Monday, November 28, 2016

Thanksgiving Dinner 2016


Thanksgiving Dinner 2016

I trust each of you enjoyed a bountiful Thanksgiving.


As one can see from the serving buffet,

"the chef" prepared an amazing meal for our 

2016 Thanksgiving Dinner.

As is tradition in our home, 

we pardoned the turkey again this year.


Beef Tenderloin was the main dish,  

accompanied with many delicious sides.

~ Smoked Quail ~ Schnitzel Beans ~ Carrots w/ Fennel ~ 

~ Grilled Sweet Potatoes ~ Wild Rice w/ Brussel Sprouts ~

~ Fresh Baked Dinner Rolls ~

For Dessert ~ Apple and Pumpkin Pies


There were seven 

of us around the table.


A Cinderella pumpkin atop 

a grapevine and bittersweet wreath

served as the centerpiece.



Bethany Lowe placecards offered a

perfect excuse to use the silver placecard holders I

found at the Paris flea market several years ago.

Each a different woodland animal, 

these pieces of the past remind me of the autumn season.



I layered the 

table with neutral linens.


Vintage English bread boards were used

as chargers for each place setting.



Antique silver napkin rings collected from French markets held

  beautiful embroidered npkins from Williams Sonoma.



Once again I chose to use the beautiful dinner plates 

that were a gift from the sweet, generous 

Cherry Kay @ Entertaining Women.

Previous tables set with this gorgeous china

can be found here and here.

Crystal ~ Denby

Flatware ~ Christophe

Steak Knives ~ Laguiole


"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into 

enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, 

confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a 

home, a stranger into a friend."             ~~ Melody Beattie



I'm grateful for each of you,

my readers.


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Monday, November 14, 2016

The Flight of the Monarchs


Photo by MonarchButterflyGarden.net
Excellent information on Monarchs on their site:  http://monarchbutterflygarden.net

Correction
It was brought to my attention that I 

mistakenly identified the butterflies in this post.  

The butterflies I've photographed here are Queens, not Monarchs.  

In my rush and excitement I didn't properly examine the photos. 

You can see in the photo below, with the butterfly wings open, 

that the black veining of a Monarch is not present. 

When the wings are closed, both the Queen 

and the Monarch share this black veining characteristic.

Queens, closely related to Monarchs, 

are often mistaken for Monarchs.

I apologize, I should have noticed because I wrote a 

previous post on Queen butterflies here.  

That said, the information about Monarchs is correct. 





It's late in the migration season,

but Monarchs are here in Austin to refuel as they

 make the long journey to their winter home in Mexico.





Thursday, after my monthly CAMEO meeting,

I noticed my friend's garden was all a flutter.





Dozens of Monarch butterflies

were fluttering from plant to plant to feast

on the nectar of tropical milkweed and other plants.





These beautiful creatures are 

nothing short of little miracles and are the 

only butterfly known to make a two way journey of migration.  





The Monarch's 3,000 mile migration from Canada to 

Mexico and back again has long puzzled scientists.





Dwindling populations in recent years have caused alarm.

The governments of the US, Canada, and Mexico have  

joined in an effort to help save the Monarch butterfly.





Milkweed is the most important factor

in saving the Monarchs, as it is the only food

the Monarch caterpillar can eat, and 

it is the chemicals in milkweed that protect the Monarch.



Austin, recognized as the most wildlife-friendly

city in America, has resolved to incorporate

more native milkweed into the city's landscape.




 Former First Lady Laura Bush 

founded Texan By Nature in 2011.

A community run conservation effort to preserve Texas'

environment,  Texan By Nature has begun a state wide  

initiative to help preserve the Monarch.

Click here to become a Monarch Wrangler and learn

how you can make a difference for the Monarch butterfly. 










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Monday, October 31, 2016

Dia de Muertos ~ Day of the Dead


~ Dia de los Muertos ~

Gatos ~ Day of the Dead, Claudia True
used with permission
http://www.claudiatrue.com
A day Of Loving Remembrance 
Of Those Close In Our Hearts

Dia de los Muertos is an important holiday celebrated
in Mexico and by many who live here in Texas,
In honor of this day, I created a treat table in remembrance.

Home to a large hispanic population,
Day of the Dead altars and celebrations are popular here in Austin.

It is a celebration filled with happiness, the sharing of memories,
laughter, and honoring loved ones who are no longer with us.

Dia de Muertos Altar, Fonda San Miguel
This is the Day of the Dead altar at Fonda San Miguel  in Austin.
Known for its authentic and delicious cuisine of interior Mexico,
Fonda San Miguel also offers diners a unique ambiance.

Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd,
Dia de los Muertos is a time to honor
family and friends, our loved ones who are now deceased.

Families in Mexico go to the cemeteries to tend 
to the graves of loved ones and decorate 
them with Mexican marigolds and altars,
often continuing with joyful celebrations 
in memory of the deceased.

These special altars are also seen in individual homes,
as well as public spaces, schools, and government offices.
It is an important Mexican holiday.

Traditionally, special foods and small gifts are left at
these altars to welcome the spirits of the deceased.

Pan de Muerto, sugar skulls, and fresh fruit
 are traditional items that are left out at the altars.

Photos of the deceased are lovingly placed
among colorful decorations, marigolds,
the special foods, and candles.

Even deceased pets are
often honored at these special altars.

A meal at Fonda San Miguel is akin to dining 
in a fine home or stellar art museum.
The interior walls are hand painted and stenciled,
meals are served on hand crafted Mexican pottery,
and incredible original Mexican art hangs on the walls
throughout the rooms of the restaurant.
If you are ever in Austin, I would recommend you 
experience this fine restaurant.
You can explore more about Fonda San Miguel,  here.

Taking these sweet treats to my friends at Mah Jongg today.
If you are in the Austin area, I highly recommend Smouse Sweets.
You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
More of Claudia True's Delightful Paintings


Gatos ~
Dia de Muertos

9" X 11"

Claudia True

Available here


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