Dressing a Tea Shop Window

I've often thought that I would like to be a window dresser.

Well, it looks like know I'm going to get my chance.

My friends at my favourite tea shop graciously allowed me to do their Christmas/winter window display.

I had such fun making all the sweater hearts to add a cosy feel.

Christmas Rescue Remedy

This year we bought a utility turkey for Christmas dinner. At 75 cents per pound, it was a bargain that was just too good to pass up!

But once thawed and unwrapped, the full truth of its imperfections were revealed. What to do?

We decided that surgery was in order, a skin graft of bacon, woven in a basket pattern. Fresh sage leaves were added and then into the oven it went.

Five hours later, out it came. A turkey of rare beauty!

A Merry Christmas to You!

This vintage card sent one Christmas almost 100 years ago says it all:  "A Merry Christmas to you!"

The sender's penmanship is awe-inspiring!

And the two-cent stamp a cheery Christmas red!

Christmas Swags

Here are some of the lovely swags that were made at my 5th annual swag-making event.

Every year, a group of friends come over to make a swag for their doorway or to give to someone else.

We have a lovely afternoon, creating, conversing and enjoying some treats. Some swags are made by friends who live on my street, so I get to see them every day as I pass by. 

 At the end of the swag-making afternoon, it always amazes me how different each swag is from the other, and all so very lovely!

Happy Christmas

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose...

Although its been said

Many times, many ways

Merry Christmas to you...

Music and lyrics by Torme and Wells, 1946

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Christmas Eve

Preparations are well underway for Christmas Eve, the baking has been done and the ham is now cooked and looking resplendent in it sugary pineapple goodness. A lovely collection of scents are in the air.  All the best to you this Christmas Eve!

Christmas at Marie Antoinette

A new decorating store has opened up in Ottawa, located in the up and coming Hintonburg. 

 Their plan is to sell seasonal vintage.  And right now of course it is Christmas! 

 So many beautiful things wherever you look.

Traditional red and green...

to pretty in pink.

Just like fairyland...

such an utterly  gorgeous shop.

A Day with the Impressionists

Spent a day in Montreal with D. visiting the Impressionists at the Fine Arts Museum.  What a lovely collection of paintings. And Degas's The Little Dancer was there to greet us too!  We started the morning with a cafe au lait that was a work of art in itself.

And after viewing the exhibition we revived ourselves with a cup of tea at a tearoom on Sherbrooke Street, just a couple of blocks from the museum.

As we dined at The Commensale, before boarding the train to return home, it was starting to get dark and so we were in time to see the Christmas lights along McGill College Avenue. A wonderful day!

Swag Making Afternoon

In keeping with tradition, two Sundays ago I had my forth annual swag making afternoon.  Invited guests come  to create their own Christmas swags for themselves or to give as gifts.  It is always fun to see everyone so busy, lost in their own creativity. Every now and then there is a pause to take refreshments and enjoy some conversation while sipping on a hot apple cider or cup of tea and munching on some holiday baking. Then it is back to work!

And it's even more fun to survey everyone's efforts at the end. No two swags are ever the same!

Returning to the Scene

A few more photos of McGill College Avenue with its Christmas lights, taken a week after the last one posted on December 29th. This time it was late afternoon as I passed by on Sherbrooke Street and there was a whole different atmosphere to the scene.


It was a chilly damp day, the kind that makes you want to stop in at cosy cafés for a hot drink. Lots of stops at lots of cafés along the way.

Montreal at Christmas

A rosy warm glow of red and orange lights covering the trees and flowing down McGill College Avenue in Montreal.

Indulge in a Tasty Treat

Now that Christmas is done, take some time to relax and enjoy all that baking that you did in preparation for the big day, or the baking you may have received. Whichever the case, indulge yourself with a plateful and a nice hot drink, a good book and either a cosy fire to nice view to the outside. The point being, to rest and relax a little and treat yourself.