Another relaxing sunday dinner

I don't know if it's just in the air or what.   We have been mighty laid back here, if it doesn't end soon, we won't be able to get up.  I think it's just the idea of not wanting to go into the cold.  Actually we just do not want to go anywhere really.  We did however at my husbands coaxing go see a move at our local theatre.   I am so glad we did.  We saw Alfred Hitchcocks " Shadow of a Doubt" 1941.  I am so glad we did see it on screen, we got our popcorn and water and enjoyed.
 Here is the website for anyone interested   -- http://ashlandfirehousetheater.org/

I did fix dinner today and ate it while we watched the tube, boy that's showing my age.  What tube?
Anyway I started off wanting to make meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but Steve wanted burgers to put gravy or ketchup on.

Ground chuck mixed with green peppers and spices.

fresh potatoes and carrots with butter and parsley and lots of pepper.

steamed cabbage, I usually throw a little dill in there with the cabbage, but didn't have any today.

I make a dill sauce with cream, butter and usually with fresh dill and use flour for thickening ,my mom used to make a cream sauce for cabbage and I love it that way, when my neice Robin is  here having dinner with us, I thicken it with corn starch, as she cannot have wheat products or milk.  I could have used soy milk or rice milk.   Her husband makes the best Frogmore stew. A picture of it here at her website

http://robin-robinoftheforest.blogspot.com/

Ta - Da

Special Birthday - no not Elvis

Born - wow, 38 years ago.  January 8th  is one of the 3 happiest days of my life, don't get me wrong, I have many happy days in my life, it's just that Annette, Derek and grandson Seth rate at the very top.   I did not post a picture of my son Derek on his b'day on December the 12th,  so I will post one of him now also.  Oh yeah, Elvis shares the same birthday with my daughter.  I have some pictures of Derek here when he was just a little guy, I will post some now that he is older in the next post.

some pics.

can hardly see her,  I remember when I used to take pictures and stand it seemed like a mile away .  I cropped this and it's a little better.

Annette in front , Derek to the left in red and blue sweater.

derek with Santa

Annette, me and seth at Royal Gorge in Colorado.   Anette's husband John was stationed there about 7 years ago.

John and Annette.

Happy Birthday Annette

I can't wait to come visit and see you ,John and Seths new home in Tn.

Touring Maymont

My husband and I toured Maymont House tuesday before all of the decorations were taken down.  Opulence is the word I use to describe the Dooleys,  their decorating style was  ecclectic.   Statue to greet you at the entrance,  draperies hung at  two doorways,( 2 is what I remember anyway)  gorgeous china.  The swan bed in her bedroom brought from their summer home "Swannoa".   Oak trim and paneling in home is local and beautifully carved.

It was Fun to see how an 1893 Christmas was spent by the Dooleys.

Beautiful tree decorated with handmade ornaments, such as paper cones and glittered pictures that looked like this one I purchased from "Through the Garden Gate".  I must  make some of these next year.  Our guide told us that presents would be tucked into the branches with the decorations. 

The best I can show of the tree is this Poster that greeted us from the gazebo coming onto the grounds

Beautiful green garlands were strung in one room from the chandelier to four corners of the ceiling.

The packages were wrapped in white paper and tied with red ribbons.

Mrs. Dooley we were told - liked to use red satin ribbons in her home for Christmas.   The bows were simply tied,  I like that better.

They were beautiful.  

Upstairs was a sitting area  with wrappings , ribbons and such, as if packages were in the process of being wrapped.

ribbon was strung leading from the light fixture in the ceiling with childrens names.  We were told that the children would have their name attached to a ribbon and the child would follow it to a gift,  some gifts were in chairs.

I think I may try that next year with some little ones.

Beautiful wreaths outside and in. 

This home is a must see if visiting Richmond , Va. 

 View from entrance into home

Beautiful light fixture on porch entrance

View of statues from entrance looking towards river

James Center - downtown Richmond

The children - Steven and Jenn and grandchildren , Ryan and Tyler came to visit on Sunday.  After exchanging Christmas gifts,  we took a ride downtown afterwards to see the Christmas decorations.  The children loved it and a good time we all had. 

Beautiful clear skies as we are heading downtown.   I did notice that downtown didn't seem to be as lit up as last year.   Everywhere seemed different this year. 

Reflections in glass on bldgs.

James Center Sculpture

closeup of one of the sculptures

I put the Christmas decoration of  the James Center here - http://betsy-wiildwoodchristmasandcrafts.blogspot.com/