Friday, December 20, 2013

Over the River

... and through the woods... to the west side of town we go.  On Wednesday my sweetheart and I headed to Bridgeport Village to the .. (cue harp music here) the APPLE store.  Mecca.  The place full of elves in red t-shirts with white apples on the front.  Where we picked up my secret xmas gift.  o<[]:{D 


I've been a devotee of Apple from the day we bought our very first Mac SE - the cute little box shaped thing that opened our world up beyond what I ever dreamed.  Who would have thought we'd go from that little box to a computer/phone you hold in your hand?  I've attended 3 MacWorld Expos in San Francisco, which is like trick-or-treating for free things like software CDs, t-shirts, mouse pads, etc.  I also visited mecca, the Apple campus at Cupertino, and got to buy a few cool things in their gift shop, like a leather laptop bag and coin purse which I still use. Nothing will dampen my ardor for this company and it's products.  Long live Apple!  :-)  OK, I'm calm now.  


Bridgeport Village is a really nice place.. lots of cool shops and a fountain and theater, etc.  I was charmed by the little Santa's cottage set up in the plaza and the giant, beautifully decorated tree.


There was even an elf by the tree!  Not really, this little girl was posing for her mom.


Then yesterday we were invited to Dayle's sister's house for a holiday luncheon and visit.  Dayle tried a recipe for bread that a lot of bloggers are trying.  You make the dough the night before, let it rise over night, then bake it in a dutch oven that is pre-heated in the oven. 


I can recommend this if you love crusty bread with a fine grain inside and only FOUR ingredients.  


We headed out yesterday for his sister's house with warm bread and 2 little snow jars.  Darlene's home was decorated beautifully for the holiday.. the tree was gorgeous!


The mantel had a collection of glass candlesticks and vintage style Santas.



Darlene and Bill had a gorgeous ham in the oven and made cheesy potato bake and green beans and bacon on the stove.  When it was ready, I cut the bread.


The bread was a success, crusty, fine texture inside and good flavor.


We were so impressed with the ham, that we're going to get the same one (from Costco) for our Christmas dinner!  It was delicious!  Dayle's other sister, Eileen, brought an apple blackberry pie for dessert.  A FEAST!



From left, Bill, me, Dayle, sister Darlene, sister Eileen and Bob.  Fun times!



I had to snap a photo of the fresh fruit centerpiece.. the grapes were yummy!


Pretty.



I didn't get a good shot of their adorable dog Zoey, a Labradoodle, Bill heard me say I didn't get a photo, and last night he sent this to me.  Can you say awwwwww?  She's so cuddly!


I had to show you my vintage Advent candelabra that I found on eBay.  When it arrived here it had no bulbs or candle rings.  I found those online and here it is in the family room bay window.  I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying seeing it as I pull in our driveway at night, beckoning me home.  


Bad news about my other candelabra.. the dog jumped up on the windowsill, pulling on the cord and toppling it to the floor.  I found it last night when I noticed it was not in the window.  I was so sad, as it was a bit bent and not working.  The guys did some "fixing" and I put in all new lightbulbs.  It worked, but it was way too bright.. then poof, all the bulbs burned out and turned black.  I have no idea if we can fix it.  Silly electronics.  

Anyway.. we have a low key weekend planned.  I will be spiffing up the place and we have to go buy a salmon.  I am hosting my blog friends for a luncheon on Monday and I'm providing a smoked salmon main dish.  The girls are bringing salad, bread and dessert.  

If you are a NW blogger and want to join us next time, email me and I'll let you know when we meet for lunch.

❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ 

((hugs)), Teresa :-)   

27 comments:

  1. The bread looks absolutely delicious. Glad you had such a lovely meal. And you're right, that doggie is adorable!

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  2. Teresa,another perfect post. Thank you for all your acts of friendship during the months we have got to know each other. Happy Christmas dear friend and all the best to you and yours for 2014 xx

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  3. That is one cute puppy, Teresa. What's her name; she looks so much like my Ben!

    S
    xo

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  4. WOW! YUM! AWWW! BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for your cheery post, Teresa :) xx

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  5. The bread sounds very good! Might try it after Christmas. Sorry to hear about your one candelabra :(
    LOL--good thing I ate this time BEFORE I saw your latest 'edition' of yummy food!
    Blessings,
    Aimee
    PS: Sorry if this makes less sense then usual. We have had our youngest granddaughter staying with us and she is talking to me as I type this :)

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  6. Merry Christmas. I adore that large tree and the train set just finishes it off. So glad you had a fab time.
    That,s what Christmas is about.
    Rosezeeta.

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  7. So what did you buy at the Apple Store!?!? I'm so curious Teresa!? You can ask me to mind my own busy, silly me. Love your post and that meal at your sister in-laws house looked scrumptious! They have a lovely home. Love the idea of a 4 ingredient bread. I'm going to look for the recipe. I wish you guys a great weekend, xoRobin

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  8. Glad you got you wished for present Teresa. The bread looks delicious as does the meal. Enjoy the pre Christmas weekend x

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  9. I'm dying to know what the secret Apple store gift is????? Any hints or is ita secret to you too? Yummy looking meal, lovely family and great pics. Next time you visit, can you please kidnap Zoey and send her over here - her and Quincy would make a rather cute ' couple'.

