I'll be the first to tell you that it is not yet the Christmas season, but bear with me on this one. As the Biltmore Estate in Asheville is one of our favorite places, we have always wanted to see the Christmas decorations there. But who has time for extra travel in December?
Thankfully, the Christmas festivities begin at the Biltmore in early November, so we were able to squeeze in a trip over the weekend. We already had our tickets (an awesome gift from my sister), so we just packed a bag and headed out.
This bag, actually. I finished sewing it on Thursday evening, just in time. It is practically perfect in every way for a weekend trip.
We got lucky with the weather, which was fairly cool on Friday but lovely on Saturday. We walked for hours around the estate, checking out the leaves and berries and hardly missing the usual flowers at all.
We took tons of pictures and ate great food. I wore my red coat and felt fancy the whole time.
Saturday evening, we got to tour the house at night. There were trees in almost every room and fires in all of the 47 fireplaces. We especially loved the choir singing in the atrium and the real spruce in the dining room that must have been 30 feet tall and smelled amazing.
It definitely felt magical, being there at night. I have a real love for Christmas lights on outdoor trees and at one point I told Steve that it felt like we were about to get engaged. But we're already married, which is obviously way better.
We came home yesterday feeling like we had taken a real break from all our responsibilities for two whole days. Which was exactly what we needed.
Don't worry though- everything was still waiting for us when we got home. But today I have worked down my to-do list until it doesn't look so large and scary and I feel like I can tackle the week ahead.
I'm working on six scarves this afternoon and hoping my weekend companion gets home on time so that we can have some more fun.
Tomorrow, I'm making soup! I'll be sharing the recipe in case you want to make some too!
Despite my best intentions, I was unable to get pictures of all the projects I've been working on this week. Possibly because I never wanted to stop working long enough to get the camera out.
We're seeing fall out the windows here today and I love it. We woke up before the alarm went off and are brewing up hot drinks and packing our bags for a little weekend adventure.
Speaking of hot drinks- I think it is important that I give you an honest report on the Hot Cider Nog that we made last weekend: I thought it was a little gross. I had a three sip limit on this beverage because it was just so thick. After we made it and I poured most of mine out, I remembered that I don't actually like Egg Nog and that the "Nog" in the title probably should have tipped me off.
Live and learn. We heated up some straight apple cider to cleanse our palates and it was mighty tasty.
It seems that all the days between last weekend's Cider Nog and today are just a blur of needles and thread and meetings and paperwork, but upon looking at our pictures for the week, I did see this one of Steve conducting our annual neighborhood homeowners meeting.
Did you know that Steve is the president of our HOA? He did such a professional job with the meeting this year. I'm always so proud to be associated with him.
We also spotted our first ever deer in the yard this week! I think that deer are especially beautiful animals. This one was a six point buck, probably on his way to breakfast somewhere.
To be perfectly honest, my impression of the craft fair is that it was not so much an amazing business opportunity as it was a fun way to spend a Saturday.
The fair took place in two large rooms. There were about 50 vendors, selling everything from jewelry to Christmas ornaments to Mary Kay cosmetics. And, of course, hand sewn goods.
We counted about 200 people that walked by our table during the show. My favorite part was when someone would pick up a purse and try it out or admire the hand stitching on a burp cloth or compliment my choice of fabrics. Since I sell so much online, it is a treat for me to watch people interact with my products and take note of what they like or what they would change.
One example is that three different people mistook the pink birds baby blanket for a table runner. They were each really sad when I told them it was not. Note to self: make a bird table runner.
It was really fun to see people we knew and I was so appreciative that friends were willing to stop by to support us in our first craft fair!
We also had a great time chatting with Lou and Ashley, best friends who were selling jewelry right next to us. Their stuff was gorgeous and I spent at least half an hour coveting Lou's amazing boots and wondering if I am cool enough to pull off boots like hers.
I started hankering for some barbecue sometime around 10:45am. I started hinting that it was time to eat somewhere around 11:15. At noon, Steve sauntered over to the other building to get our lunch (he was obviously not as hungry as I).
When he came back with a delicious box of goodness, I remembered that I wanted some pictures of the barbecue men, so I sent him back over with the camera.
He said they refused to pose, so this is all we got.
Preparing for the fair gave me some great momentum that has continued on into this week. I'm working through a major list of projects and will share some pictures and details in a few days!
We had so many things going on over the weekend that I am going to give each of them a separate blog post so that nothing gets left out. A run-down on the craft fair and some other events will be coming later this week, but first let me tell you about our visitors.
Can you believe that precious face? Talk about a cute house guest.
It was great to see our old friends, Korey and Rose, over the weekend, and to get to spend some time with Maxwell, who was just a wee little thing when they moved away last year.
Now he is a person, and a delightful one at that.
