Happy New Year from KC

We just returned from a late afternoon visit to the Country Club Plaza.

We stayed and watched the full moon rise. How beautiful!
A safe and happy New Year to all. M.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

It is Christmas evening and our suitcases are packed. We are ready to head to Kansas City and wouldn't you know it ... they are having the worst snow storm that they have had in 120 years !?!?

I'm trying not to stress and have a melt-down. It is what it is and we can only accept what might happen due to the storm. We are traveling prepared. So far our airline has managed to do things that has me muttering things I can't or shouldn't write. We had seats assigned, then we didn't. Now we do, but we aren't together. I can deal with that. Our son was able to check-in on-line and print his boarding pass, but my husband and I have been instructed to check-in with a United representative. We must be a security risk. Probably something to do with what I was thinking when I found out our seats had been assigned to someone else. Then we decided to "pre-check" our one bag and save a couple of dollars. They managed to charge us for 3 bags and then require us to go through a "request for reimbursement" email to be reimbursed. It just keeps getting better. Since I don't fly that often, these are probably common occurances and I just don't know it. At least, that is what I keep telling myself.

I would like to take a moment and thank all the wonderful people who given my creations a new home over the past year. All of you who have stopped to say hello and have been so supportive. All of my friends and family that have made it possible for me to keep doing what I love. I appreciate all of you so much. So with that said, I'm ready for some time off. I'm ready to enjoy time with my family; to rest and have some fun. So until I return - Happy New Year! M.

Goin' to Kansas City ...

As some of you know, I am a Kansas girl - born and raised just south of Kansas City. Just after Christmas, my husband and son will join me on a long over-due visit with family and friends.

One of our first stops will be to visit the Country Club Plaza and take in the beautiful light display. Visiting "the Plaza", as it is fondly referred to, is one of my most favorite childhood memories. Since I have a December birthday, my treat was to go see the lights, all the animated window displays and have a special dinner with my family. It is so beautiful and I can't wait to share it with my husband and son. This is the 80th anniversary for the lights and it is truly worth the time to visit it. (Picture from visitMO.com)

My next "have-to-see" is this gal, Debbie Dusenberry, at her fabulous shop, Curious Sofa!!!

When we first had the idea to make this trip, it took me about - oh 2 seconds - to think about a visit to Curious Sofa. I follow Deb's blog and enjoy see her imaginative vignettes. After hinting to this trip in a post last month, a couple of KC area bloggers asked if we could meet and get better acquainted. I am hoping to be able to coordinate a "Girl's Day Out" with my cousins with a visit to Curious Sofa and a meeting with my blog friends. Hope I can pull all this off! (Mary and Beth, I will be in touch when I know timeframes - probably mid-week!)

Then, last- but certainly not least, we will make a short trip to south eastern Kansas to spend some time with my BFF Sharon who finally made it back to Oregon last summer. We had such a wonderful time and hope to take up where we left off last summer. We have know each other since 1st grade and were college roommates. Doesn't get much better than that! There aren't many people left that have know me that long!

In between all these little trips, I hope to visit, visit, visit with my cousins Beth and Leslie. I will finally get to meet Beth's husband and son. Can't wait. I will also spend some time with my Aunt Letha and cousin Debbie. So much to do and so little time. I know it will go fast but it will be worth every second. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share when we return. Hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly. Remember to take time to breath and enjoy the season. M.

Yummy Cranapple Pie

Most people that know me very well know that I like almost anything cranberry.

Covered in dark chocolate, dried, relish, etc.

There is an exception to that - cranberry scented candles. Not so much.

After my parents married, my Grandmother Shields taught my mother how to make her cranberry pie. Eventually, my mother taught me and I thought I would

share our recipes with you!

There is just something so bright and cheery about cranberries. So Christmasy!

Here is my version with apples. My mom's original version follows.

Apple Cranberry Pie

Pastry for a 9-inch, 2 crust pie I use a deep pie plate 'cuz I like it mounded up.

2 cups or one bag fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup granulated sugar I have used Splenda in this recipe and it works fine.
Water to cover
Another ½ cup sugar after they are cooked and drained.

4 cups, peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples (+ or – a few more if you like a mounded pie)
1-2 Tablespoons lemon juice

¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg or to taste

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a heavy pot, add cranberries, sugar and enough water to cover. Cook over medium-high to medium heat. Stir until the cranberries “pop”. Remove from heat and drain through a sieve or colander. Add the ½ cup sugar and set aside. My husband prefers that I leave this extra sugar out. He likes it tart!

Peel and slice apples. Place in a bowl. Sprinkle and toss with the lemon juice. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine sugars, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the apples and cranberries. Mix well. Turn into pastry-lined pan. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust and cut small slits in top crust. Seal edges. Sprinkle top with last tablespoon of sugar. Place pie on a sheet to avoid sticky syrup from dripping on your oven. I use one of those round pans with a hole in the center. It’s what my mom did, so I do it!

Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 and bake another 45 minutes or until the syrup and juices start to ooze from the edges. You may want to cover the edges of your crust with foil to keep them from getting too brown. You can bake a little less or more, depending on how soft you like your apples. I like them soft, so I bake it a little longer.

My mom used to make just cranberry pie – no apples. She doubled the amount of cranberries and added more sugar. She would use a slotted spoon to remove the cranberries from their cooking liquid and place them directly into the pie crust. After securing the top crust and cutting slits, she would sprinkle a little sugar over the top. This makes it crunchy! I have made it this way too, except I drain the cranberries well before placing them into the pie crust. It’s less juicy and messy. Depends on what you like!

If you would like a story about my mom’s cranberry pie, then visit my December 5, 2007 blog post. It is quite memorable! Hope you try the pie and let me know what you think! M.

And the Line Just Kept Going ...

Last Friday morning was the opening of an Old Fashioned Christmas

at Monticello Antique Marketplace. Diane (Molly Mo's), Elf Patty and I waited until just

after noon to visit and see if we needed to tidy our space.

It looked like a whirlwind had hit our space and

the line to pay for purchases went out the front door and onto the sidewalk!

I've never seen anything like it. Every one's response was overwhelming.

Many thanks to you all. We appreciate your continued support.

These are a few more pictures of our space.

This is a new item this year: the 12 Days of Christmas.

Each little "pocket" holds a holiday message and a corresponding trinket.

This guy is one of my favorites. I love his vintage hat.

Next time ... my recipe for an old family favorite ...

Cranberry Pie! M.

It's Almost Here ...

An Old Fashioned Christmas at Monticello is coming soon!

We are set up and ready to go.

Prepare yourself ...

we added RED ! So hold on to your hats/wigs/whatever.

It challenged our creamy, soft palette, but we

held our breath and did it!

More sneek peaks soon! M.