Easter Eve

 An Easter Eve family dinner...

Just the six of us tonight.

Nola requested chicken/ tortellini soup, so I made a pot of that.

But I am currently inspired by the book I'm reading to "go the extra mile" with food.

So I also made two salads - one savory and one sweet.

Along with some cheeses, summer sausage and nuts.

The book isn't about food; it's actually an English couple's account of moving to France in their retirement years. But the French make such a ritual out of meal times that it's only natural for that to shine through the author's writing, and it's quite inspiring!

"One of the characteristics which we liked and even admired about the French was their willingness to support good cooking, no matter how remote the kitchen may be. The quality of the food is more important than convenience, and they will happily drive for an hour or more, salivating en route, in order to eat well."

A Year in Provence, by Peter Mayle

Before my trip to Paris I showed you these two books I selected for the occasion...

I read The Lost Bookshop on the flights there and home, finishing the final chapter during a layover in Canada.

I enjoyed it. It was a cute story, but sad in some spots. The main character gets her start in the world of book dealing when she lands a job at the famous Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris. 

So you can imagine my delight to have visited it in person... It is charming!

(This is what the inside looks like. Can you think of a more lovely way to spend an afternoon in Paris?)

Having attracted historical figures like Hemingway and Fitzgerald, the bookstore is considered legendary today, and is a popular stop for tourists, as you can see from these lines!

I picked up A Year in Provence upon arriving home, and am now almost done with it. The author is really funny, and I would recommend it as a light, quick, entertaining read. And as I mentioned, he somehow makes plates of sausages, cheeses, salads and roasted tomatoes sound like the most delectable thing in the world!

And for the moment, I am inspired to grocery shop in the specialty cheese section to enhance our family dinners.

(Quick, kids! Eat well while you can before your mother reverts back to her true nature of frozen pizzas and the All-American drive-thru!)

I hope you have a blessed Easter.

(...enjoy and eat well!)

💐

~ Courtney 

Happy Easter

 An Easter morning from years gone by...

These are my grandparents with my dad, aunt and uncle as children.

I especially like my aunt and grandmother's white Easter bonnets.

Although I'm sure we won't look as snazzy as this, I have my family's clothes hung and ready for tomorrow, as well as the tables set for Easter lunch.

I still have to set out the silverware. 

That requires me to dig out my heavy, wooden box of silver from the very bottom of my china hutch, which I've been putting off all day.

Instead of names on the place cards, I decided to write a Bible verse on each one that we will read together as a family before the prayer.

I carefully selected the verses and placed them in order around the table.

In keeping with the theme of the centerpiece, as each person takes their turn to read, it will tell the story of Jesus' birth, sacrifice, and resurrection. 

The kids' table is in the kitchen...

It's all about spring bunnies!

These plates, as well as the ones on the main table, are from Hobby Lobby. They're so pretty but paper thin. I hope that won't be a problem for my guests!

It certainly will make my life easier during clean-up!

I am fortunate that everyone is bringing a dish to pass tomorrow, so all I'll have to do is put the ham in before I leave for church.

I also bought a bakery cake and will make a large salad.

I hope you all have a beautiful Easter with family and friends.

🌸

~ Courtney 

Cupid is Coming and a Nature Walk

 

I walked all the way to my swing for the first time since surgery!

We've been experiencing unseasonably mild temperatures lately and lost our snow, leaving a drab landscape. But the bright blue skies and warmer weather have been a delight!

My physical therapist recently gave me the green light to begin walking on my trails again, as long as I'm careful.

He advised me to not worry about walking fast or walking for too long, but to focus on walking well, going just a little farther each time.

Which is how I ended up comfortably at my swing.

Micah came with me to help me watch out for divots that might make me trip, and also to keep me company.

I have my range of motion back, and most of my strength has returned. The focus now is returning to my natural gait as I walk. It's important to me that I don't develop a limp as I heal, so with the help of PT and family members, (who will point out if I'm walking with a hitch) my current state in recovery is forcing myself to walk straight, balanced, and well. 

We went through the meadow on our way back to the house.

And while we're on the topic of walking, I'd like to provide updated information on something I recommended in a previous post... The virtual walking I watch on YouTube is a channel called Out and About Walking. 

I had just mentioned one of the episodes, but there are many to watch. I find them so uplifting and relaxing. 

