Snowflakes That Stay on My Nose and Eyelashes-A Few Favorite Things

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I have told this story before but...While buzzing through Trader Joe's one afternoon, trying to beat the crowd, I was appropriately in the freezer area when I came upon a sweet little one tucked into the front of a carriage who was singing her favorite holiday songs.  Suddenly she broke into My Favorite Things in full voice-how could I not join her!  it is my favorite too and of course it has been in my head all this week!!.  So with  apologies to Julie and Rodgers and Hammerstein..here are a "few of my favorite things"...just in time for the holidays--

Raindrops on Roses...

 

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Get me back into the garden--without the weeds of last summer please.  One way to keep my fingers in the dirt is to plant bulbs -I have containers with amaryllis, paper whites, hyacinth...all over the house.  Good sources for all things bulbs Living Gardens,  Eden Bros. and  John Scheepers, ...and if anyone is listening--- on my garden book wish list is Flowers from Carolyne Roehm

Whiskers on Kittens---

 

 

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Truth be told I am a Puppy person but all things with paws need love.  This season visit a shelter and maybe rescue a new friend for the New Year! or make a donation to your local shelter to help them care for displaced and homeless paws.

 

 

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Bright Copper Kettles---

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My favorite time of year to be in the kitchen is winter. Some of the cookbooks on my Wish List include: The Model Bakery Cookbook,  Deb Perelman's  The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook,  Donna Hays' Seasons , Valerie Gordon's Sweet Bouchon Bakery ,Heirloom Cooking With the Brass Sisters: Recipes You Remember and Love, The girl & the fig cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Acclaimed California Wine Country RestaurantDorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours and anything from Ina! Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust

...and while we are talking books at home

Warm Woolen Mittens---

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I'm a Knitter don't forget so this is MY favorite Thing thing.  Give me a basket of yarn and a pair of needles, maybe an classic old movie and a comfy chair and  call me in the spring!  I have not knit a pair of mittens in forever but maybe with all the snow we have been having The Let it Snow Mittens should be my first WIP of 2014??

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up with String---

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Anything wrapped and presented is always a happy thing--and YES it is THE thought that counts so THINK before you wrap it up!  but I love a beautifully wrapped package almost as much as what might be inside!  As for the String Thing of course that would be in the form of pearls of course!

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Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes---

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Aren't you glad Pretty is back!  Of course for some of us an elegant dress with a perfect bow has always been the happy dress!  I have a few fashion books on the wish list this year: Diana Vreeland  Memos, Charles James: Beyond Fashion,
 Dior Couture ,Grace: A Memoir, Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style, In Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine 

YSL velvet dress, "Paris rose" satin bow, Haute Couture Collection, FW 1983. Photo by Gilles Tapie.
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Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes---

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 We have had our first real snow followed by bitter cold and another snowfall which covered up all the ice so not quite a holiday card view underneath it all.  I like the frosting kind, just enough to dress the trees and maybe enough to build that snow-friend-a date for New Year's perhaps?

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Silver white winters that melt into springs---

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Winter is often the season we hibernate and snuggle in, and for me that means curling up with the knitting and a stack of books.  I love a snowy day but I also love those days when the melting begins and small signs of spring like the snow drops begin to appear. 

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Sadly for many winter is the most difficult season, so many without the warmth and shelter we take for granted, and they need our help!-please remember those in need as you count your favorite things this season.  
May the the holidays be filled with joy and peace!

Boston Common at Twilight, by Childe Hassam, 1885-86

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad.

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