An Untraditional Thanksgiving 2017

Times change.

Life changes.

The trick is to not get stuck in the past,

but rather move on and change too.

First, let me tell you 

I AM a traditionalist.

I don't particularly like change.

I pretty much cook the same

holiday meals every year.

I decorate with the same 

accessories over and over.

I might be accused of being stuck

in a rut.

BUT, not this year.

This year's Thanksgiving has been

anything but my traditional one.

You may remember my best friend/sister Nancy

has moved away to be a caretaker to our Mother.

So, it was only Kate and me this year.

(SO HAPPY she made it home for the holiday!)

Since Kate would be having a

Thanksgiving dinner with her Dad

later in the day,

I decided this year 

I would not be cooking my traditional 

Thanksgiving dinner.

It seemed so excessive to cook

a huge meal for the two of us

just to send her off to eat 

another huge meal.

So, we did Thanksgiving brunch this year.

I found an interesting crust less quiche recipe in the current

SOUTHERN LIVING magazine.

(If you have it, be sure to take note

of their article on Abingdon, Virginia.

It's a neighboring town and a treasure.)

The recipe suggested quiche toppings

of sour cream, chopped tomatoes and green onions.

That cried out for an avocado as well.

We did pull out the holiday dishes.

No point in giving up every tradition!

We both decided the recipe is a "keeper."

My local grocery store does very nice muffins,

so I added store bought pumpkin and cranberry ones.

We filled our plates and ate in front of the TV

watching the end of Macy's parade.

(I'm usually up to my elbows cooking during the parade.)

After brunch, we settled in to watch the final episode

of the current season of

GAME OF THRONES.

Kate had already seen the whole season,

at least two or three times.

She's a G of T nerd and would not 

be bothered to have me call her that.

I, on the other hand,

have waited for Kate to be home

to watch this season.

Mainly because she would explain all the

finer details to me.

It did not disappoint.

Finally, we finished up with a nice long walk

in my new neighborhood.

We had a lovely, late fall day

and it was great to be outside.

This is my street,

a walker and house lover's delight!

Kate has now traveled on to her Dad's and 

I have the rest of the evening on my own.

Earlier in the week I did make my favorite

Cranberry Relish

(I cannot let every tradition go!)

and will have for dinner

 a turkey sandwich,

with this delicious relish on it.

All in all,

a lovely and relaxed Thanksgiving.

Change is good and I am thankful!

Finally, a quick house update.

This area is at the top of my stairs

and just got finished this week.

I replaced the window with a solid glass one,

knowing I wanted to use a stained glass panel 

which came from my previous house in it.

I'm so pleased with how it looks

at the top of the stairs.

I'm showing it to you now,

rather than waiting until 

I share the rest of the upstairs because

tomorrow the Christmas decorations come out,

and this spot is calling out for

one of my traditional holiday trees.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait...

...and wait...and wait.

I have been looking for glass panels

since I moved into this house,

what nine years ago???

Finally, HERE they are!

I wanted them to hang in the two windows on either 

side of the fireplace.

I replaced the windows soon after moving in and

purposely had solid glass installed,

knowing I wanted hanging panels,

but could never find exactly 

what I wanted.

Then last fall, while hanging out on Pinterest,

 I found a look I loved,
in which the artist incorporated
vintage plates.

The pin took me to an Etsy site,

BarbarasStainedGlass

and within a few days,

my order was placed for 

two custom panels.

Within a few weeks a specially made, wooden crate arrived.

Barbara is an expert glass designer and craftsman,

but almost as important,

she KNOWS how to ship glass

and have it arrive intact.

Once the top was off the crate,

there were polystyrene sheets and bubble wrap.

Finally, a first view of my new panels!

Sadly I can never get a nice clear picture of this room,

but I'm sure you can see what an excellent addition

my new panels are to it!

SO happy I waited until I found exactly

what I wanted!

(Thank you Barbara!)

On another note,

but the same theme,

about good things coming to

those who wait,

last summer I fell in love with this fabric.

I had an upholstery fabric that 

coordinated with it

PERFECTLY

 with the chevron as a lining for a knitting tote.

Alas, I don't pay $50.00 a yard

for ANY fabric, no matter how perfect,

no matter how much I'm in love with it!

Can you believe the very same store

had it marked down to $10.00 a yard

for their MLK Day Holiday Sale last week?

Well...

I bought all they had and have 

happily been sewing on it since!

Although the upholstery fabric

I originally planned to pair it with

is now gone,

I never have a lack of 

things to sew!

New this week in my shop

are a great new selection of

hanging needle and crochet hook organizers!

Good things REALLY do come

to those who wait!

Look What I Found!

I have three windows here at

Buttermilk Cottage

that I have planned to someday

fill with stained glass

since I bought the house

six years ago.

This past weekend I got lucky

and found the piece for one window!

This window is on a landing
as you come downstairs and
overlooks a not so attractive roof.
Last year I had the windows
replaced (better insulation)
with unadorned glass because I knew
at some point I wanted stained/leaded glass here.



This is the window from the front entry.


This is a shot of the window from the back
staircase in the kitchen.
The window lets in light to an otherwise
dark staircase, and has made a nice
ledge for some violet pots.
Otherwise, it hasn't added much
in the way of beauty.




But look at it now!

I was delighted to find a panel

of leaded clear glass

that fits the space nicely.
What an improvement!

Now all I need to do is find a new place

for my violets.

I'm linking this post to

All Things Inspired at All Things Heart and Home

Boring to Better at Savvy Southern Style

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday...Crafts

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home