Fabulous CHRISTMAS Pumpkins. . . . . .

. . . . . . . they are as fresh and firm as the day I brought them home, just 

harvested, from HERE, the Johnson family farm in Angier, NC, back in September! 

Many have been roasted, part of delicious veggie plates and rustic

vegetable tarts, others pureed into robust soups, with several bags 

stashed in the freezer to pull out when something hearty, homemade 

and delicious seems right on a cold winter night.

Now I'm integrating several of the pumpkins into my Christmas decor - I just 

cannot say goodbye to them. . . . .yet!

I decided silvery pumpkins would be stunning but I didn't want them glittery or shiny.

Looking through the cans of spray paint at Michael's - and yes, they're now kept in 

a locked cage due to bad customers opening the cans and spraying the paint on 

counters and fixtures to check the colors - it was a hard decision between a mirror 

finish and brushed nickel. 

The latter won and I am thrilled with the outcome. I used my grey-green pumpkins, 

taping off the stalks before spraying - but this particular paint has primer in it so 

one quick spray over any color should work, and it dries within minutes to the 

soft silvery glow I was looking for, fabulous.

These are new candles for Christmas. Have you priced tapers lately, 

they've become quite expensive, and I required six for this pair of candelabras 

from SuzAnna's Antiques. I found these last week - two boxes of six on a sale table 

at Bed, Bath & Beyond - most were primary colors but these chocolate brown ones 

were perfect for me, and at just $4.99 a box I have six to burn and six spare ones for later.

This is the particular paint I used - what do you think?

I'm sure you'll agree the pumpkins are having a great time 

here at the cottage. 

Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now Christmas - they continue to 

bring much happiness and a special glow to our home for the holiday season.

Other than picking up a few fresh greens next week, my decorating for the 

holidays is done, both inside and out.

Moving on to other things now - never a dull moment.

How about you?

Downtown, where all the lights are bright. . . . . . .

. . . . . . and enjoying a new bakery was fun!

Clear and cool Friday evening , l'heure bleu just kicking in, and we headed 

downtown for a quick 'staycation'. 

We had to use up an about to expire free Hilton Honors voucher award and, with 

no time to head out of town, we decided to stay in town and enjoy the lovely

evening with the locals. 

Our later evening included a delicious dinner at a popular restaurant, followed 

by an outdoor nightcap on the terrace of an Irish pub close by the hotel. . . . . . . . . 

but prior to that we discovered this brand new Patisserie which opened last week.

Lucette and Grace, daughters of the owner/chef, have their names up in lights in the city! 

Their daddy named his very attractive French patisserie after them.

The offerings here are fantastic, plenty for the sweet tooth and some tasty-sounding 

breakfast savories when you stop by in the morning. We managed to slip in a late 

teatime treat - and shared this fabulous marzipan and raisin apple tart with excellent coffee.

Bob got comfy in the window. The ambience is definitely bright and welcoming, 

exposed brick walls, bright yellow Tolix-style French chairs/stools, a large 

wood communal table if you bring in your own group of friends, or just to sit at

 and meet new friends. The staff was very pleasant and helpful.

While I was enjoying my tart, I just couldn't help thinking how wonderful this 

place would have been years back. . . . . .  .when both of us worked literally a 

stone's throw away, my office on the left, Bob's around the corner to the right.

Raleigh was so different then, a French bakery was unheard of here. . . . . and 

other than a few good typically southern breakfast biscuit places, suddenly I found 

myself, an Englishwoman no less, in a part of the country where tea seemed only 

available in a huge glass, and it was iced - which of course was definitely not my 

way to enjoy a teatime cuppa!

If you're in our area be sure to stop and enjoy a sweet treat here at LucetteGrace.

Christmas around the cottage . . . . .

I'm terribly busy and rushed but I did manage to do a lot of decorating 

in the past few days. Thought I'd share a few pics before I rush out to 

another Christmas concert. Granddaughter Jasmin has a solo today, 

the concert is at her old elementary school. We love to go back and 

visit with the teachers as well as hear the music!

How are you doing with your decorating?  

I'm late visiting and commenting, forgive me - will 

try hard to catch up soon.