new year's eve on montauk

nana is always happy to see jack, and vice versa.

we arrived on montauk in the middle of the afternoon and went for a walk to the playground.

it was a very grey and dark day!

we walked the long way around and came back to nana's from the west . . and found this beautiful scene in front of ketcham's house.

everything was cozy and warm at nana's.

nonno made us a delicious dinner of broccoli sauce and garlic bread.

see the dark red holiday napkins? i love using these during christmas time. i had to go downstairs to the cedar storage room to get them! see the shiny gold looking forks and knives? i had to hunt for these downstairs also!

our di rigeur hors d'oeuvres are herring on premium and ritz crackers, shrimp cocktail, and potato puffs with sparkling cider. nonno always goes for the real thing and has champagne.

the age-old tradition from massapequa . .


 banging the pot lids outside the front door. when i was a little girl, i could hear my neighbors doing the same thing outside of their front doors, and yelling "happy new year!"

another day at home

eva and family's bird looks peaceful in the window surrounded by our paperwhites and poinsettias.

the white fir has a nice piney aroma, but not too strong, which is good as greg is sometimes sensitive to a strong evergreen smell.

we're continuing with the king in the window. chanda has already read it twice!

the colors she chooses are so pretty . .

morgana's sturbridge apron continues to take shape.

my favorite holiday treats! mandarin or clementine oranges, a milk chocolate santa from lilac chocolates, and homemade french chocolates with walnuts.

chanda's boat looks very happy under the tree!

and i'm very happy having my new pasta bowls on the table.

we still have leftover gjetost and imported provolone.

dinner was goat cheese ravioli with roasted green beans.

morgana and chanda cleaned up after dinner, while jack waited for water to appear in his bowl.

 
 nana didn't have anymore hot chocolate mix, so we made a batch for her this evening. we also heated some up to make sure all was good! we'll take it to her tomorrow when we drive out to celebrate new year's with her and nonno.

26 acts of kindness campaign

i found this link on slowtraveler's blog and thought it would be good to put out there to those of you wondering how to help ourselves and the residents of newtown, connecticut: 26 acts of kindness campaign. the link mentions a story from fred rogers, who quoted his mother as saying to always look for the helpers in this world when times feel dark. there's always people helping, she said.

happy fifth day of christmas. sometimes just a smile can make all the difference to someone.

fourth day at home

our paperwhites are starting to bloom.

you can smell them as soon as you walk into the apartment.

i've also been amazed at how well our $7 poinsettias are doing . . 

a few fat snowflakes!

 

we started reading the king in the window, a christmas gift from nana and nonno.

i started reading this book on montauk a few years ago, but never finished it.

butter cookies, french chocolates and biscotti.

morgana worked on her apron for sturbridge.

tiny, tiny stitches . .

it's a pretty and historically accurate print.

hiding? or checking out the snow . . ?

a dover coloring book of 19th century dresses from sturbridge.

jack does not like to be left out.

cozy on a holiday.

traveling home

chanda took these pics of the trip home . .

is this that freedom/french fry tower that never gets finished?

ear piercing

today was a big day because we stopped at claire's so morgana could get her ears pierced!

the people at claire's are always very nice and make you feel comfortable.

i think they are also very gentle . . 

i think she's pleased!