💘💘💘

But the current project around here is preparing for our family's traditional Red Dinner in honor of St. Valentine.

Elsa helped me set the table, and Nola is making sugar heart cookies.

On the menu for our romantic dinner for six: 

Lasagna

Fresh salad with bright red tomato slices

Garlic toast

Fruit salad

Nola's cookies

Red fruit punch

The house cat fulfilling his duty as the family's gargoyle. 

(Or maybe he's just watching me hang a string of heart garland.) 

Either way, he amuses me.

😉

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is how to love and be loved in return."

Cupid is coming! I'm off to get ready....

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

💐

~ Courtney 

A Favorite Things Christmas

You know the song, don't you?

🎶 "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens..." 🎶 

Remember when Maria asks the von Trapp children to name their favorite things, little Louisa says, "Christmas!" 

Enjoying this festive season and embracing the timeless message of Christmas certainly is a favorite among so many. 

We decided to make this year an especially memorable one by having a "Favorite Things" themed Christmas.

It was different and FUN!

We tried to incorporate the lines from the song in some way throughout the evening. Then, after our Christmas dinner of schnitzel with noodles, we all gathered in the living room for a family sing-a-long and sang, "Favorite Things" together.

🎶

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver-white winters that melt into spring

These are a few of my favorite things

(Nola made a lego creation for "Silver-white winters that melt into spring." It was used as the centerpiece on the kids' table.)

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad.

As you could see, we did not have a white Christmas this year.

But since we remembered our favorite things, no one was sad.

We just made our own magic!

Our neighbors who let us borrow their ponies for the evening, also brought over their horse named Mister. 

We had a delightful time visiting with them and letting the kids each share a ride.

And that, my friends, was our "Favorite Things"Christmas.

As long as the commercial world is still going to boss us around because of the turmoil Covid has caused, it's best to create our own experiences at home, where we call the shots!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Enjoy the last few days of the year, and I hope to be back with a fresh writing spirit in 2022.

~ Courtney ~

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Christmas has arrived at the Downs' Farmhouse!

🌹🌲🌹

It's our tradition to get our trees and decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

It's hard work, but also a lot of fun!

I am happy to say, now that the weekend is coming to a close, I am finished.

Since our home has a front room and a family room, I like to put up two trees.

We have a system, and Micah helps a lot, so it's really no trouble. I am always pleased with the result.

This year we loaded up the kids in Micah's truck, and headed just a few minutes down the road to a neighboring, family-owned farm for our trees.

After careful search we discovered the two we wanted, side by side in the forest.

We naturally concluded that since they grew up together, they would probably enjoy being adopted together.

Micah chopped both down and the kids named them Louis and Penny.

Lately I've really been into scraggly, un-groomed trees.

I just think they're so charming, and very authentic farmhouse.

This is Penny in our front room...

I think she has a woodsy elegance about her.

Whereas Louis is a little more casual and kid-friendly for our family room...

We had some beautiful sunlight this afternoon for snapping a few pictures of my Christmas decor.

Everyone loves winter sunlight!

It made the steam from our bowls of soup at lunch really stand out!

This is the kitchen table centerpiece when we're not eating a meal...

Home Depot has the cutest little live Christmas plants at the moment.

I bought this miniature tree as well as this adorable winterberry plant...

I like to take the foil wrapping off and place them in planters I have on hand.

As for the plants I had to move out to make room for the Christmas ones, I'm just keeping them in this discreet corner of the laundry room until the holidays are over.

(Roman made this plant stand for me. 😊)

I didn't have an extra planter for this little poinsettia, though. So I just tied a festive ribbon around him instead. 

This large poinsettia gets the honor of my newly purchased, and very elegant, Japanese planter.

It sits proudly at the foot of the staircase...

(Now, wish me luck that I remember to water all these lovely plants!)

🌿

A few more shots of some of my other decor...

Even the children's play cabin gets dressed up for the season...

This porcelain Nativity was given to me by a family member. 

I'm enjoying it as the centerpiece on the dining room table...

I'll end with a photo from our home last year on Christmas Eve...

I am looking forward to another meaningful and merry Christmas season, and I pray that for you, too.

💚🌹💚

I sure do appreciate those of you who stop by my blog.

I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas tour.

I'll be back to write again soon...

~ Courtney ~