Warm Wishes To You

The holidays  come with a certain amount of bittersweet memories as time goes by, at least for me.
This year I decided to choose a couple of dishes that honor the individual who created them as a soothing ritual.  Yesterday, I prepared my late sister's Southwestern Pinon stuffing (see our cooking blog for the recipe). Later today I will prepare my grandmother's English Date Pudding (also on the blog).  What are your traditions?  No matter which holidays you celebrate, if at all, I wish you peace and happiness.

The gift(s) of art

All my husband and I wanted as holiday gifts from our children was some of their art.  We are so fortunate to have 3 children who happen to be multi-talented artists.  In addition to some crazy and silly gifts, we got some great art!

Two tiny companion paintings from our second daughter.

She remembered that I was excited about my first spotting of a Painted Bunting 

in the garden this year!

These are 3x4 inches each, gouache, framed.

Among other things, my oldest daughter made each family member a magical Hogwarts-esque wand!

Here is mine!

My youngest, who is minoring in photography @SUNY Purchase,

took these silver gelatin photographs, developed them, matted and framed them.

Here she is, with her head  inside a rusted old Chevy on our friends' property,

with her Hasselblad.

Among other things, I was gifted with this fantastic wig.

I wore it all day long!  

I wouldn't mind having white hair if it would ever turn white!

I admit that this wig had a lot of room at the top.  I think I looked like a cross between

Marge Simpson and Marie Antoinette.