Thursday, December 15, 2022

A quick roundup for a busy day ----------

 


No snow here as had been forecast earlier, boohoo! Slow falling, soaking, 
dreary rain today, all day, then some cold, dry weather all next week and
 for Christmas.


A beautiful loaf and big surprise from a dear friend this week. 
Last evening with cheese it was delicious with a good bowl of
 homemade pumpkin soup (the last of the season as I've used all
 my cooking pumpkins). Note the jar of 'Pumpkin Spread'
from Trader Joe's - this was gifted with the bread and it is so
 good.....slightly spiced and good with both sweet or savory nibbles.


Fiona is glad for her snug scarf.


Above, the re-potted yet again amaryllis bulbs - now several years old - in 
November.
Below - today - two at least have sprung a bud under the watchful eye
 of Diana the Huntress!  Perhaps some blooms will surprise after the holidays
during the bleak days of January.




The Christmas Cactus purchased last week is opening its sweet buds
 already and looks wonderful. I tucked it into my vintage ice bucket 
which makes it spectacular on the dining room table.

Off soon to do some needed grocery shopping.
Cashmere sweater and warm booties weather at last, with a rain jacket
 to throw over today, perhaps even a snug hat/beanie and a scarf.






13 comments:

  1. Dearest Mary,
    You don't mention the vintage starched collars that are draped around Diana the Huntress...
    Lovely Christmas cactus and your Amaryllis bulbs are doing their very best for surprising you once again!
    The baked bread with the spread sure was a lovely gift.
    Did you knit Fiona's scarf?
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  2. Your gifted bread looks like such a treat. Hope you had good success out shopping. My local grocery has been advertising my favorite butter for a good price. Problem is they never have any and are not giving out rain checks. Plan B for the Christmas candy. 😏

    I'd trade my weather for yours!

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  3. A home-made loaf of bread is one of the nicest gifts I can imagine! And to combine it the way you did would be just my cup of tea (or soup, in this case).
    It's been snowing here for a couple of days now and below freezing temperature, with a further drop in temps forecast for the weekend. But - it is December, after all, and to be expected this time of year. It just seems we were so spoiled by the warmest October on record and a relatively mild November that we now find it hard to cope with the cold, especially as we are all trying to save energy at the same time.

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  4. The bread looks wonderful. Our snow from last weekend has hung around all week and has resulted in pavements covered in lumpy, uneven ice which is not good to walk on. We're promised some damp, dreary weather by Christmas though!

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  5. Fiona is a dear! How lovely to get treats from a friend. We're presently enjoying a nugget of home-made panforte left by one of ours.

    Your cactus looks perfect in the ice bucket; aren't they just made for one another? I wish you some pretty snow and blooming amaryllis in time for your Christmas photos :)

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  6. Bread is a wonderful gift, so delicious with soup. My amaryllis is likely to bloom in the new year, too, and I don't mind having something pretty to anticipate after the festive season. I baked shortbread today and peppermint bars, two Christmas staples around here. We are anticipating snow on Sunday through Wednesday, and then rain before Christmas, so it will not be a white one.
    Fiona is very cute with her scarf! Happy weekend!

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  7. I don't think we have ever had pumpkin spread in Australia. Does it look like peanut butter?

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  8. Oh the bread looks so tasty! Pumpkin spread sounds interesting too! Sunday again and I hope you will have a lovely Christmas week....
    Titti

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  9. The bread and pumpkin spread looks so wonderful.
    Love the cactus in the ice bucket for your table; so beautiful!
    Enjoy the season and stay snug and warm in your cashmere sweater.
    sending love, m

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  10. Lovely, Mary. I adore home made bread!
    Yes, we’ve had a cold snap here in South Devon and the roads were like an ice rink on Saturday…lots of accidents. Now it’s warmer…and wet!
    Take care and keep warm! X

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  11. I really enjoyed reading your "Quick Roundup" post! It's always nice to get a glimpse into someone else's day-to-day life, and I appreciate the variety of topics you covered.

    As I was reading, "Walmart Airbed Policy" came to mind. It's interesting to think about how something as seemingly mundane as a return policy can have an impact on our daily lives.

    For example, I appreciated your mention of using a Walmart airbed for guests. Walmart's lenient return policy can make it easier to try out different products and find the one that works best for you. And it's always nice to have a comfortable place for guests to sleep!

    But as you pointed out in your post, there are also more important things to focus on than the minutiae of everyday life. It's important to stay connected with loved ones, prioritize self-care, and make time for the things that truly matter.

    Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Your post was a breath of fresh air!

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I would enjoy reading your comment - thanks so much for stopping by.