Christmas All Through the South: Colonial Williamsburg

It’s Christmas week, what better time for the Novel Bakers to share a wonderful book from Southern Living: Christmas All Through the South!  Not only does this book include tempting recipes (and not only extremes such as Martha Washington’s Great Cake with 4 pounds of sugar and 40 eggs), inspirational decor ideas, and essays from southern writers on such diverse topics as…

Read More

Christmas Shopping With My Traveling Tote

Hello friends of the Traveling Tote Adventures!  Since last we met I understand that my tote, Miss Rosie, took the opportunity to tell you of our summer travels (here)!  She was so pleased with herself that she then retired for the winter to a life of rest and leisure, and my other totes, Miss Posie and Dot, joined me for…

Read More

Dessert with The Novel Bakers: Forest Feast Gatherings

The Forest Feast Gatherings is filled with easy recipes and simple ideas for entertaining and creating ambience for a party, and includes several menus for party buffet bars, including a Breakfast Taco Bar and a Grilled Cheese Party.  There are also complete menus for different occasions.  The dessert on the Winter Feast menu was so tempting, and I decided it would be easily…

Read More

The Novel Bakers Present: A Forest Feast — Gatherings

~~ now that I have your attention ~~ Yes, the recipe for this deliciousness awaits you when you open the beautifully illustrated, latest addition to The Forest Feast series of cookbooks by Erin Gleeson:  The Forest Feast Gatherings.  I hesitate to even call it a cookbook, for it is more like a book of art, and it is a pleasure…

Read More

Lights and Bulbs

I’d like to start with a very big THANK YOU to all of my blogging friends who sent well wishes, comments, emails and even birthday cards (I LOVE to get real mail!) to help me make the leap from 59 to 60!  It was truly painless and actually quite enjoyable, as we spent a little vacation time with family and…

Read More

Pumpkins, Scarecrows and My Birthday Giveaway

When the leaves of the Japanese maple outside my kitchen window turn this color, I know the frosty fall nights have arrived.  I love the feeling of the crispy air and the colors, and although this year fall has been slow in coming, and leaf color has been predicted to be less than ideal due to the drought, Mother Nature…

Read More

Novel Bakers: The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living

Have you ever met a fictional character whom you wished to slap?  ~~ hey, girl, get yourself out of that bed and from under your married-with-children/old enough to be your father boss because you should know by now that this is not going to end well ~~ That’s what I was feeling on page one of the latest Novel Baker’s choice:…

Read More

Polka Dots Alfresco

We’re having weekend guests soon, the kind of friends whom we’ve known all the way back to the days when I might have worn an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini!  I have long graduated to a one piece with lacy coverup, running to the water and back out again to the safety of my towel.  But I still LOVE…

Read More

Where’s My Tote?

CHEERS! My traveling tote has been enjoying her summer travels,  and now she and her fellow totes want you to have some fun too, trying to guess where they have been.  So tell me this: In what city are Miss Rosie and I enjoying this Sam Adams summer ale? Visit all six traveling toters to guess where their totes have been.…

Read More