DRINK

This wine glass is never empty.  I painted it about 3 years ago when as I called it "I couldn't find peace in my head.  As I started to paint I recalled all the flowers in my flower bed, and I do love flowers. It's so amazing how one little seed can make such a beautiful thing, or how a ratty old plant can become beautiful  with just a little care.   My head was now full of my best friend and her sister planting lilies and laughing so hard, my son putting in apple trees, my  kids and grandchildren asking "Can we pick a Basket of flowers?" I  often just get out all six of them and go to my peaceful place/.  They will never be just be empty glasses to me and the grandchildren often asked "Grammy can we drink out of your magic glasses.

Drink

I was able to attend a lovely tea last night with some wonderful friends and found (with some help) this shot of a glass of water and a candle.

Drinks

Bonjour de Nice. About to enjoy a cafe from ancient coffee maker.

Drink

One of my old favorite stomping grounds to grab drinks - The Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station.

Drink

A nice glass of wine by the fire? You are all invited!

Drink

A strange look was received from the waiter as I reached into my bag for my camera instead of reaching out for a glass of wine.

Drink

"Hot" tea

 

 

drink

Frozen Hot Cocoa - a most delicious oxymoron!

Drink

My son has decided we're going to "juice" every morning.  If you think this juice looks vile, you're right!  The taste matches the color...yuck.

Drink

The New York Times is keeping pace with our theme this week, check out many great holiday drink ideas to serve, or be served!

Drink

I basically stick to wine (and champagne) but we do stock a few items for guests.

Drink

How do you make a spiral cellar full of wonderful wine/champagne look fun!!  Fiddle and here it is.  Jeanann and Richard will be chosing/tasting  from here at New Year!!

Drink

So, yes, I cheated, very sorry....I took this photo on Saturday night!  Richard and I hosted a drinks party to say Kwaheri (Goodbye) to our friends in Dar es Salaam as we have, very sadly, left Tanzania for good.  We set off yesterday for Australia via England as Richard is not well and will need medical care not readily available in Tanzania in the future. The actual photo is not so good....but the subject matter says it all!!

Drink

My favorite drink for the holidays is Peppermint Tea.

And if you are interested learning how to create heart shaped bokeh in the background
of your own photographs, I posted a tutorial on my blog last year HERE.

Eat

A hungry little hummingbird at the feeder in my back yard. 

Eat

Saving the best til last - French Silk Pie on a Sunday night!

eat

Half of this banana bread gets eaten while it is still on the cooling rack.  It's just THAT good.

Eat

To eat is to nourish.

Eat

My dog wanting to eat my dinner...badly!!

Eat

These three little kittens found us about a month and a half ago. They have been sleeping under our front porch ever since (probably because we feed them).  They certainly like to eat!

Eat

California roll - my favorite sushi.

Eat

Today I was spoiled with a baby "sprinkle". The cake was almost too cute to eat!

Eat

We saw James' cousins, Madeline and Brady this weekend.  They turned a whole one year old last week!  Here they are with their yummy birthday cakes.

Eat

It's a homemade popcorn, football watching kind of day.

Eat

One of our favorite places to eat in the summer time. It is closed for the season now. It has a little history to it, it's the oldest same family owned restaurant in the United States. It's been around since 1870.... We have even had a sneak peak at the trap door they used to sneak alcohol in during prohibition! And it has a mean clam chowder too!

Eat

It isn't Christmas at our house if I don't make peanut brittle!

Eat

Just a yummy sample at Irati's tapas bar in Barcelona.

eat

They said your dog cannot get splinters from an antler.

Maybe someone should tell my dog....

 

 

Eat

Yesterday we took guests to Gongo, a village about 12 kms from Kisampa. Gongo used to be famous for its coconuts, but they have recently cleared lots and planted pineapples. There are so many pineapples that they are able to eat them whole.  These kids showed us how.....

Eat

I was lucky enough to have my mom in town this week to spoil me with delicious dinners. While I rarely order chicken when I go out to eat, we were assured that this would be one of the best. And we were not disappointed - here is the amazing roast chicken stuffed with foie gras that we had at an incredible NYC restaurant. Mmmm...

Eat

EAT five a day!!

Eat

Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I took a picture like this for a lady for her website and I wanted to try again with something a little different.

Eat

Christmas Goodies!

Eat

Tis the season for lots of tasty treats!

Eat

First of all, I'm posting an INTERESTING food photo rather than a beautiful photo.

This is the candy shop at Disneyland - yesterday they were making English Toffee and we found it fascinating!  

This photo shows the hand dipping of the chocolate. 

  

And if you want to see the other steps in the process and the final product, click HERE.

Eat

A friend bought me breakfast the other day. French toast with fruit. Yummy!

Eat…...

…..garlic for flavour, garlic for health

Eat

Chocolate covered Mega-Stuf Oreo pops!

Winter

Winter is my brother helping me hang Christmas lights. 

Winter

I liked my neighbor's idea of winter....

Winter

Paperwhites enjoying some December sun, Christmas cannot be far off now.

Winter

This is what Macy's in NYC has to say this Christmas season...

Winter

Warmth in a window - and a chill in the night.

Winter

A Winter's Afternoon at Hever Castle lake where Anne Boleyn was brought up.

Winter

For me winter usually means time to break out the bigger size pants.....

Winter

Gingerbread houses and hot chocolate.  You can't do that during the lazy hazy days of summer!

Winter

Spent the last week in Tucson, Arizona, with one set of grandparents.  Not too much winter there.  We visited the town of Tombstone, one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West.  The town prospered from about 1877 to 1890, during which the town's mines produced $40 to $85 million in silver bullion, the largest productive silver district in Arizona. Its population grew from 100 to around 14,000 in less than 7 years. It is best known as the site of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and now draws most of its revenue from tourism.  This stage driver is bundled up against the cold desert weather waiting for paying customers to take a ride.

And for the update on our Marching Sundevils, they did a great job at the SCSBOA Championships, coming in second behind the band that never loses.  I think the head judge that consults with their field show has something to do with that...  Anyway, to see the show go here.  I'm sad that the marching season is over, but maybe now I can do other things too.  It was an extremely busy, but fun, two months.  Glad you enjoyed it too!

Winter - Jeanann

In our part of Africa there is no winter, but we do get rain. This week, on the day we were travelling to Dar es Salaam there was a huge downpour and the road turned to a quagmire.  We were the only car that made it to the other end that day....and at times it was pretty hairy.  I think we only made it because Richard used his rally driving skills (and enjoyed the trip immensely).  I was holding on most of the time but managed this photo which gives a sort of idea of what we had to go through for 39 kilometres!!  Eight years ago when Jackie and Rob had their furniture sent here in a truck.......it got stuck close to here and didn't move anywhere for a month!!

In fact a swarm of bees even took up residence in the truck!!

Winter

Couldn't resist posting one more photo for Winter.  

The caption that popped in my head as I was editing this newborn portrait was a line from 

Clement Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

"And mamma in her 'kerchief and  I  in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap"