I have got to do better on my posting.
I had a lovely Christmas. No fights, no politics, no conflict--everyone in the family got along. It was wonderful. And I received presents of a hand mixer, an electric drill, and two Cracker Barrel gift certificates totaling $300, so that I can buy two spindle-backed white rockers for the front porch of my newly spruced up house.
w00t! :-D
I also had a lovely New Year's Day. I didn't have an invitation to a party New Year's Eve (and I didn't miss it), but I hosted a New Year's Day brunch that went very well. I used my paternal grandmother's china, my crystal stems, and my gold carnival glass compotes with pillar candles, and they set a very pretty table. I had 10 guests, and I made hoppin' john (it has become a New Year's tradition), chicken and dressing casserole (my mother's recipe and the only casserole that my father and brother will eat), fruit salad, and corn muffins, and I served mimosas, sodas, and French vanilla coffee, as well as a selection of Christmas candy for dessert.
Then, I celebrated Twelfth Night this past Saturday, because who wants to come to a Twelfth Night party on a Tuesday? I had 8 guests, because two of my regular guests were walking wounded, and one had a death in the family. I used my every day dishes and green glassware, because I ran out of prep time, and it was easier to use the dishes in the cabinet. I made ranch casserole (essentially, a deconstructed chicken and cheese enchilada) and Spanish rice (an excellent new recipe) and served soda, coffee, and several odd bottles of white wine that I had on hand. The Christmas candy thing went over so well at New Year's that I put out small green sandwich glass bowls that everyone could fill with their personal selection of Christmas candies to set at their places around the table while we played dominoes. I had various glass containers and apothecary jars filled M&Ms, Skittles (my preciousss), Hershey Kisses (milk chocolate), more Hershey Kisses (white chocolate and peppermint), red/white/green Christmas taffy, Starbursts, several types of Ghiradelli chocolate squares--chocolate peppermint, chocolate caramel, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate--and salt and pepper cashews. We played dominoes until after midnight.
I have pretty much concluded that my house is now the party house among my group of close friends. I've replaced the roof, the siding, the gutters, and the windows and rebuilt one of the bathrooms from the subfloor up over the last two years, so my house's exterior and bathrooms are in really good shape. I also have the nicest house (from the standpoint of comfortable furniture, pleasant décor, and a working fireplace) among my friends (although my kitchen could desperately use a remodel), the best sitting (living room and den) and game playing areas (kitchen table, dining room table, and, if push came to shove, room for card tables/TV trays in the living room), and the inclination to cook. Mike used to host some of these kinds of events, before he packed up his apartment in anticipation of a move that still hasn't happened, but, for now, I'm the hostess with the mostest in my immediate social circle.
So, the next social event will be Mardi Gras. I'm hosting a traditional pancake supper (using Cracker Barrel Pancake Mix, which is the best), with pancakes made to order (so I'm going to have to buy or borrow a second electric skillet), as well as sausage, baked French toast, and possibly strata, to give people something to eat while they're waiting on pancakes. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to make all these good Baptists and Methodists wear masks, but I am tempted.
I, of course, will be wearing one. ~(8-)
And finally, I am on a diet. I am fatter than I have ever been before, and I desperately want to be down 25-30 pounds by Easter, so that I can wear one of the many beautiful (but too small) suits that I already own for the Easter Parade.
Speaking of church, I am, once again, going to try to record my Sunday ensembles on LJ, so I can keep up with them. I am so fat right now that I have limited clothes that fit, and I tend to wear the same things over and over again. Fortunately, I have an extensive collection of hats, scarves, leather gloves, purses, and jewelry, so I can hopefully make the small selection of black clothes that fit look different with various combinations of accessories.
I wore a brand new hat this past Sunday (purchased from HatWRKS, a milliner here in Nashville), and I received tons of positive feedback on it, including one adorable gay boy who came up to me and said, (I quote), "I looked up and saw your outfit this morning, and it made me smile. I just wanted you to know that."
