
    but your table.
    i LOVE how you photographed it. down low. the light reflected in the crystal...
    the colors. and pine with white flowers. elegant. perfect.
    and the mats on dark wood. just exquisite.
    all of it.
    and then the menu! LOLOL! back to your standard i see! LOL!
    love you cc girl.
    xo♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i won't even correct my glaring typo.
      there is nothing in this post that made me mad. :)

      Delete
    2. Love you too Tammy♥️

      Delete

Oh...I do love comments....no anonymous comments allowed...and you know who you are....