Sunday, December 27, 2015

7th Day Surprise - STRIP JOINT


Before we take it all off...
Our holiday decor that is  - 
I thought I'd share some photos of our Christmas.
The Passion Pit has been gussied up 
for a week or two.
However honestly,
I can't wait to clean up our act.

THE END IS NEAR!

OPEN AND SHUT CASE
Dear "C" gave Frank this lovely
Parisian advent calendar.
Day-by-day we met a new and charming character
created by Christian Lacroix.
It's hard to believe it's all over.


 WELCOME
As you can see it's a white Christmas here in Montana.
Many of you haven't seen our restored front stoop.
Frank's brother "B" and his team did an amazing job.
Only in Lewistown - their grandfather removed the original.
Fifty years later,
his grandsons and great grandson restored what was lost.



 WATCH YOUR STEP
Please excuse the heavy duty mats.
However here is Montana we've been experiencing 
a cycle of snow, melt, freeze, ice!
We love our new "pergola."



 CLEAN SLATE
We are thrilled with the new slate floor 
John Valach & Son installed on our front porch.
Still a few finishing touches to be added.
We've got a beautiful teak bench on it's way!



 FULL CIRCLE
Our wreaths were crafted by a local gentleman
who hunts and pecks for the freshest goodies in the wild.
He then gathers them on a framework
of reclaimed barbed wire.
We added the bows!



 DYNAMIC DUO
What could be simpler than
two freshly cut trees
stuck into a pair of pots?



 WELL HUNG
Once again we festooned our banister
with swags of fresh cedar.
Not only pretty but fragrant.
The perfect introduction to
holiday at our house!



 ALL TIED UP
Who says Christmas has to be red and green?
We added touches of turquoise and tobacco!



 FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Please meet the latest addition to our clan.
"Beryl" was created by locals -
Carol and Charlie Brown.
Upon our meeting her,
it was love at first sight.



 SEE THE LIGHT
While the weather at times can be frightful,
our sun filled winter days beneath
Montana's big sky are always delightful.
Especially from the inside out!



 LAZY DAYS
This time of year we often breakfast or lunch in the sun room.
Our centerpiece is a grocery store wreath
placed around a candle hurricane globe.
All we did was once again, add some ribbon!
What could be easier?



 GOLDEN GLOW
Much thanks to "B" and "S" 
for cutting us a tree
from the forest near our family cabin.
Nothing could be fresher but this year's.
OUR PRETTIEST EVER!



 A BUNCH OF TWINKIES
Much like yours,
our tree is comprised of a plethora of memories.
Gathered from across the globe
two lifetimes,
and our  local Shopko -
each means something special to us.



 OVER THE TOP
Sometimes a touch of greenery
makes everyday treasures even more special.
One of our prized possessions is the
Robert Baranet painting
above the mantle.



 IT TAKES A VILLAGE
When we're not entertaining
this charming town
sits atop some greenery upon a silver tray.
When its time to set the table, 
we simply lift said group
and set the scene!



 CASE OF CRABS
Our houseguests arrived Sunday
with a Pacific seafood feast.
We all cracked up thanks to
Frank's brother "W" and sister-in-law "J"!



 SHELL GAME
They came
and we conquered.
Well... devoured every clam and crab.
Therefore we kept the table simple.



 PASTA PARTY
One evening Frank made a simple pasta
and "J" made a lovely salad.
Note the "town" tray centerpiece
updated with my
favorite silver candlesticks.



 DISHWASHER SAFE
Most of our antique china requires hand washing.
However with a house full
we try to make things easy.
These Wedgwood Nantucket Basket
and Jasper Conran Chinoiserie plates
pop on the table and into the dishwasher!



 A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Home is where the heart is.
The Murano lamp is an eBay find.
Our Tommy Parzinger coffee pot
is a recent auction treasure.
That William Yeoward dish
was a long ago gift from "K" and "E".
And the Thomas O'Brien candlestick
reminds us both of an afternoon in New York.
The candle was crafted locally
from beeswax
and rendered deer tallow.



 HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Before dinner
we went to Christmas Eve mass at 
ST HAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
"B", "S", and I sang in the choir.
While the rest of the family
sat in the bleachers.
What better way to kick off the holiday!?



CHRISTMAS EVE
This year rather than all gather together
the night before
we stayed closed to home.
Frank's parents are too old to party.
And frankly, so is the next generation.
Let's start a new tradition!



 SEEING RED
"J" and I had fun setting the table.
We decided to heat things up.
Or as "J" would say...
"CHA CHA CHA!"



A NEW LEAF
We decided to turn over a new leaf.
Holly that is.
Mixed with a touch of
Chinoise and lavender.
HO HO HO!



WHITE CHRISTMAS
The morning of the big event
we awoke amidst another snow storm.
Everything was covered by a magical white coating.
Sorry New York and Chicago,
this year the real Christmas is in Montana!



 PEACE BABY
After the mania of holiday preparation, 
everything suddenly seemed new again.


SOCK IT TO ME
"J" and "W"
left stockings out for
"B" & "C" & "P"!
How do you spell
L-O-V-E?



 HEAVY LADEN
Ready, set, go!
Let's get the party started!
LET 'ER RIP!


WRAP IT UP
Gifts from the heart...
Here today, gone tomorrow!
What's under your tree?



 PICTURE THIS
Frank is now the proud owner of this lovely
James Bason painting.
I LOVE YOU FJV!



 BREAKFAST IS SERVED
Our houseful of house guests
dined on a simple frittata.
LESS IS MORE
especially on Christmas morning!



GO WITH THE FLO
Florence by Spode that is...
There's a plate for every season.
Sometimes... 
MORE IS MORE!



 UPON REFLECTION
Whenever I forget
what this season is truly about,
I look at my Mother's
childhood creche.
Notice that the three wise guys
are missing.
That's because my dog ate them
when I was nine years old.
Ethel reinforced that said loss really didn't matter.
"Those three
didn't show up until a year later."

ENJOY
A BLESSED
POST HOLIDAY
SUNDAY!

 Much thanks to my sister-in-law "J"
who took many of these pictures.
This Christmas she gave me a lovely custom made book
of the past year's table settings.
It is beyond divine!

Want to see more?
Following are links to prior blog entries...

April 15, 2015: PP Professional Photographs
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