On Saturday night the Deal family celebrated THREE holidays – Suzanne (Mama Deal) and Connor’s (son Deal) birthday AND Halloween!  

Our extended family celebrated two birthdays at Halloween - Suzanne Deal's and her son Connor's. You didn't have to threaten a trick in order to get a yummy treat ... plenty of yummy morsels.

Everybody dressed up – it was a great opportunity to pretend to be something you aren’t – at least not in public on a regular day.  The house looked great and the food was delicious!  Can’t wait – let’s do it again next year!  

Some strange people showed up for this party. Len Wilkinson with Connor Deal, Gracie and Renny.

Lauren and Jacob Boyett apear to be having a good time!

Ashlyn King takes no prisoners on Halloween! Argh!

The host and hostess of the party - Alice Cooper and Snow White. (Bill and Suzanne Deal) on their front porch to greet (or eat) guests,

Techno geek and Morticia just came as they were ... (Avery and Claire Gimble.)

Little Red Riding Hood (Kimberly Golden King) and the Wolf made their peace at the party!

The cake was delicious - half vanilla and half chocolate all under chocolate icing!

Deb in her everyday attire next to Len in his. Deb holds Gracie in her butterfly costume.

Michelle Prytula came as an Identity Crisis - pretty clever costume!

Everybody wants to be a comedian! Even the skull ...

The table was set eerily appropriate!

Shari Boyett came as one of Suzanne's cupcakes - how cute!

Coupon Queen rides again!

An up close look at those face tattoos!

The Fairy Princess Ballerina (Len) and Alice Cooper (Bill) take a break on the porch with the Butterfly (Gracie).

No particular holiday - It was just ghouls night out ...

Sometimes the best Valentine’s weekends are those you spend close to home!  My weekend with my friend included escaping the cold on Saturday night to stay home and watch movies, play with the dogs and eat pizza and other goodies like these lovely bakery treats here.                               I think these cupcakes are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen … and they are certainly the most beautiful I have ever eaten!  They came from Harris Teeter … I can hold my own in a lot of “crafty” areas, but a cake decorator … I am NOT. 

Al Jarreau and the Air Force band, the "Airmen of Note" gave a great jazz performance at the Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitution Hall. Here, the Air Force color guard opens the concert ...

Sunday, even though it was still cold, we went into downtown D.C. for a concert put on by the Air Force jazz band (with strings) featuring Al Jarreau.   Al was great … he plays those vocal cords like an instrument.  He has made some great music over the years — some of his recordings are on my “short” favorites list. 

Friend Len braved the cold with me to see Al Jarreau.

Not too many people out on the National Mall in downtown D.C.

Cold, but still lots of pretty sights in downtown D.C. the weekend before Valentine's Day.

Nice light and pretty skies for taking photos in downtown D.C. this weekend ...

If you are like me and don’t want to use the pre-made flimsy garland and cheesy banners in your Valentine’s Day decorations, try this  Romance Renaissance Quick Trick …

Take a pack of Rick Rack you might have around the house or in your sewing basket already … this strand is great because it already had sparkles on it. I got it from a JoAnn Fabric and Craft store ...

These cards were not only pretty, they were pretty sturdy as well — and inexpensive!

Sit them on top of the rick rack. These cards were perfect for a banner because they were all alike and opened at the bottom. This made it possible to SIT them on the rick rack without having to glue or staple them. Now, they can be re-used.

I  bought one pack of six to decorate with, and one to send out.

My Hallmark store offered me free stickers to go on the back of every envelope in the packet of Valentine's that I purchased. Make sure you get yours too ... and remember to ask about their loyalty program - earn points for goodies!

I just tied them up between the sconces over my fireplace ...

However -- if you hang them from a fireplace mantle like I did, feel of the cards occasionally to make sure they are not getting too hot. You want a "HOT" Valentine's Day, but you don't want to burn down the house! NEVER leave a burning fireplace or candles unattended ..!

Can’t think of something appropriate or memorable to give the person who has everything this holiday season?  How about getting THEM nothing?                                      

HEIFER and OXFAM offer great Christmas gifts for your friends and family that will help those who really need it.

Instead …

Get someone in need something that THEY REALLY NEED …

Like a a flock of ducks or geese for $20, a water buffalo for $250, a camel for $850.

The following are just two of our favorite organizations that my family has “purchased gifts” (practical donations) from in past Christmases.

Heifer International –   www.heifer.org

Oxfam America - www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com 

Its simple (and actually fun) to make these donations to a needy family, village or individual …Will you get Uncle Lee the gift of mosquito nets to keep a family in Africa from getting malaria?  Or get your nephew Connor a water pump for a village in Haiti?  You choose from a variety of gifts online, put them in your cart just as you would with any online retailer, and pay for them as you would anywhere.