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  10. PS .. something strange happened and I didn't finish what I was going to say. Just wanted to wish you a happy day with your friends on Monday. We're having Christmas dinner here at my house today as youngest DD and her hubby are leaving tomorrow for 2 weeks on the coast while his work is closed down for the break. Will have another Christmas dinner on the right day - I'll be going to other DDs place for that. Must be off now- turkey needs to go into the oven. xoxox

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  11. Wondering how you use the candle lights for Advent. I know of four candles, one for each week of Advent, but am not familiar with the kind you have. Might it be the traditional seven-branch menorah?
    Thanks.
    :)

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    1. In Scandinavia this time of year is the electric Advent candle sticks with seven lights representing the days of the week. They were first manufactured in 1937 by the Philips company in Gothenburg and quickly gained popularity as a safer alternative to open flames. They are linked to an old Swedish tradition of placing lighted candles in the windows to help light the way to the church for Christmas worshipers. Today you can buy them in various colors, materials, shapes, and sizes.

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  12. Such a cheerful post Teresa. I so enjoyed your visit to the Apple store and the little cottage and tree. Then Dayles sisters home and it's gorgeous decorations. The food looked yummy and I'm definitely wanting to try the bread. Will you share the recipe? When I enlarge the picture the numbers get blurry. :-). The owner of hubby's company has a labradoodle. Rover has been going to work every day since he was a puppy. He's about 10 now and an absolutely wonderfully cuddly dog. Everybody loves Rover.
    I'm so sorry to hear about your advent candelabra. I know you must be so disappointed. I'm so looking forward to seeing you Monday. The snow has stopped here finally and we're hoping for good roads for our drive tomorrow.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  13. Ah such a lovely post with good cheer, beautiful people, cute dog mesmerizing decorations and yummy looking food. Your Christmas sentiments can only make one smile.
    As for the bread, love the way it turned out. Any secrets your hubby might share? I've made the No-Knead a few times and it turned out fine, just not as nice of a inner texture as yours.
    Merry Christmas Teresa to you and yours from Arizona!
    Reni In Az

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  14. Sounds like you had a nice day trip. Bridgeport is really close to us. Yes, it's amazing how technology has changed over the years. My daughter gets a kick of telling teenagers that there were no cell phones when she was growing up. We had a phone that was attached to the wall and a cord on the phone and you had to sit in the dining room to talk! Sorry to hear about your advent candles. Glad you have a nice photo of them. Phil put our tree up today after work. Guess what? The timer for the outdoor lights were in there. It took getting the tree out completely to find it! And we'd both looked! I knew it was in there! Thanks for your comment on my blog.

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  15. I must try that bread recipe it looks delicious!

    Such a lovely festive post Teresa - it is really feeling like it is Christmas here now that both DH and I have finished work and the kids have finished school and college for the holidays!

    Helenxx

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  16. Another lovely post Teresa! The food always looks delicious. I really need to start eating before I visit you cause I get sooo hungry afterwards... Quick question....Who took the photo of you all around the table??? mystery!
    xo Shari

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  17. Lovely blog!! I was really taken by your sister's glass candle sticks on the mantle. Love that idea. And the food! You made me hungry!!

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  18. Yay! That's our favorite bread recipe. We've been baking it for about five or six years now and it always comes out beautifully. I had no idea you were such an Apple fanatic! I had a MacBook (which now belongs to my son for his school work) and it was a good machine. I'm sorry to hear about your candelabra, how disappointing. I'm glad you had a nice time with everyone. I hope you have great weekend.

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  19. Hello my dear Teresa! I always love visiting you! I have been so darn busy, that I am behind on visiting with my blog friends. You and Dayle are so close with your siblings. I love that. I love that you all get together so often. Their home is beautiful and festive!
    Your new candleabra is beautiful! And boo hiss for losing the other one due to a crash to the floor.
    That ham looks divine. And funny story, just this morning, I told Greg that I wanted him to make some of his no knead rustic bread today. They I read your post. We love that bread. We first discovered that bread from an article in Men's Journal. Then after Greg made it, we went and bought the cookbook. Jim Lahey's book is fabulous. I highly recommend it. I would so love to be a guest at your table on Monday! And one day, I AM going to come visit you!
    Merry Christmas sweet friend of mine.
    XO Kris

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  20. It always looks like you are having such fun in your corner of the world. This holiday season has kept you busy with all the things to do and enjoy. I know you consider your family a blessing and it is so wonderful that you can be spending quality time with them. I love reading about all of your adventures. I love that you share them with us. We are getting rain here since yesterday. This afternoon it is suppose to be very heavy downfalls with anywhere from 2-3 inches. Not good news for anyone who has to worry about flooding. The ground is frozen from the low temperatures and so the water has no place to go. Then, they are calling for a mixture of rain and snow for our Christmas.....all that snow I shoveled, well, it is melted, lol.
    Keeping warm in Ohio, hope you are doing the same.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  21. Mmmm...I can almost smell that fresh baked bread. It looks sooo good! Looks and sounds like you've been having lots of fun. Zoey is adorable!! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  22. Gorgeous festive atmosphere here, Teresa! The bread looks so delicious I must give that a try! Sorry about the candle bridge getting broken.....I always feel sad when that happens! You are having such a wonderful cosy time though! Enjoy the weekend :)
    Helen x

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  23. The bread looks so good and daughter is getting a cast iron pan for Christmas, so we will give it a try. Does Dayle mix it up at night or in the morning. My house seems to be on the cool side so I like being able to let it sit for so long to rise. Your vintage candelabra is beautiful.

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    1. This recipe has you mix it up the night before and let it rise at room temp overnight. It was our first time making it. :-)

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  24. Lovely post! I am going to tty that bread. Merry Christmas.

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  25. Aha!! A fellow Apple devotee! I second the motion....Long Live Apple!! I'm hopelessly hooked on my apple products too. We just got the Apple TV and it's amazing the things it can do. I shall never be bored again!!!

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