Tuesday, November 27, 2007

O By Gosh, By Golly...


... it's time for mistletoe and holly, y'all!

Or... if you're a visitor at Freeman House... it's time for sugared cranberries dunked in fizzy, sparkly drinks or straddled atop steaming, frothy mugs. And how happy are we? How happy are we to swirl our sugared cranberry sticks and watch candles burn and snuggle close as the stars come out?

I should tell you: I'm a big proponent of sticking ordinary things on a stick, dusting them with sugar, and passing it off as tremendous creative kitchen effort. Like the weekends I make golden cubes of french toast, thread them on wooden skewers with whole strawberries and slices of banana, and dust it all with powdered sugar and serve over a pool of Blackburn's Syrup. Pretty things just taste better, don't they? Especially when they have their sugar coats on.

Anyway. After putting another 1300 miles on my Jeep, I'm back in snowman's land. And you should hear (and feel) the wind. I keep telling myself, as I button up my cranberry red coat and head outdoors, that I'm walking into a world of blowing, wet sugar flakes and will be as wonderful as a sugared cranberry stick in a world of champagne. But the truth is, I already miss Freeman House and her pretty delights and sweet moments.

But o by gosh, by golly: it's Christmas time no matter where we are! It's time for mistletoe and holly! And as the wind wails and whistles outside this cold, cold window, you can hear me, right? You can hear me as I whisper "Merry Christmas"... to you...?

Christmas is not a time nor a season,
but a state of mind.

-Calvin Coolidge

8 comments:

laurel said...

Wow, Brin, those are beautiful pictures. I love the glossy red berries against the white china. Beautiful. And yes, I love that about you...how you make simple things absolutely exquisite. Reading your blog makes me happy :)

Anonymous said...

I love the beauty of you and your blog, but especially how I LEARN something every time I read it!!!!! I'd never read those lyrics to the Sinatra song; maybe I've heard them but now I'll really hear them!

You are a gift every day!

Anonymous said...

Ooooh..makes me want to get out the cranberries and make some french toast..hadn't thought of sticking french toast on sticks but sounds wonderful!
So you are on the road again, I'll try and catch up..
We have snow and yesterday the temp dipped to -34C with the windchill factor...can you fathom that??

Unknown said...

I agree, food just tastes better if it's pretty! I love cranberries and am famous for my cranberry pie but have you noticed how high those sweet berries are this year, almost $3 a bag here! It's crazy! I figured you were back in the land of Oz, keep warm dear heart! Looking forward to more tales from the flat land! LOL

Becky K. said...

I love the French Toast Kabob idea. Things really do taste better when presented in a lovely way.
Bundle up and stay warm!
Becky K.

Anonymous said...

I love the cranberries idea! That would look beautiful at my party next week!

Brambleberry said...

Pretty things *do* taste better. Every time. :)

Such lovely words, too

Kissing of the Frogs said...

Brin,
I found your blog and I just love it. I also love your dining room set and can't believe how much you paid for it, you're GOOD! I enjoyed my visit here and will come again.
Nice to meet you,
Rose