After completing the checkout process, you will have the opportunity to create personalized cards to tell your friends and family that you have honored them with a gift to people in need.

It's fun selecting a gift from Oxfam, Heifer and similar charities that exemplify the Christmas theme of "Peace on Earth"

You feel good.  The person you needed to buy a present for feels good.  And the needy actual recipient living in poverty gets something essential that could mean the difference between life and death.  Make a donation to a worthy charity in this fun and unique way and forget the soap-on-a-rope.

This Christmas and/or Hannukah, leave a lasting impression not only on the recipient’s soul, but yours as well.

Helping someone in need – now that’s important for a Romance Renaissance!

For unique jewelry priced from $2.00 to $100.00 visit our booth:

“A Romance Renaissance”

at the

THE SOUTH RIDING COMMUNITY Farmer’s MARKET special

CHRISTMAS MARKET

ONE DAY ONLY!
from 8 a.m. to Noon      Sunday, December 4th 2011

This Christmas bells pin with Swarovski crystals is one of the items that will be available at the Christmas Market on Sunday morning, Dec. 4 at Murrey Park.

 Get ready for Christmas!   Shop under the BLUE CANOPY with the white lace curtains!

LOCATION: Murrey Park, South Riding, Virginia  20152

Murrey Park is bordered by the intersection of Murrey Drive and Parish Street -AND – Land’s End Drive and Parish Street.
(behind Hyland Hills Pool near the Murrey Drive Tennis Courts). 

To find the park using GPS enter this address: 43250 Parish St South Riding, VA 20152
If you find the Hyland Hills Pool, drive East on Parish Street to the intersection of Land’s End. You will see the tents.

This recipe has been in my family for years and typically is made during the Christmas season.  However, it is a great cookie for anytime of the year and is an especially nice goodie for serving at an afternoon tea.  Note variations below and that the dough takes well to food coloring for special events.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter                                                        

These "Mexican Wedding Cakes" aka "Christmas Angel Tea Cookies" are as light and sweet as this Angel doll. Mom gave me this doll with light up moving wings as a birthday present in 2005.

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/2 cup nuts, finely chopped – walnuts, pecans or half & half of each

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Cream butter, shortening, sugar and extracts together. Add the nuts and flour, and distribute evenly.

Chill for easier handling. Form into balls

Bake on cookie sheets covered with parchment paper at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes.  Do not let them get too brown.

Roll in, or sprinkle, confectioners’ sugar while still warm.   Keep in tight container.

Variations:  For the Ladies’ Holiday Tea November 2011, I doubled the entire recipe.  I  also divided the dough before chilling and used green food coloring and a bit more almond extract in one half.  For the other half, I added coconut extract, shredded coconut and red food coloring (to make pink cookies.)

Thank you Ladies for joining us for Tea on Sunday, November 27th!

It was wonderful to see you all.  I hope we achieved our objective of giving everyone a break from the craziness of the holiday weekend.

I certainly enjoyed it.

Special thanks to Linda Flynn for whipping up those yummy hors d’oeuvres.  We’ll be posting the recipes soon …

Naturally, being Americans, we had to have COFFEE too, but we really enjoyed the vanilla flavored hot tea from Celestial Seasonings.   We even tried one of Baileys Coffee Creamers – the original Irish Cream flavor – for a really decadent cup of tea. 

An afternoon Ladies’ Tea – just another way to put a little romance back into daily living …

Plenty to eat, but nothing too heavy! We had Linda's stuffed mushrooms and pinwheels, sugar cookies, our Romantic Mexican Wedding Cakes, "A Pirates Favorite Rum Balls" and more. Check under our Cooking category for the recipes ...

The American Eagle and the Thanksgiving Turkey:

May one give us peace in all our states,

And the other a piece for all our plates!

President Obama pardoning the Turkeys

O Thou who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one thing more — a grateful heart.

May our pleasures be boundless while we have time to enjoy them.

Here’s to the turkey we’re about to eat, and the turkeys we’re eating with!

Here’s to the blessings of the year,

Here’s to the friends we hold so dear,

To Peace on Earth, both far and near.

For turkey braised, The Lord be praised.

When turkey’s on the table laid,

And good things I may scan,

I’m thankful that I wasn’t made

A vegetarian!

Holidays are wonderful and oh so Romantic!  

They can also be dangerous if you don’t plan ahead …   Please share your advice on this post.  

Emergency rooms and poison control hotlines are always buzz with activity over the holidays. Don’t ruin your celebration with a run to the hospital and/or an embarrassed relative and/or a lawsuit.

