Artists are different. 

Artists are in a perpetual search for inspiration... for beauty, joy, light, magic. 

Artists are inventive, expressive, adventurous, and intuitive with an overwhelming desire to share their world. 

I am such an artist.

______________________________________________________________________________________

♥  Egg Nog Lattes

Monday evening my friend Beth Morrill and I walked up to the town square to watch the Columbia Main Street Christmas Parade. It was freezing!!! We were layered up to beat the cold, but for added warmth Beth treated me to hot Egg Nog Latte. It was divine!

The barista used steam to froth a few ounces of eggnog and added it to a shot of espresso. Now I don't have a little steamer machine or an espresso maker, but that didn't stop me from attempting my own version at home. 

Take a couple of ounces of store-bought Eggnog (or make your own) and heat it in the microwave for 60 seconds. Using an immersion blender (or blender or hand-mixer on high) beat the Eggnog to get it to froth. Using an AeroPress, make a strong, pressed coffee and gently add it to the frothed Eggnog. Add 1/2 teaspoon Swerve or other sweetener. 

Heaven in a cup!

Did you know George Washington had his own Eggnog Recipe? According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, it was a very boozy one...

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S CHRISTMAS EGGNOG RECIPE

“One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry —mix liquor first,
then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs,
add sugar to beaten yolks,
mix well.

Add milk and cream, slowly beating.
Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture.
Let set in cool place for several days.
Taste frequently.”

 

♥  Christmas Parades

I love a parade... Mule Day, Easter, Rodeo, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Homecoming, Macy's Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Tournament of Roses, every day is a good day for a parade. The Columbia Christmas parade is always the first Monday evening in December at 7pm. Having a hometown Christmas parade in the evening makes me feel like I'm living in A Christmas Story. 

You may have missed the downtown Columbia Parade, but there are several more in the area you may want to catch. 

Nashville Christmas Parade        Saturday, December 7,  at 8:30am beginning at North 1st Avenue and Brandon Street

FUN FACT:
The Nashville Christmas Parade has been a staple of Middle Tennessee’s holiday festivities since November 28, 1927.

Franklin Christmas Parade         Saturday, December 7,  at 2pm Staring at Jim Warren Park down Boyd Mill and to Main Street. 

Leiper's Fork Christmas Parade  Saturday, December 14,  at 2pm down Old Hillsboro Road starting at Southall Road.  Kid Rock is the Grand Marshall this year. 

Spring Hill Christmas Parade     Saturday, December 14,  at 5pm beginning at the Tennessee Children's Home to Beechcroft and then through Evan's Park back to the Children's Home. Come see me! I'll be at the Winchester building, lower level, in Evan's Park volunteering at the free Coffee, Hot Chocolate, and Cookie bar during the parade. (Donations happily accepted to benefit Friends of Spring Hill Parks.)

To see a schedule of all the middle Tennessee area Christmas parades, click here. 

 

♥  Cock-a-Leekie Pie

Saturday was St. Andrew's Day in Scotland, their national flag day and a day celebrated with parties serving traditional Scottish fare. I celebrated in my own way making a scrumptious traditional meal called Cock-a-Leekie Pie, honoring the souls of dead ancestors and reminiscing about my trip to Dundee a couple of decades ago. 

It was scrumptious!!

Follow the link about for the recipe with photos. I got the recipe from my book A Year in a Scot's Kitchen, but then modified it with items I had in the pantry. 

♥  Scotch Plaid

Ok, technically it's not called plaid. It's called Tartan, and the history of Tartan goes back three thousand years.  Tartan's history is rich, being used to differentiate the Scottish clans who wore them. And it makes sense. People of a remote area would buy their cloth from the local weaver who made cloth in a standard pattern using vegetable dies available in that region. 

Over time, these local patterns became synonymous with the regional clans of Scotland who wore them. 

I recently treated myself to a vintage-inspired, red plaid, Aladdin thermos. I've always wanted one but didn't trust the cleanliness of a truly vintage one found in antique stores, so was thrilled to find this one on-line. You could say it was a "kilty" pleasure. 

 

““If ye like the nut, crack it.” 

– Old Scots proverb

 

“I feel a sort of reverence in going over these scenes in this most beautiful country, which I am proud to call my own, where there was such devoted loyalty to the family of my ancestors – for Stuart blood is in my veins.”

- Queen Victoria, journal entry in 1873

Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy.

- Albert Einstein

 

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

- Gilbert Chesterton

 

Note and full disclosure:  
In some bullet points I may link to more information, related news, or to a product on Amazon. 
As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. 
Originally the account was created years ago to benefit "Happy Tales" animal rescue, 
but now it benefits my pack of rescue dogs and assorted fosters at Windy Acre Cottage.
Thank you! 

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

We have lots of Painting Classes coming up in December. Grad a friend or loved one and spend some time making masterpieces and making memories. 

Adventure Awaits! Illustrated Travel Journaling Workshop

To register for classes or workshops, please call me at 615-668-8263.

Mark your calendar for the Adventure Awaits! Illustrated Travel Journaling Workshop in December. We will be visiting the Belmont Mansion at Christmastime for a special tour and peep behind the scenes on December 17 from 10-3:30.

And January 25, 2020, we will visit the Historic Polk Home, the only standing residence besides the White House that was home to our 11th President James K. Polk. 

Or book a PRIVATE PAINTING LESSON for Instant Clarity and Results

Please call me if you have additional questions or would like to purchase a gift certificate or register for a class:

615-668-8263

And don't forget about the Kids

Santa's Workshop is December 21, 10am - 1pm

Contact Spring Hill Parks and Rec to register your child, ages 5+. Limited to the first 30 children registered. Eight projects to choose from. $5 per project or $20 for 5 projects. Great way to create special gifts for Grandma.