Estelle's

January 11, 2025

WINTER INSPIRED....SNOWY DAYS and A WINTER TEA

It's our last chance, we are told this morning,
to prepare for our wintery weather mix
of sleet and snow....cold ....really cold wind chills.....

There are so many ways to practice self-care during
the sometimes isolating winter days.....
today, we are going to treat ourselves to an afternoon
delight in the dining room...

Beginning with a delightful hot loaf of
freshly baked Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread

My mother gifted me this plate years ago and I think
it's not only perfect for Christmas, I love using
it in the Winter...

I am loving my new tea pot I purchased last month..
pine cones and berries are perfect for this time of year...

One of my favorite tea cups to use often,
is my grandmother's pine cone motif with matching saucer...

The finishing touch is this beautiful linen napkin
along with a silver pastry server.....

This is the time to slow down, bundle up and snuggle in....
Thank you for stopping by today......

Ah, indeed....we were gifted a few days of snow....just beautiful!

January 6, 2025

WINTER PASSIONS....COZY INSPIRATION

Good Morning Loves...
I am happy to report that Christmas decorations
have all been packed up and stored away..
it feels good to be less decorated
and transforming colors from red and green,
to creamy soft ivory...

A brand new calendar has been hung in the kitchen...
I am always drawn to a folk art type of look...

This year, I am placing myself on a strict budget...
magazines are becoming so very expensive,
so why not repeat and find inspiration with what you already have?

New Year's Eve 2024 marked the third year of Otis's "Adoption Day!"
He is much loved and such a darling soul....

The NYE gathering down in Escondido was another fun and festive celebration!

The newly married couple celebrated the New Year down on the ranch
with their beloved Maverick....

Around the house, there are small touches to embrace the winter season.....

I love seasonal touches in the guest bathroom.....

Lucy and I can be found snuggled down in soft throws,

watching old movies....

My favorited new obsessions for breakfast are

yogurt with frozen berries and pecan granola.....

and....a bagel with cream cheese, placed in the AIR FRYER
AT 400 DEGREES FOR FOUR MINUTES,
then sprinkled with cinnamon and drizzled with honey

And a forgotten favorite for dinner...
a healthy taco salad drizzled with Honey French Dressing..
gosh this was delicious!!!!

How do you plan to bloom this year?

January 1, 2025

CHRISTMAS 2024 RECAP

Happy New Year everyone!

We have arrived...2025..it's hard to believe isn't it?
We feel very blessed to have been able to enjoy the magic
of Christmas with family...children and grandchildren...
and connecting through texts with our Atlanta family!
It was an evening of candlelight, holiday foods,
games, and gifts.....
Our Texas weather was a cold rainy evening....
we could warm ourselves by the fireside and sip
on Christmas punch.....

It's tradition to capture a moment of the darling and me
for each holiday gathering....
it's a memory made....

The house smelled of fresh balsam, pine and holiday foods
in the crockpot and baking in the oven....
cookies, cranberries, and roasted chicken...

The beautiful Christmas bouquet was front and center
which was a gift from Miss Elizabeth....

The darling's vintage puzzle arrived just in time for
Christmas Eve....

The perfect cheese ball with pineapple and peppers....

We thoroughly enjoyed another mystery game and invitations
awaited the arrival of guests....

These kiddos are amazing with their characters and accents...
this year, it was a London 60's theme.....

I think they are method actors as they can easily slip into character....

The laughter never stopped.....

The finale of the evening was our gift exchange....
then it was ninety-night

Over in Atlanta, the family celebrated Christmas Eve
with appetizers, and holiday movies...

Luke the Duke loved his gifts and we talked on
Christmas Day....

It is a tradition in their household, to grill steaks and crab legs
on Christmas evening....

Out at the ranch, it was a cold and rainy Christmas evening.....

The smoked Prime Rib was the best ever...

And so, 2024 has come to a close,
we are so very blessed and extremely thankful
for good health and a close and loving family...
our big event for the year was the wedding
which brought us all together for a joyous celebration...
My wish is that we continue to practice kindness
and keep striving for meaningful and productive lives...
Let's go into 2025 with hope and optimism.....

December 23, 2024

HIS FIRST CHRISTMAS PARTY...FABULOUS APPETIZERS AND DECORATIONS

Good Morning Loves....
as we enter the Christmas Eve gathering,
I wanted to capture an impromptu
family Christmas party at our son's townhome.....

We began Sunday morning with a fabulous
Dutch Baby.....nothing better in my opinion....

As the day wore on....cleaning and organizing for our
Christmas Eve event, we were invited over
to see our son's townhome decorated for the season
and to watch the Cowboy football game....
and, the darling and I were excited to go......

It gave us a chance to visit and see all the gorgeous
Christmas lights.....

It was a rather chilly and blustery evening..
a feeling of Christmas was in the air....

What a lovely entry on the first level....

They did a beautiful job with all the decorations....
credit goes to his significant other for the placement
of the decorations...it was really beautiful....