Rushing the Season

I don't know about you, but I am always anxious for spring. As soon as February shuts its door, I am ready to greet pussy willows, primroses, and pansies. At the garden center, clerks annually remind me that a long or especially cold snap can kill even hardy cold-weather flowers. I know, but I can't help myself.

My winter wreath is packed in its box, and a circle of forsythia and pussy willows hangs in its place.

Ceramic snowballs are encased in their container, and the spring flowers bloom their place.

Inside my snowflake candle holders and snowmen are tucked into their bubble-wrap blankets. Now monochromatic eggs nest in a pottery bowl.

The cyclamen on the dining room table sprouts pussy willow shoots.

In the kitchen, an angel at an empty tomb announces, "He is not here; he has risen as he said." This tableau focuses attention on the meaning of the season: New life was bought at a terrible price offering the humble recipient forgiveness instead of guilt and hope instead of fear.  What a reason to celebrate!

No wonder I look forward to the coming-to-life of all things bright and beautiful. Let's hope the ground hog was right, and we are destined for an early spring.

Everything English

Now that I am hooked on the PBS soap, Downton Abbey, I am intrigued by everything English. Actually, I mix English, French, Asian, and German-American items to make a uniquely American decor. However, in the spirit of Masterpiece Theatre, I thought it might be fun to look around my home and find the English influences.

When you enter the first piece that greets you is an English dresser with barley twist legs, stretcher base, and William and Mary ball feet. I always think barley twist legs are quintessential British.

In the dining room, British knife boxes flank each end of the sideboard. These are George III ca. 1790 with inlaid shaped fronts.

 In the butler passage between the kitchen and dining room is a built-in dish cupboard featuring green Majolica plates. 

The pattern is a traditional English pattern first displayed at the Great Exhibition in London in the mid 1800s. The Minton Company, then Wedgwood, and other Staffordshire companies also produced the pottery. I bought eight of these in England, and they are stamped Wedgewood. I love the vivid green with its leaf and vine pattern.

The brass coal hod or coal scuttle in the kitchen is also British. One might think this was once a wine cooler, but the cover gives away its use as a way to transport coal from cellar to stove.

I carried the fireplace fender in the living room on a plane from London to Philadelphia, before 9-11.  I don't think such an item could pass the transportation security agents today.

You also might notice a second coal scuttle in this picture on the right. And the painting over the mantel is  a British landscape.

Also in the living room, the British influence continues with the coffee table. This interesting piece was once a Bagatelle game box. The game (a mini version of billiards) which originated in France came to England in 1819, and later became popular in the United States. Supposedly, there is even a picture of Abraham Lincoln playing the game. Nowadays, you can find the British game boxes on stands. They make wonderful coffee tables.

A pair of Eagle brackets are mounted on the living room wall.

One would suppose the eagle motif to be American, but actually these are British oak, gilded for a refined look.

The last British touch in the living room is the mahogany library breakfront bookcase. The Gothic arches in the upper windows nod to its heritage.

Moving on to our library, you can find brass pieces purchased while on a trip to England a number of years ago. I always think that shiny brass shows up nicely against the cherry paneling.

pitcher

watering can

footed bowl

And the final British touch is also in the library.  Sitting next to the sofa is a mahogany canterbury which you might recognize as a magazine rack.

Our home isn't a manor house like Downton Abbey by any stretch of the imagination, but the British influence is quiet comfortable in our American abode.

   

Lamb Stew

Today, I made lamb stew. My husband and I gave it five stars.

Below is an approximation of my recipe.

I began by browning a lamb shank with a teaspoon of minced garlic.

Meanwhile, I put a box of liquid beef stock in the crock pot to which I added:
       a bag of raw baby carrots,
       a half cup of celery chunks,
       about 20 tiny red potato quartered,
and two small onions cut in wedges.

To give it flavor, I added:
        half a cup of red wine,
       a dash of Worcestershire sauce,
       half a teaspoon of thyme,
and half a teaspoon of basil.

When the lamb was soft, I cut it into bite-sized pieces and added it, with its broth, to the crock pot.

About half an hour before supper, I put the stew into a large pot on the stove, added a can of mushroom soup (because it was not thick enough) and let it boil.

During the last ten minutes, I added a bag of frozen peas and salt and pepper to taste.

I served the stew with biscuits and grapefruit halves. It was a warm and filling winter-time meal.
  
Our family has an inside joke about lamb stew. About fifteen years ago, we went to the British Isles with the whole clan. In a pub in Ireland, our daughters ordered lamb stew. Unfortunately, our son opted for fish 'n chips.  