He even helped Steve rake leaves, as you can see.
We had so much going on that we didn't get to spend as much time with them as we'd have liked, but I am thankful for easygoing friends who understand.
The weather was great and felt just right for fall. It was cool enough to need a scarf, but not a coat, and that is my favorite kind of temperature.
Maxwell did a great job of capturing our hearts with his smiles and hugs. We had a bit of time for visiting and game playing, plus they all showed up at the craft fair to say hello! What sweet friends.
Last night, while looking at the coming week in my planner (a Sunday evening must), I got very excited. Almost unnecessarily so. There was nothing really exciting or out of the ordinary written in the squares (except for a romantic getaway coming up), but I felt that the week was somehow full of promise and potential. Quite a nice way to start a week, I think.
I've got lots more to share, so come on back tomorrow for the next installment!
There is a six foot table set up in our dining room, covered with bags and belts and pillows and scarves. It appears that we may actually be hosting a craft fair right here in our own home. Which would be very cozy, but probably not get a lot of foot traffic.
It is thrilling to see so many things that I've made all piled up together like this. I love having tangible evidence. Of anything. I love doing housework that you really notice. I love mowing the lawn- instant gratification. So, of course, my favorite part of sewing is the finished product.
Tonight we will load all of these finished products into the car. Tomorrow, we will drag ourselves out of the house before it is light outside and attempt to set everything up again. I don't know if we can get a church fellowship hall to look as cozy as our dining room, but we're sure going to try.
I've been working on some limited edition Christmas pillows and am taking a few samples to see how they do. These are going to be a part of my new party line of products that I'll be sharing more about in the coming weeks.
Along with the craft fair, we have friends coming to stay this weekend, which we're super excited about, and about a million and three other things going on. It feels like the holidays already and I don't mind a bit!
Hope your weekend is happy and festive! I'll meet you back here Monday!
Does anyone else love hot drinks as much as I do? I honestly get sad every year around April when it begins to get too warm to be clutching a steaming mug in my hands. And I don't even like cold weather!
We have some old faithful, tried and true hot drinks. There is always lots of tea which, thankfully, I am now able to enjoy with my half British husband.
There is also much hot chocolate, which I used to make from a powdered mix (oh the shame!), but now will only make from scratch. Here's the recipe we use-
Hot Chocolate
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
Dash salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups (1 qt.) milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. (6 servings)
Last weekend, we added homemade chai lattes to our repertoire. I altered Southern Living's recipe a bit and have shared my version below-
(Also, please note the picture from the magazine and how prominently that pound cake appears in it- can you blame me for having to make it?)
Chai Latte
Ingredients: 2 cups 1% milk
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced
dash anise seed
1/4 teaspoon whole cloves or dash ground cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 regular-size black tea bags
Directions:
Bring first 8 ingredients and 1 cup water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Add tea bags; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher, discarding solids. Serve warm or chilled over ice. (5 servings)
On the docket for the coming weekend is another new one- hot cider nog. This was Steve's pick, but I'll admit, I'm intrigued.
Hot Cider Nog
Ingredients: 2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
1 cup apple cider
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup bourbon (optional)
Sweetened whipped cream
Garnishes: cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, apple slices
Directions:
Whisk together half-and-half, milk, apple cider, eggs, sugar, 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats a spoon. Remove from heat; stir in bourbon, if desired. Top each serving with sweetened whipped cream. Garnish, if desired. (8 servings)
What's your favorite hot drink?
Today I am busy getting ready for Saturday's craft fair. I'll share some pictures tomorrow of all the great stuff we're taking!
*today's blog pictures courtesy of Southern Living and Hershey's*
One evening over the weekend, Steve and I decided to make chai, from scratch. There was a recipe in the newest issue of Southern Living that I'd been dying to try.
After we'd cleaned up from dinner (leftover minestrone), I opened the magazine to find the recipe and get started and there it was- a very appealing picture of a mug full of chai, sitting next to a sweet potato pound cake.
I said, "Steve, I think we should make this pound cake to go with our chai. I have all the ingredients!"
Steve said, "Tonight?!?"
We spent the evening moving between working in the kitchen and watching shows on Hulu. At one point, I was mixing the cake batter while Steve sang the German national anthem. In German. All three verses.
Then he said, "You know, this is probably how a lot of people picture our weekends- you baking a cake while I sing to you in German."
When the cake was finally done (about an hour after our usual bedtime), Steve commented that it was a good thing that Southern Living hadn't featured a rack of lamb next to the chai recipe.
Aside from making sweets, we also made fabulous tuna melts, played outside in the leaves, took scarf pictures, and schemed up things for the upcoming holiday season.
Since it's finally turned chilly here, we are making hot beverages like it's our job. On Thursday, I'll share some of our favorite recipes so that you can make some for your own thermos!
