Ten on Ten: January

A photo taken every Hour, for Ten consecutive hours, on the Tenth of the month. You can read more about it here.



Chilly way to start the day - even the morning dew was frozen




Little K's Bento Lunch




Bench Monday: Stand on a Bench, Wear something pretty, Extra points for live props, Double points for chickens. Come join the fun




Yep - I'm a hugger - one of my favorite Christmas gifts




A quite corner




12:00 already - where does the time go?




Baxter - he's a Red Bellied Parrot and it's his 14th Birthday this month




All the Christmas decor packed up and put away - except for one (Argh)




Creativity tools




Salisbury Steak for dinner

Party Refreshments for Nancy Drew and her Clue Crew

Now that it's the beginning of a new year, talk has started around our house about what kind of party Little K will have for her Birthday this year (in March).

That made me realize, that I never finished posting about her Nancy Drew Birthday Party from Last year! Yikes - I guess a little thing like picking up your family and moving them to another state got in the way.




So here we are, with the Old Fashioned Luncheon Menu for our Nancy Drew Super Sleuths:



Deviled Eggs and Mini Pigs in the Blanket



Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches - with the crusts cut off. The paper bands are made from coordinating scrapbook paper and add a little color to the plate.



We had to have a Layered Jello Salad. I found a vintage mint green Tupperware mold on e-bay. You can't tell in the photo, but it's actually 4 rainbow colors of jello layered. It was a pretty hot day, and the whipped cream started to melt down the sides and covered the layers.



Cheese and Fruit Cups



Veggies and Dip



And a Beverage Station with Pink Lemonade



Bottles of Root Beer



And little Jugs of Water embellished with paper bands



After a hard day of Super Sleuthing - the girls enjoyed a relaxing picnic on the lawn.


You can see other elements of Little K's Nancy Drew Birthday Party here:

Invitations, Sweets Table, Decorations, The Perfect Outfit, Mystery Game

French Toast Souffle' Casserole

I've been making this Breakfast Casserole on Christmas Morning for many years.

Even though it's only the 3 of us at our house, opening packages tends to take up the better part of the day, and the last thing I want is to be in the kitchen and miss all the fun going on under the Christmas Tree.

This recipe is perfect. It's put together the night before and the flavors blend together overnight in the fridge. Then I just pop it in the oven an hour before we are ready to eat.

FRENCH TOAST SOUFFLE' CASSEROLE

approx. 16 slices of stale white bread (cut into cubes)
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
12 eggs
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup real maple syrup

Grease a 9 X 13 pan. Place bread cubes in pan. Beat cream cheese, eggs syrup and heavy cream together until light and fluffy. Pour over bread cubes. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Drizzle with more maple syrup. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes until set (cover with foil after 25 minutes of baking to prevent over browning)

Even though it's a casserole, it acts like a souffle' and will come out of the oven all tall and puffy, and will deflate over time. The recipe is also very forgiving. I always forget how many eggs it takes, and this year I didn't have a full dozen, so I only used 8. I was also short on heavy cream, and substituted low fat milk, and it turned out just fine. I have added fresh fruit before baking (blueberries are great) and sprinkled with cinnamon and raisins or powdered sugar.

I like the fluffy middle parts. Gary likes the crispy corners, and Little K like the edges with a little bit of each. Something for everyone.

Happy Holidays!


The original recipe credit goes to a co-worker Nicole Bishop. It's from a cook book put together by the employees that worked in the Men's Buying Department at the Sears Corporate Offices in Chicago.

The Holidays Around Our Home

We have been collecting Lladro figurines since we were first married.



Our First was this Bride and Groom - a gift from my sweet hubby on our Wedding Day.



We also started purchasing an annual Lladro Christmas Bell that first year.



Over time, they have changed styles of bells and added new shapes.



Nestled in with other simple pastel ornaments and tiny pearl lights.



Twenty years later, we have quite a collection. Enough to warrant a separate Christmas Tree dedicated solely to these beautiful bisque porcelain pastel colored treasures.

Our new house has an additional fireplace in the Office/Family Room adjacent to where the Lladro tree is displayed. So that means I get to create an all new mantle display.

I was totally inspired by the mantle Susie created in her home, and used many of the same elements.



I had these beautiful Mercury Glass Candle Sticks from a dinner party a few years ago, that I knew would work perfectly with the Pastel Winter Scene I wanted to create.



Using mostly items I already had on hand, and a branch from the neighbors Ash tree that was hanging into our backyard (thanks Walt), I was able to create a simple Mantle display to coordinate with the Lladro tree.



I found these vintage looking glass ornaments at Home Goods. They are huge, and in the perfect assortment of deep pastel colors.



One found it's way onto the mantle.



And the rest hang below from white organza ribbons.



The crystals on the candles sparkle like fresh fallen snow.



I have some snowy white birds that I may still add to the branches (just like Susie did). But for now, only a few tiny glass ornaments adorn them.



An old tarnished silver trophy filled with glittery hydrangea adds a little contrast to all the shine.



The completed Mantle.



Across the room there is another snowy scene. Vintage looking paper houses just like I remember being under the tree as a child, and a collection of bottle brush trees.

Most are new reproductions, but the green one is from when my husband was born over 50 years ago (on December 17th). A gift to my mother in law during her stay in the Hospital at Christmas time, that she has since entrusted to me.

It's not Christmas yet, so that means I have a few more days to do some more decorating. I'll be back later.