Recent Happenings...

My hubby returned from Chelsea late Saturday afternoon after being relieved from his babysitting responsibility by the grandchildren's maternal grandmother.  He enjoyed his time with them.

Below is a picture of Jerry and Landon at their birthday celebration at a local pizzeria on Nov. 12th.

The grands enjoyed their snow day from school on Nov. 11 and below are some pics of them sledding near their house.

[Izzy and Landon]

Sledding down the hill is so much fun, but walking back up the hill not so much!  

Jeremy and Samantha have seen Rome, the Holy Land, and are now in Greece.  They're having a great time.

Sunday afternoon we went to see granddaughter Brooke's high school performance in Trap [a mystery play].  

 ~ Cast Photos ~

~ Brooke [seated at desk] as Danalyn Morse ~

~ Curtain Call ~

~ Steve, Brooke and Sharon ~

~ Jerry, Brooke and Me ~

The Whitney was decorated in all its Christmas finery last week.  The mansion is beautiful any time of the year, but especially at Christmas.  The Christmas Tea is scheduled for December 21st.  If you're a tea lover and live locally, make plans to attend.

Between the snow and the Christmas decorations at The Whitney, I was inspired to do some Christmas shopping.  I purchased matching pj's in the popular red 'buffalo check' pattern for my granddaughter, Tiffany, and her family.  [With two little ones, Tiff doesn't have time for blog reading, so I feel safe sharing their gifts here.] 

John and Tiffany's are pj's, Evie's is a nightgown, and Juliette's is a onesie.  Matching slippers have been ordered, but they haven't arrived yet.  

  

I even ordered a matching pajama for their Golden Retriever, Oliver!

I ordered a personalized Christmas tree ornament for them too from Miles Kimball.

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend, Linda.  We have been trying to get together for months.  I still had her Christmas present from last year [2018], as well as her March birthday present.  Between my work schedule, and her winter months in Florida, summer months at the lake, family company and a busy social schedule, it was hard to get a date that worked for both of us. We decided it's probably best to suspend gift-giving this Christmas.

She fixed a wonderful healthy lunch.  Have you ever had a beet sandwich?  It was yummy, accompanied with homemade sweet potato fries, and a bowl of Veggie Bean Soup.  

Linda recently attended the Chicago Tea Festival [Nov. 1-3] and she bought home several wonderful teas which we enjoyed throughout our leisure afternoon.

Linda's gifts to me were wrapped and packaged inside a Hudson's [Woodward Shop] hat box.  

~ A Muffin Tin Cookbook ~

A box of Japanese 'Maccha' Pralines [made with Matcha green tea] and a wedge of artisan White Cheddar Cheese rubber with Earl Grey tea.

A beautiful fall scarf and a pair of tea-themed socks.  Thanks for a lovely afternoon, Linda, and all the wonderful gifts.

Have you been watching Season III of The Crown on Netflix?  My hubby and I have watched episodes 1-4 so far.  The new actors portraying the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mum are a bit of an adjustment for me, but I'm enjoying the new season. Lots of tea drinking going on in the scenes and even more of imbibing liquor.  ;-)  No wonder the British poet, William Cowper, said tea is the cup that cheers but not inebriates.

The temperatures the past few days have been above freezing, so most of the snow has melted. My hubby took advantage of warmer temps and raked leaves in our backyard today before we get another snowfall.  Mother Nature took the trees off-guard with last week's large snowfall, because many of them hadn't finished shedding their leaves yet.

Have a good week, everyone!