Sunday, January 11
Purple fitted jacket
Black turtleneck
Black pants with narrow purple pinstripe
Sterling and dark opal planet brooch (purchased from a silversmith at Dragon Con)
Sterling, gold, and amethyst ring (John Atencio)
Sterling and gold link bracelet (John Atencio)
Sterling, gold, and Herkimer diamond ring (Lilly Barrack)
Black and silver wristwatch
Purple wool Juliet cap with flower embellishment and black veil (Jack McConnell)
Purple leather purse (Betsy Johnson)
Purple leather driving gloves
Purple/magenta/goldenrod fringed shawl
What? I like things that match. So sue me. :-p
w00t! :-D
I also had a lovely New Year's Day. I didn't have an invitation to a party New Year's Eve (and I didn't miss it), but I hosted a New Year's Day brunch that went very well. I used my paternal grandmother's china, my crystal stems, and my gold carnival glass compotes with pillar candles, and they set a very pretty table. I had 10 guests, and I made hoppin' john (it has become a New Year's tradition), chicken and dressing casserole (my mother's recipe and the only casserole that my father and brother will eat), fruit salad, and corn muffins, and I served mimosas, sodas, and French vanilla coffee, as well as a selection of Christmas candy for dessert.
Then, I celebrated Twelfth Night this past Saturday, because who wants to come to a Twelfth Night party on a Tuesday? I had 8 guests, because two of my regular guests were walking wounded, and one had a death in the family. I used my every day dishes and green glassware, because I ran out of prep time, and it was easier to use the dishes in the cabinet. I made ranch casserole (essentially, a deconstructed chicken and cheese enchilada) and Spanish rice (an excellent new recipe) and served soda, coffee, and several odd bottles of white wine that I had on hand. The Christmas candy thing went over so well at New Year's that I put out small green sandwich glass bowls that everyone could fill with their personal selection of Christmas candies to set at their places around the table while we played dominoes. I had various glass containers and apothecary jars filled M&Ms, Skittles (my preciousss), Hershey Kisses (milk chocolate), more Hershey Kisses (white chocolate and peppermint), red/white/green Christmas taffy, Starbursts, several types of Ghiradelli chocolate squares--chocolate peppermint, chocolate caramel, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate--and salt and pepper cashews. We played dominoes until after midnight.
I have pretty much concluded that my house is now the party house among my group of close friends. I've replaced the roof, the siding, the gutters, and the windows and rebuilt one of the bathrooms from the subfloor up over the last two years, so my house's exterior and bathrooms are in really good shape. I also have the nicest house (from the standpoint of comfortable furniture, pleasant décor, and a working fireplace) among my friends (although my kitchen could desperately use a remodel), the best sitting (living room and den) and game playing areas (kitchen table, dining room table, and, if push came to shove, room for card tables/TV trays in the living room), and the inclination to cook. Mike used to host some of these kinds of events, before he packed up his apartment in anticipation of a move that still hasn't happened, but, for now, I'm the hostess with the mostest in my immediate social circle.
So, the next social event will be Mardi Gras. I'm hosting a traditional pancake supper (using Cracker Barrel Pancake Mix, which is the best), with pancakes made to order (so I'm going to have to buy or borrow a second electric skillet), as well as sausage, baked French toast, and possibly strata, to give people something to eat while they're waiting on pancakes. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to make all these good Baptists and Methodists wear masks, but I am tempted.
I, of course, will be wearing one. ~(8-)
And finally, I am on a diet. I am fatter than I have ever been before, and I desperately want to be down 25-30 pounds by Easter, so that I can wear one of the many beautiful (but too small) suits that I already own for the Easter Parade.
Speaking of church, I am, once again, going to try to record my Sunday ensembles on LJ, so I can keep up with them. I am so fat right now that I have limited clothes that fit, and I tend to wear the same things over and over again. Fortunately, I have an extensive collection of hats, scarves, leather gloves, purses, and jewelry, so I can hopefully make the small selection of black clothes that fit look different with various combinations of accessories.
I wore a brand new hat this past Sunday (purchased from HatWRKS, a milliner here in Nashville), and I received tons of positive feedback on it, including one adorable gay boy who came up to me and said, (I quote), "I looked up and saw your outfit this morning, and it made me smile. I just wanted you to know that."
Sunday, January 11
Purple fitted jacket
Black turtleneck
Black pants with narrow purple pinstripe
Sterling and dark opal planet brooch (purchased from a silversmith at Dragon Con)
Sterling, gold, and amethyst ring (John Atencio)
Sterling and gold link bracelet (John Atencio)
Sterling, gold, and Herkimer diamond ring (Lilly Barrack)
Black and silver wristwatch
Purple wool Juliet cap with flower embellishment and black veil (Jack McConnell)
Purple leather purse (Betsy Johnson)
Purple leather driving gloves
Purple/magenta/goldenrod fringed shawl
What? I like things that match. So sue me. :-p