Let’s Just Continue Advent: Daily Art Practice
Couch Talk
I don’t know how you celebrate Christmas, but this year was one of the best for me. Our family spent much needed time together and we made an effort to limit devices and distractions. We cooked together (a first), ate together, played games together, attended church together and talked together. Celebrating the birth of Christ was more real to me this year, perhaps it was because I am going through something, and gifts didn’t seem quite as important. I think I got exactly what I needed.
How about you? What was special about your Christmas this year?
Advent Continued…
While I only made 5 days’ worth of advent meals, I purchased and originally planned for 7 days. As a result, I didn’t want food to go bad and I wanted to use what I had on hand. For the remaining 2 days of Advent, instead of making a 3-course meal, I chose to leave out dessert and side and focus on the main course. Everything was yummy and we certainly found new foods to add into our menu.
Day 6 – Russia
Olivier Salad (Russian Potato Salad)
Day 7- Switzerland
Schweinsfilet dänische Art (Pork Tenderloin, Danish Style)
Daily Art Practice
I mentioned in one of my previous posts, that things haven’t gone quite as planned this holiday season. As a result, I haven’t had a lot of painting time. Aside from painting our Christmas Ornaments, this is the only thing that I have painted. I used the same book that I used for the ornament, Imagine A Forest ,as a guide.
Last week, Lisca asked if the ornament was paper from the book. No, it was all painted in gouache. I printed a 3d star template and then drew the design. I painted the entire first side before painting over the whole thing and starting over. Since that project got me in the folk art mood, I decided to continue it and try a matryoshka doll. This one is also in gouache. If you haven’t seen this book, I recommend it! It has step by step instructions for several projects and is full of beautiful inspiration.
Tea Day
I am joining the Tea day ladies, hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard. I received the Tiesta Tea Slenderizer Dry Flight Sampler, for Christmas. I have only tried a few flavors so far, but the Blueberry Pineapple Green tea is a favorite. I would highly recommend it!
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas time with family-that is very special and will be remembered always.
I will check into the book-thank you Happy New Year Kate and your family and Happy New Year
hugs Kathy
Your Christmas sounds like what Christmas should be . Family time is really precious. My Christmas was also lovely thank you. And now it is the new year-where did the holidays go to? Your advent food looks delicious too. I love this idea you did.. I hope you have a wonderful 2023 Kate, and also a very happy T day. hugs-Erika
Have a better time in the new year … I hope your troubles will be resolved.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Your matryoshka doll looks lovely. I am glad that you had a lovely Christmas depsite some difficulties. Presents indeed aren’t that impiortant, but the time spent with family and doing activities together like cooking and playing is so much more important and is the thing one will remember.
Happy T-day, Kate.
The food looks wonderful.
The art is darling. You need to paint that Pork Tenderloin – looks so much better than mine!
The tea may be my favorite you have posted.
So glad your Christmas was wonderful and so full of precious family time. That was my favorite part as well. We had lots of family time Christmas day and a bit before. Thanksgiving was better as we had 4 days of all of us together. I feel like this was my favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas since I was a child – such a blessing. I know it was a blessing for you as well. You are such a wonderful wife and mother! Hugz
You certainly traveled around the world for Advent this year, Kate. I was impressed with all seven meals and countries where you traveled to prepare these meals.
Your doll drawing is beautiful. Although I have been given some gouache, I have never used it. Of course, I am not a painter, so that’s why I admire your art so much.
Your blueberry pineapple tea sounds wonderful. I can see why you would like it. I am glad you are sharing these advent teas with us each week, too. Thanks for sharing your art. your food, and your tea with us for T this Tuesday, dear Kate.
We were both sick this Christmas (I still am) – not the answer you wanted to heear, I suppose 😉
(just a very nasty flu)
Nice to read about yours, hence!
Thank you, the Meatballs went to my cooking list.
I also like your matryoshka doll and that not everybody is full of hate towards “the Russians”.
We have many here now who refuse to fight Ukraine.
Hmmm, Pineallpe! Happy T-Day!
We observe Advent, Christmastide, and Epiphany. Our Christmas decorations come down on Twelfth Night and then on Epiphany we get out wise men and snow people decorations. There aren’t as many of those, but they allow us to ease up instead of crashing from feast to famine lol
Your food looks delicious! Happy T Tuesday 🙂
Well kate first let me tell you that you won the GiveAway Bracelet on my blog! So if you’ll get me your snail mail address i’ll get it mailed off to you! Congratulations!!! Your artwork as always is beautiful!! Wishing you a lovely 2023! Happy Tday! Hugs! deb
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas and so lovely to spend time with family! We did that too 😊. Happy New Year and wishing you a very Happy T Day too! Hugs Jo X
Sounds like you had a beautiful Christmas with your family. Made me smile to think of the memories you created for your children. Happy New Year and Happy T Day
Yes, it sounds like a wonderful Christmas for you and your family. Wishing you the very best for 2023
I love folk art style, it used to be quite popular a while back and then it seemed to disappear but now it might be back again. I read some novels last year and their covers were all folk art inspired too and very beautiful. Your Russian doll is very sweet, I’m too lazy to type matryoshka hahaha. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx
We played a lot of games, and I learned a lot of new ones. Our grandchildren are 19, 22, 26, so we played what I call complicated games like Catan, and Carcassonne., even the score keeping is complicated. And 4 of us always play Scrabble. If we weren’t playing games, we were fixing or eating a meal! LOL Because of the weather they couldn’t come for Christmas and we didn’t get to go to church together.. Happy New Year! Happy t day.
Spending time with family always outweighs any gift! I do hope we can rearrange our family get together soon! Your adventures in food look great! I love your Christmas stars! Happy New Year, hugs, Chrisx