I have begun a checklist of things you can do to make sure your holiday dinner or event is jolly.  

One of the Christmas pins available from "A Romance Renaissance"

However, I’m sure I forgot something!  Please help us all and share a comment or story of your own …

Household Safety Check:

Lets start with the entry to your home.            

Are your walkways cleared of ice and snow?  

Do you have someone coming that’s wheelchair bound? If there are steps up to the door, do you have another way for them to get into the house?

Also consider how you want people to enter your home in the first place.  All through the front door?  Or the garage?  Do you have doormats in the right place?  Are they hefty enough to do the job?

SHOES:  Do you have people take off their shoes? Think about where you can put all those shoes so people aren’t tripping over them or the dog isn’t chewing them up.  

COATS AND PURSES:  While we’re at it – where will you have guests put their coats and purses?  Remember that little kids love to go through pockets and handbags. Children can hide or misplace car keys, ingest drugs they find there, etc.  I once found my niece Jillian going through my wallet.  She had dollar bills and credit cards pulled out all over the floor.  This taught me a lesson!  Make sure purses are put up high!

By the way:  Make sure you have the number for poison control and your local ER right next to the kitchen phone or in your cell.  Better to give them a call rather than “wait and see” if something a kid swallowed is going to hurt them… then you are dialing 911… 

OUTLETS & SUPPLIES:  Are you having toddlers come to your dinner?  If so, make sure any electrical outlets that they could access are covered. Make sure that toddlers (and let’s call them “inquisitive” children) cannot access harmful chemicals or cleaning supplies.

ASSIGN A WATCHER:  Think about the families you are inviting.  Do the parents watch their kids closely?  Or do they let them have full run of your house?  What can kids get into?   It’s always a good idea to “assign” an older, more responsible child to “watch” the little ones.  Charge them with keeping the younger ones out of trouble.  It gives the older child a sense of responsibility and they will feel like they are contributing to the event.  Of course, you have to judge if you need to check on he older child as well, occasionally, to make sure they are doing THEIR job!

ELECTRICAL CORDS:  Move or secure any cords on the floor that someone could conceivably trip over.

BREAKABLE & SHARP:  Move out of harm’s way anything on end tables or coffee tables or down low that you don’t want broken.  This is not just a precaution for children.  Over the years, more adults have broken things in my home during events than children!

While we are back on the subject of children for the moment, do also make sure that “little things” – breakable or not, and scissors or sharp objects, that toddlers can stick in their mouth are also put away.  I myself, particularly have to think about this one, because of all the crafting and sewing tools and supplies that I leave around the house – which is often just one big craft studio!

FURNITURE:  Also think about your chairs.  Are any in need of repair?  Do it well in advance.  You don’t want Grandma getting hurt on a broken chair!

CANDLES:  How Romantic!  How Renaissance!  But, if you are going to employ them in your decor, think about where you are going to put them.  Can they kids get to them? Are they in the way of activities? I once caught my hair on fire because a lit candle was on a bar too close to the food that was being served.  I bent over to put something on my plate and my (then, long) hair fell into the flame. WHOOSH! It’s amazing how fast hair and clothing can catch fire …

FIREPLACES:  While we’re on the subject of fire … is your fireplace ready?  Has it been cleaned this year and checked out? This is especially  important if you have a wood-burner.  Also, do you have a screen for it?  Keeping the little ones away from the fire is another key task for the “Kid Watcher.”

THE KITCHEN:  I advise keeping kids out of the kitchen when its busy – usually right before dinner or right after.  They can get stepped on, burned or have something dropped on them.  They can also pick up knives or put the wrong things in their mouths.  They can get into liquor or cleaning supplies. NO LITTLE KIDS IN THE KITCHEN!  If they can’t wait and need something, this is where your older “watcher” child or adult can come in handy.

FOOD:  And, don’t forget to put away the food.  As soon as you can put food that you don’t intend to throw away, in the refrigerator or freezer. You don’t want any “next day food poisoning.” (Food Safety will be covered in another post so hold those thoughts.)

LIQUOR:  Lots of people drink during the holidays that don’t drink on a day-to-day basis.  (I’m one of them.) And, they don’t realize or think about how its going to affect them.  Plan ahead to check with everyone at the door before they leave.  (You can worry with the dishes later.  The dishes aren’t going anywhere!)   If they’ve had a couple of glasses of ANYTHING alcoholic, check with them to make sure they are OK to drive.  Camp them on the couch or call a cab if necessary.

It might seem like considering these safety precautions are an added burden, but they are worth it.  You like/love your guests right?  And, want to see them again for the next holiday?  

DDB