His order turned out to be mediocre, while theirs was superlative--the best they had ever tasted. Well, they ribbed him about what he missed for the rest of the trip and continue to mention it from time to time even to this day.

Tonight, as we feasted on mouth-watering lamb stew, we wished he was here to enjoy it with us. His sisters and the rest of you would have been welcome, too.


 

Snowscape

A winter wanderer spies the English garden hibernating until spring,

tucked beneath its white blanket.

Across the road, a stone entrance bids welcome to the pristine pasture.

Instead, the wanderer chooses to pass by and approaches the hat-covered roadway. 

From inside, the north

  and south riverbanks are postcard-perfect.

But then, the bridge telescopes drawing the visitor back into the wonder of winter.

Fresh Starts, Renewed Goals

Do you love the clean slate of January 1? I do. First, there is the physical overhaul which involves putting away the decorations and sweeping up the pine needles; then there is the transfer of last year's important dates to the new calendar. Actually, both fresh starts are a blessing.

When I am enjoying the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree, I always think that I will leave it up into the new year. However, after the ball drops, I am ready to put away the tinsel and give the house a clean sweep. Similarly, when the calendar flips from December to the new year, the blank pages motivate me start afresh filling my days productively and leave me wondering what events will fill the blank pages.

This year is no different.  As much as I have enjoyed the swaged lights on the fence and the red bows on the lampposts, I am ready for a simpler winter scape. Here is how I changed the house scenery.

Outside the wreath of shiny red Christmas balls was replaced by one of magnolia leaves. In my opinion, the red berries still look festive, but the Burberry ribbon makes it less of a Christmas wreath and more a winter decoration.

On the front stoop, I decided the snowballs could stay, but I removed the red bow on the wire basket.

Inside snowmen replace carolers.

 Snowflakes appear where there were wise men and shepherds.

I left the poinsettias, because the white blooms seem to bridge the calendar from December to January.

Similarly, the white cyclamen repeats the winter's color-scheme.

Just as January brings a pared down aesthetic to my house decor; it also brings a simpler style to my life. No more cards to write or gifts to wrap. Now I can linger over coffee, read a good book, and take time for exercise and contemplation.

However, my new year's resolutions won't tolerate too much leisure. I am freshly motivated to accomplish a writing project begun several years ago. I am determined not to waste a day. Each new morning, I aim to rise early and be productive.

Actually, each new morning is an opportunity to reset. As Anne of Green Gables said to Marilla, "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"


It is easy to set ourselves up for failure in the new year, but thankfully, the Lord's mercies are new every morning, and his mercy triumphs over judgment!

Happy fresh starts, my friends, in your house and in your life!

O Christmas Tree

This year, with our home's post-deluge renovations, I made some major changes to our Christmas tree: Out with the wine and rose-colored ornaments; in with white, silver, and gold decorations. Before I began, I studied Christmas trees in New York City.

and in Washington, DC.

From my observation, there are basically two Christmas tree styles. The first is the over-the-top design where ornaments completely hide the evergreen. A second style of tree trimming, and my personal preference, features the fir.  Ornaments merely adorn, not obliterate, the tree.

Probably the most famous opulent styling uses ornaments produced by the Christopher Radko company.

"As the legend goes, the Christopher Radko Company started with the falling of the family tree. After more than 1,000 vintage mouth-blown glass ornaments were broken to bits, Christopher tried to replace them by looking far and wide in the United States and by scouring Polish glassware markets. His quest did not produce even one replacement ornament...Christopher enlisted a Polish glass blower and together they went to work, trying to recreate his family’s lost heirlooms...Today, after a quarter century..., the Christopher Radko Company has produced more than fifteen million fine European glass ornaments."

Here is a snapshot of a Radko tree found in Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC.

The flagship store also displayed trees a little more simply dressed with branches visible.

After seeing New York's trees, we went to Washington to tour the White House. Interestingly, the rooms of the "people's house" feature both styles.  Here is the official White House tree gilded completely.

Each year this tree features ornaments from around the country. This year the decorations were made by families of deployed troops.

However, in other rooms green firs were center stage with ornaments merely enhancers.  

photo from Michele Obama's bloodspot

After studying the trees, it confirmed my preference for the more simple version. Here is the Christmas tree in our home.

So, whether your Christmas tree features ornaments or the evergreen branches, it does not matter.  Stylists aren't definite, so you can trim your tree anyway you like.

But don't forget the reason for the season. In New York City, angels at Rockefeller Center herald the coming of the Savior.

And the East Room of the White House features a beautiful creche depicting the Christ child's coming.

Aren't you thankful for the foil of Christ's pure light against the darkness in this world?  As you sit and enjoy your twinkling tree this holiday, be thankful with me.