Nutcrackers and a New Year!

Happy New Year! Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015.

Sorry for being so late, hope everyone had an enjoyable time ringing in the new year.

Burt always enjoys celebrating and doesn't miss an opportunity to indulge in some good cheer. He was invited to a costume party this New Year's Eve and decided to dress up as a Chimney Sweep. He said in some countries they symbolize good luck for the coming year. In all honesty, we thought he looked like a wild west gambler or Herr Drosselmeyer (sans eye patch) but who are we to judge?

It probably started with the Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann. Burt is a big fan of the book, especially the one with Maurice Sendak's illustrations. Who could resist a Rat King with seven heads?

Early in December, Burt unpacked our Nutcrackers. They used to sit on the steps of the stairway but with two cats, a dog and several clumsy humans around the domino effect became a constant occurrence. So we gave up and relocated them to the top of the wardrobe in the dining room. 

Naturally Burt had to join in the fun and give it a try.

Careful now, you don't want to hurt yourself!

Oh, no!

Tape, such a joker.

At last, all safely lined up.

Recently Burt volunteered to stay with the pets while we went to see some other Nutcrackers.

Every year The Paine Art Center (an historic home turned into a museum in our town) decorates its rooms for the holidays taking inspiration from the Nutcracker. This was the first year they allowed photography! I couldn't believe they were encouraging it, even suggesting that we post our photos on social media. Here's Nick, our son Andy and his girlfriend Kristin at the entrance to the art gallery.

This is normally where art work is displayed though out the year, but during the holiday season it is transformed into a setting for live music. I wonder how long it takes to trim that tree?

Each of the rooms have an illustrated reference to the Nutcracker story. 

Those of us who do not normally have a mustache were able to borrow one,

which left the one who is already in possession of one to take the photo.

The dining room, obviously the realm of the Sugar Plum Fairy.  

It's hard not to like a room full of sweets.

Next door the Breakfast Room is filled with beautiful white trees. 

These people really knew how to start the day out right.

I have no idea how these trees relate to the Nutcracker story but I think they should consider selling them in the gift shop. Seriously, I could use a red and gold forest on my mantel. 

A closer look, because you can never get too much of a good thing. Great table, too.

The great hall where excerpts from the ballet are performed, unfortunately we missed the dancing.

The Minstrel Gallery that once overlooked the great hall, lined with golden trees.

There are many more beautifully decorated rooms and more photos (by someone not using her phone because she did not know about the new policy) that can be found at thepaine.org.

Once again, best wishes for the New Year! Sorry for being absent for so long! We have been experiencing a bit more than our usual amount of celebrating this year. Between the road trips, the holidays and birthdays I've really fallen behind, but I hope to catch up soon. Thanks for visiting!    

As for Burt, he's catching up on his beauty sleep.

Happy Holidays!

I don't believe the holidays are here already, where did the time go?

Luckily, Burt showed up to give us a hand with all the preparations.

He always has a lot of holiday spirit and comes prepared to enjoy himself!

 Putting up the tree is always an exciting event.

Looks like Santa's in for a surprise.

This year only half of the decorations were on the tree before it fell over.

Looks like the second time was the charm, so far! What would we do without bungee cords?

After the tree mishap Nick and Burt decided they might have better luck making Sandbakkel cookies.

There's lots of ways to flavor them but Burt loves cardamom, you can see it in his eyes.

Of course Burt takes in every aspect of baking very soberly .

Filling the Polish Tea Cakes or Ciastka Zkoniserwil or Ciastka Do Herbatki before they cool.

They taste great but does anyone know what they're really called?

Nick showing off his technique for rolling out the sugar cookies dough.

Burt did the decorating and timed the baking. Is that a pink reindeer?

The cooking baking results were, let's say varied. Does anyone know how that happened?

   

Burt has a favorite recipe of his own and enjoys getting into character while making them.

(Isn't that eye patch a little bit redundant though?)

Guess it's Yo Ho Ho, along with Ho, Ho, Ho.

Sorry for being absent for so long. Looks like Burt got us back on track just in time for Santa's visit.

At least I think the milk and cookies are for Santa or could Burt be helping him out this year, too?

Best Wishes of the Season and Happy Holidays Everyone!

It's all about the lights!

It's that time of year again, when it's all about the lights.

Natural light is scarce and L'Heure Bleue is not just a perfume.

Hours are spent in freezing temperatures putting them up.

Risking life and limb illuminating the rain gutters. 

To keep up with the neighbors.

Eventually all that skill and perseverance produced a nice display. They can't be seen from space and they don't flash in time to music but there's enough so it looks festive and fits in with the rest of the block. They're energy efficient lights and on a timer to keep the power consumption to a minimum. I do not want to be around when they discover that half of that string across the top front isn't working!

What is it about fairy lights that makes them so endlessly fascinating?

Is it the different colors, shapes and sizes? Burt thinks bigger is always better.

We always end up going with whatever is available and on sale. How about you?

It's easy to get too wrapped up in the whole experience. Please don't try this at home, he's what you call an exBurt. Did you hear Chinese media regulators have banned the use of puns, wonder why?

At the end of the day isn't it just all about seeing things in a new light?

How do you decorate with lights? Do you go all out or keep it simple?

Cooking and Other Questionable Holiday Practices

Autumn is definitely over for us and it's about time!

Looking at my poor garden all brown and dead was starting to get me down.

Now that Mother Nature has tidied things up, it's time to party. 

In anticipation of the upcoming holidays Burt has been cooking up a storm.

Yes, even fruitcake. He doesn't add any of those weird, hard rubber-like squares of citron or plasticized cherries. It's all dried fruits and nuts, kind of an appropriate recipe for him. 

Of course his favorite part comes at the end, dousing it in cognac. He's a little behind this year, it needs to sit in the fridge for a least a month for all the alcohol to evaporate. Guess it will just have to wait until Christmas. It's a cake Nick looks forward to enjoying during the holiday season and luckily for him it lasts a long, long, long time. It's really not too bad after a couple glasses of port though.

Hmmm, which does weigh more? The bowling ball seems surprised.

Meanwhile, onto the cranberry sauce, another one of those questionable holiday dishes. At least it looks pretty and I have to admit that it wouldn't seem like Thanksgiving without the aroma of it cooking in the kitchen and seeing that ruby glow. If it's not on the table at dinner everyone asks where it is but considering how much is always left over, I'm not sure if anyone actually eats it!

Can you guess the special ingredient?

Finally, something almost everyone will eat. Nick made the pumpkin pie while Burt supervised.

Mad Hatter to Mad Scientist? Subtle difference.

The next challenge, adding a leaf the dining room table and rounding up enough chairs.

There's always something that turns up unexpectedly, thankfully this time it was only a catnip mouse.

Catnip always gets the attention of the resident bad kitty.

Come on Burt, no teasing even if he does deserve it for jumping on the table!

All finished and ready for overindulgence. Good job Burt, Mr. Carson would approve.

Now we just have to keep the kitties off the table.

Of course it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without some football games! The important ones for Burt and friends aren't until this weekend. The rivalry between the Universities of Wisconsin and Minnesota has been going on since 1890. For the first fifty years the trophy was a called "a slab of bacon", now it's an actual axe. Burt got out the music for the fight song and is boning up for the big game.

So what are your favorite holiday indulgences?

Do you have any great vegetarian recipes, seriously I could really use some!

. . . and so it begins!

 Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today from Burt and his crew!

Thanks for visiting.